We started the dog show year by attending Kajaani INT show. We made it there through snow and blizzard… Topi got excellent and placed third in working class. The judge was Gert Christensen (Denmark). Topi’s evaluation

2 y. Masculin head & expression. Scissor bite. Nice dark eyes. Good neck & topline. Good body. Well angulated. Good bones. Moves well. Good coat. Nice temperament.

Haku: Kattaa aluetta sopivasti.

Free search: Covers the area enough.

Ohjattavuus: Selvittää maaohjauksen melko hyvin. Vesiohjauksesta tulee raskas.

Guided retrieve: Clears the blind on the ground quite well. The water blind requires quite heavy guidance.

Paikallistamiskyky: Näkee heitot, hakee toiseksi heitetyn suoraviivaisesti. Ei onnistu ensimmäisen noudossa.

Marking: See throws, retrieves second mark directly. Can’t complete the retrieve of the first throw.

Riistankäsittely: Pehmentää yhtä lokkia, tuo muut riistat siististi.

Game handling: Soften one seagull slightly, returns others neatly.

Muut ominaisuudet: Häiriintyy toisesta koirasta.

Other qualities: Is bothered by the other dog.

Yleisvaikutelma: Riistaintoinen koira, joka stressaantuu kokeen aikana. Kiinnostuu toisista koirista. Koe keskeytyy riistan käsittelyongelmiin.

General appearance: Game enthusiastic dog, who gets stressed during the test. Is interested in other dogs. Test is interrupted due to game handling problems.

Excuses: Well, we just had to go and see what open class is like, just because we could. The test was quite good and really showed where we are with Luka. For the first time Luka really had to watch another dog working and it clearly bothered him during the marks and in his general behavior. The water blind required quite heavy guidance from Ramin and was clearly at the upper limits of Luka’s current abilities, but we made it. The hard work of the water blind and watching another dog working clearly stressed Luka so much that the third bird in the free search was slightly damages while Luka was packing it in his mouth during the return. Training wise it was a good failed test and we can easily continue on from here.

Luka’s evaluation

Third Time Lucky… Topi truly lived up to his name! Topi passed his tendency trial today (NOU1, is required for becoming Finnish Champion). In addition, Topi got Trial personnel’s choice award for best dog of the day! We are so happy! General appearance: “Dog clears the trials tasks surely and works with good co-operation”. Topi’s evaluation

Sosiaalinen käyttäytyminen: Suhtautuu hyvin toisiin koiriin ja ihmisiin. Hyväksytty

Social behavior: Reacts kindly to other dogs and people. Passed

Uimahalu: Syöksyy veteen ja ui innokkaasti. Hyväksytty

Swimming: Jumps fast into water and swims eagerly. Passed

Hakuinto: Tekee itsenäistä vauhdikasta ja tehokasta hakua kattaen koko alueen. Hyväksytty

Search eagerness: Dog works the free search independently and effectively with good speed and covers the whole area. Passed

Noutohalu: Ottaa lokit epäröimättä. Ottaa myös varikset epäröimättä. Hyväksytty

Retrieve eagerness: Picks up seagulls without any hesitation. Also picks up crows without any hesitation. Passed

Nouto-ote: Hyvät otteet kaikista linnuista. Hyväksytty

Retrieve grip: Good grip with every bird. Passed

Palauttaminen: Lokit rannalle, varikset vauhdikkaasti ohjaajalle käteen vaikka pari varista matkalla pudottaakin ja ottaa uudestaan mukaansa. Hyväksytty

Returns: Seagulls to shore, crows rapidly to handler even though a couple of crows drop on the way and dog picks them up again. Passed

Reagointi laukaukseen: Rauhallinen & tarkkaavainen. Hyväksytty

Reaction to shot: Peaceful & alert. Passed

Itseluottamus ja aloitekyky: Hyvä kaikissa tehtävissä. Hyväksytty

Self-confidence and initiative: Good in every task. Passed

Yhteistyö: Hyvä. Hyväkäsytty

Cooperation: Good. Passed

Yleisvaikutelma: Hyvässä yhteistyössä toimiva koira joka selvittää kokeen tehtävät tasaisen varmasti.

General appearance: Dog clears the trials tasks surely and works with good co-operation.

Excuses: Topi did best job ever in every part of the test. In addition to passing the test he got Trial personnel’s choice award (for the best dog of the day).

It finally happened! Luka went to a hunt test and got 1st prize in beginners class! This qualifies him to compete in open class in the future. General appearance: “An evenly working dog. Clears today’s tasks very well”. Luka’s evaluation

Haku: Liikkuu laajalla alueella ja löytää riittävän määrän riistaa.

Area search: Searches with good area coverage and picks up enough game.

Ohjattavuus: Selvittää tehtävän toisella lähetyksellä.

Guided retrieve: Completes the task on the second attempt.

Paikallistamiskyky: Hoitaa kaikki markkeeraustehtävät itsenäisesti.

Marking: Clears all tasks independently.

Riistankäsittely: Hyvä riistan käsittelijä.

Game handling: Good handler of game.

Jäljestämiskyky: Selvittää jäljen.

Tracking ability: Clears the task.

Muut ominaisuudet: RL [reagointi laukaukseen] rauhallinen.

Other qualities: Reaction to shot – peaceful.

Yleisvaikutelma: Tasaisesti työskentelevä uros. Selvittää päivän tehtävät hienosti.

General appearance: An evenly working dog. Clears today’s tasks very well.

Excuses: No need for them today :) Job well done!

Another try at tendency trial. Topi did a much better job this time. But… His self-confidence wasn’t good enough to complete the tracking part and the bunny was left in the forest. General appearance: “Dog that completes the tasks with good and steady pace. Unfortunately today the dog does not have enough self-confidence to complete the tracking task.”

Pictures © Sirpa Saastamoinen, thank you! Topi’s evaluation