Why test? Train for the test so your dog is ready for the hunt.....
Jim Wion and Anna vom König-Haus,
Rhonda Wiley and Ariana vom König-Haus
The VDD has established strict guide lines for
breeding and has enhanced and preserved the quality over the years by only breeding those who have met the standard. Testing and maintaining records of performance is how this is achieved and is very important to give the breeders feed back as to how well a particular litter is holding up according the breed standards. It gives the breed history .
Another important aspect of testing is as a trainer, in my case a first time trainer/handler, it has gave me a guideline of where my dog needed to be and a deadline to get there. While Ariana wasn't my first hunting dog, I had never trained any hunting dog. My husband had always handled the training of our English Pointers and Beagles. I had always wanted a dog that hunted on my side of the ditch and the only way that was going to happen was if the dog had confidence in me as a hunter/handler. When I picked up my puppy, I was open to testing, but was still looking into it. I now know that training to test is why I have the dog I have. Not only because of the outline it gave me as a new trainer/handler, but also because I now know all the history and painstaking countless hours that have been put into ensuring that the day I picked up my first Drahthaar puppy, I would get a good one. Every dog breed in the VDD has to meet a mandatory standard or it cannot be registered with the VDD.
After training/handling my second dog, Miss Tilli, I've learned much more. One important thing, above all the rest, is "begin with the end in mind". What this meant for Miss Tilli and me, is to train for the VGP (Utility) from day one. Have that goal in mind and head in that direction. I had no idea IF we would meet that goal at 18 months, I just knew that in order for me prove to myself I could finish a dog, I needed that achieve that goal...... I need to bring home the SILVER VGP PLATE. There was never any doubt Miss Tilli could do it, I just needed to learn about the VGP and how to train/prepare both her and myself for it. I did begin with the end in mind with Miss Tilli!
Another lesson I learned from handling/training two dogs is the importance of attending a test and observing as close as possible (without interfering). For most people, this is common sense, for me it was not. I pass this along in hopes that others will learn from it. In preparation I talked to a lot of people about the VGP test, read about it, worked hard at it. However, until I headed down that blood track and realized this is NOT at ALL what I thought it would be like did I realize the full value in actually closely observing a test. Hindsight, I now realize, even though the track was laid differently, the dog and the blood, was still the same. The pressure I felt was what was different however, if I had only drawn a deep breath and cleared my head, Tilli and I would have been fine. We made it through, but my nerves cost her 5 points. It also took her from a prize II to a prize III. Lesson learned! There were several people in the gallery at our VGP. I called them our cheerleaders. I am certain that their take away will be put to good use when they run their first VGP!
To find out more about testing with in the VDD check out the following link.
breeding and has enhanced and preserved the quality over the years by only breeding those who have met the standard. Testing and maintaining records of performance is how this is achieved and is very important to give the breeders feed back as to how well a particular litter is holding up according the breed standards. It gives the breed history .
Another important aspect of testing is as a trainer, in my case a first time trainer/handler, it has gave me a guideline of where my dog needed to be and a deadline to get there. While Ariana wasn't my first hunting dog, I had never trained any hunting dog. My husband had always handled the training of our English Pointers and Beagles. I had always wanted a dog that hunted on my side of the ditch and the only way that was going to happen was if the dog had confidence in me as a hunter/handler. When I picked up my puppy, I was open to testing, but was still looking into it. I now know that training to test is why I have the dog I have. Not only because of the outline it gave me as a new trainer/handler, but also because I now know all the history and painstaking countless hours that have been put into ensuring that the day I picked up my first Drahthaar puppy, I would get a good one. Every dog breed in the VDD has to meet a mandatory standard or it cannot be registered with the VDD.
After training/handling my second dog, Miss Tilli, I've learned much more. One important thing, above all the rest, is "begin with the end in mind". What this meant for Miss Tilli and me, is to train for the VGP (Utility) from day one. Have that goal in mind and head in that direction. I had no idea IF we would meet that goal at 18 months, I just knew that in order for me prove to myself I could finish a dog, I needed that achieve that goal...... I need to bring home the SILVER VGP PLATE. There was never any doubt Miss Tilli could do it, I just needed to learn about the VGP and how to train/prepare both her and myself for it. I did begin with the end in mind with Miss Tilli!
Another lesson I learned from handling/training two dogs is the importance of attending a test and observing as close as possible (without interfering). For most people, this is common sense, for me it was not. I pass this along in hopes that others will learn from it. In preparation I talked to a lot of people about the VGP test, read about it, worked hard at it. However, until I headed down that blood track and realized this is NOT at ALL what I thought it would be like did I realize the full value in actually closely observing a test. Hindsight, I now realize, even though the track was laid differently, the dog and the blood, was still the same. The pressure I felt was what was different however, if I had only drawn a deep breath and cleared my head, Tilli and I would have been fine. We made it through, but my nerves cost her 5 points. It also took her from a prize II to a prize III. Lesson learned! There were several people in the gallery at our VGP. I called them our cheerleaders. I am certain that their take away will be put to good use when they run their first VGP!
To find out more about testing with in the VDD check out the following link.
A few pictures from 2015-2016 hunting season in Missouri and Kansas.....
December 2013 pictures
Previous years...
