Viewing Single Post From: "Out to the Side"

Viewing Single Post From: "Out to the Side"
Clyde Gott	Feb 18 2009, 02:27 PM
Administrator Posts: 691 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: May 16, 2007	For the sake of clarity…when I say “out to the side”…what I’m talking about is “weaving” on the line. I’m NOT talking about swinging or skirting. Here’s how AKC defines swinging and skirting (5-C Definitions—Faulty Actions http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RF2404.pdf pg. 30 ): Swinging is casting out too far and too soon from the last point of contact, without first making an attempt to regain scent near the loss. It is a gambling action, quite often indicating over-competitiveness or an attempt to gain unearned advantage over running mates. Skirting is purposely leaving the trail in an attempt to gain a lead or avoid hazardous cover or hard work. It is cutting out and around true trailing mates in an attempt to intercept the trail ahead. Weaving on the line is addressed here (5-B Definitions—Desirable Qualities http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RF2404.pdf pg. 28 ): Accuracy in trailing is the ability to keep consistent control of the trail while making the best possible progress. *An accurate trailing hound will show a marked tendency to follow the trail with a minimum of weaving* on and off,** and will display an aptness to turn with the trail and to determine direction of game travel in a positive manner. Someone says, “How do you define minimum?” Well, anything less than half or 50% of the time. If a hound is spending more time off the line than on it…it ain’t gona get much done anyway and will send “itself” to the truck. Now…is this hound that’s out to the side or weaving disrupting the pack? No. Does it deserve to be picked up? If the weaving is a minimum and he’s a getter done…I say let the big dog eat!!! If you say yes…I ask why??? Please remember, “Credit for working style should be used chiefly to differentiate between successful performers, and should never be applied to a degree which might indicate that style or method has been preferred to accomplishment, except in instances where excessive faultiness is involved.” (5-D Credits http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RF2404.pdf pg. 31 ). Hey Mr. Judge…do you want a smooth running winners pack with fewer checks that can pound a bunny? Well loose that “three strikes and you’re out” mentality on that hound that’s doing a “little” weaving and pick up those mouthy hounds that are causing more harm than good by barking us out of the rabbit and causing the majority of the checks. For that hound that just wants to run on the side “hoping” the rabbit makes a cut in their direction so they can get some…needs to go to the truck!!! And we’ve all seen hounds that make high speed decisions and get “hung out”…and sometimes the way they get “back in” is just as ugly. But lest we “throw the baby out with the bath water”…as judges we should ask ourselves…what has this hound accomplished prior to this “transgression”? If the good out weighs the hound’s error…then rock on. If this hound develops a “pattern” on getting “hung out”…then it’s time for it to go to the truck as well. I believe it was Billy McDaniel that I heard say, “A hound can’t get out…until it gets in!” Case in point…we’ve got a check in fairly thick cover…(remember the hounds are suppose to be independent in their search)…sudden hound A gets the check. Now, the hounds come from all directions to honor their pack mate. Well those hounds directly behind hound A are very likely to “travel” directly to hound A. Whereas other hounds that are out to the side of hound A, will come from (you guessed it) from one side or the other. And should we be shocked when that hound out on the side hunting the check…doesn’t fall into the rear. Remember it’s honoring the hound that’s got the check…most likely the lead hound. So, mister judge sir…please, quit waving your hand out and in at the “restart” of the race…cause we didn’t have a “yellow flag,” we had a “check”…LOL! Besides, “A hound can’t get out…until it gets in!” But the bottom line is...is said dog making more money (accomplishment) than he's spending (demerits)? If the positive out weighs the negative...the rules say the dog should stay down...period. Is he perfect? No. Is he the winner? If he's accomplished more than any other hound down...what else should we call him...but the WINNER??? I ain’t never loved a “peanut roller” or a “wind splitter”…and my Daddy always told me that there was more than one way to “skin a cat” without getting hair in your mouth. But as Judges, “we” need to be putting the blues on the winners…not the one “I” like. Ask any good honest Judge, that’s judged very long…and they’ll tell ya they've put wins on hounds that they wouldn’t own. If hound “so and so” ISN’T displaying “excessive faultiness” and it’s getting the most accomplished…THAT’S YOUR WINNER!!!! It doesn’t matter how it’s bred or who its owner is…or if you even “like it”. We’re supposed to be looking for the WINNER!!! Gentleman, we’ve got a good rule book…we just need to learn it and make some applications. Remember it ain’t rocket science…and they’s just dogs.
	Clyde Gott Honey Creek Kennels

"Out to the Side" · Beagles