Broken Dreams Carried Over To Next Year

As I write this post John and Gambler are headed back from a very hot long weekend of running a AKC Master test. Gambler did a great job on two series and needed to pick up two ducks in the third series to pass the test and receive his title. Something happened in Gamblers mind and he was having troubles picking up the last bird, John handled him but he did his own thing and for that he failed. No ribbon, no title and some broken dreams.

1st Master Pass

Big dreams I had, doesn’t everyone have big dreams when it comes to something you are passionate about? My passion is my dogs and this year my big dream was for Gambler to receive his AKC Master Hunter title. Gambler started running Master Hunter tests last summer, the summer didn’t go as well as I had planned as we were to “newbie’s” to the game and it just wasn’t working for us. Needless to say that summer didn’t end to well for us and we were back to the drawing board on figuring out this whole master level test stuff. We took the winter off of hunt test training concentrated on hunting and was back at the hunt test game this spring.

Of course I had high hopes and big dreams for this summer of testing. When you own a dog your dog is the best in your eyes, your dog can do no wrong, your dog is better than anyone else’s dog for that is how it should be viewed in my opinion. And that is how I feel about Gambler and even know I have some broken dreams to deal with Gambler will still be number one in my eyes and that is all that counts!

3rd Master Pass

As I remember this summer I need to reflect on how proud this dog has made me and how far we have come. I’m going to tell you a little bit about Gambler and I. Gambler is the first dog that I have trained by myself, I have trained other dogs through Junior Hunter level but I have never trained for Senior or Master level. This was a whole new experience for us. We had our ups and downs and we figured out what needed to be done and Gambler received his Senior Hunter title. Moving on to Masters this is a whole new game that is big league. I was happy with little league but big league? I’m not a big league person, I can’t think fast, I can’t remember too many things at once I can’t run with the big dogs but did that keep me on the porch? No sir re Bob it didn’t keep me there I got off the porch and ran my dog. We learned a lot during those runs, we learned that there is no I in team and that you have to be a team player to win so I stopped running Gambler as he wasn’t respecting me. I couldn’t even go to a hunt test and watch John run him as he lost his mind and would be looking at me in the gallery so that is when I decided that in order for Gambler to pass I needed to stay home. I still trained him but John handled him. He responded better to John and this spring when John started running him he had his first Master Hunter pass, then he had number two, then three and four mind you he did have some fails during his run of passes but it wasn’t like it was last summer. Gambler turned 4 and I think it was finally clicking with him we were training really well together. John was continuing to handle him at the hunt tests and I would train, John would do a bit of training after he got home from work but not in a group setting. During this time we were training for two types of hunt test scenarios, besides running AKC hunt tests we also run UKC hunt tests which are run differently so the dog has to adjust to two different ways of competing, it’s hard enough to run one type of competition try switching gears one weekend and doing something different. Some may think if you have a trained dog then what’s the problem the problem is you are challenging their minds and switching things up often so how can you get consistency when you’re always switching things up? Mind you too that we aren’t training every day like pro’s do. I train when I can, sometimes it’s once a week and sometimes it’s twice a week and when we train we normally set up a hunt test scenario so your dog comes to the line and makes 3 retrieves on land, does a blind or two then goes to water and does either a double or triple and a blind or two on water then it gets put up and that is your training for the day unless you do something on your own at home which most of the time I don’t have time for so I shouldn’t be disappointed when he fails as really he is doing great for the amount of training he has had and I have to remember he is just a dog and $hit happens!

4th Master Pass

So should I really say that my dreams are broken….no I shouldn’t. He has come so far this summer and ends the season with needing one more pass for his title and I have no doubt that he will get it when we start the season off next year. I am proud of him for what he has done and I thank my husband for spending every weekend at a hunt test this summer running my dog. Next year I might just be standing by his side handling him myself.

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18 Replies to “Broken Dreams Carried Over To Next Year”

Dakota/Caren/Cody August 17, 2015 at 6:27 am

you are correct, he is STILL a WINNER and so are you!!! Everything happens in its own time and look at ALL that you have both accomplished!!! You should be proud! Both of you!

easyweimaraner August 17, 2015 at 6:34 am

I’m with you on that front … and I felt the heavy rock in my tummy, like always when I drive home with empty hands while reading about your broken dreams. I think you can be proud anyway, that’s YOUR boy and he was so fabulous in the last tests. Hugs to you and your super boy, he is a gem, I know it :o)

Cathy Connolly August 17, 2015 at 6:39 am

You should be very proud of Gman, John and yourself! Sometimes in the dog show world, it takes years to get your dog to it’s championship title~with that in mind I would say that in only 2 summers of working toward his title~~Gman is doing very, very well!! So are mom and dad 🙂

cape cod brown dogs August 17, 2015 at 6:41 am

Sometimes some of us just have to do our own thing.
Gambler is great and when you least expect it he just ” may do what you want him to”
Till then, enjoy the never boring ride with your
Big Brown Boy
Woofs and Hugs

2 Brown Dawgs August 17, 2015 at 6:51 am

He passed a lot of tests for you this year and he will get it next year. Besides there were several dogs that did goofy shit this weekend. I think it was the heat…lol.

Will and Eko August 17, 2015 at 9:04 am

Both you and G have a mountain of reasons to be proud. It will make it that much sweeter when you guys finally get to the promised land.

M. K. Clinton August 17, 2015 at 9:22 am

He has made great strides this summer. You should all be proud of his accomplishments. We are certainly impressed!

chasingdogtales August 17, 2015 at 10:19 am

I’m very proud of both you and Gambler. The victories that come after struggles truly are the sweetest.

Spencer the Goldendoodle August 17, 2015 at 10:23 am

He had a lot to be proud of. It is always good to set high goal for ourselves and look at this as a opportunity to train harder! Have a great Monday! 🙂

Jenna,Mark “HuskyCrazed” Drady August 17, 2015 at 10:55 am

Aw i’m sorry things didn’t work out. I know he tried his best, and you have done some amazing training with him, so way to go both of you!!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

Emmadog August 17, 2015 at 10:59 am

Mom gets it. Her dreams have been blown up by Bailie a few times now. Yes, dog sports should be all about the fun with maybe some titles, but it is hard for Mom to accept failure. Hopefully, next year will be “the year”. Until then, it is lots of frustration and we get it.

Jodi August 17, 2015 at 11:51 am

I think you’ve done a fine job with him and he’s done very well for still being young. I know you are disappointed, but it’s true, things happen in their own time for their own reasons. It will come, have patience and in the meantime, bask in the titles he has already achieved.

Taryn August 17, 2015 at 12:45 pm

Coming from dog agility as I do, I completely understand your mind set. As Jimmy and I worked toward our MACH, I saw dogs from our puppy classes get multiple MACHs (one gal and her cocker are at MACH11!) and we still languished behind, one mistake or another. I understand the frustration and disappointment, but it will happen! Keep training, keep trying and that day will come. And it will be very sweet indeed!

Groovy Goldendoodles August 17, 2015 at 1:28 pm

He’s a winner with all of us here in Doodleville. We’ve enjoyed each and every accomplishment. We’re huge fans!

Jan K August 17, 2015 at 5:10 pm

I understand the disappointment, but also know that you still have SO much to be proud of! Most importantly, all the hard work you are all doing to achieve your dreams. Your determination will get you there, I know it!
Also, I’m amazed when I read both your and Linda’s posts about training and tests…there is so much to this, and I think that every step you accomplish is really something!

Pooch Smooches August 17, 2015 at 6:39 pm

As you said at the end – it’s not a broken dream… just a dream that’s still in the “dream” stage. I’m sure next year it will be a dream achieved! It sounds like a lot of work and you guys have come a long way together! I’m always super impressed. I haven’t even been able to train Rita to roll over. 🙂

Dolly the Doxie August 17, 2015 at 7:38 pm

I think you should be very proud of Gambler and yourself! Love Dolly

Rama's Mama August 17, 2015 at 7:43 pm

You have accomplished SO much. I love reading your posts and learning all about these tests and this type of training. I am strictly an Obedience and Conformation girl so anything new to me in dogs is intensely fascinating. You have certainly worked hard and deserve to be proud.

Dakota/Caren/Cody August 17, 2015 at 6:27 am

you are correct, he is STILL a WINNER and so are you!!! Everything happens in its own time and look at ALL that you have both accomplished!!! You should be proud! Both of you!
easyweimaraner August 17, 2015 at 6:34 am

I’m with you on that front … and I felt the heavy rock in my tummy, like always when I drive home with empty hands while reading about your broken dreams. I think you can be proud anyway, that’s YOUR boy and he was so fabulous in the last tests. Hugs to you and your super boy, he is a gem, I know it :o)
Cathy Connolly August 17, 2015 at 6:39 am

You should be very proud of Gman, John and yourself! Sometimes in the dog show world, it takes years to get your dog to it’s championship title~with that in mind I would say that in only 2 summers of working toward his title~~Gman is doing very, very well!! So are mom and dad 🙂
cape cod brown dogs August 17, 2015 at 6:41 am

Sometimes some of us just have to do our own thing.
Gambler is great and when you least expect it he just ” may do what you want him to”
Till then, enjoy the never boring ride with your
Big Brown Boy
Woofs and Hugs
2 Brown Dawgs August 17, 2015 at 6:51 am

He passed a lot of tests for you this year and he will get it next year. Besides there were several dogs that did goofy shit this weekend. I think it was the heat…lol.
Will and Eko August 17, 2015 at 9:04 am

Both you and G have a mountain of reasons to be proud. It will make it that much sweeter when you guys finally get to the promised land.
M. K. Clinton August 17, 2015 at 9:22 am

He has made great strides this summer. You should all be proud of his accomplishments. We are certainly impressed!
chasingdogtales August 17, 2015 at 10:19 am

I’m very proud of both you and Gambler. The victories that come after struggles truly are the sweetest.
Spencer the Goldendoodle August 17, 2015 at 10:23 am

He had a lot to be proud of. It is always good to set high goal for ourselves and look at this as a opportunity to train harder! Have a great Monday! 🙂
Jenna,Mark “HuskyCrazed” Drady August 17, 2015 at 10:55 am

Aw i’m sorry things didn’t work out. I know he tried his best, and you have done some amazing training with him, so way to go both of you!!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Emmadog August 17, 2015 at 10:59 am

Mom gets it. Her dreams have been blown up by Bailie a few times now. Yes, dog sports should be all about the fun with maybe some titles, but it is hard for Mom to accept failure. Hopefully, next year will be “the year”. Until then, it is lots of frustration and we get it.
Jodi August 17, 2015 at 11:51 am

I think you’ve done a fine job with him and he’s done very well for still being young. I know you are disappointed, but it’s true, things happen in their own time for their own reasons. It will come, have patience and in the meantime, bask in the titles he has already achieved.
Taryn August 17, 2015 at 12:45 pm

Coming from dog agility as I do, I completely understand your mind set. As Jimmy and I worked toward our MACH, I saw dogs from our puppy classes get multiple MACHs (one gal and her cocker are at MACH11!) and we still languished behind, one mistake or another. I understand the frustration and disappointment, but it will happen! Keep training, keep trying and that day will come. And it will be very sweet indeed!
Groovy Goldendoodles August 17, 2015 at 1:28 pm

He’s a winner with all of us here in Doodleville. We’ve enjoyed each and every accomplishment. We’re huge fans!
Jan K August 17, 2015 at 5:10 pm

I understand the disappointment, but also know that you still have SO much to be proud of! Most importantly, all the hard work you are all doing to achieve your dreams. Your determination will get you there, I know it!
Also, I’m amazed when I read both your and Linda’s posts about training and tests…there is so much to this, and I think that every step you accomplish is really something!
Pooch Smooches August 17, 2015 at 6:39 pm

As you said at the end – it’s not a broken dream… just a dream that’s still in the “dream” stage. I’m sure next year it will be a dream achieved! It sounds like a lot of work and you guys have come a long way together! I’m always super impressed. I haven’t even been able to train Rita to roll over. 🙂
Dolly the Doxie August 17, 2015 at 7:38 pm

I think you should be very proud of Gambler and yourself! Love Dolly
Rama's Mama August 17, 2015 at 7:43 pm

You have accomplished SO much. I love reading your posts and learning all about these tests and this type of training. I am strictly an Obedience and Conformation girl so anything new to me in dogs is intensely fascinating. You have certainly worked hard and deserve to be proud.