Dear Manny,
You are so much better than I let you be at your first NAVHDA Natural Ability test. So many distractions that you hadn’t been prepared for, a driving, drenching, bone-chilling rain, and stressed owner who let it show. I’m sorry.
We'll do better next time, Manny
You did your best, when you could figure out what I wanted from you. But when your pent-up energy and my tension met, they created a perfect storm on the field. Judges called it “willful mutilation of a game bird as to be unfit for the table” and we were out. They judges did their best to help you – and me – do things right after that, but we weren’t in the running for any kind of prize after you reduced that chukar to its component parts.
Yes, it is a test of your genetics, designed to find out if your family tree is fruitful. But more training from me would have helped bring out your instincts, or at least insulate you from the distractions. You shone in so many areas: searched in that high-energy balls-out way that shows so much joy, pointed like a champ in that downpour, tracked a pheasant 50 yards then pointed it. But one slip and we were off the “A” list – for that day.
I could have been a better cheerleader when you hesitated at water’s edge, maybe focused you more when that woman came along the dike, and when the gallery looked so inviting. But you eventually swam the requisite two times. Again, the judges did their best to help you succeed, and to relax when they checked your eyes, teeth, and coat. Even when one judge had to jog back to the gallery to catch us and count your testes, you were calm.
If it’s any consolation, you weren’t alone that stormy day. Your packmates were also troubled by the pelting rain, cold, and crowd. Commiseration was thick as we shivered under the tents, dogs and humans alike wishing we could have a mulligan on this dreary day.
It’s true that on any given day any dog can pass – or fail – this test. And I know you will pass next time. I’ve learned what needs work (obedience, especially to “here”) and promise I will help you become a great versatile dog with the test scores to prove it. Thanks for trying so hard.
Your hunting partner,
Scott
Scott Linden Outdoors 
Manny & Scott,
it was great to meet you yesterday! Even though the judges tried to give us words of encouragement it was a long ride home licking our wounded pride from a valiant effort that fell short.
Petey has it right, we know what our boys will do in the field. There is some comfort in knowing those pro baseball players make millions and only make it on base 4 out 10 times in a good season. In school we’d fail with an average like that. We can’t take our no prize as a sign of pass or fail but another day of training.
Good Pointing
Hobbes (& Terry)
Absolutely Terry! The training plan has been altered accordingly. Great to meet you and maybe we can connect in the field some day.
Don’t let it get you down, Manny (or Scott). It sounds like you were on pace for a good score. It happens to the best of us. The test secretary in my chapter had his dog judged “gun shy” at his NA test which is also an automatic No Prize. That same dog ran in the 2009 NAVHDA Invitational.
Remember, Nolan Ryan didn’t pitch no hitters every day or strike out every batter he faced, and Joe Montana didn’t complete every pass he threw or win the Super Bowl every year.
The NAVHDA system is very good, but the judges will only see your dog for about 30 minutes and make an assessment based on this little glimpse. You see Manny every day.
Glad to hear you are going to run him again (we happen to have a few open slots in our test coming up May 14 and 15 if you want to make an earlier trip to IL).
Thanks Petey. Yep, every test is a snapshot in time and I’m well aware of that. Buddy soared on his NA, 112 Prize 1 after I’d agonized over his water test for weeks. He had a good day. Manny, the opposite. Onward!