"BANG!" Firing a shotgun blank alerts the gun dog and its handler that the trial has begun. Four birds-dead ducks or pheasants-get launched to land at prearranged distances. Then the training begins to show. Properly, the dog follows each bird in the air and "marks" where it lands. But the dog remains immobile, at "heel." If it budges beforehand, that "break" disqualifies it. After the fourth bird lands, the handler speaks the dog's name, which "releases" the dog to retrieve. The dog returns each bird in turn, giving it up on the command "drop it." Then the dog goes after the next target-its memory of the landing point slowly fading. All the while, judges watch to see if the dog has closely tracked and recalled the landing spot. Excessive meandering around in the general direction of the bird until it is found counts for less than a definite retrieval. Even champions have off days.
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