Reuben
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 2014 |
quote: Originally posted by houndsound
I've noticed an evolution in conversation through the years...
At one time people seemed to ignore the idea that handler and their knowledge of the rules was an important aspect of the competition hunt... really were only focused on the idea that it was about the best dog winning.
Then it seemed there was an open acknowledgement in conversations on here that knowing the rules was a very important factor in doing well at the hunts.
Now for the past few years the idea that the hunt is only partly about the dog, and also partly about who can manipulate the rules seems to be embraced. Comments like, "he was showing that he was a team with his dog, using the rules to eliminate the competition" seem to be the dividing line.
Whereas some feel that is ok, some are offended by it. Personally for me... it makes me not want to do a competition hunt. I fully understand being a good handler means knowing the rules well... but I also want the game to highlight the best hound..... A handler using obscure or implied rulings and technicalities like a chess match with the other handlers isn't a game that appeals to me, and while it has become a normal and accepted "team" aspect... it really cheapens these titles and hunts to me.... as people openly admit now that the quality of dog has 50% at best input into who wins the hunt.
The lack of explanation as to what rule was broke, and where in the world it was an scratch-able offense is telling. I know when you watch a championship football game... they do not call very many incidental holding calls.... they let em' play.
I do not (and I understand some do) the view that all rules are black and white in these hunts. Discernment is really important in the application of any rules. When we watch a football game and see a pass interference call that was technically correct... but we know had no impact on the play we call it ticky tacky and understood the rule was technically broke, but applied without discernment. If a police officer pulled you over because you were driving 1 mph over the limit, and took you to jail... you wouldn't say... "he's right, technically I broke the law.... the laws are on the books and for the integrity of humanity we have to follow and enforce them." No... we we see it as a huge injustice because while the law was technically applied correctly- we understand discernment in the application of the law is more important than a black and white application of them.
Excellent post…
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Training dogs is not so much about quantity, it's more about timing, and the right situations...After that it's up to the dog....A hunting dog is born...
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