MSDA’s Annual Field Day — a FUN day of field work for bird dogs of all experience and skill levels — was Saturday April 17 at Rebel Ridge Farms in Elkton, MD.
Some photos are posted below. (Click on any photo to enlarge.) People are also sharing comments and photos on MSDA’s private Facebook group.
Flushing Group photos:
Pointing Group photos:
More Pointing Group photos, taken by Field Day participant Carolina Johnson:
Retrieving Group photos:
Field Day is always divided into groups according to hunting style: Flushing, Pointing, and Retrieving. Our hard-working group leaders and volunteers included very experienced handlers, hunters, hunt test judges, trainers and gunners. Group activities and individual attention for handlers and dogs were based on each individuals’ training goals for the day.
To keep all working groups small, Field Day was further split into morning and afternoon sessions, with a midday lunch break for all groups.
Field Day is designed to accommodate everyone from true beginner dogs (who have never met a bird) to experienced master hunters. Though activities are targeted at Sporting Group dogs who are interested in hunting, hunt tests, and field trials, Field Day welcomes all “birdy” dogs. Look who came! We had one or more of the following breeds this year: Barbet, Boykin Spaniel, Brittany, Clumber Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Flat-Coated Retriever, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Golden Retriever, Irish Red and White Setter, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Poodle, Standard Poodle, Sussex Spaniel, Vizsla, Weimaraner, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Field Day is set up to be attentive to each dog’s experience and needs, rather than running all dogs through a standard set of drills. We keep the groups small so that everyone gets plenty of time and attention. Birds and gunners were provided.