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Selecting a Pro Trainer Several weeks ago I made the decision to send my youngest German Shorthaired Pointer, Max off to professional trainer Gene Wullkotte. While it was in some ways difficult to do so, I came to the realization that with the insane schedule I was currently facing, coupled with hopes for some field trial victories for Max, there were few options that would help achieve my goals.
In most cases selecting a pro trainer is something that should be given about as much consideration as one would a prospective spouse, doctor or attorney. In this case however I already enjoyed a personal relationship with Gene and new very well that his training program was sound, made sense and most importantly worked. With a good number of champions and future champions already residing in his kennel coupled with the fact that Gene also worked as an upland bird guide, it was clear that if I was going to take the plunge of employing the services of a professional trainer, Gene Wullkotte was not only the most logical, but the best choice I could make.
Dropping off Max was a bitter sweet experience however I knew that he would be well cared for and even spoiled a little by Gene’s wife Ute. In meeting with Gene, we discussed the objectives I hoped Max’s training would achieve. To begin with Max was a textbook boot polisher. While my older GSP Shiloh had no problem heading to the horizon to find birds, Max exhibited less than what would be considered boldness when it came to finding birds, especially by field trial judges. Furthermore, since Max wasn’t exactly known for being a hard charger when it came to ranging out to find birds, his physical conditioning also suffered. In addition to his other less than desirable behaviors, Max had a very bad habit of looping to the sides and behind and not out front where he should be. With an upcoming AKC sanctioned field trial hosted by the Desert German Shorthaired Pointer Club only weeks away, Gene certainly had his work cut out for him.
During Max’s stay with Gene, I made as many visits as possible which is a very big part of Gene’s program as Gene views the training process as not only training the dog but also the owner which was an approach I found quite encouraging. During each visit it was obvious to me that Gene was indeed making headway. My little, somewhat roly-poly puppy was taking on the appearance of a lean, well-muscled bird finder. In addition Gene had begun exposing Max to birds and was also beginning the all-important task of teaching Max how to behave around birds. So feeling evermore optimistic, I began to actually look forward to the upcoming field trial.
With the trial looming ever closer, my phone calls and e-mails to Gene became more and more frequent. While you could probably chalk it up to “pre-invasion jitters” I remembered with great clarity the previous field trial Max had run in and to put it delicately, it wasn’t pretty. While Max did make some great finds, he also found the judges horses and also the fence line and other interesting terrain features well outside the established course. In fact, Max even doubled back a couple times to make sure no birds managed to get behind us. Needless to say, the judge’s view of Max’s performance was not something to get excited about. At any rate, the day finally came and I found myself standing at the starting line awaiting the breakaway.
A good friend of mine Tom Paz had accompanied me to the trial and as he put it, it was unclear as to who was actually running, Max or me. I must have been the poster child for nervous wreck of the month as the judges began the Derby stake only I was in for a big, big surprise. The change I saw in Max was nothing short of miraculous. At the breakaway, Max took off like an F-18 shot off the flight deck of an aircraft carrier and made a very bold cast straight up the course. Max showed none of the timid or apprehensive behavior he had previously displayed, which made me stop and think, “Is this my dog?” With precision, skill and boldness Max made the first of what would be four finds. My heart leapt as little Max was actually up front, where he should be, moving like a bolt of lightening while he investigated every patch of bird-likely cover with an intensity and meticulousness I had never before seen in my formerly timid puppy.
The results of the day said it all. A testament to Gene’s hard work as well as Max’s future as a potential champion, Max took a well-earned 3rd place in the second field trial of what I hope will be a long career. While a few friends remarked that it would have been better had Max taken first place, this was truly nothing short of Monday morning quarterbacking. Max had a very tough group of competitors in the derby stake and even had he not placed it was very obvious that Gene had performed nothing short of a miracle by transforming my little Max into a bold, efficient bird finder who had plenty of smarts, heart and drive to spare.
While the trip home to Gilbert may seem anti-climactic, I have been hunting Max for the past several days and I have to say he is an absolute joy in the field. He’s always up front and he casts like a dream. While it is a fact that quail populations in Arizona can fluctuate, Max does all he can to locate and pin even the most cagey birds. His heart, drive and desire are rivaled by none and when the day is over and we head home, he still remembers to play with my toddling son Christopher. No doubt this all-important part of Max’s demeanor is due to the spoiling and loving lavished upon him by Gene’s wife Ute.
The Desert German Shorthaired Pointer Club is hosting another field trial near Tombstone in mid January. As such I have signed Max up for Blankenburg Kennel’s Wither Camp 2002/2003. Sure it would be great for Max to win a 1st Place berth in the Derby Stake but after the results I have seen from Gene’s training program, it is very clear to me that regardless of Max’s placement, it will indeed be time well spent. |
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