G.L.A.C.S.H.E.


Since those early days, we have had working certificate tests and in 1998 we also included a Started Dog test for American Water Spaniels. Fourteen spaniels of various breeds plus 5 American Water Spaniels entered that test and stayed for fun and good food afterwards.

We have also had multi-day clinics featuring clinicians such as Trish Jackson from Maine, owner of the first American Cocker Spaniel to earn a Master Hunter title (the late Ch. Pett's Southwest Breeze,MH,WDX, "Ruby") and the first American Cocker Spaniel to win a Field Trial Championship since the 60's (FC Madison's Pride and Passion SH) and Bob and Marsha Linehan from California. The Linehans are the owners/trainers/ handlers of 3 of the 5 Cocker Spaniels to earn the Master Hunter title as well as of the first Cocker Spaniel to qualify for National Field Trials since the trials were begun after having been discontinued in the 60's. All levels of experience came to these clinics, from puppies and adults who've never been in the field to more experienced dogs and handlers preparing for Senior or Master Hunt tests. Our clinicians have worked with them all and most participants have seen an improvement in their dog's performance and in their handling because of the expert advice received from these talented people.

Bobbie and Jason
Practice with a Pro - land work
Hunter
Practice with a Pro - water retrieve

A few years ago, in addition to attending practices held by other groups such as WESSA (Wisconsin English Springer Spaniel Assoc.) and the Southern Wisconsin Sporting Spaniel Assoc., we tried a "Practice With a Pro" series with professional field trial trainer Jason Givens of Lighthouse Kennels. This was a "Member-Only Benefit" in which the pro's time was paid for by GLACSHE and members only had to pay for their birds. Jason's expertise is in training English Springer Spaniels for field trials but he is knowledgeable about several spaniel breeds, including Field Spaniels, Clumbers and our own American Cocker Spaniels. This was such a popular activity that we continued these practices for several years.

More recently, 2001marked a milestone in our progress as a club when we became a member club of the American Spaniel Club, our parent organization and the breed club for Cocker Spaniels. We are thrilled that we are the first, and so far only, all-performance Cocker Spaniel club that we know of to be admitted into the ASC. Beginning last year we started the process towards becoming affiliated with the American Kennel Club and we have high hopes that this will be accomplished yet this year.

In September 2003, we sponsored two 3-day training seminars with professional dog trainer R. Jerry Cacchio of Pondview Kennels, NY. The first, held in June in partnership with the Fanciers' Cocker Spaniel Club of Southern Wisconsin, had 20 dogs and their handlers representing a variety of Spaniels of all levels of experience. Purina also provided support for a cookout supper held on the beach Saturday evening at Bong. The second 3-day seminar with Jerry was held in September, also at Bong. We filled to our 20 dog capacity well before the event date and some of those who attended the June event were able to continue their training with Jerry in September.We have continued these seminars with Jerry and Martin Deeley every year since then.

In 2004 we held an instinct evaluation test in connection with the Cocker Spaniel Summer Nationals in July and it was so popular that we held another one the following year at the Nationals in Perry, Georgia. Another popular event held regularly is the "Take Your Spaniel Hunting" training days held here in Wisconsin several times a year. Members gather with their spaniels to enjoy a day of training and hunting at a game farm in central Wisconsin. See our Calendar of Events for more information.

For information on the many events planned for the current year see our Calendar of Events page.

For information on the Field Committee of the American Spaniel Club, check out their web site. Contact Falmouth Video Productions for information on the new video "Form Follows Function" or access their Web page for a printable order form. It's an informational video which has been adopted by the board of the American Spaniel Club as required education material for conformation judges but it is inspirational for the rest of us. It relates the Cocker Spaniel standard to the function it is expected to perform in the field and has some wonderful shots of Cockers wiggling under, through and over obstacles in their quest to find game.

"*" For information on membership, contact Vickie Dahlk

Last updated May 14, 2006

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