EASTERN REGION ELECTION
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John Dawber (Current Director of the Eastern Region)
I am married to my wonderful wife of 39 years, Karen. She has been very patient and supporting as I spend time with the dogs, compete in some hunt tests and Judging others. I also have one grown child and two grandchildren. I retired from the Logan Airport Fire Department several years ago to spend more time with the dogs, hunting and working on the "honey-do" list. I thoroughly enjoy judging and have learned so much from many great dog handlers, pro and amateur, which has helped me be a better handler myself. I feel it is important to give back to this sport to make it better. I know first-hand, the challenges that volunteer organizations have in finding people to donate their time and talents to make the organizations survive and meet their obligations.
I have been an avid bird hunter since high school. I started hunting pheasants and rabbits over beagles. As time went on, I would go on duck hunts with friends, sometimes with a dog sometimes doing the retrieving ourselves. I started hunting with a good friend and he had dogs that he hunted over and also competed in Hunt tests, so I started tagging along. Soon, we started with a co-owned dog that he did most of the training on. That dog ended up competing in both the Grand and the Master National becoming a GRHRCH. So, we purchased more dogs, and I took a more active roll with some of those dogs. I trained and handled dogs to the Master National, Master Amateur and Canadian National Master. Through many trials and tribulations, “Dude” was entered into the Master National Hall of Fame in 2018.
Currently I have three yellow labs: "Dude," "Ivy" and "Whitey" that are a pleasure to have in my family.
Hunt tests are a team sport. The dogs and handlers need to work as a team to be successful. I enjoy setting up tests that are challenging to bring out the best in each team. The tests need to be fair, and that includes good bird placement and challenging blinds, no tricks needed.
I am married to my wonderful wife of 39 years, Karen. She has been very patient and supporting as I spend time with the dogs, compete in some hunt tests and Judging others. I also have one grown child and two grandchildren. I retired from the Logan Airport Fire Department several years ago to spend more time with the dogs, hunting and working on the "honey-do" list. I thoroughly enjoy judging and have learned so much from many great dog handlers, pro and amateur, which has helped me be a better handler myself. I feel it is important to give back to this sport to make it better. I know first-hand, the challenges that volunteer organizations have in finding people to donate their time and talents to make the organizations survive and meet their obligations.
I have been an avid bird hunter since high school. I started hunting pheasants and rabbits over beagles. As time went on, I would go on duck hunts with friends, sometimes with a dog sometimes doing the retrieving ourselves. I started hunting with a good friend and he had dogs that he hunted over and also competed in Hunt tests, so I started tagging along. Soon, we started with a co-owned dog that he did most of the training on. That dog ended up competing in both the Grand and the Master National becoming a GRHRCH. So, we purchased more dogs, and I took a more active roll with some of those dogs. I trained and handled dogs to the Master National, Master Amateur and Canadian National Master. Through many trials and tribulations, “Dude” was entered into the Master National Hall of Fame in 2018.
Currently I have three yellow labs: "Dude," "Ivy" and "Whitey" that are a pleasure to have in my family.
Hunt tests are a team sport. The dogs and handlers need to work as a team to be successful. I enjoy setting up tests that are challenging to bring out the best in each team. The tests need to be fair, and that includes good bird placement and challenging blinds, no tricks needed.