Miles Traveled, Lessons Learned, Bonds Strengthened: The Final Springer Trials
- Todd Agnew
- Nov 7, 2025
- 3 min read
There’s something unmistakable about the final stretch of the season. The miles feel a little longer, the mornings a little crisper, and every moment in the field carries just a bit more weight. These last springer open trials aren’t just about scores or placements — they’re about the journey that brought us here. The long drives, the early coffee before daylight, the quiet walks to the line where nerves meet hope.
We’ve watched young dogs grow into confident competitors, seasoned dogs settle into their craft with quiet certainty, and handlers evolve right alongside them. Each brace has told its own story — some triumphant, some humbling, all meaningful.
Field trials have a way of revealing who we are, not just what our dogs can do. They show us patience we didn’t know we had, resilience we didn’t know we needed, and deeper bonds than we ever expected to build. As we close out this season, we’re not just wrapping up a calendar — we’re adding another chapter to a journey that continues to shape us, dog and handler alike.
Congratulations to Todd & Chance on their placement at the
Pittsburgh English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Club
A special thank you to the judges Vern and Phil and also to the club for putting on a great trial once again .
NFC FC NFTCH FTCH CROSSWINDS WATCH THIS ~ CHANCE
Owner - Cheryl Spearling
Handler - Todd
Congratulations!!!!
Skitters Ringtail ~ Rex
2nd place and gunners award at the Sudbury field trial.
Owner ~Scott
Handler ~ Todd
~~
Raintree’s Gimmie Some Sugah of Craney Hill ~ Tilly
4th place at the Sudbury field trial.
Owner ~ Dustin
Handler ~ Todd
Congratulations to our sweet Chance on his placement also at the Cincinnati field trial. We cherish each moment
Thank you to the wonderful judges for this trial.
NFC FC NFTCH FTCH Crosswinds Watch This - Chance
Owner - Cheryl
Handler - Todd
Congratulations to Buzz on his placement at Stillwater Spaniel Field Trial.
This is Buzz's first open placement in the US...
Starbury Buzz of Wingfoot-Canadian
Owner - Ms. Bev
Handler- Todd
What stands out most at the end of a season like this isn’t a ribbon or a scorecard. It’s the way a dog leans into your leg at the line. The way their eyes stay locked on you, waiting for the next cue. The soft tap of their tail when they know they’ve done something right.
It’s the quiet victories no judge ever sees. The steadiness that finally clicked. The cast that felt effortless. The trust that deepened, step by step, bird to bird.
For every dog that took to the line this season, there was a journey behind it — weeks of training, small breakthroughs, setbacks that tested patience, and moments where something finally connected. The connection between handler and dog isn’t built in big moments alone. It’s built in repetition, in showing up, in believing in one another even on the tough days.
And as the season closes, we’re reminded that every ending is just a pause before the next chapter. The off-season isn’t idle. It’s where skills are sharpened, foundations reinforced, confidence rebuilt, and young dogs begin to understand their purpose.
The field will green up again. The birds will flush wild and unpredictable. The whistle will echo across new places. The dogs will be ready — and so will we.
For now, we give gratitude for the miles, the lessons, and the bonds strengthened along the way. This season was more than competition.It was connection — with our dogs, with each other, and with the land we love to walk.
We want to thank each of you who have trusted us with your dogs this season. It’s an honor we never take lightly. Every dog that comes through our program becomes part of our story, and part of our hearts. Thank you for allowing us to help shape their journey, to guide their growth, and to walk beside you in this process. The miles, the moments, the memories — we share them with you.
Here’s to the season behind us, and to all the chapters still to come.
#TrustTheProcess #DogAndHandler #RelationshipBeforeResults #MilesTraveledLessonsLearned #BondStrengthened #PuppyDevelopment #ObedienceWork
