Upland Training

Today Mid Atlantic Hunting Retriever Club of Virginia had a Training Day for our upcoming HRC Quad Upland Hunt Test next weekend. I want to give a big THANK YOU to all the friends who helped me. They explained how the poppers worked and gave me some insight into Upland objectives. Luther must have been listening pretty good because he really did great. Will White was one of the gunners accompanying me and after it was all over and we were walking back, Will said we would have passed. Luther will be 5 in March and he's pretty steady--one of the qualities they judge. They say, "Never say never" and I agree, but as bold and strong as he is (all 82.2 pounds of bone and muscle) he rarely breaks. That plus he just keeps getting better with age. One big difference from the usual duck bounty Luther is used to, the quail are mighty small. I think that was the hardest thing for Luther. He had to dial up his "smell-a-vision" to find the little quail in the thickets and heavy cover. Who knows what will happen next week at the Upland test but we had a ball today.

Guess Who

No, it's not Luther and not Java...It's Gunner! Last Wednesday, Luther and I went to Jim Elam's to train. It was a cold and damp day. I'll be glad when spring is here. I was looking forward to seeing Java run her new thing--doubles. But in true training fashion, they switched things up and her lesson was to do a mark followed by a blind, followed by a mark--transitioning between 2 concepts. Three new dogs were on Jim's Big Dog Truck. One was Gunner! Gunner is owned by Kenny who lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Gunner is one of Luther and Maizie's pups--a full brother to Java--and just turned one year old. Kenny sent Gunner to Jim last fall for training and he has completed the Foundation Program and is now learning Field Concepts. I was impressed. His retrieves were right on and he showed plenty of energy and desire. Going to training at Lake Country Retrievers just kicked up a notch for me.

Where Are The DUCKS???

Yesterday Jimmy, Lewis and Luther went duck hunting at Neblett's. I took these photos before they left and they were all smiling. I can tell you when they came home they were not smiling nor bragging about all their hunting adventures. No ducks! Luther was so disappointed. Jimmy said Luther sat there quietly scanning the skies for the birds. Here we have one of the best duck dogs around and poor Luther is deprived! Better luck next time, fellows!

Run Java!

This photo was taken recently but not today. This morning I took Java back to Lake Country Retrievers after bringing her home for a long weekend break. Java has completed the Basic Retriever Training--Force Fetching, Collar Conditioning, Pile Work, Swim By, Pattern Blinds, Poison Birds, etc. Now Java is on the 'Big Dog Truck' and gets her turn retrieving in the field like the other dogs. Not bad for a 10 month old. But the real treat of the day was when Prentice said to get Java ready for her turn to run at the line. I aired her and Prentice put on the collar. (No more pinch collar.) Then he asked if I wanted to run her. ME???? Sure thing! Java walked all the way to the line so calm and perfectly by my side--no lead or crop. She sat so tall with her head high looking out at the field at the bird boy. Then Prentice said she needed to be sitting on my right side. I asked if she knew how to "switch" and he said she did. She took the cue and moved right over. I told her to sit and get her mark. Preston was way out in the field and threw the bumper. Java continued to sit cool and collected while watching from the line. I dropped my hand over her head to steady her, then said, "Java!" and off she flew like a reindeer. Three singles like a pro! I was so impressed at how calm and collected she was. She returned each bumper like she'd been doing it for 10 years. I was so excited and my feet haven't reached the ground yet! She still has lessons to learn but I feel there are good things in her future. Thank You--Jim Elam, Charles Edmunds, Prentice, Patrick and Preston Alston. Good work!

The Games Dogs Will Play

Last night Jimmy said to look over at the rug in the hallway. The rug definitely had a bulge in it. Come to find out there was a bone (rawhide wrap) underneath it. Luther and Java (she's home for the weekend) were given bones and love playing and chewing them. Luther can be crafty. He'll see Java's bone sitting there and if she's nearby, he'll wait nonchalantly until she is distracted and quietly slip over and conquer the new prize! Lauren talks about when was living with her, he would hide his bone behind the bedroom door when he was called so that she wouldn't take it away for the evening! So the best I can figure is that he hid this bone to come back and enjoy later by himself. I pulled the rug up and Java immediately claimed the bone as her property. The second picture is of Java with the bone. (Sorry the focus is off.)

The two dogs are getting along great. Luther is the "big boy" of the house but Java has too much getup and go to let that bother her. Yesterday we walked and heeled several laps of the track over at Richard Bland College. I had Java on my left and Luther on my right. Both were perfect! Java goes back to Lake Country Retrievers early Tuesday morning for more training. She loves the work and has such phenomenal focus. We've loved having her home and wish we had some of her boundless energy!

My Poster Child...well, Dog!

Last year, Luther won the Tidewater Retriever Club's Open Gun Dog trophy. The dog that wins it keeps it for a year and adds a plaque with his name and handler to the trophy. The other day, I polished up the silver to get it ready for the next recipient this fall. I took Luther's photo with the trophy and played with a filter for an effect and it looked like it needed to be made into a poster so I went with the flow. (I'll add this poster to the room dedicated to dogs in our house--the powder room!) This created a moment to look back and think about everything in our lives that has happened since Luther won the trophy last year. It's been a fun ride. Now we've got Java to join in our fun and festivities. There's so much to look forward to.

Java's Coming Out Event

Java is 9 1/2 months old. She's been at Lake Country Retrievers for almost 3 months. Wednesday morning Jimmy and I went down to Jim Elam's to train Luther. We were there a little early and Jim said to let Java out into the yard so we could visit. (I was surprised to hear this but didn't argue!) Java was her usual exuberant self--so glad to see us. When everyone was ready to leave to go to the field, Jim said to put Java on the truck! Shock--to my knowledge, Java has never been on the dog truck before. After lunch Prentice brought Java into the field and Jim rode the 4 wheeler and threw 4 birds for her--50 yards to about 100 yards. She marked each one and retrieved them to hand like a pro. I had no idea she was as advanced as she is. She is handling, doing pattern blinds and working on Swim By. She absolutely loves it. I was so surprised to see all this. My pup is growing up. Thank you Jim, Prentice, Patrick, Preston and Charles! All your hard work shows. Jimmy and I were both stunned and speechless on the drive home. Jim really surprised us with Java's progress!