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!
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!
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.) 
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!
Call me lucky. This morning as I grabbed some extra shut-eye, Jimmy went down through the garage and out to his car to get something. The problem was when he came back, Luther didn't make it into the garage before the door went down. I woke up and missed seeing Luther at the foot of the bed. I walked around and called him. No response. I asked Jimmy if he'd seen him and the answer was "No". I checked the guest room where the door closes him in occasionally, no Luther. I opened the porch sliding door and checked it and the back yard. No Luther. By the time I opened the front door, Jimmy was there. He grabbed the whistle and blew it 3 short times LOUDLY for a "Here" command. A minute or two later, Luther came flying through the house. He'd come in through the sliding door and was really wet. It had been a quiet rainy morning. I guess he'd been outside by himself over an hour or more. He was happy to see me. I toweled him off and gave him a treat. What a scare. Maybe I'm not near as lucky as Jimmy was! I cannot even conceive life without Luther. My buddy. This photo of Luther sitting near me was taken later this morning. As a good friend described him--a Magnificent Beast!
The text reads: We have a new soft spot in our hearts... We brought you home on 22 Feb 14. You were the first pup of the litter to leave home. You are very much your own self, very determined and fearless. You run until you drop! Luther is good to you but a little wrestling goes a long way. Thank goodness for the folding fence. You’re a true lab--loving food more than anything. Right away you were sitting on command and wanting to go outside to do you thing. Smart girl! Stop growing and stay a puppy for a while!!! You are just too cute for words.
Happy Birthday, Luther! It's hard to believe that you are such a big boy--four years old. You've matured into a great dog--so easy to live with in the house, a good father, a powerhouse in the field, and a dog with so much heart! Happy Birthday and many, many more.
There are times it is great to have the camera at hand. You just can't stage a photo like this. Luther was lying in his comfy bed when Java thought she might like that, too. I admit the camera settings were not optimal but who has the time to change the f/stop--not and capture the moment! Luther has been very tolerant to the whirlwind that has changed our everyday life. Java has arrived and she'll let you know it every waking minute. She has her active times and times when she is very centered and calm. Or she is asleep. She likes being in the same room with her "people". Jimmy has been very attentive and watches both dogs from around 5 a.m. till about 7:30. ;-) That gives me a little extra nap time that comes in handy as the day goes on. I take the night duty. We make numerous visits outside which are paying off. Luther doesn't mind because when we come in, it's "Treat" time. This isn't so bad after all! (Java-8 weeks, Luther-his 4th birthday a week from Sunday on 3/16)
It's Christmas again and just like when I was a child, I couldn't sleep hardly at all last night because I was so excited about picking our puppy out of the litter. Today Jimmy and I drove up past Salisbury, MD, to Barren Creek and selected a female puppy out of the litter by Barren Creeks Amazing Maizie and our boy, Shedhorn's Montana Luther. There were 5 males and 3 females in the litter. Jimmy and I wanted a girl. Choosing just one was the problem. This was one tough duty and who knows how we made our choice. Actually, Jimmy did. We had a toy with us and two of the females wanted it. (So we eliminated one female--not that there was anything wrong with her!) I couldn't tell which of the two I liked the best so Jimmy picked one. Some scientific method!!!
The iPhone has spoiled me a bit. I haven't been using the Nikon as often as usual. I just finally downloaded my photos from the holidays and I just had to share these two photos of Luther. The first wasn't staged. I had finished putting up the tree and he layed down right next to it. How could you miss a photo op like that! The front porch photo was taken so I'd know how I put up the decorations for next year. Luther was there and I just told him to "Sit". And he did.
Maizie had her puppies this afternoon....NINE of them! David Aalders called around dinner time to say Maizie started delivering the first puppy about 12:45 and continued to have them all through the afternoon. Maizie and all the pups are doing fine. All nine pups are little chocolate wonders. Even as newborns their coats are glistening.
