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!
