I check here often, but don't see much. Now in the past couple of days, I've seen several folk post messages with a similar sort of strain... "here you are!" and "let's talk about training schedules" and etc.

Since a few of us seem to be checking things out here and posting some feeler-sort of threads, can we share what our interests in training are and where we're at, whether we use pros, how old our pups are, etc.?

I'll start.

Atticus is 7 mos. He comes from interesting bloodlines--sire is a Ch./MH w/ FT way back, dam is JH from Canadian field trial lines. He's a pet first and foremost, but I'd like to do hunt test training, and while I'm not a "hunter" but could be if I end up hooking up with the right people. I've met up with the local club several times, and know that I enjoy being out in the field with the dog. I know he's birdy. I'm working on obedience--"here" and "heel" in any setting with a distraction is nightmarish. He loves his retrieving dummies. We're going to obedience classes, walking around at a friend's farm working on "heel" and "here," and I'll do force fetch after Christmas sometime. I hope to work on the JH next year. I'm a teacher, so I think summer mornings with the dog at the lake sound... well, pretty good. If I like the training, and if he's talented, we can work on a step a year until we top out, and go hunting as the situation permits.

So--who are you all? Who are your dogs, and what do you see yourself doing?

Okay... I'll be happy to give you our run-down.

I'm Carrie, and our lab's name is GUS. I'm one of the rediculosly obsesed dog-owners, that has dog's instead of kids. Right now we have 2 dogs...

The first is my pet (I got wile I was still a roaming unmarried transiant) is a 6 year old Bordercolly/Husky (masqurading as a yellow lab) that I rescued from a shelter on Kodiak Island, Alaska. I've taken "Hazel" with me EVERYwhere... but- she is pretty usless when it comes to hunting- so- enough said.

Then I got married, 4 years ago... The following year my inlaws had their final litter in their hobby lab breeding program, and they kept the largest/darkest/most tolerant male with the best nose... and gave it to us.

So, Jody (my husband), being the huge Lonsome Dove fan that he is, named his pup: Columbia's Colby "Agustus". Gus was 3 or 4 months old when we brought him down to Texas with us to manage an upland bird hunting lodge for the winter... at 5 months old he was hunting full boar (limited use because of age)- and he was 9 months old when we finnished that season... so, we initialy trained him as a pointing lab (to fit in our guiding with pointers/setters/spanials...ect)... Then last year he got his first winter of Duck hunting (and a little goose)... And This year We're actualy getting serious about water-fowl hunting as regularly as possible, here- near our home in North Eastern Oregon. We do lot's and lot's of upland (california) Quail, Chuckar, Pheasant, Huns, (blue/ruffed) Grouse... hunting. Gus is 2 1/2 years old now....

Now, I'm starting to get the itch, from chatting (on-line) with Hunt-test/Field trial folks, to do some re-training for compatition... My only real stumbling block is that we have no local lab/hunt clubs here. The nearest club is 2 hours away... and the major clubs are 3-5 hours away from where we're at... BUT- I just got a nice state job (2 weeks ago), that will alow for lot's of time off- so, I'm looking at being able to get involved with an organisation (even though it's a distance)! Now it's just a matter of desideing where we want to go.

Okay- so there's another minor stumbling block... I'm a compleat leiman when it comes to structured compeating functions... so, even though I can train for what I want a dog to do when hunting for my own practical perpouses..... that doesn't nessisarily mean I know anything about field-trials! I've gotta find a club, then find a MENTOR.

And, now that we're not down at the lodge with accsess to unlimited seasond hunting dogs- we're going to have to start considering starting another pup in the next year. I'm leaning tword another lab... although my husband is really wanting a brittney.

Please excuse my spelling- I know it's awfull.... but at least it's pretty phonetic :brow: O- and sorry this is so long... just thought that if I went overboard, maybe you guys would have more to chat about, also. :D

Here's Gus and his mom:

Sure I'll bite on this one.....

A little about me:

I am 26 years old
BA in Psychology
1/2 completed MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
I am married and we are expecting our first child in March
I am an avid waterfoul hunter
My family used to raise Cocker Spaniels

About my dogs:

My first lab just turned 1 year this week.
Her name is Mally. A friend of mine bred her, and she is out of Sunnyview Labs on the Sire's side.

I just acquired a 4 year old brood bitch who is out of Ebonstar's Lean Mac (4x NFC). Her name is Kootenay. She is pregnant and I am hoping for some Chocolates!!!!

Training:

I met a professional trainer at my University this summer, and for that entire summer I was out working with dogs nearly every day of the week. This trainer has 20 years under his/her (husband wife team). He has trained 30+ Field Champions, 1 NFC, and a Top Derby Dog, as well as countless JH,SH, MH titled dogs.

Mally has been training with these trainers since she was 6 months. She will be beginning with SH tests next year. My goal for her is to earn a MH titles.

Kootenay is a brood bitch so hasn't had much training other than BASIC obedience.

Being that I am in school I currently only train out at the Kennel twice a week. I have gotten tons of experience helping train the 40 dogs that are currently out there.

Well I think thats enough about me for now!

Great thread topic!!