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  1. #1
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Break in the action...

    My mom is 91 and lives in a city about 260 miles away. So from time to time I go down there and visit, and this week she is here visiting. So, lots of fun, but not much dog work going on. (Go figure... she doesn't enjoy standing in the hot sun with a sack of long-dead ducks. Huh.)

    I won't be back with the group until Thursday at the earliest. By then we are expecting triple digits. Oh, joy. Take the cooler and umbrella out when it's my turn to throw. But during this time Rocket Dog is on the pro's truck re-learning what SIT means. (No... you can't leave to pick up the flyer until you're told to.)

    The expectation is that I need as much work on that whole steadiness thing as does RD. So, when I'm back with the group, I think I'll be re-learning how to properly get RD from the truck to the holding blind and from the holding blind to the line, and get her to SIT on the line without dancing and surging while the birds go off. I think I'm as much (or more) part of the problem than the dog is.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    So nice that your Mom can come to visit.

    Keep up the good work, you two will get there.
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  3. #3
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    RD and M appear to have the same get up and go. I have been doing a steadying drill with M but she still jumped out on the second bird of the water double on Saturday and lost her line to the bird. She ended up back at the old fall as it was pretty tight set of marks. There was a really good article in Retrievers ONLINE about chaining behaviours from the truck to the line to get that obedience. I am going to take a look through the back issues as this is a weak point with me.
    My mother in law is 90 and I spend at least two afternoons a week with her.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TuMicks View Post
    (Go figure... she doesn't enjoy standing in the hot sun with a sack of long-dead ducks. Huh.)
    If ever I thought this type of training was something I might try, you have officially brought those thoughts to a screeching halt with this one sentence. My Labs have always and will continue to be very happy with obedience, nose work, tracking, therapy and recreational swimming. Their mom is very happy she does not have to touch a "sack of long dead ducks".

    Thank you for setting me straight!
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    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  5. #5
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxx&Emma View Post
    If ever I thought this type of training was something I might try, you have officially brought those thoughts to a screeching halt with this one sentence. My Labs have always and will continue to be very happy with obedience, nose work, tracking, therapy and recreational swimming. Their mom is very happy she does not have to touch a "sack of long dead ducks".

    Thank you for setting me straight!
    You don't know what you are missing. Labs are born to retrieve dead birds. It's what they are bred for. Shows are for people. Hunting is for the dogs.

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Coalman View Post
    You don't know what you are missing. Labs are born to retrieve dead birds. It's what they are bred for. Shows are for people. Hunting is for the dogs.
    I am ok with what we are missing, the sack of long dead ducks, lol! I just can't, not without vomiting, repeatedly. I don't do any shows, just classes and competition for fun. I will stick with tossing the bumper and balls to retrieve. I think Maxx is ok with just having fun!
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  7. #7
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxx&Emma View Post
    If ever I thought this type of training was something I might try, you have officially brought those thoughts to a screeching halt with this one sentence. My Labs have always and will continue to be very happy with obedience, nose work, tracking, therapy and recreational swimming. Their mom is very happy she does not have to touch a "sack of long dead ducks".

    Thank you for setting me straight!
    Honestly, I can't explain it. You just begin to watch the dogs and ignore the slime and stink. It probably is a mental disease. But I go out to the winger (and dead ducks) with a bag full of baby wipes, and a cooler, and a big golf umbrella and a folding chair. It all helps a great deal.

    Back from mom's. Going out tomorrow with the gang. Temps are going to be in the triple digits. We'll be at a little pond trying to do something with it. I'm loading all the coolers I own in the back of the truck and stopping at the store for 40 pounds of ice and a crate of water bottles.

    It's a mental disease, I tell ya.

  8. #8
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    I can relate. Never thought I would spend my time sitting on a bucket in the middle of nowhere chucking dead ducks around. The one good thing to come out of it (besides the dogs) is it has given me back all the mobility on my right side after surgery. Dr. couldn't believe I got the range of motion back cause the surgery isn't pretty. Today I am having a lazy day because we train tonight and it is raining. I am not a great lover of the heat so don't no how I would make out in triple digits. When we hit 30 degrees which is around ninety I am done for. This summer has started off fairly cool and I am loving it.
    Some of these birds get pretty skanky. We always laugh that if it still has a feather we throw it.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Anna Scott For This Useful Post:

    Coalman (06-29-2015), TuMicks (06-25-2015)

  10. #9
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Nothing wrong with my arms, Anna... but I can't throw a mallard to save my life. It lands in random areas, can't break any horizon, falls near my feet. We use wingers. I know they are finicky troublesome pieces of equipment. I have to say our pro's spouse is a great handy man and keeps the things in good running order.

    Turns out we only did blinds today. Very short, boring blinds. More for the basic young gun dogs, but we ran all of the gang on them. I didn't even put the e-collar on Bridget. Handling on land is NOT her issue. The pro was running Rocket Dog and I must say, she is looking really crisp and handling with some precision. At this point, it's all overs and backs. Nothing fancy like angle-backs. So, clearly RD is educable. The question is am I????

    Tomorrow is going to be record high... maybe 105 or so. We're starting at 8. I'm bringing 3 coolers, about 60 pounds of ice, a crate of water bottles and a pop-up. I pray to heaven there is a little breeze. We are on a little pond so the dogs get to swim. I may be able to diagram our set up tomorrow night... if I make it back alive.

    Maxx&Emma... you don't know what you're missing!

  11. #10
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I will probably never find out if throwing long dead ducks is required, lol! I do enjoy reading yours and others adventures, a lot of it is foreign to me but I am trying my best to figure it out. I will admit it sounds amazing and if it wasn't for those dead ducks I would definitely be there. I do plan to go watch some trials and hunt tests soon, maybe it will help push me past my long dead duck affliction, stranger things have happened, lol!
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    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Maxx&Emma For This Useful Post:

    Coalman (06-29-2015)

 



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