Home for good

[TuMicks]

In the last month, I've been home exactly 3 days. After returning from Ireland, I went to care for mom for about 10 days. But... now I hope to be under my own roof for a while.

I picked up Rocket Dog. She will be home now for good. Just RD and me (and my training group once we begin again in February.) Over the summer, I've handled her any time I've been out training with everyone (3-4 days/week). But she's been with the pro. Last year, she was a puppy... after 6 months of age, she was with the pro and got her basics. She spent the off season with me and we trained a bit over last winter. But when spring arrived, it was clear, we both still needed big-time help. (See previous posts about steadiness, temperament, noise, etc. etc. etc.)

It's very strange... it's not like we haven't been together over the summer. We have. But seeing her in the house, I'm like... Who is this dog? She's filled out. She's muscled out. She chills out. She's part of the pack. She's not quite the ugly ducking she used to be. She's quiet. She doesn't have to jump up and freak out every time I move in my chair.

She does, however, still eat snotty tissues. And worse, toilet paper. I don't think we can fix that. It's almost like she's been tissue-deprived for so many months, she's obsessed with it now. Note to self... keep the door to the bathroom shut!

The pro says that if the season was still on, we'd be running and completing Senior stakes (well... RD would. Not sure if she would be with me handling her.) She has the requisite skill set and is apparently very impressive. I've been encouraged to let her chill and just be a dog until we begin training in the Spring.

When the season begins again, we will not race through the Senior stakes. The ribbons don't matter. Even the SH title doesn't matter. What matters is that we both learn to work as a team and that we both make steady progress until we are fit to run with the big dogs. (If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch, as they say.) Hopefully by this time next year, God willing, and if both RD and I stay healthy, we'll at least be off the porch and in the front yard.

[Anna Scott]

Sounds like RD is ready for some bonding time with you again. Our season is winding down as well. This last month has been extremely busy and stressful. I too have a 90 year old mother-in-law, who refuses to leave her home. She now needs more time and attention than I am able to give her, with 6 dogs and a brother who had a stroke living with us. I am feeling guilty today as I have been unable to get in to see her since last Thursday. I had company from PA here for the week and then the club arrived Thursday to start setting up for the hunt test on the weekend. I ended up having to judge Master on Saturday as one judge could not make it. The one good outcome was M got 2 passes for her junior. My sister ran her Saturday and I ran her Sunday. Chant got the boot in Master on Sunday because she refused to quarter properly. I was pleased with her performance up till that point. Her marks were good, she literally lined the land blind and pinned the diversion bird. I have not trained her all summer as it was too hot and she is getting old. She had a great time and that is all that counts. I think the AKC was wise to take the upland out of your tests. Many of the judges here don't now how to set up a proper upland and often pay little attention to the correct mechanics of it. Some of the senior handlers were saying that the upland was a joke.
I am resting to day and will help put away the equipment that was left out and then may do a quick drill with M.
I like your last paragraph. It about sums up what next season will be for us. After judging Saturday I was so stiff and sore I wasn't sure I would be able to move Sunday. This getting old sucks.

[POPTOP]

Glad o hear you two are settled back home again.

About the tissues, good luck. Archie loves tissues and TP. I have to keep a constant watch. He always joins me in the bathroom, I think more for the TP than me, LOL.

[barry581]

Have some fun with RD, you'll surprised at how much she mellows as she matures.

[Coalman]

I say the same about Belle's maturity. But why let the season end?.....it is time to hunt. It's what labs do.

[TuMicks]

Oh, Coalman... that's what's crazy so crazy. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Birds on the wing???? Ha!!!!

It's really nuts. Read any posts by folks involved in putting on a FT or HT and you realize it's hard labor. If we weren't all volunteers, the National Labor Relations Board would put a stop to it and throw the HT Committee in the clink. I'm a suburban grandmother. I used to belong to the Junior League for crying out loud. Who in their right mind does this stuff? Heat, cold, stinky long-dead ducks, winger that can dislocate your shoulder (yes... it happened to me) disappointment when your dog is a bone head, disappointment when I make a bone head mistake... I have huge sympathy with Anna. She does so much for the retriever folks in her neck of the woods. I wouldn't be able to keep up.

And after all of that... I don't hunt. BUT... I have friends who take my dogs hunting. I'm told there is none better than my Bridget (has her MH title) and she is going on quite a deluxe pheasant hunt in November. RD is a little immature for that right now (we're trying to keep the lid on!) but she'll be a hunting dog soon. My friends hunt pheasant in the Dakotas and geese in Canada. RD's day will come.

[Anna Scott]

The dogs love to pheasant hunt. My sister monitors a local pheasant hunt that is a fund raiser for our favourite marsh area. The conservatory group purchase 1600 plus pheasants and sell 80 season passes . For $260.00 the permit holders get to hunt 6 days a week, taking 2 pheasants each day from now until the end of Nov. They also have private hunts on Friday $125.00 for 5 birds and you must have a group of at least 5. Today was the opening day and Eden said the hunters were there lined up to get into the fields by 6:00 ( it doesn't start till 8:00) . It is not like a game farm hunt because the birds are released the night before and travel all over the field areas. Several hunters that don't own a dog have ask to use her lab. He just loves the work and today put up several birds but the hunter's shooting skills were rusty and he missed them. Bridget must have a wonderful time when she gets to go to the Dakotas. Like you I am not letting M get into the quartering until her blinds are rock solid. She can be wild enough without the thrill of quartering. One of the dogs from this weekend was a FC AFC and when it came to the quartering her owner was nervous because our field trial dogs are trained to stick right at heel. I told her to just release the dog and relax, let the dog's nose do the work and sure enough Dana did great work. They love the work.
Thank you for the compliment . If everyone gives back just a little then the FT and HT's will survive. There are days when I feel everyone of my 65 years and then some but it is what keeps me going. I just love to watch the dogs work.

[Coalman]

It makes me smile that after all your hard work training that your dogs get to hunt.

Tomorrow is opening day of our NH pheasant season. It is an all put/take. No limit on hunters. Show up at the release site and hunt. Guaranteed to be a zoo for those who would subject their dogs to it.

Not Coalman and Belle. We will be a my friends property in western Maine. I bet we don't see another bird hunter.

Please say a prayer that God watches out over us. I know I will.

Upland bird hunting 2015. Here we go!

[TuMicks]

How wonderful for you and Belle. Do you use her on waterfowl as well?