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  1. #121
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    11-14-13
    Belle will be 4 months old on the 19th. She is all and more than we expected. The difference from her and Bay at the same age is huge. Bay didn't come with fetch or prey drive. Completely the opposite of Belle. She is a puppy fetching machine. There isn't a bird that flies by she doesn't notice.

    The best part is Bay and Belle really love each other. Belle is not shy and plays rough with Bay. Bay on the other hand is very mother like and very tolerant of Belle.

    Some cell phone pics

    Nosy neighbors.



    I wish we could take her off the lead and get some fall pictures but she can run one heck of a lot faster than we can.



    Belle the couch potato. She won't be a puppy much longer.



    Belle's training has started. The bond between us is like drying cement. It gets harder every day. Time for the basics. Sit, stay, fetch and give. Belle is sitting on hand commands. We have a routine every morning. After her morning outside while Bay is still snoozing with my wife we practice sit and fetch. No treats required like in Bay's training. Belle brings back the ball every time. I reward her with an excited voice and aggressive patting. She loves it.

    Another upland hunting labs journey has begun.

  2. #122
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    12-13-13
    Miss Bay I haven't posted about Bay in a while due to deer season. The gun season is over in NH. I went deer less again this year but had a great time hunting with my son and brother in law who each got a deer so venison cuisine has been on the menu.

    Belle is growing like a weed. And as she grows she is starting to bother Bay. At first Bay was all about play but she is an adult dog and I can see the signs Belle's constant antagonism is wearing her patience thin.

    One thing that is bothering me and it is my fault and mine to correct is Bay is gaining weight due to non activity. We put her on low fat dry food about a month ago and it seems to have stopped her from getting any bigger. The biggest thing Bay is missing is exercise. When Bay was alone she only ate when she was hungry. Now with Belle in the house Bay eats her two meals a day more to prevent Belle from stealing her food. And let me tell you our nickname for Belle is "stealer". Shoes, socks, etc. She grabs things when you are not looking then proudly brings them to you to show her prize. She isn't a big chewer thank goodness.

    Two things sparked me to write about Bay today. One was last weekend when I had to move the four wheeler out of the shed to get the snow blower out for the winter. I took Bay for a ride around the yard. I knew she loved and missed this time we have always shared together at camp. I got distracted while I was prepping the snow blower for winter use. Then I realized Bay wasn't by my side. I looked up and she was laying down in her seat on the four wheeler just watching me and the world going by. Our bond is strong.

    Then last night on her outside her body language told me she wanted to go into the shed. I opened the door and she went inside and sniffed her usual things but it was the look she had when she glanced up at the four wheeler seat that really told me Bay understands, has emotions and feelings.

    I miss hunting and walking my yellow dog. Things are about to change. We have three Saturdays left for partridge in Maine and NH. It is my intent that those days will be devoted to my most favorite Labrador retriever in the world.......Miss Bay !!

  3. #123
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Lots of Critters on the Mountain

    12-14-13
    It was a brisk eight degrees this morning when the Ford pulled into Sampson's Bay. It could have been zero and it wouldn't have affected this crew. The couple inches of powder snow that had been on the ground for week meant if it walked we'd know where it had been.

    So up the mountain we went. While partridge were the quarry the tracks in the snow said deer, turkey, snowshoe hare, fox, coyote, squirrels and one lone partridge call Camp Mountain home.

    After our hunt we took a walk around the perimeter of our campsite.



    The deer have been visiting the apple tree hoping for the last of this fall's crop to drop. Looks like a feral cat is keeping the mouse population in check. It is living under the out buildings. A fox has a urine post on the lawn.

    It wasn't until I went to the front of the old homestead that I saw we have a resident partridge.





    This is a first for Bay's Place.

    Belle loved having free rein.



    She stayed close and hunted with Bay.



    Both Bay and I were dreaming of hearing spring gobbles echo off our neighboring mountain.



    By then we had made full circle and found ourselves back to reality.



    It was only a half hearted effort to find a grouse. My goal was work Belle into Bay's hunting style. I'm really happy with how both dogs worked. Each one vacuumed the ground in search of sweet bird smells. One thing is for sure I know all the spots to set blind and gland lure sets for the fox and coyote. Both were obsessed with where their ancestors marked their territory.

  4. #124
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    12-18-13
    We have gotten 19" of snow from the storm last Sunday 13" and last night 6". All powder. Perfect for doing what Bay and I love to do. Snowshoe!

    Bay and I went out shoeing while it was snowing last night. She got a great snow bath.

    I can tell she loves this time we have together away from Belle where she is my #1.

  5. #125
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Brace
    12-27-13

    Belle is 5 1/2 months old now and full of love. Basic training is going really well. We are having backyard no leash sessions. She comes to calling her name and whistle. She is sitting on the raised arm command better than voice command.

    We got our first real snow storm here a couple weeks ago. Boy was that something new for Belle. She kept trying to catch snowflakes. She loves the snow.

    We noticed blood on Bay a few days ago after a "Girls Gone Wild" session. Belle is losing her puppy teeth. She has been gnawing on her bones a lot lately. She isn't a chewer really. More a stealer.

    She slips into the bedroom and steals socks and other personal items. Even shoes. She runs up to show you what she has. She is so proud of her finds. No problem with the give command.

    Wild Girls



    My wife had Belle outside yesterday as she was off from work and her comment was there wasn't a bird that flew by that she didn't notice. If those words weren't candy to this bird hunter.

    While I can whoa Bay on our backyard wild turkey flock it may take a little persuading with Belle.

    All and all things are going well with Belle who we call Bay's "mini me".

    Raising a puppy is a lot of work. The morning and evening outside time. Just like a child you constantly have to know where they are and what kind of mischief they may be getting into. Feeding needs to be on a schedule etc., etc., etc., but you know what....

    I'd do it all again in a dogbeat.

    Take it from a couple of empty nesters, having Bay and Belle and the love we share for both has strengthened our marriage. I love the women I call my better half for her commitment to our brace of yella' dogs.

  6. #126
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    01-05-2014
    It's a winter wonderland in the backyard. Our snowshoe trail invites adventure. Good times with my canine friends.








  7. #127
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    What Goes Around.....

    01-18-14

    .........Comes Around












  8. #128
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    01-25-14
    I took the girls out to the Family Grounds Beaver Pond today. This was Belle's first visit and her longest woods walk to date. As we traveled in the truck to our parking area Bay rode shotgun.

    Wherever I have taken Bay she remembers the route. She may sleep for the hour long ride to camp but as soon as we are on Camp Mountain Road she is fully alert.

    Just we pulled into our spot I looked over to Bay and repeated a couple times, "teach Belle". Her ears perked up and to my surprise she turned and looked at her assignment in the back seat.

    At no time in our journey was either dog out of my sight. Both worked the woods trail together. Bay has always hunted very close. I can see Belle is going to inherit this trait.

    One thing Belle learned on this trip is those little raisins the deer left behind in the snow don't taste very good.

    It wouldn't be winter without a visit to the canoe.



    The beaver are back and the pond is once again flooded.



    Looking forward to this view in October 2014 while gunning for Daffy with our brace of yella' dogs.


  9. #129
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Winta' Walkin'
    02-07-14
    The best thing about the snow is the anticipation of a nightly shoe with the yellow dogs. Got the west side trail packed down Wednesday.

    Last night we went east.



    Tonight we connect the trails.

  10. #130
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Backyard Shoein'
    02-09-14
    My son Shawn and his girlfriend Christine came over for a backyard snowshoe. Beautiful afternoon to be out and about.






 



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