I will have to look into it... not something I can add on right now, but something to look into!
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Joanie Madden, Mary Bergin, Adrea Coor, and Nuala Kennedy, each an Irish whistle goddess in her own right.
I will have to look into it... not something I can add on right now, but something to look into!
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Congratulations on the new addition. She looks like a real keeper.
Chilling with the Yellow Dogs
IRISHWISTLER (06-07-2018)
Gracie Lou updates
05-28-18 Remember this day.
This is what Steve, Gracie's trainer, told me as we prepared for her first lesson on how to become a gun dog. It is a way to gauge her progress and success.
I took as an omen the grouse we could hear drumming when we started.
It went really well. We worked as a three man team with dead chukkas teaching her to naturally quarter within range. We did three sessions approx twenty minutes each with approx ten minute rest periods where she was required to remain in a sit. The last bird tossed for her to retrieve was a clipped wing live chukka. She chased it down and retrieved it. We were able to do multiple retrieves with it. She is very soft mouth. When we were done Gracie wasn't. There was a dead chukka in the training area we used but did not pick up. She remembered the mark and retrieved it as her last duty.
I am very impressed with Steve and his methods. Most important is Steve is very impressed with Gracie's natural ability.
Our journey to the October coverts has begun.
05-31-18
Second session. Started where we left off. On her first drill she turned on the double whistle like a continuation of her first class. We did it a few times always ending with her retrieving.
After a short rest and lots of water (it was 80 degrees) on her second set we widened the two ends. She turned on the double tweet each time like a champ quartering between both handlers.
It will be a few weeks before she gets back on birds so in the interim we were sent home with sit and come as our homework.
Belle went to Summer Camp for Gun Dogs with Irishwhistler in 2014. Even though Mike sent me daily videos updates of Belle's progress I wish now I could have attended each session.
I love being a part of Gracie's bird training and handling.
07-05-18
Gracie Lou session #5
We worked again on quartering with one different twist. As she quartered between the handlers when the bird was tossed Gracie was not allowed to see it.
She moved 'gracefully' between the handlers with no whistle.
We worked her on a forty five degree wind with wing clipped chukkas. It was all about her nose today.
It did not let her down. She will hunt this fall.
07-08-18
Big milestone Saturday. It was time to introduce Gracie to live birds and real gun fire. Thank you Mike Flores for the video.
The first bird was not shot at because at the flush it went 180 backwards and Steve noted Gracie did not mark it.
Another chukka was planted and on that pass Gracie flushed the bird, Brice shot it and Gracie retrieved it, well sort of, we are working on that. She has a strong possession drive.
We are done Gracie's first phase of gun dog training.
Next retrieving.
Love this dog.
07-18-18
Good day at Churchie’s on Sunday. We started with hold training then retrieving while on a check cord. This was her first time at each. Next we went down to the field and practiced quartering drills. Gracie is turning on her own now. No whistles.
After some rest it was back to hold training and we finished with retrieving. Gracie ended very strong.
I really like this method of training. Every phase so far has had feathers.
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