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  1. #151
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Thank you KAZ!

    07/05/14
    It was Parent's Day at Quail Ridge Summer Camp today. My bride and I left NH at 0600 still in the grips of the torrential rain and wind from Hurricane Arthur. Midway through MA we could see blue sky on the Horizon. We drove from pouring rain into bright blue sunny sky. Not many times in my life have I witnessed the defining line of the end of a hurricane.

    We arrived in CT to one of the most gorgeous summer days in memory. Temps in the 70's, a steady breeze and low humidity. A great day to see all the arts and crafts the pups have been working on.

    Trad was up first on a triple memory retrieve which he aced. Mike knows the vocabulary much better than I for all the other tasks that TRAD performed like a senior in all aspects.

    The Madra (Dog) Whistler with TRAD.



    Mike asked Karen and I to ignore Belle when she was first let out of her kennel in order to limit any distractions. Belle acknowledged our presence with eye contact and fell in line with Mike.

    Belle's arts and crafts table was full of accomplishments. You could tell from watching her that Mike has been concentrating on an upland aspect rather than a waterfowl aspect per my request.

    I was so proud of both it made my eyes water.

    Well the ignore portion didn't last long. As soon as Belle had completed half a circle through the training grounds it was all we could do to keep her tongue from giving each of us a bath. Our reunion was sweet. We love that dog and could tell the feeling was mutual.

    The "Yellow Rocket".







    Note where her eye contact....isn't.



    What summer camper doesn't enjoy the water sports the best? With the field training review complete each dog had it's day in the pond.

    TRAD starting a land, water, land retrieve. He also did a double retrieve going across to the point with one dummy and the second thrown 90 degrees into heavy vegetation. TRAD could have used the land for the memory bird but Mike's command kept TRAD in the water.





    Next it was Belle's turn.



    She is even dock diving.



    When the pups retired to their cabins the adults settled in for a New England boil.

    Corn on the cob, potato salad, little neck clam and mussel pasta, steamed clams and Great Bay lobsters, finishing out with strawberry shortcake. All along with a compliment of adult beverages.

    Thank you Steve and Nancy owners of Quail Ridge for opening your home, supplying all the cooking utensils and sharing with us the edible bounty.

    You can see the distraction Karen and I caused Belle when Mike was reviewing his training by her eye focus in a couple pictures above. It was squarely on Karen and I.

    Later in the afternoon I went down to Belle's cabin for a little one on one that I have sorely missed. I duplicated Mike's approach and took her on the same circle she displayed her gains with Mike earlier in the day.

    That yellah dawg did everything for me that Mike had demonstrated to us earlier in the day. The part I loved the most was the eye contact. Belle demonstrates personality through her gaze.

    Thank you Mike for your commitment to training Belle. It shows!!

  2. #152
    House Broken Brutus's Avatar
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    Sounds like he did a great job- bet you are glad to have her back!

  3. #153
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Not home yet Brutus. Three more months of Summer Camp. Next up e-collar conditioning, force fetch and BIRDS!!!!

    Belle comes home the end of September just in time for the October partridge and duck season.

  4. #154
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
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    Nice visit, and nice to see the progress, but oh, the leaving again..... I know, you said it a few posts back, short term pain for a lifetime of gain. And I guess some quality one on one with Miss Bay

  5. #155
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    07-10-14
    Miss Bay had her stiches out Tuesday and is back to her normal stand off ish self. She has such a personality. She's all over you if she wants something. If you want something from her it on her time. LOL!

    I love that dog!

    Belle on the other hand is a lap dog. Loves people and loves to be loved and touched. I miss her so much I am contemplating a kidnap....not really.

    I have the best of both worlds.

    Labs rule!

  6. #156
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Turkeys Beware

    07-11-14
    Stopped into QUAIL RIDGE on the way home from Brimfield again tonight and found Belle waiting for me at the gate to her run.

    We immediately went for a "ramp down" session once she was calmed and at "SIT" for a while outside of her run. At first, "ramp down" was not out of the ordinary and it appeared Belle was just taking care of "airing out" and burning off some energy. I recalled her with the "BELLE HERE" command and she complied readily. I then sent her into some heavy cover two to four feet in height, with the command of "BELLE HUNT DEAD", having already thrown a scented tennis ball while she wasn't looking. Belle began showing sign like she was "HOT" on bird scent and then it happened, Belle flushed a hen turkey and damn near caught it in the air as it clawed for the sky. Belle stayed in very focused and hard pursuit of the bird as it flew to nearby hardwoods just west of us, a chase of about 60 yards. I recalled Belle with "BELLE HERE" and she returned to me. I cast her back into the original patch of cover and Belle managed to flush two poults. The Lass is bird driven and it will be interesting once I start running her on launchers to see how long it takes to steady her to sit to wing and shot.

    After her adrenaline rush from the turkey, I continued to run her on an effort to "ramp down" and she did. We then worked our way back to the area I prefer to do yard work in. Belle and I then worked on intensive OB and she is handling the new level of focus very well.

    A very, very, cool session for Belle and I. Dave and Karen, ye have a real winner here!

    07-12-14
    During tonight's "ramp down", I watched as a chukar crossed a trail and headed into cover about 60 yards up ahead of us. Walking north to the last place I saw the bird, I then saw it again approximately 70 yards west of us and on the run. I worked Belle toward the scent trail waiting to see if she would pick it up and track the bird on her own, and she did. Belle made a flush on the chukar. Another night of bird drive demonstrated by Belle.

    Great work by Belle!


  7. #157
    Senior Dog
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    It must be quite an experience for not only the dog but for you. Belle sounds like she's really doing an excellent job and she's focused on you doing it. What an experience. Bet you can't wait until October to start your duck hunting season with Belle. Thanks so much for sharing.

    BTW good to hear Miss Bay got her stitches out and she's back to her ole self again.

    KAZ

  8. #158
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    I love reading through this! Good to hear another hunters journey through training!
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

    Instagram: @mrbaconthelab


    Born: 9/02/13

    Gotcha: 11/08/13

    Hidden Content

    In memory of Lily 1/1995 - 2/2/2012

    Hidden Content


  9. #159
    Real Retriever Coalman's Avatar
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    Pool Party

    07-16-14
    What better way to spend a summer day.

    Team TRAD and Team Belle









    Letting pups be pups.



    Thank you Irish Whistler.

  10. #160
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
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    Dave,
    T'is me pleasure in working with both Belle and Trad, fine dogs that each bring a well honed work ethic and a desire to learn with them, every time they step on to the training grounds with me.

    Slainte,
    THE DOG WHISTLER

 



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