Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe and Great Bay Belle
09-20-09
I would like to start this thread to record Bays training and progress on her way to becoming a duck commander.
Carlton Brook's Great Bay Babe is named for my love of tradition and my hunting, fishing and trapping background.
Carlton Brook is the waterway that runs by our Maine hunting camp. It is our kennel name.
I grew up on the banks of a tidal estuary that feeds the Great Bay in New Hampshire. Great Bay has become my summer playland. I trap lobsters and fish for striped bass.
A good friend and mentor bestowed upon me the nickname "Bayman". I wrote a story about my adventures and the NH Fish and Game published it. They were kind enough to send me a link.
301 Moved Permanently
When discussing with Dick a name for the dog my choice was Babe. He suggested Bay. I like both so it was a done deal.
My goal is to train Bay on upland birds. Ruffed grouse (partridge where I come from) and woodcock. I am not a big waterfowl hunter. But I have been known to enjoy a morning listening to whistling woodies in the local beaver ponds.
Stay tuned. This is going to be a long ride.
09-24-09
Bay was the dominate puppy in the litter. Now we have become her little-mates and she has a strong will to continue as boss.
Last night she slept from 11PM to 5:30AM. No 3AM bathroom calls. She woke us up with her bark. A quick trip outside was successful. I checked the kennel.......it was dry.
We are learning that if Bay barks other than feeding or play......it means outside. I failed this morning. She barked, I told Karen she needed an outside. The moment didn't allow it. She spun her little circle and made a deposit. No scolding, no excited voices. We just let it happen. We will know better next time. Bay is training us.
The puppy collar has been on a couple days now. She still tries to scratch it off. But it is becoming much less frequent. You should have seen her the first time I attached a lead. She didn't like it at all. She looked like a stubborn mule. Now she carries the lead in her mouth. A note on puppy leads. The retractable lead worked much better than the long lead. She stumbles on the long lead. The retractable keeps the collar connection high on her neck. I can see she likes it better.
She is still biting but we pay close attention to it. The occasional soft play nip is allowed. The aggressive litter play bite is not. She is told no and given one of many of her toys.
A very good friend of mine and successful trainer of Labrador retrievers for waterfowl told me in an email today
"The bonding between the two of you is the glue that ensures a great dog."
I can't wait.
09-27-09
The bite is on.And I don't meaning fishing.
Bay has two personalities. One good and one rough.
She is slowly learning our hands are not chew toys. Even when she starts biting and we give her a toy she still targets our hands and if not protected....... our feet. We have been turning her lips into her teeth when she bites and say "no bite". Sometimes it just seems to wind her up more. She is my little fighter/biter.
I took Bay to work Friday to meet the staff. About 11PM that night she got sick for the first time. She threw up and had a bout with diarrhea. God love my wife. After 20 years of beagles she knew the cure and Saturday she cooked up a bowl of rice. We have been mixing that with her kibbles and happily she has come out of it. Her stools are firm again.
Bay is way ahead in outside training. There hasn't had an accident in the house or kennel since her first day home. We are religious in our attempt to house break her. After any play time and after every nap she is taken outside. It is taking a commitment but the rewards are sweet (smelling).
I have owned hunting dogs all my life. I am lucky to be able to say of all of them two were outstanding hunters. Dixie, a beagle, was a natural born hunter. I was 15 when I got her. That is an awkward age for a young man. Our time afield taught me sportsmanship and patience. She hunted for me.
Brandy,an English Springer, was the love of my life before I met my wife. She was my only experience training a bird dog. There wasn't an upland bird safe when she went afield. She barked at flush and was a natural born retriever.
I mention this because I am seeing some of the same qualities in Bay. She will crouch and wait. She studies her target before pouncing. Maybe she will point?
Bay is retrieving her toys when we play. I don't make much out of it other than to praise her when she brings it back. We do not play tug of war. When the time comes to give she will be way ahead.
Bay knows when it is time to eat. I start every feeding with a couple of hand fed kibbles. She is shown the food with my right hand and with my left I gently push down her butt and command sit. Can it be this easy?
I end this chapter with a keen observation. There is no easy street. I hear puppy horror stories. Ripped up clothing, chewed shoes, etc. Bay could easily fall into these bad habits without supervision. I praise my wife and son for making sure we see these faults. We have simple rules of do's and don'ts in her infancy. We are investing the time now.
Bay has become the newest, best-est love of our lives. I feel her presence has made our marriage and family stronger.
Thank you Lord for your blessings. Long live Great Bay Babe.
09-28-09
Puppy legsI took Bay on her first walk in the woods last night. We are fortunate to have some private land close by with trails, rivers and marshes where we can walk uninterrupted.
We went about 100 yards. I took baby steps the whole way. She had to sniff and bite, every stick, fern and stump. Fallen logs and brush piles got lots of attention. I always let her lead.
I am impressed with the little I see. She definitely has the right hunter qualities. We will continue this walk going a little further each time. Wait till she sees the beaver pond. Hopefully a wood duck will whistle hello.
One negative of our trip was I found a wood tick on her. As much as I hate ticks they are a part of the woods where we live. We will deal with it.
09-30-09
Poisonous plantsWe have a cherry tomato plant just outside the door of our house. Bay loves to chew and fight the leaves that stick out over the stairs.
Last night I picked a small ripe tomato and gave it to her to play. She loved it like a toy. She rolled it around in her mouth and played cat with her paws. When I took it away from her it was not bitten or punctured.
Bay loves to chew plants. She doesn't ingest them. She just likes fighting and biting the leaves.
Bay recently developed diarrhea. Since her stool was solid when we got her we began looking at two possibilities, food and plants.
We have identified she does not like her food. Since she has an upset stomach our vet has her on boiled hamburg and rice.
Would you believe out of the list of dangerous plants for dogs Bay has been in contact with 10 of them? 8 of them are in our yard. I can see clear cutting in my weekend future.
She started her new diet last night. Today's stool was like soft serve ice cream. That is one level up for the better from her brown liquid squirts.
Since Bay doesn't seem sick and still is a bundle of energy the vet recommended this diet and if things improve we will keep our first vet wellness visit for next Thursday.
I never knew how much I (we) could love a puppy.
Feeling better and a new friend.
10-03-09
Bay is feeling better. I thought it may calm her down. NOT! Now that she feels better she is a wholly terror.
I took her for a walk in the woods last night. She has to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. It scares me that she will swallow something wrong. Everything is so new to her. She tastes everything.
She likes picking up a sticks, acorns, hickory nuts, etc and holding it as she runs down the trails. It is cute. I don't think she will have a problem with hold. I may have a problem with give.
The restless nights are paying off. This morning she did her normal outside. Back in the house while cooking breakfast I noticed her standing by the door. I instantly reacted and she followed outside obediently. She did her business and wanted back in the house. Chock one up for house training.
The only trick I have been trying to teach her is sit. With food I get instant response. She can't sit fast enough. I notice when we play and I ask her to sit she doesn't respond well. I am going to stick with food for training.
I am about 75% the Alpha now.Instead of biting me she is soft mouth and tests me. My wife is far behind. I tell her it is all in the tone of your voice. You can't softly say, no bite. You have to mean it.
My son's girlfriend's family lost there 15 year old cocker spaniel Wednesday. He lived a long life. We got a call from them Wednesday in the afternoon asking if there were any puppies left. Bay has a yellow brother. They picked him up 20 minutes after a phone call to the breeder. His new name is Buddy.
Bay and Buddy. I like the sound!!