MJ and Mac
September 2007
July August
9/10/2007 - Under the Rusty Windmill
Well, we had our first frost of the year - the temps are in the 30s and
40s right now in the morning - rising to 60s-70s during the day. Puppies
are growing and having a great time. They are maturing and getting much
better run and application - hardly any wasted movements from them.
Most of our dogs are moving right along - runs on the prairie show that we
are blessed with an abundance of pheasants - which dogs are learning to
handle by trial and error. Some of the dogs are still working liberated
quail and chukar and are making progress - although somewhat slow - these
are normally our youngest dogs in the breaking process.
Roading is going well - we are cutting back some of the miles - in lieu of
running on the prairies - but all the dogs are still roading over 1 hr per
day - 3-4 times a week.
Well, I turned 42 in August and I am in better shape this year than last. I
think I will need all the help I can get - since it looks like I will have
plenty of dogs to run in Ernies trial and I am looking forward to it.
Dogs I think will be interesting to watch in trials this year and are a
threat to win trials
Puppies - Kali, Sioux, Trooper, Grace, and Belle
Derbies - Shiner, Ellie, Flitter, Grace, Belle and Trooper
Shooting dogs - Mac, Sahara, Chief, Charlie and Diamond.
Additionally, we have some dogs of other breeds to be reckoned with: Joe,
Layla, Alex.
My Moonsters, Jax and Ariel, are doing great when I get to work them they are pointing and
backing each other and having a nice day.
Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill
9/22/2007 - Under the Rusty Windmill
Friends - We have moved into the last full week of training here on the prairie - some dogs will be going home next week. We have had a great summer the weather has been very good - we did have a few hot days and a few rainy ones, but overall the weather didn't hinder us much.
Puppies - We have had a great bunch of young puppies. They have grown in many ways - including starting to be a big dogs. All the puppies have pointed birds - pheasants were in abundance and it was very unusual for any puppy to not have bird work on a daily basis.
Maggie, Sioux and Maggie - Are/continue to be the young stars of the bunch - It was very refreshing, these dogs are very stylish on point and would honor each other pointing. They were also running around the prairie with great enthusiasm. Even Bennie got much better - he was slow to come on but the last two puppy walks he has pointed several birds and his range is getting better as well as his independence.
Kali, Grace, Trooper, Darlin, and Belle - These were our older puppies - Grace is a joy to watch over the prairies - she is one of the hardest hunting dogs we have here and Lou likened her to Mali last year, obviously a superior hunting dog. Trooper is well on his way to being a broke dog, but not nearly as flashy running as Belle and Grace and Kali. Kali is a very nice bitch that we will be looking very hard at in the next few months - I think she will be a star given opportunity.
Darlin - Well, this is a much closer working dog than the setters -she has pointed and backed many times - she is going to be a very nice quail dog in TX - she would be a refreshing addition to any hunter's string.
The very young puppies - Krystal, Patches, Nikki and Fat Boy - What a bunch of independent, gregarious puppies! One or all four of them follow me on my 4 mile runs. We have been blessed with an abundance of wild birds and it is unusual for these young puppies not to point or knock a bunch of pheasants each time. While still very young, I have been really impressed by Patches and Nikki - they have matured the quickest of the puppies and had more bird contact. While Fat Boy shows the most independence and is the one most likely to go off the beaten paths to go find birds. Krystal is by far, the most people friendly and the one most likely to lick your face should you make the mistake of stopping to tie your shoes.
Diamond - Very nice young derby - the best dog we had up here this summer. He is a hard running, easy gaited dog, that seems to glide over the prairie. Thursday, he had several broke finds on pheasants and I think that once we put more polish on his forward pattern he will be the dog to watch in the months to come at field trials. He will have his first baptism of fire, at the Flint Hills Llewellin FTC trial in about 2 wks - I am hopeful he will do very well.
Charlie and Chief - Nice solid dogs (in more ways than one) these were the easiest dogs to train - They are nice stylish dogs, and we are working hard to get a more forward field trial pattern. These are bird finders, always getting into birds and make very few mistakes handling them and staying steady to wing and shot. And a joy to be around - super training attitude - and strong - these two could pull the quad roading rig all by themselves down the road.
Layla, Joe and Alex - Very nice pointers, they are flashy, stylish hunting dogs that are truly a joy to train/hunt over. Joe is a bit of a renegade, but is learning more control and a more productive range. Alex - what a sweet, easy going hunting dog. She is the most cooperative dog - what a fine dog. Layla - This is a very nice hunting dog - attractive point, run - finds birds and is a sweet hunting dog - she will be an outstanding TX quail dog.
Ted - What a bird dog! I have never seen so much desire in a dog. He is classy, big running stylish in application and just a joy to watch run. He is also a bit stubborn - he is so bird crazy that breaking him steady to wing and shot has been a chore - but I think we are making a turn. The last week of training this dog will be getting out on a daily basis in an effort to finish breaking him with wild birds.
Dancer and Babe - Two littermate sisters that are going to be super hunting dogs - they are broke to flush now and have great noses and ability to find birds - They have a nice, easy gait, work in easy gun range and just are sweet girls.
Thats if for now.
Keith- Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill
9/22/2007 - Under the Rusty Windmill
A Special treat for all of the owners of the Doggies that went to summer camp. I have a music video for you. It requires Flash to watch!
Here is the link