January 5, 2008 12:45am

Well, our first week of training has been an adventure. Louie is bird crazy and reminds my shoulder every day that Tango was like - but Louie is at least less powerful and only jerks me around instead of trying to dislocate my shoulder. We have been training on chukar and he is holding his points for a good length of time - but then the flush comes and it is Louie bar the door. I have managed to keep the check cord from pulling my legs out from under me - Which I consider a significant accomplishment.

We have not started water work because we have been having a pretty good cold snap and the water is ice cold.

Keith

Pictures of Our Dogs in Training

Louie

Trooper

January 20, 2008 3:10pm

Well, we are having fun with the moonsters.

Star is on a diet and exercise regimen to take a bit of weight off. She is working daily on pigeons and is pointing well. We are still getting her to be steady to the flush, progress is slow but steady. Water work was chilly and brief this week but we accomplished a couple 40 yd retrieves.

Louie - Is now on the whoa post being "whoa" broke - he has tried the strength of my shoulder and arms on several occasions necessitating the early switch to "whoa" training in lieu of bird work and water work. He has shown good style in both areas so, I feel this will not deter any progress he will make in the coming months. He has adjusted well to the kennel/work environment and is having a great time with Auggie.

Keith

January 31, 2008 3:10pm

We have 2 new dogs for training. Their names are Patches and Ora. Patches is a nice little Llewellin and I believe she will make a nice hunting dog in the near future. Ora is a Brittany and is very, very excited about the birds she has been put on.

Here are some photos of both dogs. Enjoy.

Teresa

Patches

Aura

January 31, 2008 3:03pm

Well, we are working Louie through "whoa" and we have transitioned to killing birds for him - more formal steady to wing and shot training. Yesterday, while working I was able to flush a bird, fire two shots, killing the bird and send Louie to make the retrieve - he waited until I sent him - picked up the bird bought it about 1/2 the way back to me and dropped it. He has taken "whoa" training well, now that the weather is much better. Shackled duck searches are being worked on.

Louie, is doing very well, and I am pleased with progress.

Star - We have started to "whoa" break Star and she is working well with it. She is a bit stubborn, but making progress. Yesterday, we made a transition to steady to wing and shot training and we have some issues to work through there. More water training is in order.

Keith

February 19, 2008 4:00pm

Louie - Is doing great, and well into the breaking process. He is standing steady to wing and shot well now. Water work will start in ernest once we receive some intelligence from the NW on similiar water to work with on the duck search - I have been pleased with his progress and is as well along at this point as his sibling Tango was in training last year. Another week to ten days and we will start conditioned retrieve in earnest.

Star - Is at a great weight now. She is progressing slowly due to wanting to sit down at even the slightest pressure to stay broke. This will cause the training to go more slowly. Until, she is standing broke steady to wing and shot - it would be counterproductive to continue with any other training. She is pointing well, with the birds well located. I will be killing some birds over her - in hopes that this will help her stand up more. Some things we have tried include multiple birds and other things to get her more steady. Work is progressing slowly.

Keith

Rhemmy

Trooper

March 11, 2008 7:47pm

We are a bit over 2 months in training and both Star and Louie are broke steady to wing and shot, and have had birds killed over them and are still standing broke, we will continue to work this as we go into the retrieving training and once coming out of that we will work water and steadiness to finish up things by the test day. Keith