August 2008
Under the Rusty Windmill
Coming of Age - Knikki's Story
Cuilean/LadyA (KeithH5)
August-1 1:22 pm
First off - I feel that your first successful field trial dog, is sorta like a first love - you never forget them. Shoeleather's Tanner is an intregal part of this story - He is the original first love. So, let's start at the beginning.
When Chuck and I made the deal for Tanner - one of the conditions was that I got to pick any dog in his kennel to breed Tanner to and keep or sell any or all of the puppies. Chuck Wilson has quite a few fine females in his kennel, a few of which have been bred to Tanner and lots of people have those dogs in their kennels today.
When I told Chuck my pick - he was amazed, he calls her the "mud fence dog" because he says she is "uglier than a mud fence." But, something always told me - he was reading Polly wrong. The breeding was accomplished and Polly whelped 5 puppies at our home. Their were 3 females and 2 males, and Teresa and I were drawn to the chestnut male and he spent lots of hours sleeping on Teresa's lap.
They were born in May just in time to be weaned and come with me to SD last summer. We sorted them out, running them and watching them develop here on the prairies .
The decision was made and Knikki was named the heir apparent. The one chosen to fill some mighty big paws. Knikki was worked in Texas and shortly after 6 1/2 months old (pups must be 6 months old minimum to run in field trials) we entered him in his very first AKC horseback field trial in Brownwood, TX.
Knikki broke away fast and to the front, I kept singing to him so that he was able to keep track of me through the live oaks and grassland, there were anxious moments as we lost track of him only to see a flash of white cross in front of us, going away. The course made a sharp turn and headed back towards the starting line, and I was concerned because I last had him to the front and going over a hill. Many times in the past this was his daddy's nemesis and kept Tanner from sometimes placing as the course turned and Tanner was over the hill and out of sight and lost. It seemed like an eternity as first one then two minutes ticked by (these are 15-20 minute stakes) and Knikki broke from the left and to the front and I thought, "Wow, he is getting it done."
Another couple hills and with two minutes left the judges had him as I called him out to the front 200 to 300 yds. At the final turn, he kicked it up just a little more and finished going away towards the dog wagon. I knew we were in it - but when the dust had cleared and the judges gave their decision - Knikki had just won the first field trial he ever entered!
I entered him in a couple more derbies (AF Shooting dog standards) and although he was never placed, he gave a great showing and the judges always had great things to say about him.
His second placement came at the NLGDC Classic in the companion derby stake. He had also run in a couple AKC Junior Hunt Tests and qualified both times.
I watched him get stronger and as I watched him run through the spring, it was evident that he was his father's son. At times, I almost forgot it was Knikki out there and not the great one, (at least in my heart and soul) Tanner. As the fall, and winter, turned to spring and summer. I found myself longing to take Knikki to the prairies - the grounds that helped develop his dad into the champion he became. The months seemed to go so slowly after the field trials season ended in Texas. But, at last the time came and Knikki along with his daddy, aunt, and sisters was on his way with me to the prairies.
The first day we were able to turn loose dogs here on the Reservation. I had made a point to include Knikki in the brace schedule. As I lead Knikki to the line, I felt almost giddy with excitement and nervousness. He was also excited as he pulled against the lead, and took him to the starting line. Daniel, had his sister Rhemy and led her to the line. I took the lead off, reached down scratched his ears, he pushed his head against my thigh, as if he felt the excitement too and was reassuring me that - everything was in order. I gave him a gentle "Whoa" and mounted my horse.
A long blast of my whistle and Knikki was off, making a move that would have made his daddy proud. As we topped a small rise, I spotted Knikki to the front, I turned my horse and Knikki on cue, turned with me. The breeze was mild and in his face as he feathered into a nice, stylish point. I almost could not breath, I thought to myself - "Get hold of yourself, Keith this is just a training workout," I dismounted from my tried and true field trial horse, Cody. This is the horse that carried me to victory many times with Tanner. As I walked in front, a pheasant flushed and I fired - Knikki broke at the shot. But, I just smiled - there was no way that I could be mad at him.
We continued on with the brace, Rhemy had some bird contacts, but I was lost in the moment. That brace, on that day it seemed like Knikki and I were in our own world. I watched as his young, strong body moved with little effort through the tall prairie grass and how he moved to sort out the intoxicating scents on the prairie of sharp tail and pheasant. As, we turned towards home, I watched Knikki take a tree line in a breathtaking finish. Too soon, for my tastes but, as I sat there on Cody and reflected.
I can't help but think how exciting and amazing of a journey Knikki has made from last year and a being a Puppy on the Prairie - to now - his Coming of Age. We have not yet come full circle, but I am confident we are on our way.
Tanner is still with me and still strong, enjoying yet another summer on the prairie - as I look with pride into the eyes of this great dog, Tanner. I am blessed in the sure knowledge that his legacy is assured.
Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill
From: KHickam
Aug-5 4:21 pm
We've been running hard recently and I realize that all the bird work we are having is great for the dogs. But, I found myself wishing they would find a few less this morning, as by the time the final brace was run this morning - it was getting hard to get up on the horse!
The first brace we ran was Jake's brace. He broke away on a 1/2 mile cast up a tree line while we crossed diagonally across the newly cut wheat field. As we topped the first hill he broke right and crossed in front of us 1/4 mile away. His bracemate was off to a slow start but was found pointing just inside a sunflower field where prairie grass section, wheat section and sunflower section all come together.
Jake was corrected for failing to back and once the birds were flushed and the shot was fired. Jake and his brace mate were taken on. About halfway across the prairie in a buffalo wallow (low area that water congregates in wet years and is always good for a bevy of sharptails) Jake's brace mate was found pointing again. Jake was corrected again for failing to back.
This was great training for Jake. Because the sharp tails came up in a delayed rise and Jake was in the middle of them as bird after bird flushed in singles, pairs and finally about 10 in a bunch, about 15 birds total. Both dogs were watered and sent on - another 1/4 mile and we topped a rise to see Jake's bracemate again pointing in the prairie. This time Jake honored his brace mates point, I flushed 40 yds in front and a lone sharp tail was flushed and both dogs were taken on.
Another 1/4 mile and Jakes bracemate was again found pointing. Jake honored his bracemate, the dogs were in order at the flush and shot and the large brood of young pheasants were coming up like popcorn all around the dogs and nearly flew into Jakes face - he stood like a statue and I ordered Daniel to harness his brace mate and I took Jake on and turned down the tree line towards camp. Jake was running well to the front and turned suddenly and pointed intensely into a small clump of standing wheat. I got off and flushed and a pair of pheasants exploded up from the clump, Jake turned to mark the flight of birds and stood nicely through the shot. I watered him and took him on. About 200 yds from camp, a lone pheasant flushed and Jake executed a beautiful stop to flush and stood well through the shot and was taken on. SUCCESS!!!!!!!!! After a rocky start Jake had two nice pieces of broke dog work, and finished well to the front, going away.
Jazz/Sammie - The next brace up was Jazz (SMP) and Sammie. We broke away and both the dogs were quartering well across the wheat field working in a nice gun dog range.
Jazz - Is here for UT training in NAVHDA and was slower than usual - possibly due to working multiple double water retrieves the night before of 50-125 yds.
Anyway, both dogs were hunting intently and working well and Jazz had a productive point at the edge of a ditch on the wheat field, I used by rein to flush and Jazz was taken on after all was in order. Their were multiple stop to flushes for both dogs - and I was obligated to get off the horse and flush any possible remaining birds and once the shot was fired, I collared the dogs and took them on (there were 3 or 4 such incidents). We took them down the tree line and Jazz feathered into a classic arrow point. Sammie honored nicely and after a long flushing attempt out of view of both dogs - several birds flushed and both dogs were intent on the shot (Daniel was watching them as I was out of sight). Daniel and I collared both dogs and sent them on.
A short time later both dogs pointed and I got off the horses and flushed - and was unable to produce birds but Daniel followed with the horses as Jazz and Sammie had long relocation attempt but came up short and were taken on to finish the brace.
Our next brace was derby aged red setters Katie and Gus. Katie was roaded 8 miles to take some of the edge off - sometimes this works and sometimes this doesn't - today was one of the days it didn't work.
Gus and Katie were off well and making some breathtaking casts as we rode across the wheat fields - several times they were seen to get birdy and birds were seen under them (we were at times 1/4 mile away) several times Daniel and I had to ride hard to correct these dogs course and bring them to the front. We had planned a simple out and back course, along the tree line, as birds were congregating there now that the wheat field was mowed. It worked great for Gus - not for Katie - after watering the dogs and heading home I had Katie briefly and she was lost. After a sufficient period of time singing and calling on Katie - I turned on the Tracker. Daniel rode on with Gus as I turned back and started to track Katie's signal. During this period of time, Gus had a beautiful point on pheasants on the tree line - I was not witness to it but Daniel said it was a gorgeous find. I kept heading back as the signal on the tracker grew fainter. I kept calling on her and concluded she was headed out to the deep prairie. She was gathered up after about 20 anxious minutes - thank goodness for the Tracker - but, man. What a beautiful hard running and gorgeous dog. Katie is something and once we get a handle on her - the sky is the limit with her.
Because of the growing heat we ended our horse back work after Gus/Katie brace, as it was approaching 11:30 am and getting hotter.
Ben - Has been standing broke on pen birds and we will get him into the rotation this week, and see what he does on wild birds.
Cooper - Has been standing broke on pen birds and we will give him another week of bird work before going out on the prairie with him - he has been pointing well and I am very pleased with his progress.
White Boy - has been standing broke and his progress is nearly identical to Cooper - another week perhaps two of yard work and he will be ready for the prairie.
Maggie - Like her brother, she is a bit slower than some of the others here. She is standing to the flush and I am hoping she will turn the corner soon and we can take advantage of the abundant birds here this year.
Chase - Getting into condition and is doing well in his bird work - he came to camp a bit late and will need to catch up a bit but I am impressed with his natural ability and willingness to work in training.
More later - I have a great Puppies post to make also.
Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill.
From: Cuilean/LadyA
Aug-21 5:34 am
Well, I got back from attending the Montana Shooting Dog Championship on Tuesday. There were 54 dogs and 12 derbies running over 5 days. Several were dogs here for training.
Kane - Made a nice breakaway and was running hard, when he failed to honor his bracemate - I don't think he really saw the dog but I trust the judge's opinion and feel that it really gave me a good look at Kane's strengths and weakness - He will get into more training on backing and honoring.
Aura - She has been running well and I was looking forward to running her hard and felt that she would show great in Montana, as she has been running hard and big here in SD. However, she was favoring her right front foot and we decided to let her rest and recover. She will get another couple days off as her badly torn pad heals a bit more. She has had 10 different broke finds in the last two weeks and several more broke pieces of bird work on stop to flush on jumpy birds in the wind.
Mali - A hard running dog with more broke dog work that just keeps getting better and better. She is running well, and working intelligently and snappy. She was picked up in the championship due to a minor break in manners and she is going to be a great, young shooting dog that will keep getting better. Her bird work has improved greatly and application is getting very mature.
Diva - Wow, what a dog ran her in Open Derby in 100F + weather on Tuesday, her first 20 minutes was great and very nice work - several nice casts and showing where she should. At 24 minutes, I decided to pick up after she slowed considerably and I feel that in the long run it was better to save her - as I can see a great field trial career ahead of her. She has had lots of bird contact and multiple broke finds on both sharptail and pheasant.
Rhemy - Ran hard, had some contact with birds, pointed and finished the 30 minute run in 100 degree heat. She is not as mature in application as her sister but she is very big running and her ground pattern has improved greatly she has matured to the point that when turned loose she is all business and looks super on her birds.
Gus - Ran well for the first 20 minutes, also in 100F weather. He is looking good, working hard, mature in application. Has had many contacts with birds and looks like a million dollars on point. He is running in a mostly forward pattern and continuing to improve every day on running bigger and harder to the front.
Katie - I really love this dog. She is a super nice, classy running dog, probably the best red dog I have ever seen at the age she is. She is learning that pheasants and sharptails are much more interesting than meadow larks now. I expect that more from this very nice, classy irish setter.
Ben - He is working better and better, roading 10 miles, pulling hard - and will start work on the prairies this week. He is green broke on birds and will be run in the hunting dog rotation twice a week on the prairies, roaded 3 times a week and continue working in the yard on pen birds occasionally.
Cooper - Two peas in a pod. Big strong dog, he and Ben are the "A" team when it comes to roading and yard work. He is doing exceptionally well on pen birds and will be worked into the rotation on the hunting dogs running on the prairie - in fact, all other dogs are going to start running on the prairies every day. I just hope my butt can hold up to all the time in the saddle now.
Alex - Solid hunting dog, bird work every time she runs - honest as the day is long, mature in application - just a super, super good bird dog.
Maggie - Nearly broke - she is way behind the other dogs because she showed some sensitivity to gun fire and we worked her through that instead of working on getting her broke - we will run her some on the yard work or liberated birds in addition to working her on the prairie - like all the hunting dog string she is now roading 10 miles now.
White Boy - Nearly broke, he is doing well, works well and needs more wild bird work and has done well enough on pen birds I feel that it is time for him to graduate up to the prairie hunting dog string. He roads with the field trial dogs at 12 miles a day - 3 times a week.
Chase - Will be rotated into the young dog breaking string now - as we have several young dogs that are really ready to get broke - he is in very good condition and will start roading with the hunting dogs and running with the our young dogs for more bird experience on the prairies.
Sammie - Great little hunting dog, we run her with Jazz, and both compliment each other very well. She has had lots of broke dog work, and running in a more mature pattern than when we started. She roads with the big dogs over 12 miles 3 times a week.
Jazz - Retrieving super well, and increasing the difficulty in preparation for her Utility test. She runs well and roads with the hunting dogs 10 miles - 3 times a week. She runs on the prairie well, and I can't remember when she did not have at least one piece of broke dog work on every outing.
Ellie - Solid, classy young dog. Roads with her daddy 12 miles - three times a week. Lots of broke dog work on sharp tail and pheasants. She is more consistent in application and the experience with wild birds has greatly improved her hunting pattern.
Sadie - She has been found on point numerous times - she is steady to shot, and we are going to work her back into the young dog string a couple times a week for more yard work. Like many young, crazy bird dogs - wild birds are really exciting for her - and at times too exciting.
Jackie - Well, what can I say - she's Tanner's girl. Hard driving, classy running bird dog that is nearly steady to wing and shot on both wild and pen raised birds. She has a mature pattern for her age, works hard, finds birds, and has more stamina and endurance than most of her siblings. She ran in the Open Derby in MT with temps nearly approaching 105F - she received 2nd place in the stake of 12 dogs including her 1/2 sisters and brothers and super nice pointers. Well, about it for now must saddle up and work dogs. Nice to be back in beautiful and cool SD.
Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill
From: Cuilean/LadyA
August 27 5:40 pm
Well, another week is nearly gone on the prairies. We have been running dogs everyday on the prairies now. Additionally, the dogs are roading every other day so the dogs are getting into great shape. We are still working some dogs on check cord as well as running on wild birds.
Chase - Doing very well on pen raised birds, and standing well through the flush and shot. He has continued to get into shape and is roading 8-10 miles every other day.
Cooper - He is nearly broke now. Working well on check cords and pen raised birds. He is in great shape now. He will be getting into the rotation on wild birds very shortly.
Maggie - Standing broke now for the first time in the summer program. She should make great progress quickly now. She is in great shape and working well with the other dogs in training.
Belle - I am moving her from the big dog program back to the young dog program, she needs to be put into lots of wild birds with very little pressure. She is in very good shape and has a neat training attitude.
Ben - Ready to move to the big dog wild bird program, we will be moving him into the rotation with all the other dogs - My butt will be in the saddle more and more now.
Girl - Standing broke, running hard and is going to the wild bird rotation now.
Alex - Great progress, solid dog, having the time of her life. She has had multiple finds on wild birds and is 100 % broke.
White Boy - He made the transition to the wild bird rotation, made some great casts and ran very hard. Inexperience is showing but I expect that to change quickly.
Rhemy - Running hard, has had multiple bird contacts. She is still not 100 percent on wild birds but she is finding lots of them and it is only a question of time before she puts it all together.
Aura - Nice big running brittany. She is finding birds and standing broke nearly all the time. She is a great young derby age dog.
Jazz - Multiple finds on wild birds (every time she runs) is doing well with duck retrieving and water search. She has good stamina and works well with the other dogs.
Ellie - Running well on the prairies, had 2 beautiful finds on wild birds in a high wind and heat yesterday. She works to the front and finds many opportunities to make nice casts in search of birds. Sadie - Working well, had a nice broke find today. She is a nice and thorough working hunting dog that is a pleasure to work.
Sammie - Working well in front, in a thorough pattern. Multiple finds on birds each time she runs. She had two beautiful finds on sharp tails and pheasants today in a cool day, with a slight breeze.
Diva - Hard running shooting dog derby. She has not quite figured out wild birds yet, and has had several stop to flush. I feel that it is only a matter of time before she puts it all together and matures into a first class bird dog.
Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill