Sept 1 Gunny went to the Madison
Retriever Club AKC hunt test and was great all day
note: ate, aired regularly, slept and wasn't a nuisance.......good puppy
Sept 2 Gunny spent another long day at the hunt test and came out of it in
great spirits
Sept 3 day off, slept a lot today
Sept 4 spent most of the day sleeping and playing in the living room, he now
has his own
crate next to the big dogs and has adjusted well to the "Yapper Zapper"
Sept 5 Gunny is three months old today - too hot.......so spent the day
inside
Sept 6 rode along with older dogs to train nearby, played with a pup one
month older and
pretty much go mauled, he had no clue of what to do and she eventually began
charging at him and blindsiding him so we ended that, didn't seem to bother
him that
much, but it was getting too rough, went to the Square Pond later to do a
few bumpers
in the pond. Decided to forget about having a long string on the bumper (in
case he
decided butterflies were more interesting). Taffey was along for the ride
and could come
out to pick it up if Gunny didn't. This was not a good idea. He wandered off
after a dragon
fly and Taffey came out. She flew into the water and it was a loud entry.
Gunny was
totally spooked. When she came out of the water there was no mistake in the
shock to
Gunny. Who is this water monster and why is she charging at me? He took off
running. As
soon as Taffey was out of the water then he tried to take the bumper back.
Clearly his
perception of what was going on was totally different than what I had
expected. Threw a
few bumpers on land and called it a "day to forget".
note: beginning to rethink my concerns about putting a
check cord on a young pup,
it is not an absolute as Gunny's penchant for "keep away" awakened long
before Taffey, Kooly or Daisy's. Gunny's response to the Seamless "Here"
Puppy concept has not been a totally seamless event.
note: Gunny is really put together well.
Sept 7 Gunny went along to a training session at the Square Pond and helped
work on the
setups between dogs, everything in sight he picked up to check out, got wet
and had
a lot of fun just running around (good in the van when put back, too)
Sept 8 went with the older dogs on a hunt test at Bong Recreational Area, WI
and was a good
puppy the whole day
Sept 9 (evening) went to the Square Pond and messed around with a long walk,
found a plastic
water bottle with a little water left in it, Gunny thought it was cool to
carry around and he
ended up making four swimming retrieves, gave in to his penchant for keep
away and put
a 20' light poly rope on him (He hardly pays any attention to it.) He is now
settled into the
routine around the house and doing quite well. The bark collar is now being
phased out
since new habits (being quiet) have taken over.
Sept 10 (morning) Gunny did a long "Walk" in the knee high, thin cover at
BT's and was able to
get into a nice quartering mode as I "zigged & zagged" behind him (doesn't
spend any
time following me)
Sept 11 (morning) walked about a mile around and through BT's hay field
(after the older dogs
finished "roading")
note: Gunny is doing really well fitting into the routine of taking all the dogs
training,
knows which box is his, kennels up on command & waits patiently for his turn
Sept 12 (afternoon) ran around after the ATV was run up on the trailer at BT's,
dropped the three
older dogs off at the house and Gunny went for a romp at the Square Pond, have
to keep
a twenty foot light poly rope on him because..........he is just plain
mischievous, threw a
couple of Avery ATB teal on land which is picked up, then one in the
water........the frogs
and floating moss were more interesting
so I decided to take some pictures, took
off the poly rope (big mistake) and got a few good ones (I think), but getting
him back in
the van afterwards.............was FUN!
I am almost certain formal OB
can't come too soon.
Waiting will be the ultimate test.
(left click on image to view)
 Gunny - 3 months old |
Sept 13 went for a short walk at the Square Pond & did four land retrieves
of a white 2" Avery bumper
note: sat on command anticipating the throw and really zoomed out for the
retrieve
Sept 14-15 didn't do much except play around the house
Sept 16 first short remote winger mark at the Square Pond
Sept 17 Gunny went for his first boat ride at Hook Lake - took it in stride
and got the "normal" falling
overboard out of the way - no panic and it didn't phase him, he seemed a bit
more careful
looking over the side though
Sept 18 day off
Sept 19 short walk at the Square Pond with a few hand thrown marks
Sept 20 Gunny went to the Vets for his last set of shots
note: Gunny weighs 31 pounds at 15½
weeks old
Sept 21 (evening) Gunny had 3 land retrieves - Avery ATB teal singles from a
remote winger
Sept 22 (evening) Gunny retrieved three remote winger singles using the
Avery 2" Flasher with flags
note: about 40 yards long, used a white stickman & he is starting to "look
out"
note: the long, light poly check cord is working out quite well
note: Gunny is so much more laid back than Daisy at this age......it is kind of
pleasant
Sept 23 worked on passive sit & heel around the
house.....sit to get out of crate, sit to put flat collar on,
sit to exit house......heeling just keeping him in the area beside me
without any commands
note: barking has become a non-issue and he stops with a "no bark"
command.....if
didn't in the past.....the bark collar was immediately put in place......he
knows
Sept 24 easy day - mostly play
Sept 25 three remote winger singles at the Square Pond
Sept 26 walked a long way at BT's - heavier cover and out into the short
alfalfa field
Sept 27 day off except the passive OB routine around the house
Sept 28 (evening) ran for a short time in the field at BT's & three remote
wingers at the Sq. Pond
Sept 29 (morning) ran with Taffey in the upland area around the Johnny
House.....wanted to play with
her, but the novelty soon wore off and he spent time checking things out,
drove to the Square
Pond grassy area (short) and did three remote winger singles
(left click on image to view)
 winger, stickman & Gunny |
 brief remote sit |
 winger retrieve |
Sept 30 (dusk) short walk at BT's after the older dogs "roaded" and two hand
thrown singles
note: starting to work on heeling in an area close by with no commands
(short leash)
note: switched to feeding twice a day
Oct 1 (dusk) Gunny did three remote winger
singles......laddering from 30 yards out to 50 yards
note: good job!
Interceptor & Frontline
Plus
Oct 2 (dusk) three hand thrown marks
in the short cut alfalfa field
(wearing light poly check cord)
Oct 3 passive OB around the house = sit before going outside
and heel "in the area" on a leash
note: another very warm day
Oct 4 (dusk) a walk in the hay field and 4 hand thrown singles
(wearing a light poly check cord)
note: Gunny is doing a much better job of coming to me with the bumper &
he is not
asked to give it to me right away, a little stroking & a quiet, easy sit
is beginning
to shape up, his "heeling in the vicinity" is also starting to get
"tighter", he is
becoming more aware (no commands) with the leash and flat collar
restricting
his movement
note: the need for a bark collar is decreasing
Oct 5 (dusk) slipped over to the Square Pond grassy area for a quick run
& four long throw singles
note: Gunny would sit remotely and look for the throw....that was cool,
the grass was
cut today so the longer throws were easier to mark
Oct 6 (mid-morning) another very warm day = a short walk at the Square
Pond grassy area,
finished with 2 (only) remote winger singles with a stickman
note: Gunny is sitting now and after "locating" the stickman stares at
it on the "watch"
cue = retrieves are "on the money" with solid holds in the middle of the
bumper,
his return to me is more focused and has learned this is a "neat game"
note: after "his" session, Gunny scampers back into the van to enter his
"box" on the
"kennel up" command just like the "big dogs"
Oct 7 (morning) after the older dogs "roaded" six miles, Gunny went for
a short romp in the grass
and then had three remote winger with a stickman singles
note: introduced the whistle come in trill with "here" today, two
singles he stepped
on, the third was hidden by a little rise the terrain and he quickly
found it
Oct 8 (noon) Gunny has been wearing a bark collar about a month.
Therefore, he's comfortable
wearing a collar the same size and weight as the e-collar. He has, also,
experienced some
corrections for barking. They have been much more "noticed" than
anything he will "feel"
with a "CC to here" session. Today, I checked out his response to low
level stimulus with the
G3 TriTronics Upland e-collar. This is done to determine his
"sensitivity level". At level one
there was nothing noticeable. At 1.5, he seemed to appear to
look around and perk up....like
"What's with that?" At level 2 continuous he appeared to feel
coming to me on "here" was
something he needed to do. There was no flinching, noise or discomfort.
He just felt the
urgency of relieving "something". After four well timed "here's",
the lesson was over. He did
not hesitate to move off running afterwards, and his "reaction" to the
"CC to here" could not
have gone any better. Gunny was not upset or apprehensive in the least.
note: This one confident, cool pup.
note: This is the fourth pup I've done "CC to here" early. There have
been no problems
with any of them........I think there are several reasons. First
of all, each pup
experienced "The Walk" and were very comfortable with the daily
routines.
Secondly, each pup went through the "Seamless Here Puppy"
process.
They
knew "here" was a good thing. Another reason is, I have been
fortunate enough
to
kind of be able to sense why a pup "does what he does" and being a
natural
"con man" has helped to channel good behaviors and avoid issues.
Another
reason, at least for the last three, has been the early, pre-application
of a bark
collar.
Lastly, knowing how to use an e-collar correctly was already in place.
note: this routine will be repeated daily in the midst of normal
sessions, for quite
some time it will not be part of any retrieving of bumpers (especially
since
there are no real issues there anyway). He will start teething soon and
working
through that will not be done with any "corrections". Gunny still has at
least
two more months before any formal OB lessons and even more time before
any formal e-collar conditioning. Until formal OB begins....sit
and heel will
be "imprinted" passively.
!
! !
Disclaimer: Don't teach "CC to here" with a
very young pup until the use of an e-collar is
clearly understood including applications.....AND do not attempt it
until the
temperament of the "transmitter handler" is well defined.
Why not practice on an older, more forgiving dog?
Better yet.............find an experienced mentor.
Oct 9 day off - had planned to use the boat with the dogs,
but the "test" ended up showing
it is too narrow and unstable to suit me (duck hunting is on hold)
Oct 10 (morning) tool a short walk in the heavy cover at BT's
Oct 11 Gunny took a long ride to Iowa City to pickup a boat and trailer
, left at 1:10 pm and
back at 9:30 pm (400+ miles) = he was perfect
Oct 12 day off for the dogs, worked on the boat = cleaned out, redid
wiring, fitted the oars,
started building a blind - Carstan Bluebill
Oct 13 (morning) Gunny had four remote winger singles at the Square
Pond, did a second
session of "CC to here" but not while retrieving - used only a 1.5 level
and he was just
great with it
note: Gunny is going through a growing
spurt
note: today there was blood on the bumpers he retrieved (teething), but
Gunny
didn't mess around with or drop any
Oct 14 (afternoon) short walk at BT's in the cover
Oct 15 road along to the vets with Taffey - Gunny weights 38 pounds
Oct 16 (afternoon) let out four chukars from the Johnny House then drove
over to the edge of
the field, Gunny took a long walk and experienced his first upland bird
"action". He
was very excited, extremely athletic and caught on quickly.
(left click on image to view)
Hot Trail |
 Getting Close |
 Strong "Stuff" |
 Scent in the Air |
Intensity |
 There Goes One |
 Flyaway |
 Freakin' Fun |
Oct 17 (afternoon) Gunny went for his first motor boat ride in Pierce
Lake at Rock Cut State Park.
"Geez", he was all over the boat which made me think maybe it is formal
OB time.
note: Two game wardens stopped "us" and did a complete check to see if
everything was legal. We passed!
note; tonight Gunny was "fitted" with his pinch collar
note: no formal OB yet
This is fun! |
Gunny's gunnel |
 "so close" |
 "more water" |
Oct
18 Gunny's new routine is the pinch collar out of the crate and to the
airing door with extended
sits and maintaining an approximate heeling position
note: refresher course in "no bite"
Oct 19 Gunny
went with me to Stoughton, WI to buy a Johnson 6HP short shaft motors
(dealer)
Oct 20
Gunny's day included some simple sit, front sit, heeling exercises a
couple of times
Oct 21 turned
loose the rest of the Chukars and Gunny got first crack at them, got
birdy three of four
times and hunted out, but the Chukars were running
note: Gunny is covering ground really well and started to sort out
trailing scent
Oct 22 Gunny
went for another boat ride at Pierce Lake to test out the newer motor,
he was a "busy"
pup in the boat, finally ran a line between the oar locks through his
collar like a zip line...that
worked really well. Between the geese, coots, sea gulls, mallards and
turkey vultures....he
did a lot of "sky scanning".
Oct 23 worked
on more short, remote front sits and heeling/sit turns in two minute
sessions
note: Gunny is a cheerful, quick study
note: moved his crate away from Daisy. There is too much motion with
her, and he
is feeding off it. Now Gunny is next to Taffey, and she is much more
laid back.
Oct 23 (evening)
Daisy, Taffey and Kooly worked on a push/pull drill in the yard
note: van in for new tires and extensive suspension repairs
Oct 24 (morning)
Gunny had four singles at the Square Ponds
Oct 25 (afternoon)
went to BT's and moved the Johnny House over to the tree line, Gunny had
four singles
with the Avery ATB teal in the short alfalfa |
note: still teething, blood all over the teal - but zero issues with
mouthing .....picked it
up without hesitation and returned to hand - tough, intense little pup
Oct 26 (evening)
went to the Square Pond grassy area and Greg threw four singles for
Gunny
Oct 27 (afternoon)
Taffey and I scouted the Sugar River in the boat, went 5.5 miles
upstream from the
Harrison bridge saw two geese, one mallard hen and lots of logs and
stumps, hit two
note: Gunny has started working on longer sits and being restrained in
the heeling
position (using English slip lead)
Oct 28 informally
worked on front sits with short lead and "the wheel to heel" action
(both sides)
note: do this every time he goes out and back in while airing (about
four times a day),
the routines for eating in the crate (sit first) and exit/enter crate
times are being
formalized - repetition and consistently the same
note: getting in and out of the crate when traveling in the van is
excellent
note: any barking results in the bark collar being place on him - he is
getting very
good about understanding the quiet command except when I first wake and
he knows I am up (not right there to remind him)
Oct 29
(afternoon) Gunny will get a good long walk in cover at BT's and four
singles in the alfalfa
note: Frontline Plus (a few days early - grouse
hunting tomorrow = ticks still an issue)
Oct 30
grouse trip to Wasau, WI
- Gunny was the perfect pup
Oct 31
day off
Nov 1 (dusk) four singles at the Square Pond - bloody bumpers, but
no issues
Nov 2 (dusk) four singles in the back yard
Nov 3 (afternoon) four singles at the Square Pond
note: canvass bumper bloody - two holes where teeth came out
Nov 4 (dusk) four singles in the yard
Nov 5 (dusk) two singles in the back yard - no blood = teething about
over
note: Gunny is 5 months old
note: responding to "here" really well
note: some biting showing up again - acts like he is trying to be
dominant - not
getting away with it and responding (understands)
note: kennel up (off lead) now very good = house and van
note: more work on lead (flat collar or English slip) no lunging allowed
Nov 6 day off - Daisy went duck hunting Tuesday
note:
Interceptor for all
Nov 7 (afternoon) four singles in the back yard
Nov 8 (dusk) Gunny got four singles in the back yard
Nov 9 (afternoon) four singles in the back yard
Nov 10 (midday) Gunny ran in the heavy grass in areas #3, took a break
and then ran for a
short time in the heavy, tall bluestem grass in area #7 at Blonhaven
Hunt Club
 Gunny - 5 months old |
Nov 11 (morning) Blonhaven Tower shoot - Gunny runs in cover by the club
house and picked
up 4 singles (short grassy area), after the tower shoot (he stayed in the van) Gunny ran
the
heavy cover
(sorghum) in area #3 for about a 30 minutes (lots of scent = probably
running pheasants), later just before leaving at 1:30 pm, two chukar darted into the
short, grassy cover
to the west of the clubhouse = he got his second visual "fly away"
note: took off like a rocket
(not a very clear picture, but)
(left click on image to view)
"Chukar for Chasing" |
Nov 11 Gunny officially starts formal OB
(finished with teething & imprinted with live birds)
note: Gunny is one week past five months old
note: before this "START" - Gunny has been leash broke, is
familiar with a
flex-lead, has worn a check
cord and is familiar with its use, he has been
regularly "imprinted" with sit before exiting or entering anything,
enters
his inside crate and van box on "kennel up", was thoroughly
"imprinted"
(passively) with the "joy of here", conditioned to the English slip lead
and
a small prong pinch collar, has been wearing a bark collar for almost
two
months and CC'd to "here" (without any issues) at 4 months
note: for the next two weeks (or more) the pinch collar will be used
with steady
pressure (initiated by Gunny) or with no tension (zero jerking/popping),
3 actions and positions with commands will be formally introduced -
here,
sit (both sides &
front), heel (both sides - forward & backwards)
emphasis will be on using very short lessons and in context if possible,
minimal pressure
to cause being in
the right position, performing the correct
action
in context, conditioning to the
stick
(heeling and rattle) & having fun
note: the lessons will be before and after retrieving, during the course
of
everyday routines and just before "going to bed" at night
note: this will be balanced with continuing "The Walk" concept (being
free) and
exposure to shooting & upland birds at Blonhaven (during & after tower
shoots)
note: at some time after he is 6 months old the pinch collar will be
transitioned to
a choke collar which will introduce more obvious trainer corrections to
the
taught commands
note: OB will be at least two (or more) months and
solid off leash before FF
note: collar conditioning will be completed before the start of FF
note: since winter is coming on, the timing of these steps is perfect
for "no need to
rush" and when completed should be just in time for the best part of the
year
to do T work (early spring & cool) = when T work is completed, the water
will
be warm enough for swim-by (next May/June? around 1 year old)
Nov 12 spent the day doing routine "stuff" with OB (in
context) wearing the pinch collar
note: each evening Gunny sits in the living room with me and plays
Nov 13 repeat of yesterday plus three singles in the back yard
note: Gunny went along in the van for some morning errands
Nov 14 today's "extra" was his first encounter with a "big bird" -
Daisy's geese got him high and
we stopped when the "ripping feathers" mode started
(left click on image to view)
 This is HUGE! |
 "It's Alive" (not really) Gunny flipped the head |
Nov 15 day off from the field - basic OB "in context" all day (using
slip lead)
Nov 16 (afternoon) three quick singles in the back yard, basic OB "in
context" (slip lead)
Nov 17 day off from marks = basic OB around the house (slip lead)
Nov 18 (morning) Gunny ran four 180º doubles - visible ATB teal memory =
short & easy
note: Gunny caught on to this quickly and it gave him more reason to get
a hint of
what "being steady" means (wearing an e-collar and checkcord)
note: continuing to take bumpers from Gunny only after sitting, stroking
and waiting
this gives him time to relax a bit
Nov 19 (morning) Gunny ran four singles at the Square Pond
Nov 20 (afternoon) Gunny ran four short/long 180º doubles at the Square
Pond
Nov 21 (early afternoon) Gunny had his first experience with the ATV -
he kind of "roaded" one
mile in the grassy strip on the south side of the Square Pond corn
field, went very slowly
and he ran out front for awhile, toward the end he was trying to get
"on" the ATV with
me and wanted to play, had to "swat" him off
Nov 22 day off - first snow for Gunny last night
note: sit, heel and here are becoming more clear to Gunny (using an
English Slip
lead) with no formal corrections, can take him to the van off leash now,
we get there and he "kennels up" into his van box nicely (good pup!)
note: Gunny has begun to turn into a "talker", he "talks" too much and
it is very
obvious about what he wants - attention, thirsty or has to go out = it
is not
barking, but quiet little sustained grunts, growls or groans = once in
awhile,
after I have figured out that he wants to play or needs attention (and I
don't
have the time to) I will remind him to KNOCK IT OFF or block his ability
to
make eye contact = he'll almost immediately lay down and relax = he is
turning into quite a character
Nov 23 Gunny road along on Taffey and Kooy's guided hunt job - smelled
shot birds, heard
gunfire and was a patient, quiet "good boy" in the van.
note: when he was let out to air, he stayed near, responded nicely to
"here"
(no leash or collar) and "kenneled up" in the van without any hassle
note: Gunny appears to be in a growth spurt - he'll be six months old
Dec 5th
Nov 24 - Dec 3 Gunny has been doing the same routines every day - using
the English slip lead
he has grasped the concept of heeling and sitting in the context of
anticipating and
relieving slight pressure (tug on flat collar)
note: November 26 Gunny weighed 49.5 pounds
Dec 4-10 Gunny was still on his daily "imprinting" routines
Interceptor
note: Dec 5th was 6 months old
note: "here" not very good on returning from airing yard, had to "go get
him" a
couple of times, very good if wearing his e-collar.......but would
rather have him
Amish in the airing yard
note: WOW.....is he going through a growth spurt! He's taller than Daisy
already.
Dec 11 first day of formal OB = heel and sit both sides wearing a
pinch collar = working in the
large pool room "along" a trail which includes sitting on or walking
over two place boards
(one round, the other square)
note: many turns, reverse directions, wall on one side & wide open on
the other plus
doing it two sided (balanced) = quiet commands with a relaxed, casual
mode
note: excellent start - relaxed, happy pup
Dec 12 (evening) Gunny went on his OB "walk" in the pool area -
used "look" with lots of praise
when he did look at me from a front sit - very focused and having fun
(both sides)
note: finished in five minutes - will do this for about a week and then
conditioning
"intro" to the heeling stick (touching, rubbing and tapping)
note: his heeling is very focused & relaxed, repositioning to the
opposite side
sits has gone extremely well
Dec 13-14 (evening) formal OB lesson - heeling (both sides), sitting
(both sides), front "sit/heel"
wheeling routine, repositioning from a left or right sit to the other
side, walking across
or sitting on two different types of place boards, sitting before and
after going up or down
stairs, making 90º and 180º outward & inward pivots when walking at
heel, keeping head
in the correct position on heel and using pressure with the collar to
correct and releasing
with compliance, on all front sits Gunny is asked to "look" at me as I
tap my chest and
receives lots of praise for extended "looking" - want eye contact
note: the session lasts about five minutes
- start two a day Dec 15th
note: most all of this has come about very quickly & easily because of
the daily passive
"imprinting" routines in Gunny's earlier puppy days - normal habits &
expectations
note: "here" is fun and CC to "here" is understood
note: the deep snow with a thick, icy crust is making formal training
much more difficult
because doing anything outside is too dangerous - fortunately the 1500
sq. ft.
swimming pool/rec room is available
note: Gunny has shown signs that backward heeling will be easy
note: Gunny is wild and out of control on the leash with my wife and
son, must try to
convince them of the need for lessons (OB for them)
note: one more week with the pinch collar, then intro heeling stick,
after one week of
pinch collar/heeling stick......transition to the choke collar, a week
later condition
to the "rattle stick", then work on backward heeling
note: need to start introducing (chaining) hand signals for each command
and work on
whistle sits (write out planned sequence)
Dec 15-26 progress has been very solid, his backward heeling is relaxed
with no panic, remote
sits with the flexi-lead are excellent and he will stay sitting
even when tugged with the
lead, his front sit and heeling routine to the left and right sides are
smooth and relaxed, he
will "look" at me on command and is making much better eye contact =
more confidence
note: weakest area was trying to sit still when I return from the remote
sit position and
walk around him = each day it gets a little better
Dec 27 switched over to the choke collar
and am switching it around to reflect the correct
fitting for left and right side heeling, first day he was a little
slower in responding to
the sit command - tightened up the timing which has to be more precise
than the pinch
collar and he responded nicely to this approach, heeling actually seems
better on the
first day with the choker - the rationale may be he is no longer making
the decision as to
when to heel so the position is being defined more by me and he picked
this up quickly
(pinch collar = pup is in charge of deciding how
much steady pressure he can deal with vs.
choke collar = handler decides when, where and how much pressure to
apply === more
sudden & personal = different form of pressure)
note: took this as a good indication of how much he will try to do the
right thing
note: there is a ton of puppy left in him = when he thinks the lessons
are over, he
can digress instantaneously
note: had a shorten lesson on distractions when Greg walked by and that
was taken
advantage of to show him to concentrate on business
note: introduced the heeling stick today - rubbing and tapping was very
irritating and
at the same time excited him for a minute or two then he became bored
and
ignored it - cool!
note: Gunny is taller and bigger than Daisy - he won't be 7 months old
until Jan 5th
Analysis of formal OB progress - excellent attitude and quick learner
the Kentucky dog training seminar made me aware of
some questions about my
timing on OB commands and corrections = note: to self - keep on top of
that
plus comments - relaxed and smart vs. negative - none so far = too
early
Gunny is not "pouty" and handles corrections a lot like Taffey
(no grudges and immediately wants to know "What's next?")
what to watch - responds well to praise (don't over do it)
wants to please - need to make sure that he is learning how to turn off
pressure,
&nbs