Four KwickLabs Goose Hunting (Link) - musical montage of 2006 - 8 seasons
Feb 1st-8th Daisy & Gunny are three sessions into their OB classes, taking one dog on different days is
much better than the "back to back" schedule of last year
note: both are still having issues with he excitement of greeting new people when
approached....the "wiggle butt" syndrome is genetic because Taffey has always
been like that.......Daisy has improve a lot over last year & Gunny is getting better,
Gunny's tail is wagging for the whole hour, but he is getting a bit bored with all the
sitting and going forward routine.....too much of that as far as I'm concerned
note: extended remote "sits" and "downs" are still a challenge with all the distractions...
which is the main reason we are there
note: Interceptor......Feb 1st for all
note: Gunny doesn't know it but he almost had his head bitten by a huge Bloodhound
this week....Why is it that the tiny dogs have a huge owner/handler and the BIG
dogs have a slightly built owner/handler?
Gunny was sitting quietly at heel about two yards back of the isle where the bench
dogs were passing (going to the back ring). We were waiting for the previous OB
class to clear our ring. A young lady with a huge Bloodhound came in from my right.
The dog's head was chest high and he had to weigh at least 180 pounds. It was
literally the biggest dog I had ever seen, and I was amazed with his size. Because of
this, I had a difficult time not watching him......good thing.
The lady had a death grip on the lead and appeared apprehensive. The dog was
kind of being pulled along like a large, balky pony. The isle became clogged for a
moment. The "hound" turned his head and clearly "targeted" Gunny. The lady did
not notice....but I did and mentally said, "Oh %^$@#...Watch out!". His mouth opened
and he lunged at Gunny with a low, "snarfy" growl. Instinctively, I did a quick 180º
pivot & snatched Gunny behind me just as the "monster" snapped his mouth where
Gunny's head use to be. Push/pull drills are wonderful.
My conservative estimate is he could have ended up with Gunny's entire head in
his mouth. The lunge jerked the owner totally off her feet and threw her into a
stationary ring barrier knocking it over with her on top. Luckily she held on to the
leash. I think hanging on was more of an attempt to keep from falling.
A friend of hers immediately came for the rescue and grabbed the second choke
collar the dog was wearing. I can't help thinking that her quick appearance was
due to knowing in advance of possible issues. That's pure conjecture on my part,
but it was like she came out of the crowd immediately.
Between the two of them, they finally began to refocused the dog. Clearly he was
almost too much for both of them to handle. As we practiced our backward heeling
and sized up an escape route, I could see he was still "interested" in Gunny
The lady that was thrown into the fence gave me an embarrassed, "I'm sorry" and
left for the show ring. The rescue lady came up to me to asked if we were alright. I
said, "I wheeled, and he missed. Gunny doesn't know what happened." Her rather
naive reply was, "The dog is not mean......he is just very, very stupid." I didn't buy it.
He appeared to be both. Combining those with HUGE...what a neat "package"!
Feb 9-12th weather much better, with lots of snow melted - ready to start training
Daisy & Gunny did their OB classes this week = steady improvement, although Gunny was
really "on the iron" for the first half-hour
note: each dog worked on the routine in the pool area
note: Wednesday went to the Industrial DTA - no mud, thick mowed grass and all had
a good romp
Feb 13th trained at the Industrial DTA - Taffey, Daisy, Kooly & Gunny ran an old set of three pattern
blinds with orange bumpers - no issues
note: the standard exiting, to the line and returning to van is now invoked = precise,
consistent and slow (EVERY TIME)
note: near freezing & cloudy with strong northwest wind
note: snow forecast for tonight
note: Gunny is still in the semi-non-locking mode on blinds = wagon wheel drills,
work on literal casting
note: ATV trailer and van in for electric brake wiring next Tuesday
note: call Brian - sale on rooster pheasants - $7/per bird if buy fifty
note: build racks in trailer for wingers, holding blinds, stickmen & buckets
note: February training will be as weather allows
Feb 14th trained at Industrial DTA - Taffey, Daisy, Kooly & Gunny ran the same set of "pattern"
note: to the line standards - precise
note: ran Taffey & Kooly first two - sharp, Daisy went last - sharp, too
note: Gunny went third, decided to change things up at the line to see if focusing
was just a "not clear" skill, all winter long we have been working on sitting
beside me with the HRC bucket, the routine is calm and proceeds to the
cue "watch", he becomes very focused on where the bumper is going to be
thrown..........up perfectly straight, high head and locked focus........not unlike
what I'd want out of a dog after saying "dead bird" in the process of running
a cold blind, this afternoon the new routine would take advantage of this
skill and transition it to running blinds...............there he was sat on a straight
line at the blind with "sit", allowed to relax, the command became "dead bird
watch", instantaneously, after hearing "watch", Gunny snapped "up perfectly
straight ahead, high head and locked"........my reaction was Wow! that was
very cool! I quickly put my hand down and said "back"......Gunny fired and ran
a very good line on the first one. I was anxious to repeat to see if there was
any consistency.........there was! By using "dead bird" with "watch", I will be
able to eventually drop the extra "watch" part because he will start to
anticipate on "dead bird" and wait for the hand down cue. The plan will to
solidify phasing out "watch" during wagon wheel and other lining drills.
Feb 15 Sunday - Illinois vs. Indiana BB, company coming over, too cold = day off except for
a little "play time" OB in the pool area this evening
note: one more week of Tresaderm ear drops for Gunny - much improved already
(left ear)
note: ordered six months of Interceptor (4 dogs), four months of Frontline Plus (3 dogs)
and three Preventic collars for Kooly - with gas prices cut in half...this is easier
Feb 16 inside OB drills for all
Feb 17 van to Finnigan's RV to have electric brake wiring installed & fix tire issues on trailer
Daisy had her morning OB class = very good except she still becomes "miss wiggle butt"
begging for attention from anyone that makes eye contact with her, the other three dogs
did drills in the pool DTA
note: used wife's Honda and a soft crate to transport Daisy (easy)
Feb 18 rain, turned cold.....snow later....about 2"
Feb 19 ice & snow......forecast for 6" snow & winter storm
note: cut "camo" material to make four small blinds for the wingers, these will
be "fabric glued" and reinforced by "spot" hand stitching with an awl over
two plastic electric fence posts
note: decided to quit using Dinovite (dog supplement) as their pricing has gone to
absurd......switching to Genesis for a trial www.10squaredracing.com
note: Gunny's ear is looking very good
note: Gunny had his OB class - excited and on "the edge" the whole evening, time to
"up the ante" at home, switch to choker collar & train with heeling stick, only two
more sessions & going to pass on taking the CGC test the last night, Daisy did it
last year, this test is kind of a "mind-less gimme" (+ a $20 donation to the AKC)
for a dog that is going on to advanced level hunt tests, probably not a very PC
comment........but accurate
Feb 20-21st couch potato time - snow & cold.....made holding blinds for four wingers out of
electric fence posts, 500 Dernier Cordura and contact cement & "Speedy Stitcher" sewed
in areas to strengthen
(left click to enlarge)
 "weighting to dry" |
 40" tall X 36" wide |
Feb 22nd - cold & snow.....OB indoors
Feb 23rd - not much
different - doubled up on OB lessons, switched
Daisy to choke collar
note: bought RV traction tape for trailer ramp (too slippery)
Feb 24th -
Daisy - OB lesson at 10:30 am
cleaned out wood duck house on Thorson Pond (afternoon - spring thaw
starting)
(left click to
enlarge)
 "equipment sled" |
 "roof off" |
"nesting debris" |
 "clean & ready" |
 "short-cut back" |
Feb 25-28th
Gunny - OB lesson at 7:00 pm Thursday
& everyone did their
OB drills each day