Four KwickLabs Goose Hunting (Link) - musical montage of 2006 - 8 seasons

     Jan 1st Taffey, Kooly, Daisy & Gunny had a long run in the frozen bean field (cold and windy)
                  Interceptor for all
     Jan 2nd day off - it remains bitter cold with low wind chills
                      note: still no geese around as the only roosting areas are too far away = it's over?
                      note: ordered training book by Carol Cassidy - "Drills & More"
     Jan 3rd pick up new ATV/goose trailer in the morning & clean out the garage
                                                                         (left click to enlarge)

"Haulmark"                                   Sport-Lite

"v-nose ramp"

"right front"

     Jan 4th day off & scout for geese  
     Jan 5th fecal samples to vet for Daisy & Gunny - both negative
     Jan 6th sign Daisy & Gunny up for Advanced and Intermediate OB classes starting Jan 20th
     Jan 7th first we got ice which didn't melt, then SNOW - 4" plus another 9" 
                  Taffey, Kooly, Daisy & Gunny started their indoor winter training sessions
                      note: casting to place boards.......remote sit, down and whoa for all four......the
                               three older dogs are doing a review of remote drop
                      note: OB consists of off lead heeling left and right side, backwards & forwards (both
                               sides), right, left & wheel turns - emphasis on a review of the AKC OB standards
                 Gunny began his basic presentation in the techniques of casting to place boards
                      note: walking over at heel or sitting on (both sides heeling)
     Jan 8th Taffey, Kooly, Daisy & Gunny repeated yesterday's session 
                      note: Gunny started the very close casting to place boards today - it was slow
     Jan 9th started to modify the routine for each dog bases on what they "needed"
                      note: Daisy's focus was precision and more eye contact
                      note: Kooly's focus was on quickness and maintaining a very happy attitude
                      note: Taffey's focus was on being consistent and just having fun 
                      note: Gunny started casting yesterday, it was another teaching day .  he needed
                               some motivation, bumper retrieves once in awhile had him giving a better
                               effort and slight e-collar corrections made a huge difference, finished happy
                               and sharp in his responses (huge positive change from yesterday)  
     Jan 10th continued same routines incorporating a bumper - this had a greater impact on
                      note: Gunny & Kooly responded super well to the "cheer leader & pom-pom" routine
                      note: Daisy & Taffey don't care what we do - they are "up" all the time     
                      note: received Carol Cassity's "Building A Retriever - Drills & More" manual and was
                               pleasantly surprised that most of what my dogs have been doing is described
                               in this manual......the diagrams, presentations and especially the written
                               descriptions present an easily understood, different slant & perspective which
                               will allow me to be more flexible in the future, it is good know my dogs were
                               on the right track.........The manual is well worth the money
      Jan 11th for a change of pace and review - all did and easy session of  the "Clock Work" drill 
                       note: snow too deep to train any outside
                       note: need to order some Interceptor now & get dog food on Thursday
      Jan 12-16th continued bitter cold weather with snow has eliminated any work outside
                    Taffey, Kooly, Daisy & Gunny continue to have fun with the inside pool room training
                       note: all are casting to and from four different place boards positioned around the pool
                       note: there are retrieves & the three older dogs continue to practice "remote drops"
                                OB routine - using their name for a release and several different commands
                                "drop", "place", "sit", "heel", "back", "over", "down" & "whoa" with each of a
                                few of these commands transitioned to simple hand signals
                       note: precise repetition is practiced
                       note: Taffey's focus is mostly for the exercise and attention without compromising
                                precision - she is exceptional at this "stuff" & has a great attitude all the time,
                                she is so good, it is more fair for the others to do her last
                       note: Daisy's focus is to work on responsiveness and control in the face of her 
                                manic personality, she can get over the top quickly and become unglued with
                                excitement - therefore, slow, quiet and calm with lots of consistent repetition
                                is necessary........she is extremely intelligent.......when focused  
                       note: Kooly is prone to worry and yet go "over the top" when "amped", so his
                                training requires a delicate balance between having fun and being confident
                                vs. giving very little effort to perform........so the theme is consistency in precision   
                                with controlled fun.......not easy to do, but I'm getting better at reading him
                       note: Gunny is different than the other three......in fact all four have very different
                                personalities....tempered with the fact each is a different age (more less training)
                       note: Taffy is sensitive, extremely intelligent and unflappable (great combination)
                                Daisy is sensitive, almost too smart and can easily flip into her "ditz mode"
                                          which inhibits her "smarts"
                                Kooly is manic-depressive and a challenge to keep in the middle, he can
                                          become wild or a "pile of Jell-O" in the "blink of an eye"
                                Gunny is a sponge with the personality of a cool, "laid back" Steve Martin
                                           (he is young, smart and his maturity exhibits a few "loose screws")  
Tuesday  Jan 20th 10:30 am Daisy begins her Advanced OB class (eight weeks)  
                                                  note: did Intermediate OB classes last winter (earned CGC)
Thursday Jan 23rd  7:00 pm Gunny begins his Intermediate OB class (eight weeks) 
                                                  note: did Beginner OB classes last winter 
Jan 17-30th Daisy & Gunny have attended two OB classes. the excitement level and distractions are
                just perfect, the instructors are willing to accept my requests for "adjustments" in command
                wordings.........mostly because they are both doing very well
                snow & cold has continued to eliminate any outside training, but the larger pool area has
                managed to satisfy Taffey & Kooly