May 6th - day off for all
              May 7th - rained all morning - day off
                                            May "needs" assessment = major focus for each dog
                         Kooly - promote a confident routine & expose to as much excitement as possible (ie real birds),
                                     training should deemphasize the "ready, set, go" mind set, "(ie blinds before a mark)
                         Daisy - continue the train a "fast dog slowly" routine, zero "motion" standards while promoting 
                                     a calmer dog = make things as routine and predictable as possible 24/7, birds
                         Gunny - "up the ante" on steadiness & challenge his attention span, establish a more predictable
                                      routine, be consistent & avoid large changes in training setups, birds  
                                              note: switching to pinch collar tab in short grassy areas (safe) = more control
                         Taffey - an easy month of simple "stuff" which will be basically exercise
               May 8th - (afternoon) trained at the Square Pond DTA - marks, blinds and drills = set up three remote
                              wingers with stickmen, primer report, place board at the line and mallards with an anti-RSG
                              blind (that means "anti- ready, set, go")
                                Kooly ran first and cheated the "corn corners"....after the first mark, he was re-heeled and
                                ran the blind before picking up the marks, he was steady, quiet and "came off" the mark
                                without much of an issue, marked well......just cheated (note: need to do some "cheaty"
                                land singles (used a choker tab)
                                Daisy ran next and did an excellent job, put two stickmen at the right mark because from
                                the dog's eye level they have to look through the corn stalks, she ran that mark first and
                                ran the blind only on the second mark = very good at the line (used a choker tab)  
                                Taffey is in heat, but I let her pick up the three mallard pile from Gunny's work
                                Gunny ran a Steady Drill before the other dogs, using a clock diagram, place board and
                                Flexi-lead he broke on the first attempt....was "intercepted" before getting it and then
                                proceeded to run it so well I decided to "up the ante" with a mallard, he was "jacked" &
                                much more focused.....and he was perfect (26' Flexi-lead with a pinch collar)
                                after the older dogs ran their set-up, Gunny ran three singles in the short grass using,
                                stickmen, remote wingers, primer reports, Steady Board at the line & mallards....did well,
                                at the line he wore his e-collar (did not use) and a pinch collar tab, he was asked to sit
                                until he was steady, wanted to go every time, but the routine was a slow count of two (with
                                no motion), a sit command (with no motion), a hand down (with no motion) and a release
                                with his name.......got those in to establish the routine = nice job .....he was intensely
                                focused on each mark
                                                                                  (left click on thumbnails)

               May 9th - (morning) Daisy & Kooly ran three cold blinds at the Macktown DTA & three more at the
                              Industrial DTA, Taffey helped pick up Gunny's marking set-up at the Square Pond
                              (morning) Gunny ran the "final phase" of the two bumper three-handed casting drill & then
                              ran three remote winger singles with primer reports, stickmen and mallards
                                      note: the 3H drill started out sloppy with Gunny miscasting and dropping bumpers, I was
                                               reaching for an ear to force a correction when he made a swipe to bite me, after
                                               grabbing his collar to shake him a bit, he got more mouth aggressive which resulted
                                               in him being on his back and held down for awhile, after that he was perfect = took
                                               every cast, was focused and delivered without messing around or dropping bumpers,
                                     note: all three marks were stepped on, the pinch collar tab is making enforcement of the
                                              steadiness standard much more consistent which resulted in maintaining a consistent
                                              focus on the fall
                            (evening) Gunny ran the back pile of what will be his single T, put out ten bumpers...walked back
                            85 yards (that's all the room there was) and he "smacked" all ten with five sends from each side,
                            the routine is "dead bird"/good/hand down/"back", deliveries are really nice with a consistent
                            response to "drop" = nothing like establishing a pile.....full distance.....immediately....wow! 
                                     note: no drop-off in energy during his "ten runs" to the pile - temps in the upper 40's
                                     note: this morning's little "snotty" moment could have been partially the result of having
                                              Taffey's crate right next to his = she's is in heat....then again the correction seemed
                                              to send a message which he took well - he is very affectionate, resilient & tough
                                                                            (left click on thumbnails)             

               May 10th - (late morning) Taffey, Kooly & Daisy - ran split wagon wheel drill = easy day
                                        note: all three ran it very well & did a repeat (fourteen bumpers in all)
                                        note: all three went through the "off the van drill"
                                        note: "off the van drill" = sit in crate with door open = 1min., in van outside
                                                 crate for 1 min., sit for another minute in van outside of crate after
                                                 training collars put on with me walking out-of-sight around the van,
                                                 once off van sit for 1 minute before airing or going to the holding blind
                                                 any breaking of infraction results in back in crate & switching to another
                                                 dog, Daisy gets extra calming strokes and quiet talk
                                Gunny - ran a session of 3HC, took a break and then did second day of T pile
                                        note: taking a break means other dogs ran
                                        note: three-handed casting was off the small round place board, he did this
                                                 solidly and extended the drill longer than usual (missed only two casts)
                                        note: T pile had six bumpers, whistle sat him on the fourth on en route and did
                                                 that well, but he anticipated it on the fifth and stopped on his own which
                                                 resulted in a quick back, slight hesitation on the sixth, but did not stop or
                                                 turn (need to review FTP drill) 
               May 11th - Taffey, Kooly, Daisy & Gunny - rain, wind in the forecast - day off
                                Gunny -  day off
               May 12th - (afternoon) Gunny did an extended session of 3HC and is ready to move on to mini-T,
                                did a few "poorman" marks more for photos & fun at the Square Pond DTA, then drove
                                to the Macktown DTA for a "group" training session, he ran three inline singles in cover
                                with bumpers & showed much improvement, used two holding blinds
                                Kooly ran a session of walking singles with two other handlers and dogs, on the 3rd
                                single the duck calls and other dogs running set off his vocalization issue which had
                                not been present all spring............no retrieves on the last three and a bunch of short
                                marks that another dog picked up made no impact.......back to running a blind before
                                EVERY mark for quite some time plus sitting and watching other dogs run
                                Daisy ran four inlines with the "walking BB" distraction and is getting much better about
                                "looking off" the gunner which in turn has her marking getting "way better"
                                Taffey came out last and ran a short "Momma-Papa" double and smacked it
               May 13th - (late morning) Taffey, Kooly & Daisy "roaded" 4 miles a BT's alfalfa field (1 mile around
                                the outside path), with a little wading water below the levee the dogs could cool off
                                sunny, 23 mph wind and 68º
                                Gunny ran a short session of 3HC & switched to a mini-T set-up which he had no problems
                                with, moved over and picked up 6 bumpers on the 85 yard back T pile at the Square Pond
                                DTA, after the other dogs "roaded" at BT's, he got in 1½ miles of of his own & picked up
                                two "poorman" marks (this afternoon all four are "sawing wood" in the living room)
                                (evening) Gunny established both "over" on the single T from the apex, lined them first &
                                then up close in front of him gave "over" casts to each one = did very well, only a single
                                wrong cast out of seven and ran each cast hard (with conviction) He likes this!   
                                           note: when "roading" Gunning is intent about being "out front" (just like Daisy)  
               May 14th - (evening) Taffey, Kooly & Daisy ran the "no motion" honoring/quiet drill using a LOUD
                                goose call and short throws - Kooly did not get many and I picked up about 50% of the
                                tosses, Taffey did about 25%
                                Gunny ran the back pile of the single T from the apex two times, he watched me place
                                the two over piles and was lined to each from the apex, sitting at the apex he then did
                                two backs alternating left and right, did a right over and a left back followed with a left
                                over and a right back with only two minor missed casts, he responded quickly to
                                "no/here" and then made the correct cast.......lots of "goods" & "ata boy" verbals as he
                                was calmly sitting there listening and waiting for directions and performing the correct
                                casts plus he was flying to the piles every time.......I was really pumped by this session,
                                he is as quick a study at this as his Mom and Taffey was awesome      I had no
                                intentions of going this far in one lesson, but he was so obviously into it and
                                clicking.........why not?   He was very relaxed on each delivery and displayed no
                                manic behaviors as the lesson proceeded.  This is one very cool pup!
                                            note: the T drill will not be rushed as he appears to be very visual like Taffey,
                                                     when Taffey switched to orange bumpers there was a learning gap, so
                                                     with Gunny orange bumpers will gradually be mixed in with the whites
                                                     on the T piles in anticipation of this possible issue
              May 15th - (morning) trained at BT's with Brian M. (pro), got there early - Taffey, Daisy & Kooly ran
                               No-No Mound drill - up close......back to the van.....then out again for a longer mark
                                          note: Taffey has done this more often and adapted quickly
                                                   Daisy did it perfectly after being shown what was expected
                                                   Kooly runs kind of straight lines and is into cheating = maintenance is his
                                                   lot in life on cheating, it took him several times to realize over out and back
                                                   is what was expected (then he was fine)
                                          note: all three were having a great deal of fun with this 
                               Gunny ran a short 30 yard BB blind with orange bumpers (lined it both times)
                                                                                (left click on thumbnails)

                               Taffey, Daisy, Kooly & Gunny ran a four white chair marking drill with a real gunner,
                               primer pistol and mallards, afterwards Kooly & Daisy ran two cold blinds through the
                               marking field
                                         Gunny was first and consistently is marking better each time out, needed help on
                                         the two left marks, but was persistent in his hunt, was not coming right to me as
                                         he wants to return to the gunner (habit) and at the line the last few feet were slow
                                         (need to work on crisper return to heel), excellent mouth & drop expectations
                                         Daisy was on the "iron" have to give some thought to "roading" her as she is in
                                         a total "manic" when on a free run, had Brian move immediately after throwing
                                         to work on her total focus on the mark, this is working and her marking is a lot
                                         more consistent and FAST, again she was busy at the line when preparing to run
                                         each blind, on the first one she just took off when I said "dead bird". after taking
                                         some time to calm her down......she lined both of them
                                         Kooly was absolutely quiet and still at the line for all four singles SURPRISE!, need
                                         to think of reasons why - ran long, hard No No drill earlier = control and spent a
                                         lot of time running the exciting "honoring/quiet" drill yesterday where he did
                                         very little retrieving and lots of watching, he lined the first blind and 4 whistled the
                                         second (kind of "zig-zaggy" after a mediocre initial line)
                                         Taffey was really "hot" and animated at the line (being last did not help), but marked
                                         well (if she leaned forward any more her chin would have been on the ground)
                                                                                (left click on thumbnails)

                               (evening) Gunny worked on the single, some runs from the apex and a several from the
                               actual line, some confusion, but he was trying = today was more of an exposure day to
                               the bigger picture of the full single T, simplify next time and expand slowly
                                       note: need to revisit force to pile 
              May 16th - (noon) Taffey, Kooly & Daisy did the 3 dog "remote drop" drill at the Square Pond DTA
                                       note: Daisy had some issues with the whistle "sit" on the return....she was going so
                                                fast on the return she couldn't stop and hang on to the bumper at the same
                                                time (kind of a walk and can't chew gum "thing") after a few repeats this was
                                                corrected
                                       note: honoring is involved & learning "back" plus other commands are specific to
                                                only one dog (all three dogs are close to each other) 
                                Gunny did a complete review of close-in FTP (e-collar), no issues at the Industrial DTA
                                       note: Flexi-lead, 20 bumpers, half "freebies"......from the side & remote positions    
              May 17th  apply Frontline Plus to Taffey, Daisy and Gunny
                              Kooly's Preventic collar (April 22nd + 2.5 months)
                              (afternoon) Taffey, Kooly & Daisy ran two cold blinds across "grassy" erosion strips and
                              through a corn field = all did really well and Daisy is beginning to show a consistently
                              better blind running routine at the line with great initial lines
                              Gunny ran the back pile of his single T = from the side, from a remote and off a whistle
                              sit en route (ten bumpers)
                                       note: need to work on whistle sit (blew right through one) and at a good distance
                                                his right and left back casts have become all left back casts
                                       note: review whistle sit protocol in the yard & work on the back cast directions
                                                up close.......starting at the apex
             May 18th  Taffey, Kooly & Daisy had the day off
                             (evening) Gunny ran single T, twenty bumpers at the back pile and four at each over
                             pile, remote sit at the apex with me ten yards away, worked on making sure the back
                             cast turns were correct and mixed in overs infrequently, it was cool and overcast which
                             made it perfect for an extended lesson, he kept working with me the whole time
                                       note: Gunny is becoming a good student and is learning what the "no" let's try
                                                that again phrase means, it's pretty cool to see him thinking about it and his
                                                attentive look has improved - he wants to know what's next
                                       note: mouth habits are sensational & much improved in dealing with distractions
                                       note: good progress was made today as I now have a good feel for where he is at
                                                mentally & skill wise on the T
                                       note: need to stay near the T apex for a few days and gradually move back
                                       note: whistle sit stops for corrections were better today
                                       note: used e-collar only once today and that was early.....for a very sloppy "here"
             May 19th (morning) trained at BT's hay field with Anne W., we trained seven dogs, Kooly, Daisy &
                            Gunny ran a tilted W marking drill with mallards, walking gunner in white, with stickmen
                            stations, duck calls and primer pistol = cool afternoon and overcast
                                       note: Daisy had a big.....no...a huge, long hunt on the second mark....."the penalty"
                                                and then marked the next three "really well"
                                       note: Kooly did fine
                                       note: Gunny did well on all five with "double ducks fireman" mode on 3 & 4
                            afterwards two tough blinds were ran through old falls with cover changes, suction and
                            close gunner stations
                                       note: Daisy popped on both blinds at about 100 yards - confusion from all the gunner
                                                stations? not sure, otherwise OK....need to do more through multiple stations 
                                       note: Kooly just ran some great blinds.....again very few casts and precise
                                       note: Taffey was a bit "zig-zaggy" but she was having fun, she helped pick up the
                                                set-up afterwards

                            (evening) Gunny did a short session of the T from the apex at the Square Pond, just beat
                            the rain = 5 back bumpers and 4 at each over
                                       note: lined back pile from side first, sat 10 yards in front of me, did the right & left
                                                back casts, two each of the overs alternating and finished with a right & left
                                                back pile = two slight "flubs".....started to go back on the first two overs, but
                                                easily stopped and whistled to the apex for a correct cast = nice, short
                                                lesson under control and "getting it" with good speed the whole time,
                                                deliveries.....just plain wonderful, relaxed and focused when waiting for
                                                directions (happy to be out doing something) 
             May 20th (morning) Gunny ran single T with handler 20 yards from the apex, 18 bumpers at the back
                            pile and 4 at each over pile....very good session, not all casts were perfect, but he recovered
                            nicely from every mistakes (5-6 out of 26 with first time whistle sits at the apex = good)
                                        note: did make the same mistakes she was making the day = clean
                            (afternoon) Taffey, Kooly and Daisy ran the remote drop drill, Square Pond "grassy" area 
             May 21st Taffey, Kooly & Daisy - day off
                            (evening) Gunny went to the Sand Ponds (north) and ran several 2" white bumper singles
                            in deep and lunging water (did a short intro on force to water), afterwards we went to the
                            Square Pond "grassy" area for a quick run on single T = 6 back bumpers and 2 bumpers at
                            each over position......ran it from about 30 yards back of the apex = another good day
                            with one FTP near the finish
                                        note: left & right back are getting better (one mistake which was easily corrected),
                                                 whistle sits en route at the apex are getting better and he maintains a good
                                                 "look" at me waiting for the cast with no signs of "auto" casts  
                                        note: had the camera along and got some "neat" geese in flight photos
                                                                                (left click on thumbnails)

             May 22nd (morning) trained at Brian's with Ilya - Kooly, Daisy & Gunny ran a three single marking
                             drill in a field with 5 stickmen, Kooly & Daisy ran two cold blinds in the same field with
                             the stickmen still in place, afterwards a multiple was set up which could be run as
                             double or triple or singles Taffey & Kooly ran it as a triple with the handler throwing go
                             "bird" from the line, Daisy ran it as a double & Gunny ran two singles
                                      note: Taffey & Kooly did not step on every mark, but had not issues
                                      note: Daisy had a hunt on the go bird and marked the memory bird really well,
                                               the issue of looking back at the gunner shows steady improvement which
                                               is indicated by her marking = good to excellent 
                                      note: Gunny had trouble punching past the edge of the cover on the first mark,
                                               but he learned from it.....the second mark was longer, but similar and he
                                               pushed through the cover to get the mark
                                      note: all marks were 3" Avery flashers 
                             (evening) Gunny ran his single T about twenty yards short of the full distance, 10 back
                             bumpers and 2 of each over bumpers with zero mistakes = cool evening & good job
              May 23rd easy day with morning off - yard work.......like.......in pulling weeds & planting "stuff"
                             (evening) Taffey, Kooly, Daisy & Gunny worked in the "chain gang" mode with all
                             watching the "hide steadying" drill and Daisy, Taffey & Kooly going in that order, Kooly
                             struggled with staying in and down without whining, but he finally put it all together
                                      note: the steadying drill is based on an article written by Pat Nolan of Ponderosa
                                               Kennels with adjustments to the present skill levels of the "three"
 
                                                              Making a Steady Retriever (Link)

                             Gunny ran the single T from 70 yards......with 18 back bumpers and 2 over bumpers at
                             each side, nipped loopy sits that showed up today and used more handling off whistle
                             sits, made a few mistakes, it was a longer lesson and he kept at it = again a cool day                        

                                                                                                      (left click on thumbnails)

             May 24th day off for all
             May 25th finally......a warm day - sunny, 79º with 17 mph breeze out of the south
                            (late afternoon) trained at the Square Pond DTA ("grassy" area) put all 4 dogs on a
                            "chain gang" in the shade, ran Daisy, Kooly & Daisy on walking baseball and we all
                            took a short break after each dog....shade, good breeze and a comfortable chair made
                            for a relaxing session
                                        note: the "chain gang" is working really well & the dogs are relaxed
                            Gunny ran single T with six bumpers at the back pile and two  at each side pile.....did