Journal and Pictures from Hunting (some training)
                       September 8 - October 15, 2007  
 

             Sept 8 Saturday AKC hunt tests - Winnebago Retriever Club at Bong Recreational Area, WI
                      note: Daisy passed her 4th Senior test and 4th Junior test & titled in each
                      note: Kooly passed his 4th Junior test for a title and now has his Senior title
                                                   Time to Hunt!
   Sept 9 official start of hunting season - day off for all three - work on Johnny House
   Sept 10 (morning) "roaded" - ATV free ran Taffey, Kooly and Daisy at BT's - did 4 miles at 10-12 mph & took
                a five minute water break, then did another 2 miles at the same speed in knee high, light cover
                (about ½ the time) finished with a five minute walk to cool down some, Daisy ended up hunting
                the adjacent cover for her "cool down" - she is in shape!, Kooly isn't far behind and Taffey will
                take about another week or two
                      note: temperature = 57º, nice breeze, cloudy with heavy dew (beat the rain) 
   Sept 11 (morning) "roaded" Taffey, Kooly and Daisy at BT's - did 4 miles at 10-12 mph & took a five minute
                break, then did another 3 miles at the same speed (about 3 miles of the total distance was in cover
                which is knee high to chest high grasses
                      note: temperature = 52º, stiff breeze, sunny with heavy dew
                      note: Daisy did it easily, Kooly seemed fine with it, but looked like it was work for Taffey,
                               she didn't seem very tired, but was not running as hard as the other two (she knows
                               how to pace herself and continually cuts corners)
   Sept 12 (afternoon) "roaded" all three again, went 3 miles at 10 mph with about 1 mile in deep cover,
                rested for a few minutes and then went another 2 miles at the same, easy pace
                       note:  temperature = 61º, no breeze, sunny and dry
                       note: right from the start all three seemed a little less energetic than yesterday, either tired
                                or the +10º had some effect on them = immediately decide to make it an easier day
                                plus increase their food tonight (more protein)
  Sept 13 (afternoon) "roaded" only three miles because it was almost 70º, sunny and no breeze, only Daisy
               seemed "ready to roll" while Kooly and Taffey seemed a bit tentative, pads suspected and verified,
               drove to the square pond and set up two long cold blinds with 125 yard swim
                       note: all three cooled down quite a bit with the swims   
                       note: closer examination of pads at home revealed all three need a couple of days off, Daisy
                                one "dime size slip", Taffey - raw back of one pad & Kooly had two penny sized
                                "slips"....one on each front paw = nothing major
                       note: treated a few spots with Tuf-Foot and coated with Blu-Coat
   Sept 14 (very early morning) invited to go to Mississippi for early teal, saw lots of big ducks early and few
                teal, moved later and found an isolate pot hole with teal, scared them off and a few came back
                only to land too far out, shot one "greenie" and missed a great opportunity at five geese that
                came in low enough for quick passing shots neat morning, crisp and breezy which probably
                pushed the majority of the teal out
                       note: got back at 1:30 pm - the three dogs & Gunny were sure glad to see me
                       note: the pad issues look much better
   Sept 15 another day off for me to catch up on some rest, dogs' pads to recover and then again the lawn
                needs to be mowed
                       note: Daisy needs a "new pair of shoes". Her behavior at hunt tests must end.
                       note: It starts with not allowing her to "spin" in the crate in anticipation of feeding time or
                                leaving. The continuous animation has to be stopped. To start with lengthy remote sits
                                will be normal daily events. Also, she will be required to remain in a down position,
                                in one spot for extended periods. (both with zero tolerance)
   Sept 16 all four dogs specifically requested watching football today  
                       note: finish last touches on the Johnny House
                       note: Daisy's OB is going through a huge "make over" 
   Sept 17 (late afternoon) drove to Hook Lake - put a Jon boat in the water and swam Taffey, Kooly and
                Daisy for a good, long exercise session, afterwards Gunny went for his first boat ride and got in
                the "initial puppy overboard scene" out of the way (He took it all in stride....no big deal.)
                                                                    (left click on image to view)
 
                                           
                                         Daisy, Taffey, Kooly		                 
             Taffey, Daisy, Kooly
 
    Sept 18 day off - except for Daisy's new OB routine
                        note: zero tolerance EVERY MINUTE of the DAY = tennis shoe & Amish
    Sept 19 (evening) Daisy, Kooly and Taffey ran several hand throw singles ("poorman")
                 with honoring
    Sept 20 (morning) all three dogs ran some short water cold blinds at the Square Pond
    Sept 21 dogs had the day off (tried to finish off the Johnny House)
                        note: Daisy's OB is a "hard sell" = She doesn't believe me.......yet.
    Sept 22 (morning) finally moved the Kwick "Johnny" House to the field
                  Kwick "Johnny" House (Link)
                 (dusk) Daisy, Taffey and Kooly ran quick sessions of walking baseball (Sq. Pond)
                         note: needed some exercise
    Sept 23 spent the day cleaning out the garage (What a mess!) = dogs' day off
                         note: Daisy is showing signs of getting the OB, but her old habits & lack
                                  of a lasting focus are making it difficult - I HAVE ALL WINTER!
                         note: She is not sulking or pouting....., and shows some signs
                                  that the attrition of pressure is sinking in. What is interesting is how
                                  any corrections or commands given to her have had an impact on
                                  Kooly and Taffey. If I get on Daisy's "case" about sitting or heeling
                                  and either of the other two are around, they take it personally. 
                                  They appear to be very cautious.     
    Sept 24 day off - except for the zero tolerance OB with Daisy (every day - 24/7!)
    Sept 25 short run in the grassy area at the Square Pond with each dog
                         note: Daisy had two additional sessions of long remote sits
    Sept 26 "roaded" three miles at BT's
    Sept 27 day off
    Sept 28 (evening) short run at BT's with the ATV for all three
    Sept 29 (morning) all three ran an easy 3 miles mostly in the heavier cover at Bt's, Taffey also ran along
                 with Gunny to teach him to ignore another dog in the uplands and after about 15 minute he
                 began to leave her alone
                         note: after ATV jog, Daisy and Taffey had individual "whoa" sessions                 
    Sept 30 (dusk) "roaded" Daisy, Taffey and Kooly 2.5 miles in the open alfalfa for most of the time and
                 finished with a push through the lighter cover
                         note: Daisy's run is outstanding (terrific casts off the front of the ATV
                                  (I going going 10 mph and Daisy is quartering out to 200 yards
                                  and staying in front with a beautiful, graceful stride)
                         note: afterward "roading", Daisy and Taffey were given a "whoa" session,
                                  placing them on "whoa" in the open field facing into the wind for 10
                                  minutes  (no birds)     
                                                                        (left click on image to view)                                                                  
 
                                             
                                              Daisy on "whoa"
                                              (after "roading")		                 
               Taffey on "whoa"

     Oct  1 (dusk) Taffey and Kooly were run on a casting drill off a place board using two Avery flasher bumpers
               (exercise and a short session of control)
              Interceptor & Frontline Plus
                         note: afterwards Taffey was put on an extended "whoa" and at the end
                                  two bumpers were thrown short in front of her.......then she was put
                                  up without retrieving them (good job!)
                         note: Daisy was left to last, when she continued to whine in her crate
                                  we went home without letting her out, later she was put on an
                                  extended "whoa" (5 minutes) in the living room and put up
               finished the "camo" paint job on a 14' Jon boat.....ready to duck hunt 
     Oct 2  (dusk) "roaded" Daisy, Kooly and Taffey at BT's - 3 miles
     Oct 3  day off - OB sessions with Daisy
     Oct 4  (dusk) another warm day - let Daisy, Kooly and Taffey run/hunt in the heavy cover for about 45 minutes 
                          note: finished "camo" painting the new oars & gluing down the
                                   carpet strips on the floor of the Jon boat
     Oct 5 (early morning) another hot day = "roaded" 4 miles this morning, 2 miles and a five minute break and
              then the last 2 miles Daisy, Kooly and Taffey
                          note: Daisy's drive and endurance are super, the whole time she is
                                   quartering in front with good range & speed
                          note: temperature was already in the low 70's so half the time was in
                                   the shade on the east side of the field, rate at 10 mph 
     Oct 6 (morning) wow! 90º today - "roaded" when it was in the low seventies at the Square Pond = went a mile
              and hit the pond & repeated that three more times Daisy, Kooly and Taffey got in 4 miles at 10 mph,
              afterwards each was put on sit beside the pond and three marks were thrown (an Avery ATB teal,
              2" and 3" Avery Flashers) = the dog that moved the least went first and each picked up  one of the
              marks - it was cool because they all figured out which one was theirs and never made a mistake
              (repeated this to give each three marks total)               
                           note: just too warm to think about hunting
     Oct 7 (morning) another hot one! - "roaded" earlier than yesterday = went five laps which was six miles, each
              lap had a brief plunge into the pond, afterwards the "three marks routine" was run four times with
              each dog getting 4 marks total
                          note: the heat is killing the early hunting.......but the dogs are getting in great shape  
    Oct 8 (noon) 71º with a stiff breeze = Daisy, Kooly and Taffey "roaded" a full 7 miles at 10-12 mph with brief
             dips in the pond when we turned around on the north end of the one mile loop. All were in "good
             wind" at the finish. Within ten minutes, all three were breathing with their mouths closed. Today was
             the first day Taffey was right with the other two all the way. Since she had the pup in June, ran no
             hunt tests this past summer and had many training sessions where she did little work, it has taken
             her more time to get slimmed down and into hunting shape.
                          note: Daisy is just amazing as she is out front all the time, quartering often and she even
                                   skipped a couple of the water "dips" in the pond because she didn't need any cooling
                                   off or water.
                          note: 7 miles at 10 mph with temperatures in the low 70's is a pretty stiff conditioning test for
                                  any Lab, and they did it easily. 
    Oct 9  (late morning) boating exercise at Pierce Lake called off after a short time in the water - the boat is
              too narrow and unstable to suit me
    Oct 10 (morning) all three took a half hour walk in the heavy cover at BT's
    Oct 11 finalized a deal on a duck boat and all the dogs (Daisy, Kooly, Taffey & Gunny took a long ride to
               Iowa City, left at 1:10 pm and back at 9:30 pm (400+ miles)
    Oct 12 day off for the dogs, worked on the boat = cleaned out, redid wiring (switched & fused), started
               building a blind, fitted the oars - Carstan Bluebill
                                                                    (left click on image to view) 
                                                                                     

    Oct 13 (morning) Daisy, Kooly & Taffey "roaded" 3.5 miles (BT's) - nice cool morning all running effortlessly
                          note: first day for chukars, 5 out & only 1 came back after 6 hours, that's not going to cut it
    Oct 14 rain
    Oct 15 (Monday) day off for all - Taffey 3 year rabies shot at 3:00 pm
    Oct 16 couch potato day
    Oct 17 (afternoon) finally got the boat ride in.....all three dogs went out individually on Pierce Lake in Rock
               Cut State Park.  Taffey went first. Half way through her ride two DNR wardens pulled up & asked for
               a boat check - no tickets! not even a warning
                          note: the 3 HP Johnson is very slow
                          note: started the boat blind (frame & Cordura fitting)
                                                                      (left click on image to view)     

                             
                                    "Daisy"		                
                      "Taffey"		        
               "Kooly"
                                        
                                                      
                                                   
                                                       blind frame
 		       
                
                1st Cordura fitting

       Oct 18 decided the 3HP is not enough plus it leaks gas, spent the whole day looking for a newer, higher
                  HP short shaft 
     Oct 19 drove to Stoughton, WI to check out three Johnson 6HP short shaft motors at a dealer
                       note: bought a 1978 Johnson 6HP Sea Horse with remote tank
     Oct 20 spent the day cleaning the motor up - very dirty and greasy
                       note: looks pretty good now
     Oct 21 ran the dogs in the heavy cover and chased the released chukars from the Johnny House - let's just
                say they didn't fly far enough and training was a total two steps backward day
     Oct 22 day off for the three older dogs - worked on finishing off the boat blind
                       note: took the boat to Pierce Lake with the pup (Gunny) and found out the motor runs much
                                better than the barrel test indicated,  smooth, quiet and easy starting....it'll do!
     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) Daisy, Kooly and Taffey "roaded" 4 miles at 10-12 mph at the Square Pond
     Oct 25 (morning) invited on goose hunt (no dogs)
                (afternoon) went to BT's and moved the Johnny House over to the tree line Daisy, Kooly and Taffey
                were "roaded" 3 miles at 20 mph - did that easily
     Oct 26 (evening) went to the Square Pond grassy area and Greg threw three singles for Daisy, Kooly and Taffey
     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 (no problems)
                      note: Daisy and Kooly did some easy lining drills in the yard
     Oct 28 day off - OB with Daisy
     Oct 29 (afternoon) road 4 miles at BT's
                      note: Frontline Plus (3 days early - grouse hunting 30th = ticks still an issue)
     Oct 30 grouse trip to Wasau, WI
                      note: Taffey hunted 3 hours in the morning - one timber doodle and zero grouse flushes
                      note: Daisy hunted second - for 2 hours and zero flushes
                      note: we know two places where they aren't - heavy hunting pressure
                      note: with the sun going down, Kooly got to hunt pheasants for a short while at Avon
                               Bottoms - basically a little exercise 
                      note: four hundred plus miles - ouch on gas expenses
     Oct 31 day off