good dog

[Dano2]

Well, I was very impressed today with my black lab.
She wasn't showing me much last year, and i started having some doubts, but kept working with her and figured shes young yet, give her a chance,
Went out ot a hunting preserve today, and before ya all jump to conclusions on how easy it is, I had the guy give me more of a challenge.
he set the birds out in a large crp field, and I really didn't pay attention to were he was going as I was getting ready.

My dog wouldn't retrieve at all last year, she would just kind of pick at the thing, but wouldn't pick it up at all.

The first rooster she flushed, I barley nicked it, saw feathers flying and the thing kept flying, this is were one of my dogs bad habits came in , she started chasing to were the thing landed about 100 yards away, i got on the whistle, she wouldn't listen, so I gave her a zap, but by then she was too close to where it landed, and low and behold, surprised as hell I was, she came walking back to me with a flopping and kicking bird in her mouth.
I was having a problem with her ranging out to far and not being able to seee her in the tall grass, so the next bird was a long shot as well, but again, feathers falling in the air, it had to do something with that 71/2 shot I was using, I wont do that again.
To make a long story short, she flushed 2 more, I got them, and then the fourth one she also found, it was obviously the one I nicked earlier because it didn't fly, but the dogger found it and dragged it out.

I was very happy about her turn around from last year.
We have more work to do, but i can only see her getting better from here on out.
Only other problem was she tired out early, but i'm sure the heat today had something to do with it.
heading south next weekend, hope she does good.

[This message has been edited by Dano2 (edited 10-18-2003).]

[BDR]

Dano2 More and more birds will bring out your dogs instincts.I would get on that ranging ASP, It is so frustrating having a flushing dog flushing out of good range.Sounds like your having fun! I would also save my money from the preserve and head south there are so many birds this year.

Also check your Morris question!

[This message has been edited by BDR (edited 10-18-2003).]