Setterguy

[Wild Willie]

Sounds like you have been extremely busy with your ever growing business. Just thought I would give you a progress report regarding Buddy. I took him to the farm last Sunday for his final hunt of this season. I decided to get a e-collar and introduce him to the wonderful world of high tech obedience in the field. My son Luke and I took him for a walk around the farm with both the e-collar and check cord. I did this to make sure he understood the WHOA command. After I was sure he understood the command I removed the check cord and we continued on our little mock hunt. He broke hard for the first tweety bird he saw, I commanded WHOA, he refused to obey, I let him have it! He jumped a couple of feet off the ground, yelped, looked around and came right back to the heel position. My son Luke was afraid he would be ruined forever. You know, one of the close ranging dogs that you have to kick out of your way. I tried to reassure Luke that Buddy was just over compensating due to the new form of correction stimulus that he was unfamiliar with. The pup stayed in the heel position for the rest of the walk. We went back to the farm office and waited about an hour before we started the real hunt. I readjusted the amount of signal on the unit down knowing that I had gotten my message across earlier. Well, old habits die hard! Buddy decides to bolt again after the first tweety bird he sees, I command WHOA, he refuses, I apply a continous signal and he immediately becomes compliant and returns to the heel position. We continued the hunt and from that time on I only had to nick him a couple more times. By the end of the hunt he was an absolute joy to hunt with and to watch. If he would begin to range, I would command WHOA, he would immedialtely stop, and would not continue until he heard the words GOOD BOY! I'm glad I waited until he was a year old before introducing him to the e-collar. Even today I can tell he remembers the experience and even more obedient than ever around the house and in the yard. I now am looking forward to next season more than ever before. Nothing quite like having a dog that is under control working in front of you out in the field. No yelling. No check cord. No running wild after flushed tweety birds. Wow what a difference!

[setterguy]

Willie - sounds like the progression is coming along nicely. Its amazing how a hunt can change once the dog knows what its boundries are. Just keep getting that little bugger on birds and you will have a great partner for years to come. What a great time to have a one year old dog...right as the grouse cycle starts to come back up! It actually makes me kind of jealous! We will have to keep in touch and get out this fall and bust some brush. Drop me a line if you are interested in doing any training over the summer.

[BDR]

Willie- sounds like it's going well! You will be way happier without yelling and probably see more points(quieter). We will have to get together for freshening up in the fall.

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I'd rather be skunked than follow the crowd!

Brian Rogers

JR's Tackle
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait

[Wild Willie]

I have never hunted grouse before but from what you have told me it sounds like a lot of fun. Pheasants are great but few and far in between without making a three to four hour drive. Buddy and I are looking forward to a lot of action this fall. When does the grouse season officially open here in the great state of Minnesota? Earlier than pheasant or about the same time? Setterguy - let me know when and where your club's next field trial event will be held. I would like to attend and observe how field trial dogs and their handlers interact in a competitive environment. Thanks!

[BDR]

Grouse opens with small game in mid Sept. Goes until 12-31.

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I'd rather be skunked than follow the crowd!

Brian Rogers

JR's Tackle
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait