Blind Retrieve Lining for Gun Dogs

I've been referring to this article by James Spencer for Larsen. I've never really see him lose a bird in the water, but it can happen from time to time when the birds are wet and low or if there is a chop on the water. My normal method is to simply give two pips and say "other way", which is his signal to run or swim in the other direction.

I'll work more on the "back" command, which I've been told to do with multiple retrieves. That is, place two objects together at the base of an overturned bucket or traffic cone some distance out. Get the first retrieve. As he sits facing you, with his back to the bucket, command "back" and essentially tell him to go back to the bucket for the second bird or object.

Blind Retrieve Lining for Gun Dogs

DNR Counts All-Time Low Pheasant Numbers in Iowa

DNR Counts All-Time Low Pheasant Numbers in Iowa

Water taxi

The Chicago River goes right through the heart of the big city.

I took the Metra train from Evanston, about 12 miles north of the city, downtown to the Northwestern station. From there, I picked up the water taxi that took me to the Wrigley building around the bend of the river, and then walked under the roads to the Gleacher Center, home of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business for a meeting.


The Chicago River at twilight on a rainy September evening.


Water taxi, Madison Avenue Bridge, Chicago Board of Trade, and the Lyric Opera House.

Water taxis returning from Chinatown and heading toward Madison Avenue.

EPIC weekend

We visited the EPIC Outdoor Game Fair at Foxhall Resort & Sporting Club near Douglasville, Georgia. We arrived in time for the Eukanaba presentation on flushing spaniels. The presentation reinforced the more modern canine behavioral theories of fun, fair, firm; with the emphasis on the first two. Often in training the perceived misbehavior of a dog is really a misunderstanding. A little understanding goes a long way.

We visited the "Meet the Breeds" pavilion and met a few boykins and a litter of English Springers.

It turned out that Larsen was the perfect ambassador for the Welshies and could have been the meet-the-breed representative. He patiently allowed every grandchild and every granddad to pat his head and scratch his ear.

We wandered the midway and visited with the exhibitors. All of the exhibits seemed to be the high-end advertisers from Shooting Sportsman come to life. We saw new and antique Britsh "best" guns from Purdey, Westley Richards, Atkin Grant & Lang, and Churchill nestled in leather boxes. We also saw spectacular Berettas, Faustis, Ceasar Guerini's, and CSMCs with marbled woods and expressive metal working, including many fine hunting scenes.

The hunt was the order of the day.

Aki volunteered to socialize a squiggling field-bred English cocker.

A litter of ESSs captured everyones' hearts.


Guns that are works of art.

Dogs that are works of art.

Dogs that are dogs and guns that are guns. Larsen takes a breather in front of a line of Connecticut Shotguns.

Scenes from the outing

Our fall outing and picnic was a complete success. Cathy V.'s conception and execution were beyond compare. There were about 15 attendees, with about a dozen dogs. Clumbers, English Springers, and, naturally, Welsh Springer Spaniels.

Bill T.'s barbequed pork shoulder showed why people spend a house payment buying a Big Green Egg. There is really nothing else to compare that device to when it comes to grilling, smoking, and dry slow cooking.

The dog work was crisp and everyone was helpful. The gay spaniels brought enthusiasm and cheer to their work.

Here are some scenes from the day.

George and Mazie get an early start at the 2011 Hunt Practice Picnic.


Coralee and Rowdy get ready to rumble.

Bill and Hampton share some thoughts.


Amy shows that working a dog sometimes means contemplation and planning.

Larsen busts loose on a hunt dead.

The mid-day picnic was a nice break from the morning's dog work.

Kathy gives Taz a few last-minute pointers.

Al and Johnny consider the finer points of Cathy's shotgunning.

The bench

Force fetch training is not for everyone. It is a heavy hand for a modern day and age. I've been putting Larsen on the bench regularly, following Joe's Gentle Force Fetch, which is stopped down from the traditional ear pinch.

I want Larsen to hold a bumper properly, and not like a cigar.

Lately, I've gone with the ear pinch. I give the fetch command, and if Larsen hesitates, I pinch the inside of his ear with my fingernail. When he reaches for and takes the bumper properly, I let the pinch go, and praise, praise, praise.

No treats, though. Joe says that you don't want the dog to anticipate a treat, because this will cause him to fail to grasp the bumper (or bird) through the entire exercise and can lead to putting the bird down too early.

At today's session, I had some real success. Larsen reached for both bumper and rubber Dokken bird (which he tries to grab by the feet) properly and enthusiastically. I took him to the back yard, and had him do a couple of bumper fetches and they were enthusiastic and very un-cigarlike.

First day of fall

The first day of fall 2011 is Friday, September 23, according to the calendar, but we are getting an early start.

On Sunday, September 18 about 15 of us will meet at Circle W Hunting Preserve in Heflin Alabama to train our dogs, shoot our guns, and eat pulled pork sandwiches at lunchtime. The weather should be perfect, with a starting temperature of 57, and a midday temperature in the low 80s and some clounds. This is a wonderful break from the 70+ morning temperatures we've had through the summer.

We're organizing some dog-oriented games (fetch-the-hotdog?) and some clays games. Maybe some prizes, too.

It won't quite be the EPIC Game Fair or Vintage Cup, but it will be a fine time with some good companionship, canine and human.

Barkswell in Asheville, NC

We're heading to the western North Carolina mountains this weekend, and will stay at Barkswell, a pet-friendly mountain property. Hiking in the Pisgah Mountains is always a pleasure. The property seems very nice as well.