Training notes

We started at the water.  The swamp, really.  The dogs had to traverse water, mud, and mudholes in search of the bird.  The bird might be on higher ground or more usually in a bog.  All three dogs are experienced and were unfazed by the changing and boggy terrain.  In some instances, the dog needed some additional handling to find the bird, but in all instances the dogs persevered and brought the bird back nicely.

On land, we heeled and hupped Larsen.  I came away from the Sunday session with a renewed understanding that I've got to improve Larsen's sits.  Time is a factor now, with the November Hunt Test faintly on the horizon.  Now is the time to work Larsen and improve his whistle-sits.

In the field, we quartered Larsen down the field.  He paid attention, turned to the whistle and came when called.  At times, Cathy and I stopped to chat and visit and Larsen stayed attentively in his sit position.

We released a little tension with some hunt deads.  Short ones that were not challenging.  Larsen's first retrieve was messy: he had a mind to pass me by and take the bird to an undisclosed location.  His delivery was not to hand.  On a subsequent hunt-dead, I gave him a very firm command, and his delivery was much better, as were subsequent deliveries.  Time for table work, which has been drifting by undone.  For the week:

• Five minutes, twice per day, some concentrated heel-sit work.  This is a minimum.
• On the table at least 3 times this week for some fetch-hold work.

Humphrey continued to hunt with vigor.  He paused to hypnotize the bird a little longer than he should, but he was not really pointing.  When a bird moved, he went in.  I think with livelier birds, his flush would improve.  He needs a bird that is a challenge to him.  Humphrey circled back when we did not move up the field quickly enough for his tastes.  Zelda was very good.  She broke once at the end when I missed an easy flying bird that simply tempted her too much.

The pair are ready for a Missouri Hunt Test.