Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Aki off to Germany
Aki left for Germany today. She went via the brand-new Jackson International Terminal at the Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta.
Aki gathers her belongings and her wits as she sets out on her journey.
Tres, uh, tres!
Blue neon contrails decorate the sky.
No lines at security!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Red & white and red, white & blue
On this day of remembrance, we thank the servicemen and women who safeguard our liberty.
(Although the photo does not show it, McDonalds correctly is displaying the flag at half mast. The flag will be raised to full mast at noon.)
(Although the photo does not show it, McDonalds correctly is displaying the flag at half mast. The flag will be raised to full mast at noon.)
Circle W morning
Larsen and I went to Circle W Game Prserve with the thought of training with Cathy and her dogs, Humphrey and Zelda.
We were mistaken, though, since Cathy was entertaining guests over the holiday weekend, so we nothing to do but walk the grounds by ourselves. We made the best of it, though, as we kicked through the tall dewy grass looking for nothing in particular. The morning also gave me a chance to put up the chicken wire in the quail coop where we were keeping our birds. The birds had been escaping and raising havoc with Danny's dogs.
The Junior Field. Tree line is at the Tallapoosa River.
Larsen heighs through the wet grass.
The Master Field. Tower for tower shoots is in the background.
Larsen finds a painted turtle in the mud.
Time for a breather!
We were mistaken, though, since Cathy was entertaining guests over the holiday weekend, so we nothing to do but walk the grounds by ourselves. We made the best of it, though, as we kicked through the tall dewy grass looking for nothing in particular. The morning also gave me a chance to put up the chicken wire in the quail coop where we were keeping our birds. The birds had been escaping and raising havoc with Danny's dogs.
Larsen heighs through the wet grass.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Haunted house
The new shutters arrived to replace the old.
After 12 years, the pine shutters on the house were crumbling. We replaced them with some sort of synthetic. We did the same with some clapboard on our dormers going on 6 years ago, and the material has held up very well.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Field practice
Shoni B. came to the field on Sunday to shoot and help manage the process. Shoni's Welsh Springer Spaniel, Sunny, is in Michigan for a few months getting some initial obedience training in the field, so Shoni was kind enough to swing by to offer shooting and other assistance.
We ran Larsen, Humphrey, and Zelda.
I quartered Larsen and, periodically, Cathy tossed a clip-wing pigeon. Larsen's steadiness is in an inertial state: he will remain sitting if we toss birds about him, but it is hard to stop him and sit him if he is actively flushing a bird.
We practiced with Larsen with the popper, with tossed clip-wings, and with Shoni giving an occasional salute to a tossed bird. Larsen stayed sitting. I had Larsen on the ecollar, which helped bring him in when he began self-hunting. Several of his retrieves were very good. On balance, an improvement from the prior week. (See also yesterday's post.)
The next hurdle, really, is to get Larsen to flush birds and sit. He seems to know that he must do this, but he sometimes gets caught up in the moment.
On his hunt deads, I will continue to reinforce the fact that a bird is out in the field. His directions are not particularly good, although he responds reasonably well to "other way!".
Humphrey's first turn was perfection itself. He found, flushed, and retrieved two birds to hand before the dew had burned off the grass. Cathy gave him a few more tosses and a hunt dead or two. Zelda broke on a tough bird that had been lightly hit and flown off but that she could not get out of her mind.
We ran Larsen, Humphrey, and Zelda.
I quartered Larsen and, periodically, Cathy tossed a clip-wing pigeon. Larsen's steadiness is in an inertial state: he will remain sitting if we toss birds about him, but it is hard to stop him and sit him if he is actively flushing a bird.
We practiced with Larsen with the popper, with tossed clip-wings, and with Shoni giving an occasional salute to a tossed bird. Larsen stayed sitting. I had Larsen on the ecollar, which helped bring him in when he began self-hunting. Several of his retrieves were very good. On balance, an improvement from the prior week. (See also yesterday's post.)
The next hurdle, really, is to get Larsen to flush birds and sit. He seems to know that he must do this, but he sometimes gets caught up in the moment.
On his hunt deads, I will continue to reinforce the fact that a bird is out in the field. His directions are not particularly good, although he responds reasonably well to "other way!".
Humphrey's first turn was perfection itself. He found, flushed, and retrieved two birds to hand before the dew had burned off the grass. Cathy gave him a few more tosses and a hunt dead or two. Zelda broke on a tough bird that had been lightly hit and flown off but that she could not get out of her mind.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Good correction
Sometimes a well-executed correction can be the highlight of the practice.
I sent Larsen into the water for a water retrieve. Larsen brought the bird to shore and then shook. He then dillied with the bird so I called him. He did not immediately pick up the bird and deliver it to hand, so I took three quick steps to him and grabbed him by the bottom of his collar, under his throat, as Venee had suggested.
Then I called him and pulled him forward firmly. I did this three times: "here!" (pull); "here!" (pull); "here!" (pull). Then I sent him for the bird on a hunt dead.
Once more, the bird was not delivered to hand. Without any fuss, I took my steps forward, grabbed Larsen by the collar, and pulled him toward me saying "here!".
I sent him again for a dead. Now came perfection. Larsen returned the bird to hand and sat. Good boy.
I took the bird, gave him a pat on the chest, and looped him up for a walk to the car and a little treat.
More on Sunday's practice later.
A beautiful morning in the Tallapoosa River valley.
Larsen readies himself for a busy morning of practice.
I sent Larsen into the water for a water retrieve. Larsen brought the bird to shore and then shook. He then dillied with the bird so I called him. He did not immediately pick up the bird and deliver it to hand, so I took three quick steps to him and grabbed him by the bottom of his collar, under his throat, as Venee had suggested.
Then I called him and pulled him forward firmly. I did this three times: "here!" (pull); "here!" (pull); "here!" (pull). Then I sent him for the bird on a hunt dead.
Once more, the bird was not delivered to hand. Without any fuss, I took my steps forward, grabbed Larsen by the collar, and pulled him toward me saying "here!".
I sent him again for a dead. Now came perfection. Larsen returned the bird to hand and sat. Good boy.
I took the bird, gave him a pat on the chest, and looped him up for a walk to the car and a little treat.
More on Sunday's practice later.
A beautiful morning in the Tallapoosa River valley.
Larsen readies himself for a busy morning of practice.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Car & crate fans
I've got a couple of crate fans, and each has a purpose. First up is a simple crate fan powered by 2 D batteries. This fan is useful for the show ring when power outlets are at a premium. It goes through a pair of batteries per day.
I also have the Breeze car fan that draws power from the cigarette lighter of the car. This fan is relatively quiet and because it is a 10-inch fan, it moves a lot of air. However, it puts a draw on the car battery, which is not really made for sustained operation. Moreover, with modern cars, you can inadvertently have all sorts of accessories (such as the your headlights) on if you don't realize it. I've experienced the frustration of being unable to start the car at the end of a long day in the field due to this fan.
This brings me to fan #3, the Ryobi. Ryobi makes a wide range of power tools that use an 18 v NiCad battery. The battery lasts about a long day in the field and it is rechargeable. I'll head over to Home Depot on Saturday and pick up a Ryobi fan and battery and try it out on Sunday.
Cheap and very portable, but goes through batteries.
Up-front battery cost is expensive, but the battery is rechargeable
I also have the Breeze car fan that draws power from the cigarette lighter of the car. This fan is relatively quiet and because it is a 10-inch fan, it moves a lot of air. However, it puts a draw on the car battery, which is not really made for sustained operation. Moreover, with modern cars, you can inadvertently have all sorts of accessories (such as the your headlights) on if you don't realize it. I've experienced the frustration of being unable to start the car at the end of a long day in the field due to this fan.
This brings me to fan #3, the Ryobi. Ryobi makes a wide range of power tools that use an 18 v NiCad battery. The battery lasts about a long day in the field and it is rechargeable. I'll head over to Home Depot on Saturday and pick up a Ryobi fan and battery and try it out on Sunday.
Good for a long road trip in hot weather, but draws car current when in the field.
Up-front battery cost is expensive, but the battery is rechargeable
Monday, May 14, 2012
Caution: Grab this upside down
A dummy launcher took a bite out of Cathy's hand on Sunday. Yow. The kickback of the launcher pushed the locking mechanism into the web of her hand and skinned and bruised her.
It turns out that you don't hold the launcher like you would any other firearm. Your lead hand is positioned upside down! With your thumb pointed toward you.
According to the instructions:
Firmly grasp the launcher in one hand with the thumb latch oriented toward the shoulder of the holding arm. The heel of the holding hand should be facing the thumb latch and the fingers should be wrapped firmly around the grip. (The thumb will be closest to the Pull Knob.)
Bend the elbow slightly and position the launcher about waist high and one foot from your body. Aim at about 45 degrees from horizontal off to your side toward the target area.Did you get that? You don't hold a shotgun, pistol, rifle, or tennis racket in this manner. You grab it as you would grab a broom with your lead hand, and then point the broom toward the sky. Design fail!
The little finger, not the thumb, should face the action.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Wet day at Circle W
When it wasn't raining at the Circle W preserve on Mother's Day, it was reloading.
We started an hour later than usual, hoping that the front would have moved past, and to some extent it did, but there were still bands of showers in the aft of the main front.
Humphrey and Zelda quartered hard in the heavy and wet grass. Both dogs give you the sense that you could sit them forever after flushing a bird. There was no anxiety whatsoever about a break on a wing or shot. Those dogs came in from the field wet, tired, and happy.
For Larsen's turns, we worked on quieter whistling and also on an attempt to gauge where Larsen was on his obedience. We know that Larsen will stay sitting to any tossed bird, dead or clip-wing. We also know that Larsen will stay sitting even if we walk away a considerable distance.
We worked on sitting him to the shot with some success. Larsen sat to the discharge of the .22-powered dummy launcher and went after the "dead" dummy with enthusiasm. His returns were completely unsatisfactory and will require some time on the bench to improve his finish.
We also asked him to flush a live bird or two, but with the soaking rain, it was not a good indicator of his ability to sit to the flush in that situation. It appeared, though, that he was not at that point.
Overall, a good day in the Tallapoosa River valley.
Quail and chukar are in the burlap bags ready for a training session.
Humphrey (L) and Zelda (R) wait for the rain to let up so that they can run.
Larsen mopes for his turn in the field.
We started an hour later than usual, hoping that the front would have moved past, and to some extent it did, but there were still bands of showers in the aft of the main front.
Humphrey and Zelda quartered hard in the heavy and wet grass. Both dogs give you the sense that you could sit them forever after flushing a bird. There was no anxiety whatsoever about a break on a wing or shot. Those dogs came in from the field wet, tired, and happy.
For Larsen's turns, we worked on quieter whistling and also on an attempt to gauge where Larsen was on his obedience. We know that Larsen will stay sitting to any tossed bird, dead or clip-wing. We also know that Larsen will stay sitting even if we walk away a considerable distance.
We worked on sitting him to the shot with some success. Larsen sat to the discharge of the .22-powered dummy launcher and went after the "dead" dummy with enthusiasm. His returns were completely unsatisfactory and will require some time on the bench to improve his finish.
We also asked him to flush a live bird or two, but with the soaking rain, it was not a good indicator of his ability to sit to the flush in that situation. It appeared, though, that he was not at that point.
Overall, a good day in the Tallapoosa River valley.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Perigee moon
Our early start last Sunday put Larsen and me on the road early in the morning. The full moon seemed exceptionally large. The moon is the bright spot above the horzion, right over I-285 heading west. Maybe it is one of those had-to-see-it-yourself phenomena.
It turns out that the earth and moon were at a perigee, the point on the eliptical orbit that positions the moon closest to the earth. And that is why the full moon seemed exceptionally large and bright.
The moon is bright in the morning's still-dark sky.
It turns out that the earth and moon were at a perigee, the point on the eliptical orbit that positions the moon closest to the earth. And that is why the full moon seemed exceptionally large and bright.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
First birds
We started practice at 7:00 am CDT so that we could protect the dogs from the day's heat. Venee G. showed up with her Clumber Natasha and cocker Whisper. Cathy had Zelda and Humphrey and I had Larsen.
Larsen took big bites of the field in his first turn. He seemed to be running off a week's worth of inaction. I hadn't taken him to the lake or to the mountains on Saturday, and so on Sunday he was ready to roll. His responses to the whistle were not crisp.
Venee suggested some corrections.
She showed me that if he fails to respond immediately to a pip, you gather in the dog, grab him under his chin by his collar, and pop him toward you while pipping "here". Or, you turn him by his collar as you pip "turn". The hold under the collar is important because that puts your eyes and his eyes on the same plane and he knows he is getting a correction. There is no room for temper or meanness here, especially with a spaniel. Just a firm pip & pop so that he knows exactly what he needs to do and he acknowledges it by looking you in the eye.
Larsen's turns improved, and we kept him close in. The boy knows how to hunt, so we are working on control.
On occasion, I would pip Larsen to a sit in the field. He was remarkably responsive.
Venee showed me how to congratulate him on a good crisp sit when pipped to a halt from quartering. She said that when I pip him to a sit, I might walk gently up to him, pat him on the chest, tell him he's a good boy, and them send him off from that spot. Her thinking is that you get the dog to hup, and you let him stay right where he is and you move to him to give him some love. No sense overdoing it. Just look for that acknowledgment lick or swallow.
On Larsen's second turn, Venee handled a clip-wing pigeon. These were the first live birds that Larsen has seen since we started steadying him. The setup was Larsen-Frank-bird, so that while he headed toward me, Venee would toss the flutting bird, and I was in a position between dog and bird to pip Larsen to a halt, or grab him if he sailed by.
Larsen came to nice sits on those. Venee tested him on a clip-wing toss when Larsen was past me and heading toward the sideline, so the setup was Frank-Larsen-bird, with Larsen heading away from me and toward the bird. Venee tossed the bird away from Larsen and in his direction of pursuit. Larsen sat before I really gave the whistle. Good boy.
This is a very big step forward, since it indicates that he is starting to understand that he sits to bird.
Next step, more of the same, and then start steadying him to the gun.
Larsen's retrieves need more work as he sets the bird down a few feet from me. Senior distance maybe, but not master "to hand". I will have to get back to the table and to Joe's gentle force fetch.
Larsen took big bites of the field in his first turn. He seemed to be running off a week's worth of inaction. I hadn't taken him to the lake or to the mountains on Saturday, and so on Sunday he was ready to roll. His responses to the whistle were not crisp.
Venee suggested some corrections.
She showed me that if he fails to respond immediately to a pip, you gather in the dog, grab him under his chin by his collar, and pop him toward you while pipping "here". Or, you turn him by his collar as you pip "turn". The hold under the collar is important because that puts your eyes and his eyes on the same plane and he knows he is getting a correction. There is no room for temper or meanness here, especially with a spaniel. Just a firm pip & pop so that he knows exactly what he needs to do and he acknowledges it by looking you in the eye.
Larsen's turns improved, and we kept him close in. The boy knows how to hunt, so we are working on control.
On occasion, I would pip Larsen to a sit in the field. He was remarkably responsive.
Venee showed me how to congratulate him on a good crisp sit when pipped to a halt from quartering. She said that when I pip him to a sit, I might walk gently up to him, pat him on the chest, tell him he's a good boy, and them send him off from that spot. Her thinking is that you get the dog to hup, and you let him stay right where he is and you move to him to give him some love. No sense overdoing it. Just look for that acknowledgment lick or swallow.
On Larsen's second turn, Venee handled a clip-wing pigeon. These were the first live birds that Larsen has seen since we started steadying him. The setup was Larsen-Frank-bird, so that while he headed toward me, Venee would toss the flutting bird, and I was in a position between dog and bird to pip Larsen to a halt, or grab him if he sailed by.
Larsen came to nice sits on those. Venee tested him on a clip-wing toss when Larsen was past me and heading toward the sideline, so the setup was Frank-Larsen-bird, with Larsen heading away from me and toward the bird. Venee tossed the bird away from Larsen and in his direction of pursuit. Larsen sat before I really gave the whistle. Good boy.
This is a very big step forward, since it indicates that he is starting to understand that he sits to bird.
Next step, more of the same, and then start steadying him to the gun.
Larsen's retrieves need more work as he sets the bird down a few feet from me. Senior distance maybe, but not master "to hand". I will have to get back to the table and to Joe's gentle force fetch.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Two for the road
Humphrey and Zelda each took home a Master leg ribbon for their work in Galena, Missouri last weekend. Saturday was hot and Sunday was wet, so there were challenges in the field. Congratulations to the two clumbers and Cathy.
Art H. and Splash gained two Junior legs during the event. Splash is a water spaniel and a real handful, so Art has been making some progress with that lively little dog.
Betsy C. and Spikeroo also got a ribbon, this one Spike's second or maybe third Junior-level leg. The gears are clicking with Betsy and Spike. Evidently, Spike went off to hunt on his own on Sunday, so it's one step forward and one back as so often is the case.
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