It's spring in Alabama. Danny is out of quail and has given his fields their summer cuts. The fields have no more cover than you would see on your nicely manicured suburban lawn. The only areas with any cover at all seemed to be under water left behind by last Thursday's storms.
I got to the field early to run Larsen. Larsen and I finally found an area with some cover that was relatively dry, or at least not under water. The small area had a profusion of green spring grass and some old cane and many thorns. A nasty site to be sure, but one that might be similar to the Hunt Test grounds in Florida.
Cathy's goal on Sunday was to have a little simple fun with Humphrey and Zelda in this last run before the Clumber Nationals. No e-collars, no real challenges. Just run through the traps in short, fun installments. My goal for Larsen was to continue to work on the to-the-hand retrieve. Both of us were successful, and it put a great end to the season for Larsen and me.
Cathy fretted that Humphrey did not take a straight line in the Hunt Dead, and we both agreed that Humphrey would not take a straight line to his dog bowl. He seems to forget what he was after about half-way out, and then shifts from sight to nose and tracks down the bird. There is no doubt about his finding the bird, and it is not a pig & acorn thing. Humphrey being Humphrey, he believes his nose, and not his lyin' eyes. Who knows what Humphrey will do this weekend. Miss Zelda performed flawlessly and we hope she will add a Master leg to her trophy case.
Larsen and I continued to work the Joe DeMarkis method to get Larsen to crisply bring the bird to hand. (See post at Friday, April 8, 2011.) We made progress, with Larsen bringing the bird to a perfect Junior-level distance and putting the bird down. Finally, when running hunt deads at about 60 yards, Larsen twice brought the bird precisely to hand in a good Senior/Masters delivery.
Larsen finds a good spot for training.
A perfect Hunt Dead.
The promise of an open field.
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