Friday, July 22, 2011
Mazomanie bound
The Cocker test in Mazomanie, Wisconsin on the July 30 and 31 will catch the tail-end of the heat wave. Temperatures in the mid-80s. This is 10 degrees cooler than Atlanta, but still will require some icy cold towels and plenty of water for the dogs.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Cage match, summer style
It's much too hot to do much horsing around, so Larsen and Caden do the next best thing by wrestling under the picnic table after dinner.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Mid-summer evening
The crape myrtle is heavy with lilac-colored blossoms.
Clouds of hydrangeas.
Larsen enjoys his shady arbor.
Monday, July 11, 2011
2011 WSSCA Hunt Test premium
Well, this is some forward motion. The Hunt Test premium is just about finished. Joe C. has created the PDF that permits the user to fill in the form on his computer. The user still has to print and mail the completed form to the HT committee, but at least it eliminates one side of the snail mail effort and it eliminates longhand penmanship from the form.
The rosettes are in process at Hodges Badge Company, and 100 bird bands are in the pipeline at National Band & Tag Co.
The treasured jewelery.
The rosettes are in process at Hodges Badge Company, and 100 bird bands are in the pipeline at National Band & Tag Co.
The treasured jewelery.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The $300 lesson
It's not often that a day of training will cost you $300.
Larsen and I were at the edge of the farm pond at Circle W Hunting Preserve. George had the duck call, blank gun, and a dead bird. I steadied Larsen and gave a nod to George, who quacked, threw the bird, and shot the pistol.
Without hesitation, Larsen leaped into the water.
This is a fault. Larsen is supposed to wait until I give him the signal. Without hesitation, I leaped in after Larsen, hauled him out and sat him down. Unhappily, I leaped in with my iPhone in my pocket, and the device faded out. I'll put it in a bag of rice, I suppose, but I'm not holding my breath, and in fact went out and got another iPhone, and hence the $300 lesson that I received.
For what it's worth, I'm hopeful that the lesson stuck with Larsen. After getting unceremoniously pulled out of the water, he did not want to re-enter at all. I became concerned that I caused him to "fail" on a water retrieve, which Joe DeMarkis cautions against. At Susan W's suggestion, I played some games offline with Larsen: I walked about the edge of the field with him at heel. I let him fetch the bird, walk with me at heel with the bird in his mouth, give me the bird, and take it back. A little one-on-one fun time.
His second practice retrieve was much better. He sat on shore until I released him, swam for the bird and brought it in. It was not a perfect retrieve by any stretch since Larsen put the bird down and shook first, but it was not bad.
Larsen examines his new iPhone.
Larsen and I were at the edge of the farm pond at Circle W Hunting Preserve. George had the duck call, blank gun, and a dead bird. I steadied Larsen and gave a nod to George, who quacked, threw the bird, and shot the pistol.
Without hesitation, Larsen leaped into the water.
This is a fault. Larsen is supposed to wait until I give him the signal. Without hesitation, I leaped in after Larsen, hauled him out and sat him down. Unhappily, I leaped in with my iPhone in my pocket, and the device faded out. I'll put it in a bag of rice, I suppose, but I'm not holding my breath, and in fact went out and got another iPhone, and hence the $300 lesson that I received.
For what it's worth, I'm hopeful that the lesson stuck with Larsen. After getting unceremoniously pulled out of the water, he did not want to re-enter at all. I became concerned that I caused him to "fail" on a water retrieve, which Joe DeMarkis cautions against. At Susan W's suggestion, I played some games offline with Larsen: I walked about the edge of the field with him at heel. I let him fetch the bird, walk with me at heel with the bird in his mouth, give me the bird, and take it back. A little one-on-one fun time.
His second practice retrieve was much better. He sat on shore until I released him, swam for the bird and brought it in. It was not a perfect retrieve by any stretch since Larsen put the bird down and shook first, but it was not bad.
Larsen examines his new iPhone.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Summer in the rear-view mirror
Is it mid-summer 2011 already? Fourth of July in Atlanta means the Peachtree Roadrace, a 10k for those who can take the steamy heat. Aki ran a credible time, and her reward was a new t-shirt. That, and Memphis-style pork ribs, and corn on the cob. Iced tea. Home-made peach ice cream. A loving dog.
Aki watches the progress of the ribs on the grill.
Aki and Larsen enjoy the holiday evening.
Aki watches the progress of the ribs on the grill.
Aki and Larsen enjoy the holiday evening.
4th of July in Atlanta
The 4th in Atlanta means Peachtree Road Race. Aki ran and did credibly, given her lack of preparation. Astounding, really. Larsen and I headed to the foothills and Lake Alatoona for a cool-down after a Sunday of practice in the field.
Sunday really took the starch of us. It was a not day. I dumped a bucket of ice water over Larsen after his second run, and he did not jump away as a dog might normally do. He was hot. More to come on the training session, which was quite good.
A nap is in order after a busy Fourth of July morning.
Larsen unwinds after a a run at Lake Alatoona on a hot July 4 afternoon.
Sunday really took the starch of us. It was a not day. I dumped a bucket of ice water over Larsen after his second run, and he did not jump away as a dog might normally do. He was hot. More to come on the training session, which was quite good.
A nap is in order after a busy Fourth of July morning.
Larsen unwinds after a a run at Lake Alatoona on a hot July 4 afternoon.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Therapy dog
Take a minute to stop by Laurel Hunt's Bark Wag Love blog.
Laurel is training Baker the Welsh Springer Spaniel to become a therapy dog and give comfort to kids in a local hospital that are in a tough spot at a too-young age.
You remember Baker, don't you?
Baker was the six-year-old Welshie re-homed from Indiana to North Carolina. Aki and I picked Baker up around Cincinnati and delivered him to Laurel in Tennessee.
All in that wagon train agreed that Baker was a sweet boy, but needed some training fundamentals. He didn't really know how to walk on a lead!
And now Baker is a therapy dog apprentice. What a fine turn of events, Laruel and Baker.
Laurel is training Baker the Welsh Springer Spaniel to become a therapy dog and give comfort to kids in a local hospital that are in a tough spot at a too-young age.
You remember Baker, don't you?
Baker was the six-year-old Welshie re-homed from Indiana to North Carolina. Aki and I picked Baker up around Cincinnati and delivered him to Laurel in Tennessee.
All in that wagon train agreed that Baker was a sweet boy, but needed some training fundamentals. He didn't really know how to walk on a lead!
And now Baker is a therapy dog apprentice. What a fine turn of events, Laruel and Baker.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Six inches
Larsen and I worked at Tim & Cathy's this morning. Tim had Masters candidate Moses and Junior candidate Rags working. Frank M and Deb brought Mr. Wiggles and one other, but I'm not sure who.
I ran Larsen in the box. What this means is that I quartered him (let him run from left to right and then right to left in front of me and the two gunners) in an area defined as an imaginary rectangle with two corners set by the two gunners and the other two corners set 20 yards straight out from the gunners. Any bird that is found and flushed in the box should be killable by reasonably competent gunner. You want your dog to find and flush a bird in the box because that gives you the best chance for a clean kill. When the dog gets outside of the box and flushes a bird, the chance of making a clean kill falls. A wounded or missed bird makes for a fly-away bird that the dog chases, loss of control, and overall mayhem.
In my exercises, I quartered Larsen without having a bird in the field. Instead, I held a live bird by its legs behind my back. At an opportune moment, when Larsen's back was to me and he had demonstrated some good quartering, I took a few quick steps forward, planted the bird in the grass, and retreated. On his backhaul, lo and behold, Larsen found and flushed a bird. The bird was right in front of me, his handler! The bird was shot, and Larsen retrieved.
Larsen's quartering was very good. He listened to the whistle, and hunted aggressively. His retrieve needs work. Larsen returned the shot bird, but set it down on the ground about six inches from me. Setting the bird on the ground is a DQ at the Senior level. So this is what we will work on next.
Frank suggested that I work on the last six inches by doing a basement/backyard drill with him with cold game. The idea is that I would set up a little retrieve of six or eight feet. I would sit on the ground, legs out, and let Larsen retrieve the bird right to my lap. The goal is to get the retrieve up close and personal. I can then stroke Larsen and soothe him as I ask for the bird. All very up close.
Larsen's retrieve has improved greatly. We need a little more team work to pull it all together.
As an aside, Larsen's hunt dead was very good. He went out the 50 yards or so and hunted around. I was ready with the whistle to help him, but he seemed to have a pretty good idea. He found the bird and brought it back to hand, with (admittedly) a little trick on my own part. I turned to my left, he trotted to my right, and I kept right on turning until I could reach the bird as he went by on my right. I'm not sure if that is exactly cricket.
I ran Larsen in the box. What this means is that I quartered him (let him run from left to right and then right to left in front of me and the two gunners) in an area defined as an imaginary rectangle with two corners set by the two gunners and the other two corners set 20 yards straight out from the gunners. Any bird that is found and flushed in the box should be killable by reasonably competent gunner. You want your dog to find and flush a bird in the box because that gives you the best chance for a clean kill. When the dog gets outside of the box and flushes a bird, the chance of making a clean kill falls. A wounded or missed bird makes for a fly-away bird that the dog chases, loss of control, and overall mayhem.
In my exercises, I quartered Larsen without having a bird in the field. Instead, I held a live bird by its legs behind my back. At an opportune moment, when Larsen's back was to me and he had demonstrated some good quartering, I took a few quick steps forward, planted the bird in the grass, and retreated. On his backhaul, lo and behold, Larsen found and flushed a bird. The bird was right in front of me, his handler! The bird was shot, and Larsen retrieved.
Larsen's quartering was very good. He listened to the whistle, and hunted aggressively. His retrieve needs work. Larsen returned the shot bird, but set it down on the ground about six inches from me. Setting the bird on the ground is a DQ at the Senior level. So this is what we will work on next.
Frank suggested that I work on the last six inches by doing a basement/backyard drill with him with cold game. The idea is that I would set up a little retrieve of six or eight feet. I would sit on the ground, legs out, and let Larsen retrieve the bird right to my lap. The goal is to get the retrieve up close and personal. I can then stroke Larsen and soothe him as I ask for the bird. All very up close.
Larsen's retrieve has improved greatly. We need a little more team work to pull it all together.
As an aside, Larsen's hunt dead was very good. He went out the 50 yards or so and hunted around. I was ready with the whistle to help him, but he seemed to have a pretty good idea. He found the bird and brought it back to hand, with (admittedly) a little trick on my own part. I turned to my left, he trotted to my right, and I kept right on turning until I could reach the bird as he went by on my right. I'm not sure if that is exactly cricket.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Amping it up
With a Hunt Test in Wisconsin at the end of July, it's time to start amping up Larsen's training.
In his basement table drills, I've brought out a thawed bird. I place it on the floor, about 6 feet away, and have him fetch it up. During the first few days, he would nose the bird, pick it up, and start to trot away from me. I'd give him a command and bring him in.
I've repositioned the fetch so that his best strategy now is to take it right past me rather than away from me. I'm working on my own performance as well. When he comes up, I do not snatch the bird right away. I wait. Then I say give, and he drops the bird, to some quiet attaboys from me.
I let him heel with me around the basement perimeter with the bird in his mouth. Then I hupped him, stood in front of him about six feet away and called him in.
I'm trying to get my own muscle memory and trust factor going for letting him handle and deliver the bird. I hope it carries over into the field.
In his basement table drills, I've brought out a thawed bird. I place it on the floor, about 6 feet away, and have him fetch it up. During the first few days, he would nose the bird, pick it up, and start to trot away from me. I'd give him a command and bring him in.
I've repositioned the fetch so that his best strategy now is to take it right past me rather than away from me. I'm working on my own performance as well. When he comes up, I do not snatch the bird right away. I wait. Then I say give, and he drops the bird, to some quiet attaboys from me.
I let him heel with me around the basement perimeter with the bird in his mouth. Then I hupped him, stood in front of him about six feet away and called him in.
I'm trying to get my own muscle memory and trust factor going for letting him handle and deliver the bird. I hope it carries over into the field.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Rally 3
I signed Larsen up for Rally. He's now entering into Rally Excellent. The requirements include a bit more polish and also some advanced things like a moving halt. A moving halt begins with the dog walking at heel. You command "halt" while you maintain your pace. The dog stops and you keep walking.
Another more advanced item, which is a bit gimmacky, is walking backwards. I will teach that to Larsen since that is part of the requirements, but it is not high on our obedience list.
The main purpose for the additional rally classes is simply to keep the discipline of our training going during the hot summer months.
Another more advanced item, which is a bit gimmacky, is walking backwards. I will teach that to Larsen since that is part of the requirements, but it is not high on our obedience list.
The main purpose for the additional rally classes is simply to keep the discipline of our training going during the hot summer months.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Big muddy
Larsen, not the river to the west of us. Aki's Memorial Day week drive from Atlanta to Chicago, and then on to Cleveland, was in a downpour of cold rain that turned the rich black topsoil of the Great Lakes area into quagmires of mud. Some of the older hardwoods (whose taproots admittedly were gone) had simply toppled over in the muck, producing gaping holes filled with milk-chocolate water.
Larsen loves the driving cold rain. He hit the swamp and immediately began tracking deer, whose tracks were three inches deep in the mud. On a run, he fell into a bole-hole- - completely disappearing under the muddy water before bobbing up and then scrambling out to resume his chase. Need I mention that the little dog had the time of his life?
Larsen looks toward to his next run at Bradley Park in Westlake, Ohio.
Frank appears to be having second thoughts about inviting a muddy spaniel into his Evanston apartment.
Larsen loves the driving cold rain. He hit the swamp and immediately began tracking deer, whose tracks were three inches deep in the mud. On a run, he fell into a bole-hole- - completely disappearing under the muddy water before bobbing up and then scrambling out to resume his chase. Need I mention that the little dog had the time of his life?
Larsen looks toward to his next run at Bradley Park in Westlake, Ohio.
Frank appears to be having second thoughts about inviting a muddy spaniel into his Evanston apartment.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day, 2011
Or Decoration Day, as it once was called. A day to honor and decorate the graves of the fallen. It dates back to our own Civil War. One involved a tribute by African Americans in Charleston South Carolina to the fallen Union troops, but other cities and areas independently honored the dead from that war as well. Memorial Day now honors all of our military men and women who have died for our nation.
We honor all who have served.
We honor all who have served.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The weather thickens (updated)
The plot remains the same. Aki and Larsen are driving from Atlanta to Chicago. They decamped from southern Indiana early in the morning and are north of Lafayette, Indiana now. The weather continues to deteriorate in Chicago, and strong storms will be moving in. You can see on the radar image that her route, which is up Interstate 65 is in a crease of clear weather until the Indiana/Illinois border at Gary. She will run into commuting traffic, weather, and a complex set of interchange maneuvers at that point.
Aki and Larsen drive into the pincers at Gary, Indiana, but manage to avoid the worst of the storm to the south that is now over Lafayette.
Aki and Larsen drive into the pincers at Gary, Indiana, but manage to avoid the worst of the storm to the south that is now over Lafayette.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Road trip
Against anyone's better judgment, Aki loaded up the car with Larsen and took off for the Windy City. A road trip with Aki and Larsen promises to be an adventure. The duo crossed the Appalachians this afternoon on the way toward Louisville tonight.
Larsen catches a breather at a lovely rest stop near Nashville, Tennessee
Larsen catches a breather at a lovely rest stop near Nashville, Tennessee
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hot
Training on a hot day requires special precautions, including a lot of water. We started early, but since we were training in eastern Alabama, that's not materially different from Easter time, which was not so early. The sun was up and the dew was gone from the grass in no time.
I sent Larsen off for a hunt dead. He rummaged around inside the tree line. I couldn't tell what he was doing and didn't want to start blowing on the whistle for no reason. I asked Cathy to see if she could see what was happening. "He's sitting in the creek with the bird in his mouth."
Ok, even I can take a hint. We stopped and headed to the pond to give the dogs a fun, cooling swim.
I sent Larsen off for a hunt dead. He rummaged around inside the tree line. I couldn't tell what he was doing and didn't want to start blowing on the whistle for no reason. I asked Cathy to see if she could see what was happening. "He's sitting in the creek with the bird in his mouth."
Ok, even I can take a hint. We stopped and headed to the pond to give the dogs a fun, cooling swim.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Taking a breather
Larsen knew just what I needed after a long week: a walk in the piny woods.
We drove north to the Pine Mountain Recreation Area in Cartersville. The PMRA is immediately off Exit 290 on I-75. You get off exit, turn right and the road comes to a complete dead-end. Curve around onto the gravel road that goes toward the Komatsu plant. Go 100 yards on the gravel road, and you will see the parking area and trail head to the left.
The hike is steep with a lot of switchbacks. Larsen, of course, runs across the switchbacks and then waits patiently on the higher part of the trail as I walk down one end, turn, and come back toward him on the other.
At the top, where the East and West Loop trails intersect is an overlook to the Allatoona Marina. You can also see Georgia Power's Plant Bowen -- a huge 3.2 GW coal fired generating plant -- off to the west, and Kennesaw Mountain to the southwest. On a clear day, you can see the buildings in the Perimeter Area, Midtown, and Downtown, and Stone Mountain to the southeast.
On a clear day, that is. We went on cool and overcast day, figuring to squeeze one more hike out of the area before the weather made it too hot to enjoy.
Larsen poses on the West Loop trail on the way back to the car.
We drove north to the Pine Mountain Recreation Area in Cartersville. The PMRA is immediately off Exit 290 on I-75. You get off exit, turn right and the road comes to a complete dead-end. Curve around onto the gravel road that goes toward the Komatsu plant. Go 100 yards on the gravel road, and you will see the parking area and trail head to the left.
The hike is steep with a lot of switchbacks. Larsen, of course, runs across the switchbacks and then waits patiently on the higher part of the trail as I walk down one end, turn, and come back toward him on the other.
At the top, where the East and West Loop trails intersect is an overlook to the Allatoona Marina. You can also see Georgia Power's Plant Bowen -- a huge 3.2 GW coal fired generating plant -- off to the west, and Kennesaw Mountain to the southwest. On a clear day, you can see the buildings in the Perimeter Area, Midtown, and Downtown, and Stone Mountain to the southeast.
On a clear day, that is. We went on cool and overcast day, figuring to squeeze one more hike out of the area before the weather made it too hot to enjoy.
Larsen poses on the West Loop trail on the way back to the car.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Excellent!
Statesman's Tiz Now Tiz Then CGC RN RA and now RE, or Rally Excellent.
MaryAnne and Chance (the aforementioned TNT) went to Myrtle Beach, SC for this one. The duo joined up with Jamie and Archer, who also added a Rally Advanced leg under his belt.
Rally Excellent is off-lead, of course. The dog zig-zags with the handler through at least 15 stations. The handler can give verbal commands but may not pat his or her leg or clap or give non-oral encouragement.
The course will have two jumps (broad jump, high jump, or bar jump), which is not a challenge but a treat for a Welshie, and the dog has to "honor" another dog that has been placed inside the course for that very purpose. The dog must also serve as an honor dog and stay in the down position while another dog runs the course.
Chance is a happy, smart, and biddable dog and MaryAnne has paid her dues with him as well. MaryAnne said that Chance is a more interested in agility and the field than in Rally, but that being as kind-hearted as he is, he knows that MaryAnne likes Rally and he does his best.
Congratulations to our new RE, TNT Chance.
This is my new ribbon.
So what if it is a rainbow?
Me and MaryAnne got this together and it's ours.
MaryAnne and Chance (the aforementioned TNT) went to Myrtle Beach, SC for this one. The duo joined up with Jamie and Archer, who also added a Rally Advanced leg under his belt.
Rally Excellent is off-lead, of course. The dog zig-zags with the handler through at least 15 stations. The handler can give verbal commands but may not pat his or her leg or clap or give non-oral encouragement.
The course will have two jumps (broad jump, high jump, or bar jump), which is not a challenge but a treat for a Welshie, and the dog has to "honor" another dog that has been placed inside the course for that very purpose. The dog must also serve as an honor dog and stay in the down position while another dog runs the course.
Chance is a happy, smart, and biddable dog and MaryAnne has paid her dues with him as well. MaryAnne said that Chance is a more interested in agility and the field than in Rally, but that being as kind-hearted as he is, he knows that MaryAnne likes Rally and he does his best.
Congratulations to our new RE, TNT Chance.
This is my new ribbon.
So what if it is a rainbow?
Me and MaryAnne got this together and it's ours.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Statesman's Silver Lining (Gabel), 11/20/08 - 5/3/11
Little Gable visited at 10 weeks. He was a sweet and surprisingly talkative little imp. We will miss him. Our condolences to Rieses and Bassels at Statesman Welsh Springer Spaniels.
Gabel pays a visit.
Gabel grunts & oinks his way through some chow as Duke looks on.
Play time.
Gabel roughs up Larsen.
Aki and Gabel visit the Uffizi.
A tired little puppy.
Is there anything sweeter?
Gabel is packed up and heads for home.
Gabel pays a visit.
Gabel grunts & oinks his way through some chow as Duke looks on.
Play time.
Gabel roughs up Larsen.
Aki and Gabel visit the Uffizi.
A tired little puppy.
Is there anything sweeter?
Gabel is packed up and heads for home.
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