Just a quick brag!
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:25 pm
Hey guys,
I haven't been on here in a while, but wanted to share this real quick. My work has FINALLY settled down and I'm actually able to get out and work with my 8 month gsp/ep pup on birds a lot more. I introduced her to them back in the fall, and she's been absolutely crazy ever since. However, with my schedule I haven't been able to get her on them as much as I would have liked. Last week my launcher arrived and I spent the last several days introducing it to her and making sure she didn't become afraid of it... that took about two launches because this dog isn't afraid of anything apparently...lol
I'd mainly been launching pigeons for her in the yard, and today decided that I'd plant one out in the field and take her for a walk and just "happen" to find a bird on our way... I planted the bird, grabbed the check cord and headed off. She had seen me get the launcher and the bird out of the coop, so that "walk" was quickly turned into an all out attack on my arm and shoulder socket. Still being new to this myself, I made the fatal error of not having gloves on, and before I knew it the check-cord burnt through my hand and she was off to the races. The launcher was planted around several bends in the trail and I had nightmares of her pouncing on it and ruining all the introduction we'd worked on. While going after her I was trying to calculate just how much dog-therapy sessions cost for my puppy who was sure to be scarred for life.
All of a sudden I didn't hear the cord being drug through the grass anymore, and as soon as I turned the corner I found this:
(Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic, of course I forgot my good camera this time)
She was absolutely frozen solid on point about 10 feet from the launcher...I was thrilled! I walked up and grabbed the check cord to prevent any sudden pounces. I could tell from the way she was looking that she couldn't actually see the bird, but she could smell it was there somewhere. I estimated she'd been there about 35-40 seconds before I got to her, and I let her hold the point for another full minute before flushing. She didn't move a muscle the whole time.
I know this isn't really that great of a story, and it's something bird dogs have done millions of times... but it was AMAZING to see Daisy pull it off for the first time. She may just turn into a bird-dog yet...in spite of me!
I haven't been on here in a while, but wanted to share this real quick. My work has FINALLY settled down and I'm actually able to get out and work with my 8 month gsp/ep pup on birds a lot more. I introduced her to them back in the fall, and she's been absolutely crazy ever since. However, with my schedule I haven't been able to get her on them as much as I would have liked. Last week my launcher arrived and I spent the last several days introducing it to her and making sure she didn't become afraid of it... that took about two launches because this dog isn't afraid of anything apparently...lol
I'd mainly been launching pigeons for her in the yard, and today decided that I'd plant one out in the field and take her for a walk and just "happen" to find a bird on our way... I planted the bird, grabbed the check cord and headed off. She had seen me get the launcher and the bird out of the coop, so that "walk" was quickly turned into an all out attack on my arm and shoulder socket. Still being new to this myself, I made the fatal error of not having gloves on, and before I knew it the check-cord burnt through my hand and she was off to the races. The launcher was planted around several bends in the trail and I had nightmares of her pouncing on it and ruining all the introduction we'd worked on. While going after her I was trying to calculate just how much dog-therapy sessions cost for my puppy who was sure to be scarred for life.
All of a sudden I didn't hear the cord being drug through the grass anymore, and as soon as I turned the corner I found this:
(Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic, of course I forgot my good camera this time)
She was absolutely frozen solid on point about 10 feet from the launcher...I was thrilled! I walked up and grabbed the check cord to prevent any sudden pounces. I could tell from the way she was looking that she couldn't actually see the bird, but she could smell it was there somewhere. I estimated she'd been there about 35-40 seconds before I got to her, and I let her hold the point for another full minute before flushing. She didn't move a muscle the whole time.
I know this isn't really that great of a story, and it's something bird dogs have done millions of times... but it was AMAZING to see Daisy pull it off for the first time. She may just turn into a bird-dog yet...in spite of me!
