We got out this morning and trained in between storms coming in off the Pacific. I'm usually pretty good at looking at the forecast/doppler and finding a window. Today we had a steady gentle rain. We just ran one set up, a triple with 2 blinds. I haven't run very many triples with Winter so we are building them. Today the outside marks were easy and the middle mark was the toughest. She did great. The first blind basksided the middle mark, had a bit of pitch and roll to it and was set out at about 190 yards. Winter took a pretty good line out past the winger (80 yards) but then kept wanting to curl back toward the winger once she was well past it. It took a few whistles and corrections but we got there. The 2nd blind between the two tightest wingers and was about 140 yards out. Just one whistle, a topography line correction.
It is poring and blowing out now so I guess my weather predicting wasn't too bad.
Hope to get out again this week but it depends on if the river rises and flood us off the training grounds. We have been having alot of rain.
If we can't get out a guess I'll be forced to work on our obedience skills in hopes of a CD.

Nothing wrong with that. I don't believe in wasting any time.

We got out for an hour. We did some pattern blinds. I then rewarded Buffy with a 280 yard mark through cover. She loved it.

Looks like I will be pheasant hunting tomorrow.

Trained today, only time available this week.
Next weekend is our local HRC test and I have both boys in Finished.
A trend in Finished tests down here is to run a long go-bird past in your face short memory birds. So today we set up such a triple on the water with real short memory birds and a long (100+ yard) go bird over two points of water, very tight to the middle bird. Blind up the middle going through a pinch of water between a point and an island.
I ran the go bird as a single with both dogs first, put them up and ran the triple. As expected I handled on the go bird to keep them from falling for the short bird they had to run past. Both took 2-3 handles then were like, OH YEAH and booked it out to the long one. Not perfect but I'll take it. Both dogs did very nice on the blind.
Later on I did a long single through a bunch of mud/cover/lunging water with Slater, he had a blast and came back not only with the bumper but a big clump of lily pads complete with roots and dirt! LOL I posted the pic on FB

My training partner didn't have such a good time of our setup. I'm not sure how to help him. Well, back up, we have trained together for many years and have helped each other a LOT. I couldn't do it without him. However his dog has many bad training habits that get him in lots of trouble, mainly due to inconsistently correcting the dog and really sending mixed messages. The dog has a lot of drive and wants to do it but has trouble communicating with his handler. My friend goes and trains with the dog's breeder, a very experienced trainer, about once a week. The trainer always tells him "don't worry, don't correct, he's confused, make it simple" etc etc, then when it gets so bad the owner can't do anything, the trainer takes the dog and board & trains for a few weeks. The owner thus hasn't learned how to dig the dog out of problems. Today the dog had a complete meltdown on the triple, totally blowing off all attempts to handle to the long go bird in an effort to get the short marks first (TWICE), then when we finally just decided to run the go bird as a single, he no-goes with a lot of barking and spinning. A complete conflict of control -- dog wants to do what he wants, owner not forceful enough to convince him otherwise. OY!!!! I just don't know where to go with it and how to help. Anyways.....

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--Anney
"Fisher" CH Deauxquest Hard Day's Knight UDT VER RAE MH WCX CCA VCX OS DDHF :: www.go-fisher.com
"Slater" Morninglo Wing-T Your Bird Can Sing MH WCX CCA
"Bally" Richwood Wing-T Workin' Like A Dog
anney@k9-design.com

Pheasant hunting today. I quicked Angel this miorning when doing her nails so she stayed home and Kate came out of retirement to chase a few roosters around. She's slowed down but still "nose" what a bird is.

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"You own what you condone." ~ Mike Lardy

Swampcollie

Terrific photo of a happy dog and a couple of roosters.

My dogs are going stir crazy. I have been out of commission--walking pneumonia after our goose hunt a couple of weekends back. Getting back into things now--going to a Mitch White seminar tomorrow on line strategies. Should be good.

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Shelly & the Sterre Goldens
"Breeze" HR Trowsnest Sterre Autumn Breeze Can. SH WCX, Am. MH CCA
"Winter" Can/UKC Ch. Amberwood Winter Wonderland Can. SH WCX CD VCI, Am. SH CD WCX CCA VC, 2007 GRCC Nan Gordon Trophy
"Butch" Sterre Badlands Outlaw JH WC (Ch ptd), Am JH
"Bonnie" Sterre Texas Bluebonnet JH WCI, Am JH
"Wings" Sterre Widgeon on the Wing
"Chrissy" Halfmoon Embellishment (Cavalier)
"Juniper" Amberwood Northern Exposure CD RNCL (Apr15 2002-Feb12 2013)
http://www.sterregold.net

oh Shelly, that's awful! I hope you get better fast!

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

What a difference 36 hours makes.
Angel was back in action today in the same field Kate was in on Wednesday. Kate was working in near 60 degree temps and bright sunshine. Angel got to work today in overcast, a couple inches of snow and 20 degrees. Angel did come through with a couple of birds.

__________________
"You own what you condone." ~ Mike Lardy

Pheasant hunted Wednesday with my friend's Braque Francais. We put up 7 birds, shot 3. Tough shooting, all in the woods.

I worked Buffy at continental shoots Thursday and Friday. Thursday was a treat because I had my son with me and we took turns working Buffy. He liked watching her work.

Friday it was a big shoot---1000 birds. Buffy had a total of 85 retrieves in two days.

Needless to say we are exhausted.