Hunting Irish Setters-Prairie Training -Aug. 24 - 27

Sunday, August 24 - good sleeping night – 1 outburst at 4:00 am but it quit and then another as the skunk walked through camp ( never observed but we know he was there ) no spray so we're lucky.

Ernie is still sore, maybe putting his foot down some but not much. Mary bought a real nice horse from Dennis. She should do great with him. She has to leave this morning at 8:00 am to catch a plane home. She's got an open house at their business next weekend and lots of visitors. She's a hard worker and a real asset in camp and we sure will miss her. We're planning on importing a couple of more dogs this year and see what develops with some crossing. Our lone male out of Clint and our Norwegian import is a very solid dog. Muscular, nice gait and loves birds – hard pointing with good high style and lots of class. We're going to breed him this year sometime.

Betty and Russ arrived in time for Dennis to Betty fixed up with a trusty stead. We had 4 braces on the schedule and want to beat the heat.

Hills:

• Annie & Ritha – Annie not into a big run but able to get her into some chickens and actually got a clean point, flush and she chased – then she showed more run and a desire to hunt followed by a clean STF. After this she got into cactus and shut down. Ritha just not her normal self today – ran but never really got it together. Terrible day for cactus and sandburs so it's tough to blame dogs. 40 min.

• Sol & Midge- not a good brace – both dogs were shut down with the cactus today and never really showed what we expected. Saw 15 -20 birds but no dog work even though they appeared accessible. 32 min.

• Buck(Denny's dog) & Baily (Betty's dog) - Baily her first time on the hills and the cactus and sandburs really shut her down. We circled back at 22 and then Betty walked her down the meadow fence – got her confidence back and opened up. Buck was huge and handled nice. Over 30 birds seen but not with dogs. A nice race for Buck but scenting must've been real bad since he couldn't get them pointed – did have a bit of turtle work. 44 min.

• Shauna and Hope(Ross's dog) - Hope a big running puppy that had a great way of going but a little rough on handle ( what you expect with a good running young dog) Shauna was fast and big with good application to start. After 2 or 3 very good moves she hooked the rear and needed a correction – got her front and she was tentative for a bit then opened up. Birds in the air by the pond but didn't catch the dog in the act. Hope headed to camp and I ran Shauna around the loop. She showed moments of slow ups when I hacked but she learned to respond and ended up reaching nicely and showing great stamina ( roaded yesterday) and a desire to hunt but erratic application.

Birdwork: simple planted bird work near the hun pond. Using chukar.

• Midge – very nicely done with a collar still on but no need to use – stylish and good manners.
• Lily – good piece – a little low in the front and I was worried she was going to break but she marked slightly but no error.
• Shauna- a nice stylish fine with good manners.
• Robbie – checkcorded in as she's just back from being broke – nice solid point and mannerly for flush. Good 1st session.
• Rhett – Lee's young Inde pup smelled the bird and chased – in the process she knocked 5 or 6 Huns – good for her.

A lazy afternoon planned. We headed over to Painter's to celebrate Janet's B-day. Then we came back To camp. Our kids and my Mom got together and sent us Lou Malnatti's Pizza for our birthday and we made 2 of them for my B-Day dinner along with an awesome bottle of Silver Oak – great party and a fun day. Linda had a string of balloons all over the camp and in the truck to remind me what day it was!!!!!!!! as if she would let me forget! Just Lee, Stan, Linda and I in camp. Dennis had packed up at noon and headed out w/Bonnie due home and then back to camp on Tuesday.

Monday, August 25 – cool morning and we plan to concentrate our efforts on the meadows working edges and pattern work. Along with some controlled bird work.

Meadows:

• Hank & Mariah – Hank not getting with the program at all – just going through the motions. Mariah showed good speed and desire but not good application – way too much looping and hanging back – that's what this week is for. No bird work. 30 min.

• Katie & Susie – Katie improved quite a bit and showed the ability to go front, Susie was hooked up with a new Hi pitch whistle. I used a regular whistle, a high pitch about 5 seconds later and then a short tap. She would show shortly after and come towards me until I pointed her front. Seemed to work. She ran the last shelter belt to the chukars then birds in the air and her coming out – I yelled to whoa and she needed reinforcement to stop – which she got – and waited patiently for me. ( big winds already kicking in) but a solid course for both dogs – 28 min

• Inde & Sorrel – Inde 2 big opening moves and then she left to run the course the old way- Stan had to collect. Sorrel was with me most of the time and more work on pattern today – he's learning and showing good conditioning. Inde ran out of gas and we swung in with Sorrel still hitting it but not into the wind. 23 min.

Birdwork: Regular work at the johnie houses are depleting the birds but we need to get the young dogs worked.

• Mariah – couldn't really get her into a clean bird. She was trying to do it right.

• Sorrel – good stylish find on single

• Midge – sharp and crisp – long flush that she handled.

• Robbie – 2nd time – clean w/level style – dragging a cord.

Called it a day.

We had a great fajita dinner courtesy of Lee and he packed and hit the road home. Had to get home on Tuesday night for a big project on Wednesday. A little disappointing overall for Lee with Hank not showing him much. Ritha and Katie were okay but not what he hoped for – he's hoping they gel at Paw Paw.

Tuesday, August 26 – well Lee is gone and Bonnie due in this afternoon. Ross & Betty are working over in Basset and birds appear to be a bit thin and a long drive to good spots to work . They'll be back on Thursday. We've got Tess who just came into heat and Ernie still on the IR list with some improvement. Hope we can get him healed and on the ground before we leave.

Roading: Stan manning the ATV for roading today – found it took a bit to get used to 4 dogs and all their quirks as he road.

• Mariah, Brenna, Sorrel & Suzie – 45 min. – solid & hard working

• Erin, Lea, Shauna & Midge - 46 min – they get the edge. Strong & solid.

• Blitz & Robbin – 27 min. – Blitz very solid – Robbin's gas tank empty at 25 min but they finished 27.

A very easy afternoon- I hit town for a much, much needed haircut and trim. Stan and I went and shot the .410 pistols and .45 calibur pistol – we're pretty darn good up to 15' – they're not as accurate as one would think. Great with shotblast for varmints but not target guns by any means.

A nice dinner with just Linda, Stan & I and Bonnie coming in after dark – a bit tired but glad to be in camp.

Tomorrow, Doug is coming in along with the Painter clan for Tenderloin dinner. Wow! looking forward to Stan's feast.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 – cool with a slight overcast morning. We're running meadows today.

Meadows:

• Erin & Annie – Annie showing signs of enjoying herself w/some nice run – Erin slows and can really get with program but too many birds in air and him moving to say anything good about him. Needs polish – had a point – soft and ready to break – relocate but nothing good. 31 min.

• Brenna & Lily – again Lily showing more application – working on the puttering and overall – an okay course with some very good moments. Brenna an improvement but still not her best. 26 min.

• Bart & Bonnies 2 pups – all are the same age but Pal is the most independent but all had some hunt and some moves – good for 7 month old pups.

• Clifford – shows some good hunt and since he's the oldest I would like a bit more application –still they all had moments w/Cliff and one of bonnie's showing chase on a wild flush bird. 20 min.

Birdwork: went to work quail at the Seidel loop.

• Blitz – let him drag a cord and got a nice solid point. Steady for flush and shot. He's really gotten into shape and he'll make someone a fine hunting dog. He's 6, in his prime and stylish on birds. A very good nose and I'm sure some exposure to wild birds will make him one fine dog.

• Lily – worked in and a nice point – a hard flush back over her but only a minor mistake. She's getting it.

• Robbie – no cord, just a bit of juice and a solid find on a single with above level style and good manners.

• Erin – he was solid where the bird was – had to relocate and then a solid point with a wild flush behind him – gave him credit and ended on a positive note.

The afternoon is here and we've had some good work accomplished. Seems like chores are next on the horizon.