Here today, gone this afternoon, back tomorrow, day in, day out, 7 days/week

Such is my schedule when hunting season and training coincide. 

I take dogs to the ranch to meet up with wild birds.  That includes puppies, phase I dogs, phase II dogs (finished dogs needing to be polished) and other dogs that ‘need’ to attempt to see wild birds.  I use the word ‘attempt’ because even if the dog goes it doesn’t mean they will find their own wild birds!

The decision as to who to take … to the quail lease is really one of experience.  Knowing which dog would benefit from going on a road trip to the ranch has to be made on a daily basis.  Some dogs need more yard work while others may need to go experience running on wide open expanses of land.

The idea that a dog must be in a strict training regimen is ludicrous.  Like children, trainees may need additional time with their ‘math’ or whatever, while they may speed through ’science’.  When I give an estimate of 60 days on my phase I program, some folks take it literally as if every dog is the same and every dog goes home at exactly 60 days.  That is far from likely.  Sometimes I will keep a dog a few weeks extra ‘on my dime’ just to get the job done completely, or maybe the dog isn’t so smart but with patience will be a good bird dog.

So you tie the training level they are at with timing of what they need next and it is a daily decision making program tailored to the needs of your dog. 

Our program has a set ‘plan’ but we are flexible and tailor our training to the pup.  It is not a cookie cutter program.  Cookie cutters are those that literally follow each step of the program based on some book, seminar or video.  They give no latitude to individual needs of the dog and its personality; so they give up easily and have a high rate of dogs that ‘wash out’ of their program.

A long explanation for a hectic schedule but I do enjoy sharing training experiences with those that are interested.

Thanks for dropping in.  Lunch time is nearly gone so I need to run!

Dave