Posts from — November 2007

I suppose if bird hunting over dogs didn’t continue to amaze or thrill me or whatever adjective you wish to use, it simply wouldn’t be worth going. The sudden, without warning, heart stopping sound of 20 bobwhites flushing almost simultaneously causes the intoxicating release of endorphins in my body. (Endorphins as in the ‘runners high’)

Personally, I own … [Read more →]

Having been ‘just a hunter’ my whole life I could easily argue that hunters will try to breed the best to the best but then that wouldn’t be true. Too many times two hunters will say “hey, I have a male Brittany and you have a female so let’s breed ‘em!” with no regard to ancestry, faults, strengths etc. This sort of breeding IMHO ‘dumbs down’ the breed.

… [Read more →]

I have traveled extensively with my Brittanys, sometimes just one Brittany, sometimes more.

Ok, here’s my problem.  It never fails that my dear wife wants to bring along a young puppy and God knows that I love puppies but … [Read more →]

Yesterday’s training session on wild birds went well.  Most of the experienced dogs had good bird contact while some of the younger dogs went birdless.  Coveys were large averaging 25 birds or more.  One covey was a bona fide bevy, a large group of 40 plus birds.

Conditions started out cool … [Read more →]

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 … [Read more →]

Training young Brittany dogs is always fun to me.  I get a lot of satisfaction seeing them mature on birds. 

My new phase I class recently started and since a new class starts every couple of months, I always look forward to each new class of dogs.  The joy is seeing … [Read more →]

Wow, today was a scorcher for this time of year.  90 degrees which is a new record for this area.  It’s tough to train in conditions like that much less take a dog hunting (It is quail season).  Of course this morning was cool and I got a good bit done but this afternoon was just awful.

Fortunately overnight lows are cool so I start early to take advantage of the lows up until I feel it is too warm to be working them hard due to their fur coats and heat. 

I have nice shade trees … [Read more →]

Well after another day afield running dogs on my quail lease I am pleased yet frustrated. The cover is so tall that it is difficult to really see the dogs work yet the bird population is good … [Read more →]

Yesterday I went to my lease in West Texas for the first time this year.  It was as described by friends who went this past weekend, lots of tall native grasses and weeds.  Lots of rain at the right time meant a good hatch for sure but it also means taller than normal cover.

The coveys are healthy with … [Read more →]