You ever have one of those days?

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:25 pm

This Sat. was one of those days. For the past 20 days we have had 15 days of Rain. I got a brain storm. My dog is creeping on wet and week birds. Not looking good loosing scoring points. So its raining again, I thought go set up some launchers with birds getting rained on and launch them when I see her make scent. Well, It was raining everywhere but the two fields I can train in. I wanted rain to simulate the problem scenario. I had to make do. Dip the birds in a puddle and set them.

I let the dog go, she promtly tracks my scent to the first bird laucher. I couldn't see her. The hay was two feet deep. Naturally she had that look in eyes like she had done something she knew was wrong. When I finally made it to her she continued to creep, I set off the launcher except it wouldn't go off. So, I bend over to see if I turned it on. I must have hit the button because it launched, the bird hits me right in the face. What are the odds I would accidently hit the right button? (three stooges moment). The next two went fairly well as I had the launchers fairly close to each other.

Went back to the field soaked from the waist down. I emptied a quart of water out of each of my rubber boots that I had so cleverly tucked my pants into. I went home cooked a steak on the grill and am finishing off my third beer.

How is your day going?

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:35 pm

Well I am glad to hear I am not the only one to have bad days out there!!
Thanks for a smile this evening!! Sounds like you handled every thing prooperly, read meat acompanied by much beer!! PERFECT!!
It can only get better frome here hopefully..

Mav....

Post by **pear** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:42 pm

Uh...Yea I've had days like that. ..."pear"

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:51 pm

I had vision of you walking back to your car with a pigeons tail feathers sticking out your mouth

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:05 pm

I actually took a beak to the nose. the little bugger got the last shot. He left his mark.

bondoron · Post by **bondoron** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:30 pm

Ruffshooter, that is a heck of a way to teach Force Fetch.

snips · Post by **snips** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:04 pm

Rick I talked to Kevin yesterday and he said the same thing, wet, wet, wet. I told him to send it our way, 95 here today and the grass is crunching under your feet. Had the same days, like this week when I put a big gsp on the table to start his FF, I looked away briefly and he took a lunge not realizing he was hooked. It ripped a 12 ft metal pole off and it flew thru the air hitting me in the head. UGHHH. Blood pouring everywhere. Dog was fine, and my head luckily was hard enough to withstand (:.

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:14 pm

bondoron wrote:Ruffshooter, that is a heck of a way to teach Force Fetch.

ROTFLMAO! Yea, that would be a definate force fetch

Brenda,
You must REALLY love the dogs. The dog tries, but doesn't get to bite you, manages to tag you with a pipe AND you still say the dog was fine before mentioning your head was OK. Now that's putting the dogs first!!

larue · Post by **larue** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:30 am

ruff,reading your post makes me kind of think about how we train our dogs.In the past I have always been like you,when a problem shows up I would take it head on.You had a problem with wet birds,so you ran your dog on more wet birds,and tryed to correct the problem directly.
More and more I see some of the best trainers cross training,and in steps,instead of attacking a problem head on.
for example,in your situaton backing up and giveing the dog more stop to flush work,with birds that he can see on the ground in good weather,and getting him 100 percent on them,before you take him back into a wet bird.
Just a thought for a discussion,on how we approach a problem.

Brenda,I bet you put a stronger bolt through that ff pole.Force fetch work takes a strong setup

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:49 am

Larue:

I understand, what you say. In this case she is rock solid on everything but that which I tried. She stops to the flush while other dogs in the group push through and she is solid in good conditions. I believe, she smells the difference or her perceived difference in a healthy bird and a poor bird. Think about how many times your dog makes a retrieve on a drop legged bird and the bird is still alive when they bring it to you. Yet when you miss the bird clean and your dog marks the area. Usually, yur dog will point again.

I have done exactly what you suggest with my French Brittany. I am actually starting his whole training program over at four years old. I made a mistake somewhere in his steadiness training and the direct approach has made him confused. So I have a big hole somewhere. He was steady untill last fall in a AKC MH test with a Weimmy.

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:52 am

Brenda, You are welcome to the rain. Hope your head is fine. You are one hardcore dog lady.

They tried the earpinch on me but I liked it too much.

snips · Post by **snips** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:39 am

After inspecting my poles we found the bolts were rusted out. All is repaired now. One of the rules of loading launchers is not to stand over them. I have taken a few pigeons in the mouth too

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:14 pm

Guess now when we talk about launchers and puppies we better reccomend to not only not hit the dog in the face but the owner too.

We have all had days like that and all we have to do is laugh because the famer across the feild sure is.

Look at the bright side atleast you finished off the day well.

GSP4619 · Post by **GSP4619** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:01 am

LMAO OMG LMAO I would of pissed my pants laughing. Sorry I have such a morbit sense of humor LMAO.

Glad your ok though

Gun Dog Forum

You ever have one of those days?

You ever have one of those days?

reiforcement training