Thoughts On Dogs

     With a new pup in the house my thoughts constantly revolve around dog, and puppy issues. Having a new pup is quite exciting, as everyday, in one fashion or another she show a bit more  untapped potential. Daily I see her moving forward in her understanding of our expectations, her manners improving nicely, as she becomes a young woman. I constantly need to make myself slow down with her training, making sure she understands each task fully before moving on to the next. and I haven't even really started anything yet, keeping our sessions limited to recalling her, teaching her to sit, and some fun retrieves. At 16 weeks old, she's still a little goof ball, and my intention is to train her in such a way that she remains one.

       While the pitter patter of puppy pads on the floor is music which makes me smile, the gang of old,  their antics, successes, and miles of memories are never out of my minds reach. I've loved them all, and they've all loved me. As much as I worked to bring them in line with my expectations, they too, worked to bring me in line with theirs.

     Truth is, having a pup, a dog in it's prime, and a dog in it's twilight are completely different things. The dogs are the same, and their relationship to us is the same, but with age comes wisdom, and a wise, savvy dog is worth every ounce of kibble on the planet, and then some.

     Anyone who's raise a gun dog from puppy hood, and seen it through it's twilight, has seen the transformation. As a pup, the young dog absorbs lessons with a great enthusiasm, focused on pleasing you, reaching for approval and a loving scratch behind it's ear.
     In it's prime, the dog hunts the cover endlessly, because it's love for pleasing you, coupled with it's ingrained desire to find game has opened it's eyes to the fact that you and it love the same thing. It's breeding, boldness, and brains allow the dog to learn lessons that we could never teach it. Lessons that can only be taught by the game we pursue. As this wisdom grows in the dog, the wisdom we've stumbled upon gives us the brains to appreciate, and reinforce these lessons, continuing the bonding we've nurtured since the bumbling pup first napped on our lap. And at the end of the day, all the dog wants is to sit proudly by your side for a scratch behind it's ear.
     Later still, the dog in it's twilight continues to grow wiser; learning to work smarter, and not harder. It reads us as well as it reads the wafting scent cone before it, knowing the hunt is nearing it's end when we've stumbled, again, on a stump we'd have given no thought years earlier. In the home, they've become a gentleman, or a lady in the truest sense. They've learned when to be assertive, when to lay on their bed quietly, and exactly when you need them to quietly sit by your side, with their head on your knee, knowing you want nothing more than to give them a loving scratch behind the ear.

Puppy Alert!!!

     I am happy to announce that I've received word from the dog breeder that the litter has been whelped. For you non-dog people out there, that's Dog-ese for, the pups have been born. The litter was smaller than I'd expected, four pups total; two males and two females. Though I would prefer a male dog, there aren't enough males in the litter to satisfy everyone waiting for a pup, so I'll be getting a female. In reality, gender is of little concern; good health, quality breeding, and genetics being the most important elements of an outstanding bird dog. These pups have that, and I'm really looking forward bringing one home, and helping it fulfill its natural potential.

          Now, the hardest task of all; picking an appropriate name. Hmmm,......

Spring Time, Puppy Time

     Spring can't get here quick enough. While this sentiment may not be out of the ordinary for those of us who live where the snow falls in the winter, I feel it profoundly this year. With the advent of spring, I tend to be consumed with planning turkey hunts and trout fishing trips. Turkey calls get chalked, and fly line dusted off and cleaned. Camo, and waders get inspected for tears, and the salt rigs too, get prepared. After all, before you know it the stripers will be running again. Striper season means the grill must get cleaned, too. Oh, hurry up spring!!

     This spring, however, I've got one additional, and extremely exciting event to look forward to. In May I'll be meeting and bringing home my new puppy. Getting a new dog is always exciting, and I can't wait. When it was confirmed that Austin's sickness was indeed terminal I began making inquiries about up coming litters. I was fortunate enough to find a Springer breeding that not only made me excited, but in which I could get on the list. After several e-mails, and a phone call to the breeder, a deposit was sent, and the waiting began.
http://www.windriftspaniels.net/bee-sam-breeding-2011.html

     Adding to the excitement, is the training seminar my wife and I will be attending at the kennel the weekend we pick up the pup. David Lisett, of Buccleuch Gundog, Scotland will be working with spaniel owners, and demonstrating some of his training techniques. David is a 7 time championship winner in the UK and Ireland.
http://www.windriftspaniels.net/clinic.html

     The excitement of getting the new pup is bitter sweet, however, the memory of Austin, and the feelings that came with losing him still fresh. I'm looking forward to starting this pup, but he's not here yet, and I do  miss my pal terribly . I don't know what I'd give to have him greet me at the front door again, or to be able to sit in my chair with a book and a scotch while scratching his ears. Austin certainly was a dog I'd have been happy to have forever.

      I'm certain that as I looked after Austin throughout his life, he has somehow looked out for me too, and that when puppy comes home Austin's presence will be felt, and in ways I don't, or can't understand, he'll be guiding this pup down the right path to make me happy. And in this way, Austin and all the dogs before him are still here with me, and always will be.