By David DiBenedetto

Pritchard came home just over five months ago and life changed in so many wonderful ways…and in other ways I hardly remembered from my training days many moons ago. Granted, I’m older now but not necessarily wiser, as my pup teaches me something about myself every day. Here’s what I do know.

You know you’re training a gun dog puppy if…

While at a cocktail party you reach in your pocket and find week old bits of Pup-A-Roni.

One of your co-workers does something well at work, you say, “Good boy. That’s a good boy.”

You find yourself at the grocery store with a whistle still hanging around your neck.

You often go looking for a missing flip-flop when you should know exactly where it was carted off to.

You no longer have nightmares about empty bank accounts or sinking boats but rather ones that involve your pooch running away with a dummy, dropping a dummy, running the bank, or refusing to do anything you command.

You and your wife start to call the pup “birth control” as there seems no time or energy left for nookie.

Speaking of your wife, you both now have more words for dog poop than Eskimos have for snow…Soft Serve, Runny, Solid, Pencil, Log, etc.

While driving around town you watch all leashed dogs to see if they heel better than your own pup.

You can’t go for a walk without scoping out places to nab a pigeon.

I’m sure you have a few more to add to the list. Feel free to keep it going below.

Comments (16)

from Clay Cooper wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You raise your gun and she's all eyes and ears looking in that direction!

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from Clay Cooper wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Somebody throws something and she retrieves it!

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from Del in KS wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You check out the pet dept everytime you go shopping.

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from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Clay, Absolutely...especially interesting when she tries to retrieve the cast net...

Del in KS, Another good one...i'm a sucker for that aisle. -D

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from muskiemaster wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

you find yourself calling your nieces or nephews to you as you would the dog.
"come here Jimmy" while snapping your fingers and whistling.

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from Levi Banks wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

I have to second Clay's comment, I haven't shot birds over my dog yet, but I can't shoot a bow or gun without her trying to retrieve something in the direction I shot. I'll add...While fishing you have to be careful when using topwater lures (or reeling in a fish) because she sees something flopping in the water and wants to get it for you.

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from weinerdex wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

I love this post. I am especially fond of the last one... "Looking for places to nab a pigeon." I heard all about that process yesterday and am definately fascinated. If it doesnt work out with finding a pigeon to practice on, I know of a little dappled dachshund that may be good for practicing!

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from pinopolis wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You know you're training a puppy when the only thing you've read in the last 6 months is a dog training book.

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from hnestle wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You know your train a gun dog when you swear your truck seats have dog hair covers and your new car smell is taken over with the smell of wet dog.

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from MLH wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

When you give the kids one word commands, and start to think that a kid leash might not be such a bad idea.

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from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

When you read about dog training trips on you spare time and also while you are on the "toilet thrown".

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from uplander12 wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

When you find yourself whistling at your wife and saying "here girl."

note: this will result in you sleeping with the dog.

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from Charlotte Cole wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

You get an extra cheese burger for the dog after a great training session but you forget your wife's burger

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from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

uplander12- That's def one way to bond with your dog. Both of you in the doghouse. . .which is where I think Charlotte Cole will end up, too.

Funny stuff. -D

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from 1RutNBuc wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

Every time you cast you line there is an immediate LARGE splash right in front of you.

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from chadian wrote 2 years 42 weeks ago

capture your moment in history with the enduring leagacy of art. chad lavin studio. www.lavinstudio.com

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from uplander12 wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

When you find yourself whistling at your wife and saying "here girl."

note: this will result in you sleeping with the dog.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Charlotte Cole wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

You get an extra cheese burger for the dog after a great training session but you forget your wife's burger

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You raise your gun and she's all eyes and ears looking in that direction!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Somebody throws something and she retrieves it!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Del in KS wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You check out the pet dept everytime you go shopping.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Clay, Absolutely...especially interesting when she tries to retrieve the cast net...

Del in KS, Another good one...i'm a sucker for that aisle. -D

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muskiemaster wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

you find yourself calling your nieces or nephews to you as you would the dog.
"come here Jimmy" while snapping your fingers and whistling.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Levi Banks wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

I have to second Clay's comment, I haven't shot birds over my dog yet, but I can't shoot a bow or gun without her trying to retrieve something in the direction I shot. I'll add...While fishing you have to be careful when using topwater lures (or reeling in a fish) because she sees something flopping in the water and wants to get it for you.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from weinerdex wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

I love this post. I am especially fond of the last one... "Looking for places to nab a pigeon." I heard all about that process yesterday and am definately fascinated. If it doesnt work out with finding a pigeon to practice on, I know of a little dappled dachshund that may be good for practicing!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from pinopolis wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You know you're training a puppy when the only thing you've read in the last 6 months is a dog training book.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hnestle wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

You know your train a gun dog when you swear your truck seats have dog hair covers and your new car smell is taken over with the smell of wet dog.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MLH wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

When you give the kids one word commands, and start to think that a kid leash might not be such a bad idea.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

When you read about dog training trips on you spare time and also while you are on the "toilet thrown".

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

uplander12- That's def one way to bond with your dog. Both of you in the doghouse. . .which is where I think Charlotte Cole will end up, too.

Funny stuff. -D

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 1RutNBuc wrote 2 years 44 weeks ago

Every time you cast you line there is an immediate LARGE splash right in front of you.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chadian wrote 2 years 42 weeks ago

capture your moment in history with the enduring leagacy of art. chad lavin studio. www.lavinstudio.com

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.