Our Boykin Snickers just turned 2 and if the OFA hip test comes back good and we can find a suitable male we will breed her in spring. So, her training will be limited this year. If all goes well I will have new puppy from her in time to play with a fresh dove wing next fall.

Don’t Repeat Commands

Works great with kids too, LOL!

Nothinbg really ambitious, just try to train more. Make a regular training schedule, a plan of progress and then stick to it. This past year I just haven't done the off-season training like I should have, and I have to admit my dogs reflect it. Spring and summer training equal fall and winter results.

I've also resolved to stop constantly loading that damn dog box in and out of the truck and build myself a dog trailer. I'm about as handy as a double amputee, so we'll see how that goes...

Those are some logical and well-planned goals. Don't ruin your dog with the way you think. Of course, the best field dogs are from field champion stock. What separates these fine dawgs from the rest is "instinct." Actually transferred from Mom via the psychological phenomenon of Imprinting, as well as inherited memories from both parents. A dog of excellent breeding will trace his lineage and training memories all the way back to at least Peter of Faskally. It has been passed on for mebbe a hundred years now. The worst thing you can do is force a conflict with that. Clearly, some of the best training information is available in "The Working Retriever" and "The Ten-Minute retriever." Toss out the schedule entirely. Today's dogs have been culled for coming on line fast. If you have a dog from an older bloodline, it's gonna take a lot longer. In the old days, inherited memory was everything. The dogs needed no training.My Dad owned such a beast (and two from preceding generations). We were forbidden to do so much as throw a stick. We all took him out when he was 18 months for a "Training" sessio. He was already perfect on everything with no rehearsal. When I retired, I wanted another like that, and I found him with help from a genealogy expert (see http://duckcallsgoosecalls.com/) Bill would not retrieve until he was a year old. He would do alpha things with anything thrown. He apparently had no instinct for swimming. On his first birthday, he made his first retrieve. Then he taught me that he would show me what he would do, given the opportunity. Nothing to do with my plans, and I have a Master's Degree in Education. He demonstrated his drop-down menu within 3 months.Triple marks, long blinds, whatever. He made a 300-yard blind in the river in two-foot waves when I had no idea where it was. He also has a habit of running downwind to blinds when I have lost track of them. His second retrieve of a bird was a 300-yard blind over a hill. Most people would have taken him to the pound at about 6-months because he was apparently useless and destroyed anything he could get his teeth on. He has calmed down now and is a sweet boy. His little brother Woofie was the most timid puppy in the Universe. He is 4 1/2 now, and is just starting to take directions to blinds, and is an outstanding marker and has learned to hunt with his nose. I guess the message is, "the manuals usually have some nice photos and watercolors, but this guy is your companion and only wants you to love him." Kick back and enjoy his youth. He will eventually get around to doing something for you to brag on. Don't let yore dawg git cold!

my Resolution is to feed my dog better food. I did some research and dogs are allergic to some degree to corn, wheat and soy which are used as fillers in most dog food. those fillers gave my dog such a bad rash that he was loosing hare. I have also found out that like humans a better diet can add years on to a dogs life.

I may get another pup. We lost our very special 14 year-old son unexpectedly right before Christmas. My wife may not be too happy about it, but we need some love in this house and nothing does it like a puppy. I'm sure my other two labs won't mind. Perhaps a brittany this time.

mutt, You read my mind (or, rather, my lineup). Got a post coming this month about dog food and nutrition. Keep an eye out. -D

OntarioHonker, Very sorry to hear your news...from some of your earlier comments it sounded like you were going through a rough patch. Please accept our condolences. And by all means keep us posted if you bring home that new puppy...

-D

I'm going to try and teach my Toller how to pick up a goose this year. It was nice that he would bring it back to shore but now I would love him to be able to carry it on land.