I woke up today with Trixie snoring and Kahlua in the office laying on the futon with all four of her paws in the air.  I think that she might need a pedicure.  Tim let all the poochies out and fed them.  Trixie, Baker, SoBe, Ace, and Jimmy were out all day with us in the office.  I had to fight for space on the futon but, I won because I can pick them up and toss them out of my way; their best defense against this is to sit on my head. I took SoBe out with frozen pheasants and gave her retrieves to help with her hard mouth.  She did well.  I took Mini on a walk with the collar on to work on her heeling better.  She did great and had it figured out by the end of the block. I also did the same with SoBe and she picked it up fast as well.  I don’t like when I am walking them out to the line in a feild trial and they pull my arms off so, that is why I am doing the drill now.  Tim brushed Ace out and trimmed his hair…..Ace loved it.  I brushed Mini and SoBe’s hair out as well.   Mini and SoBe are out right now sleeping next to me in the office as I am writing.  The look so innocent when they are sleeping but, when they open their eyesthey have that Springer twinkle that lets me know I need to constantly be on my toes.

Well, as I write SoBe and Mini are pitching fits in their crates because they are not with me.  I am feeding Mac and Cheese to Tyrael, Trixie, and Kahlua off of a fork….it is irritating Tim and we just got back from training in Brandon…..wow…lots going on!  I took SoBe, Mini, and Miata out to Brandon today to train in the field on live birds.  Mini did good.  She trapped her second bird and the first bird ran off and was no where to be found…no dog found it.  She did not make a peep.  I then at the end of the session gave her retrieves with the buoy launcher and she still did not bark on the retrieves so, I am happy.  SoBe did a good job of patterning the field and had good finds.  She was however a little rough on a bird so, she is getting frozen bird retrieves until the trial on Saturday (I am going to Illinois on Friday).  Miata did a good job covering the field and running like a big dog.  She found her birds well and had two good retrieves.  The antics of the dogs keep Tim and I on our feet and a spring in our step knowing that anything could happen at our house with 9 springers.  I vacuumed and washed crates today…it is never ending but, o well.  I treat my babies as I would want to be treated.  I look over my shoulder and Trixie, Tyrael, and Kahlua have taken over the futon here in the office.  They all have happy eyes.  Tim is a little irritated that they will not move out of his way; he wants to sit on the futon but, the battle continues for space.  Keep training and remember don’t train when you are frustrated.

I decided to write again today.  The boys were out with us until bed time.  Ace, Jimmy, Baker, Tyrael all piled on the futon while Tim and I watched a movie in the office.  We took Mini, SoBe, and Miata out to the field to train.  It went well.  Tim shot buoys for me while I handled the girls.  Mini is learning not to bark on the retrieve.  SoBe is doing good on marking ong retrieves as well as get backs.  Miata is chasing well and is learning to go a little farther for the retrieves.  Tim went back to the car and I quartered Miata by myself in the field walking into the wind.  She is really getting it…..how exciting.  I am about to start the process of steadying her.  While I was on my walk Tim reported to me that the boys were being boys.  I guess that they were drinking out of my coffee cup and trying to eat my dinner that was waiting for me.  Tim also said that Jimmy constantly tried to climb in his lap while he was on the computer along with Ace sitting in the office chair next to him giving him his goofy stare.  Ace likes to sit in the other office chair to be next to you but, sometimes it is creepy to have him leaning in to you breathing in your ear at face level staring at you….it is like he is waiting for you to make your next move.  Baker slept with us….he is a good sleeper. Tim is having hip surgery on the 3rd of December and will be out of commission for 4-6 months…O BOY!

I am home!!!!  I traveled from Minnesota to Southwest Wisconsin back to Minnesota all in 72 hours.  SoBe did a good job in the two field trials.  SoBe and I are starting to click and build a relationship out in the field while I am running her in a trial.  I know that she is young and I will have to be patient.  Chuck says all the time to me, “Progression, not Perfection.”  It is hard not to get frustrated when it is perfection that wins field trials but, we are progressing as a team and that is what matters right now. We made it through the first and the second series just fine.  I got home and my babies welcomed me with wagging tails and smiling faces.  Yesterday the weather was so icky were so, Tim and I just hanged out with the dogs in the office watching movies and playing games.  Mini, SoBe, Trixie, and Jimmy and were piled on the folded out futon and lounged the day away.  We gave all the poochies smoked bones from the butcher and they loved them.  They all spent hours enjoying them; I always feel guilty when the weather is bad and they spend more time in their crates…..I don’t want them to be bored so, we try to give them things to do.  We let them out and rotate them along with treats and play time in the house.  I am getting excited to run Mini in Illinois. I have not run her in a while so, it should be fun and interesting.  See, I already have a great bond with Mini in the field; her and I click very well together, she trusts me and I trust her.  Always trust your dog!!!  They know what they need to do and have the abilities to get the job done!  Go with your dog; you would be surprised on how often they are right!  I am hoping to get out and train a couple times on live birds before I travel with Tim to the trial in Illinois.  I have to say a huge thank you to my friends that helped me out this weekend with providing me a place to sleep and wonderful meals to eat.  Thank you Pat & Chuck along with Peter & Laura.  I appreciate you opening your home to me and SoBe!  Keep up the pheasant hunting…corn is coming down at a slower pace than it did last year so…..be patient!  That rooster will come.

The weather was nice today until it started to rain.  Trixie, Mini, Miata, and SoBe were in today with us running around.  Tim scheduled his hip surgery today at the orthopedist.  Miata has learned to jump the fence so, we put a radio collar on her but, she has also managed to find the one little hole in the fence to jump over so….I really don’t know what to do.  Tim turned the radius of the fence up hoping that would help but, it did not.  She is a very smart little girl!  I would not think that a poochie that small could jump over the fence but, she can.  SoBe once again got caught IN the food bin.  Tim once again chased her up the stairs and she came running to me for protection….I let Tim get her and put her in a crate (normally I cottle her when Tim tries to discipline her).  Mini and SoBe got retrieves with the buoy launcher.  I used Mini’s new technique to correct her barking and it worked great, she only barked once on a retrieve.  SoBe had good retrieves with great speed so, I was happy.  Just as I finished up with training it started to rain; perfect timing!  I am going out to the field to train tomorrow with a guy from Garfield; it should prove to be fun and useful.  The girls are coming out of heat so, that will be nice for the rest of the household.  I hope hunting is good for you all; remember pheasant hunting will improve as soon as the corn comes down.

Wow, we have been busy!  Tim and I took my little brother along with Mini, SoBe, and Miata up north to Baudette for early antler less deer season.  We stopped along the way and let the girls play in the Mississippi river at Itasca State Park.  Aaron and Tim took Mini, SoBe, and Miata across the headwaters of the river.  They all had lots of fun.  Tim shot a deer.  We trained up at the cabin with the girls.  I am preparing for the upcoming field trials; Minnesota and Wisconsin.  I am patiently awaiting my dogs to come out of heat…very day is a little better.  I trained Mini today; Tim and I worked on her barking and used a new technique that a professional suggested to me….I think that it worked; we will have to see when I get her on live birds tomorrow.  SoBe get retrieves; she did good.  Miata did a bunch of retrieves as well with the buoy launcher; we also did a little collar work with her, she responded well.  SoBe and Mini have been in the house most of the time while the boys and other girls are outside….lock down.  SoBe decided today to help her self to the dog food in the  “dog food room.”  Tim caught her standing in the bin, no, not just reaching into it, standing in it, eating her little hearts content.  She did run to me for protection as Tim chased her up the stairs.  Trixie, Baker, Ace, Jimmy, Tyrael, and Kahlua all got baths today.  I have more wet towels than dry ones.  Miata spent most of the day with Tim and I while we did some organization in the office.  She was a good little girl.  I am going to go train in Brandon tomorrow with Mini, SoBe, and Miata.  I hope also to train on Wednesday before I leave for Wisconsin.  Remember the water might be to cold for the puppies to want to swim in.  Yes, if a puppy starts to show interest in the field on a scent it is getting birdie….be patient and TRUST YOUR DOG!

Training went well today.  Mini did not bark and ran hard.  She used the wind great and had awesome finds.  She flushed her first bird and trapped her second.  Sobe ran enthusiastically and used the wind covering the entire course.  She is very fast.  She had some amazing finds from like 40 yards away….wow.  She flushed her first bird, trapped her second and I threw it for her so, she had two retrieves.  Miata is starting to run like a big dog and she runs hard.  She flushed her first and had a 35 yard retrieve and nailed her second bird from 30 yards away….missed bird.  Mini and SoBe are still in heat….bummer.  I guess I will miss one more field trial; what can you do?  The other dogs enjoyed the beautiful day.  They are getting tired of being rotated every couple of hours but, that is the drill when girls are in heat.  I am preparing for the Wisconsin and Minnesota field trials.  Pheasant opener is just around the corner!  Remember puppy shots are due sometime next week.

I spent the day with a numerous amount of dogs in and out of my company.  Tim was trying to make me feel a little better; I was under the weather again.  He first brought up the boys: Ace, Baker, Jimmy, and Tyrael.  Tyrael and Ace stayed on opposite sides of the bed not to irritate each other.  The boys snuggled for a while but, like all boys they got restless and wanted out.  Baker found a water bottle under the bed; which I found cute because all I could see was his tail wagging in the air as he reached for his object under the bed…Tim asked him if he was digging for gold; Baker answered with a smile and a water bottle in his mouth.  Tim then brought up SoBe and Mini; they watched a movie with me, actually they watched Harry Potter with me.  After 2 movies they wanted out for a drink of water; how do I know that?  The big clue was that I had a glass of water on the bedside table and they drank it all.  I reached over for the glass and found it empty with the unmistakable sign of dog slobber.  I looked at them and they looked at me with eyes that pleaded it be released from their thirst so; I sent them to Tim and he took care of it.  I took SoBe and Mini out to the field and did some training.  The moon was out and the stars where on their way out.  I trained in the moon light in the still of the night; no wind.  The lack of wind made it difficult for the dogs to scent.  Mini did some barking which is the death of her in a field trials.  SoBe had some difficulty with her retrieves; it was getting dark and with no wind she struggled.  The launcher made a hollow sound over the field that echoed…sometimes I wish I could wear that smell of gunpowder and night training as perfume.  I came back and Trixie and Kahlua watched some TV with Tim and I.  Kahlua was a little restless; after discouraging her to counter surf and some hollow threats she decided to settle down on the couch.  I then realized that my leg room had been cut in half by slumbering dogs. Trixie and Kahlua had taken over the couch (how can such small poochies take up some much room?) so, I decided to go to bed.  Trixie and Kahlua joined me; they snuggled in and were snoring before I could fall asleep.  I plan to train tomorrow in Forada with our training group; I am bringing SoBe, Mini, and Miata.  I find it funny that Tim and I have been able to relax with no puppy chores and now he wants a puppy of his own; he admits he has the dreaded puppy fever…..o boy!

The house is quite and the weather is horrible; it is raining non stop and the dogs are restless.  Tim and I have been putting them in and out as the weather clears here and there.  The boys were in for some of the day and Mini and SoBe have been with us the rest of the day.  SoBe and Mini are a little irritated with me; they have been couped up in their crate for the last week or so because they are in heat.  They keep giving me these glares through the crate door.  All the dogs are a little testy because the house goes on lock down when some one is in heat.  I took SoBe and Mini out for some training while the rain was on a break in the field down the road.  Mini started her barking again like always when she gets a fresh batch of hormones.  SoBe did good.  I gave them retrieves with the buoy launcher.  The wind was strong so, it made scenting great; they buttoned all of the retrieves.  I took Miata out and gave her some throws with the dummy; she did good, she brought it right back.  The challenge has been her coming strait back with it.  I am hoping to run SoBe in the Wisconsin and Minnesota field trials that are coming up.  I hope that she is out of heat by then; according to the calendar she should be ok.

As I typed the title for this new post it dawned on me that it is no longer summer; it is fall.  My favorite time of year.  The harvest has begun and the pheasants are abundant.  My house has an eerie silence to it; all my puppies are gone off to their new families.  I am sorry to say that I have empty nest syndrome.  To all the new families that have welcomed a Harvest Hunters Springer remember a few things:  their shots are due October 12 or 13th, Puppy toys don’t have to be expensive, give them a water bottle with pennies in it (it will entertain them for hours), NO SQUEAK TOYS (this gives them a hard mouth), continue with the retrieves that I have started, and last but not least,CONSISTANCY is the key to a fabulous dog.  Dogs are a reflection of their owner/ handler.
Field Trialing season is underway.  The first 2 trials went well.  I am now patiently awaiting for Mini and SoBe to come out of heat.  I can’t run them when they are in heat.  I trained today in the rain; actually it was quite relaxing.  I gave them retrieves and worked on get backs.  Both girls also got lots of exercise; they worked up some wild birds.  The other dogs are enjoying the bones that Tim picked up from the butcher in Starbuck.