The training in the field was going well this morning until I had to run Mighty on a check cord.  Now, the problem is that she is not a bad dog or anything; she just needs a gentle reminder to bring birds back to me.  She was running and found her clip wing pigeon, she went in hard and picked it up.  On her way back to me she dropped it and the pigeon flew a little ways.  This would not have been a problem except that the check cord had made a loop around my ankle and when she ran full steam (who would of thought a little 25lb could be so strong?) to retrieve the escaped pigeon that loop tightened…Yep, you guested it, I was flat on my back in 2 seconds.  My foot was literally pulled out from under me ( I hear from the guys that it was quite comical).  As I laid on the ground looking at the blue sky trying desperately to catch my breath I was wondering, “Where is the dog?” I was able to get the question out just in time for Mighty to be peering down at me from above with a pigeon in her mouth. Did I mention how much I HATE ROPES?

The house is full family for the weekend holiday.  We are all having a great time conversing around the fire and playing with puppies.  The babies will get plenty of attention with weekend for sure…I guarantee it.  Kahlua and Trixie schemed to pull down a tray full of cookies…they were successful….Aaron heard them outside so, they were not to stealthy in their attack.  I caught them red handed!  They were promptly grounded to their crates.

The men that I value and valued came from University of Minnesota Morris.

Nate E. Williams: How I miss you.  It is hard to walk out into a field and not think about how much fun you would be having training the dogs.  You have been missing for almost 6 years; your body remains missing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, but your heart remains with us.  I know that you are smiling every time I shoot a bird.  The area in which you disappeared still remains your grave until we know different;  I know that you would not prefer any other place to be laid to rest.  The wind, earth, water, and trees are your headstone.

David R Gorecki, D.D.S:  The phone rang and I knew that your were dead….I could feel it.  You died on your son’s 21st birthday; it kills to see Tim’s birthday on your cold marble headstone.  Tim says, “God takes the good because they have nothing left to prove; they are ready.” I know that you are good, kind, loving, and caring.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of the influence you had in my life.  You helped guide me to be a better person; I know that you are watching above when I step to the line to run a dog and are cheering me on….SoBe finding that bird in the 2nd was all your doing; there is no doubt that you gave SoBe the direction….4th place not only belongs to me, SoBe, but, you as well.  I miss you!

Tim W Gorecki: You are my one and only hero!  We have made it through so much together in the last 11 years.  I have learned from you how to be a better person and wife; everyday that we spend together is a gift.  I love you and thank you for your endless support of my dream of breeding, raising, training, and trialing English Springer Spaniels.  The Army takes you and I play the better part to the deployments.  You complete me; I would not be the person I am without you.

Like the paver stones at UMM; these men have paved a path in my life and have guided me down the right road; I would not be the person I am with out their influences.  God Bless them all!

The Holidays are here and I have a house full of guests; friends from near and far along with my little brother Aaron.  The house if full and we will be expecting more.  Dan, Andy, Aaron are here now; Laura and Sam will be joining us later in the week.  My little brother Aaron received a hat identical to my husbands as a Christmas gift from Tim and I.  I ordered it because Tim was tired of Aaron taking his hat when he would stay with us…now he has is own. Gene and his Pit Bull puppies stopped by for a visit; they are such happy beautiful dogs.  I will post more pictures of the festivities as they occur.

I was asked at the Game Fair what is a good dog food….I posted a new article under History/Info tab of the website that I would encourage you to read;  “How to Select a Quality Dog Food,” by: Peter Andersen.  After reading it here are some numbers that I found on Metabolized Energy (ME):
Native Level 2: 4078 Kcal/kg  or  1850 Kcal/lb
Native Level 3: 4409 Kcal/ kg or 2000 Kcal/lb
Native Level 4: 4850 Kcal/kg or  2200 Kcal/lb
Joy Dog Food: 30-20 Mix: 4170 Kcal/kg  or 1895 Kcal/lb
Pro Plan All Stages: 4406 Kcal/kg  or 2003 Kcal/lb
Diamond Performance: 3982 Kcal/kg  or 1810 Kcal/lb
Dog Fuel High Performance: 4133 Kcal/kg  or 1879 Kcal/lb
Eukanuba Spaniel Breed: 2653 Kcal/kg  or 1206 Kcal/lb
Iams ProActive Health: 3711 Kcal/kg  or 1686 Kcal/lb
Nutrisource Super Performance: 4050 Kcal/kg  or 1841 Kcal/lb

I have also done some research and Native has the best ingredients as far as no corn, soy, or wheat is concerned.  This is what I feed my dogs; I am part of the Native breeder program and have found this food to be the best quality for the money.

I  have had many requests to set up a way for Harvest Hunters owners to communicate with one another about their Springers which they welcomed into their families from us.  I set up a Yahoo group for everyone to join who would like to chat with one another.  Here is the link: yahoogroups.  Once you get there click on the : “join this group” button and follow the instructions on how to join.  If you have any questions let me know and I will answer them the best I can!  Hope you all join!

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD ( 1872-1918) Canadian Army

I have heard this poem many times when I was in high school.  I played in the marching band that would follow the VFW color guard to all the cemeteries where their fallen comrades had been laid to rest.  The poem and the tribute did not mean much to me when I was in high school; yeah sure, I got a tear in my tear when I heard the majestic echo of taps from a far by a hidden trumpet player; I was just a ungrateful teen that needed the extra credit for band: I had no idea the sacrifice that was made to keep me free.  Now, the tributes ring deep in my soul and wrenches the tears from my heart, because now, I am an Army wife. I understand the sacrifice; the hot tears roll down my face as I write this now thinking of the families of loved ones that paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Those soldiers stand on a wall and take arms and say, “I will keep you safe tonight; nothing is going to hurt you on my watch.”  They provide the blanket of freedom that I sleep under; I no longer take for granted “Flanders Fields.”  The 15 x 10 foot flag that drapes my house is a tribute to all those soldiers that have volunteered to defend my freedom from foreign and domestic threats.  I not only have Old Glory enveloping my house but, also the “Lest they be Forgotten” flag designed for the fallen heroes of  Operation Iraqi Freedom; the war of my time.  I present these flags for all who drive by and, see a blur of red, white, and blue with the utmost pride and admiration for “my” troops and my husband.  Sacrifice is not only made in with flesh and blood by our soldiers but, also in irreplaceable time that their families miss; it can never be restored, a babies first steps, a daughters graduation, or the opportunity to say good bye to a sick loved one; all these precious moments in time are given up for my ability to write this, or to laugh, or to own a gun.  I am grateful for the ultimate sacrifice the men and women of this country have made for me; they have picked up a gun when few others would to defend my liberty.  My country is mine because of them;  so, now when I go and see the color guard give tribute on Memorial Day with their 21 gun solute and with a shakey voice reciet “Flanders Field,” I am no longer the naive teenager who stupidly took the moment for granted; I stand proud and tall and realize that some day they will be paying tribute to my husband and his service that he unselfishly gave for me.

Ticks & Fleas

There is a few things to keep in mind with the summer months approaching fast when it comes to the care of your favorite poochie.  The wood ticks are on the move and, to prevent this from being a problem I would suggest Frontline Plus.  I apply Frontline to my dogs once in the spring; this carries me past the wood tick infestation and right into the summer months when it does not seem to be such a big problem.  I prefer Frontline over flee and tick collars because, the collar can fall off or the dog can maneuver out of it; not only that but, if a dog decides to snack on it that can cause a big problem from them….those collars have neurotoxins on them…..dog eating it = very sick dog.  Frontline is applied between the shoulders where the dog can not lick it so, digestion is not a problem with this application.  The only thing to keep in mind with Frontline is that the poochie needs to stay out of water for 48 hours after the application so, it does not wash off.

Parasites & Worms

The next thing to keep in mind with the warming months is that the mosquitoes are waking up and are hungry.  Mosquitoes carry and infect dogs with heartworm.  It is important that you give your dog heart guard medicine to prevent/ kill heart worms in their blood stream.  I use a brand of medicine called Virbac, Iverhart Plus.  This is a cheaper brand of Heartgard; it works the same but, is easier on my pocket book (remember I am treating 9 dogs for 6-7 months a year). Iverhart also controls and treats hookworm and ascarid.  If you would like more information on ordering the cheaper brand of heartguard send me an email and I will get you to contact information.  Another thing to keep in mind is that heartguard is a poison; it kills whatever little larva that are in your dogs blood stream; heartguard ios NOT a preventative.  Heart worms take 6 months to grow from larva to adult worms that attack the dogs heart; that is why heartgurad works, it kills the larva.  I also encourage with the warming of the weather that you consider deworming your dog after it has a nice juicy treat of dead animal or rolls in it ( the scent of dead carcus is lovely isn’t it?) .  I suggest this because, dogs contract intestinal worms from dead animals.  If you notice that your beloved poochie is having problem keeping weight on or is losing weight in a noticeable manner I would suggest having them dewormed.  This treatment should not cost more than 15 dollars at your vet; if it is send me an email and I will help you get some cheaper medication.

Water

Now that I have covered all the medical aspects of dog care for the warming months, I would like to cover basic care strategies.  Here is a no brainer, it is getting warmer even hotter out; your dog will need a more continuous supply of fresh water, fresh being the key word.  (Note:  the bucket that sits outside and still seems to be full of water needs to be changed; algae can grow in stagnant water and make dogs VERY sick.)  In our yard, the dogs have 2 five gallon buckets full of water that are dumped, scrubbed clean, and refilled everyday.  They also have a one-foot deep by six-foot diameter pool to jump in and out of at their liesure.  The pool is dumped, cleaned, and filled about once a week.  We have the advantage of having so many dogs that the pool gets dirty fast and the buckets empty quickly, however you may need to keep an eye on the quality of the water if you don’t go through it that quickly.

Shelter

You might consider giving your poochie a hair cut; it will help with keeping him/ her cool.  Shade is important in the summer months as well; if you have a great big yard that your dog spends the day in or just a tiny yard, make sure there is shade for them to escape from the sweltering rays of the sun.  Shelter is important not only for shade but, also for protection against mother nature when she is cranky (ie: rain, wind, hail and anything else she throws our way).  Some important features for a good shelter are: a sloped roof, insulation, well ventilated, and big enough for the dog to stand and turn around in.   Make sure you place the shelter is a shaded area as well, it won’t do them much good to lie in a dog house that is 10-30 degrees hotter then the outside temperature.

Travel

Summer months also bring travel; who does not want to bring Fido on the family vacation….right?   I have a concrete rule that I follow no matter where I go or whose dog I have with me; they MUST be in a crate.  I would feel horrible if I was distracted while driving and hurt someone else, me, or my dogs because I was paying attention to the dog and not the road.  Having your poochie crated means they are out of the way and not a distraction to you or anyone else; never mind that most dogs want to sit in your lap, or prance around on the gear shift, or the ever common blocking the rear view mirror.  Another benefit to having your dog crated is that if you were in an accident the dog is more likely to stay in the car/ crate…..it is safer to have them in a crate; think of it like a doggie seat belt ( actual dog seat belts are an option too).  Poochie can get more comfortable in a crate anyway; it is flat and they are able to lay down and get comfortable and join the rest of the snoozing passengers in the vehicles.  Another good thing about crates is that when you open the car door the dog does not bolt for the nearest interesting object which, I am sad to say, could be across the road; you have more control over a crated dog than a free floating dog.  Something to keep in mind if you must have your dog out while driving, don’t let them hang out the window…..they are distracting to other drivers (which the road doesn’t need any more of) and there is a strong possibility that debris could strike them in the eye. Along with debris that could harm your beloved poochie keep in mind that if you have a free range dog in the front seat the air bags could harm them when deployed. I guess my bottom line is: Children belong in seat-belts; Dogs belong in crates!   When you leave the vehicle with your ” crated guard dog” make sure that you roll the windows down and so there is good ventilation.  Vehicles have a tendency to turn into ovens when sealed up so, don’t cook your dog!   Remember it does not have to be 90 degrees out for it to be dangerous for a dog to be sealed up in a vehicle; 50 – 60 degrees and be very dangerous as well, especially if you have a dark vehicle.  If you need to leave poochie in the vehicle for a longer length of time park in the shade; this will help with over heating also leave poochie with a travel bowl of water (they are the snap on dishes that come with a crate that I seem to collect by the dozen) and roll down the windows at least 2-4 inches and go check on your dog….(he might need to go potty).  Now, if you are like me and are even more paranoid about my dogs overheating in a well ventilated vehicle, with water, in the shade, and after a swim (the dog is soaking wet) you can get crate fans that clip onto the crate dog and cool them down.  The ones I have even have thermostats on them.    If you want to put Fido free running in the back of a truck………………….DON”T!  Talk to any Vet about how many dogs come in with severe injuries from jumping from the back of a moving truck.  Torn pads, shattered hips, broken jaws with half of their teeth left on the pavement……and don’t think that tying him in the back of a truck is any better.  I have heard more than once of a dog hanging himself from his own lead over the edge of the truck.  This is simply incredebly dangerous and is an accident waiting to happen nevermind the increased distraction to others.

I headed back to the U.P. (the Upper Penisula of Michigan) to go pick Mini up from her randzevous with Amos.  I am hoping that I brought more than just her back; I hope she has at least 4 passangers aboard.  Amos’s owners took excellent care of my girl and had wonderful hospitality!  Mini was excited to see me and was even more excited to get home; she threw quite the fit when she got into the house in Cyrus.  Here are some of the pictures from my journey.  Tim and all the dogs were intact when I got back so, I can now breath a sign of relief.  I am not a big fan of leaving my house or my family.

New puppy owners I would like to inform you that there is a great deal on crates at Mills Fleet Farm until May 9th.  There is Remington crates on sale for 32.89$ ( 28 ” x 21″ 22 “); this crate will last the remainder of their life; it is the perfect size.  Crates are a great tool for potty training and safe haven for them as well.