Seminar

Libby and I went to a Dave Rorem seminar this past week-end.

It was a great learning experience and lots of fun.  I highly recommend it to anyone.

I was worried that it would all be over Libby's head as it was all All-Age set-ups we ran, but she made me so proud of her I could barely stand it.  She saw her first poison bird, her first quad (with a momma bird off the flyer station!!) and her first interrupted double.  She handled it all just fine.  Kenny told me all the parts were there and not to worry.  He was right...but don't tell him I said that.  She was the youngest dog at the seminar.

I can't wait for the DVD I'm getting on our work so I can review what I learned.  Will be interesting to have video tape of me handling on blinds from different angles.

I have a lot to learn and there is a lot of places to learn from.

Tired girls

Darbi is a tired lady after a long week training.

Not sure what Miikka's excuse is.

A quick update on Miika's leg (torn achilles).  It's SO much better!!  The brace and rest has worked miracles and one can't tell by looking at her how badly injured her leg was a few months ago.  She actually ran a water test in training this week and loved it!

Darbi is an old lady now, but nobody told her!  She was driving us bonkers having a break before Christmas and is so happy to be back to work.  No retirement in sight for her yet!  She has no soundness issues, no hearing issues and I'm so happy to have what appears to be another year with my bestest girl.

Willie T!

And here she is!!!

My new pup Willie.

She is officially known as Horsetooth's Willie T Wiffic.

From the last "Chopper" breeding ever.

And the best part??  I've only had her a week and she's already scratching at the door to go outside.  Pretty smart little cookie.

Poor Gordie.  She beats on him pretty good already.

Winter fun in the snow

Gordie's brother "Goose" (Arson x Miikka) is enjoying the snow in New Jersey!!

I can't get over how much his eyes look like his mom's.

Bonzai!!!

Elmingo Family

We've arrived in Texas for our annual Winter Trip.

It's also time for the annual Elmingo Family Portrait!!

No dogs were harmed in the taking of this picture...although a number of them were threatened.

From left to right (click on the picture for a bigger view):

Elmingo's Little Man "Zink" (Shaq x Miikka 2009)

Elmingo's Flip Your Lid "Libby" (Shaq x Miikka 2009)

FTCH AFTCH Revilo's Red Hot Rumors "Miikka"

Elmingo's Hat Trick "Gordie" (Arson x Miikka 2011)

FTCH Revilo's At Full Tilt "Darbi" (she beats me, I swear she does)

Elmingo's Cutting Edge "Razor" (Prize x Darbi 2011)

Backwater Smokin Turq "Turq" (Prime x Darbi 2008)

Elmingo's Tic A Tee Boo "Ahti" (Prize x Darbi 2011)

Elmingo's Prime Suspect "Meg" (Prime x Darbi 2008)

As you can see from the Darbi puppies on the right, she seems to throw very LARGE males and little females no matter who she's bred to.

Gordie looks like the biggest Miikka pup I've seen so far.  He's only 4 months old and has a lot of bone.

I'm very proud of all my "kids"...near and far.  I'm so lucky that a few have come back to us to train so I can spoil them still.

I'll try to get a better pic of them all in the future, but Meg is in season...so we had to stick her off in the corner.

I'm especially proud of the up and comers in this picture.  Zink was a top ten derby dog in the US last year.  Libby was top 20.  Turq was a Canadian National Finalist at 2 years old and his sister Meg is hot on his tail becoming QAA in 2011.  Momma D finally got her Canadian FTCH last year and her Prize pups look like they'll be fun in the derby this year.  So much to be proud of.

And Gordie...sweet Gordie.  With his father's recent passing we are holding him near and dear.  He shows a lot of promise and we're excited about his future.

Arson-Gone Too Soon

FC FTCH LKY'S CONTROLLED BURN

2005-2012

Finalist 2010 Canadian National

I'm very sorry to announce the passing of Arson after a short illness.

He was a special dog to everyone that knew him and will be sorely missed.

The very first time I stood beside Arson was when I won an Open with him in Canada, and it was also standing beside him that I got my first US Open placement.

I know that his owners, Brad & Diane, have broken hearts this evening.  My condolences to them.

He was a kind hearted spirit who could be trusted alone with a newborn puppy or small child, but also could be trusted to make a difficult 350 yard swim to the bird with more heart than I had ever seen before.

My husband also mourns his loss this evening.  Arson came into Kenny's life as a 6 month old pup with promise and hope.  He was a little slow to mature and didn't truly shine until he became an All-Age dog, and shine there he did.

He was in the prime of his life and taken too soon.

His son Gordie, who is lying at my feet as I type this, has very big paws to fill and a very wonderful daddy to look up to.

Arson and Kenny at 2010 US National

Me n Zed

I love my horse Zed.

He's the coolest.

He's now for sale and I'm sad about that.  We've taken him a long ways from being an off the track Thoroughbred to having a second career.

It was the plan to sell him when I bought him, but it's still hard.  I'll get another "project" when he goes.

It's also been a tough adjustment going from an ex Western rider to the world of Hunters/Jumpers.  The learning curve has been very steep for both of us.  

I have a lot to learn, and so does he....but I've had so much fun learning with him.

Puppies everywhere!

I'm getting a new puppy.

I'm very excited.

I know, I know...it seems like I collect them and I guess I do.

I bought Otto and Stanley last year and sold them to clients of Kenny's.  They are still here in training with us and doing great!

I bought Loki and raised her and sold her to the client of another pro.  She now visits her own vineyard in Napa on her private plane, so I'm thinking Loki is living a good life.  I miss her a great deal.

I have Gordie now and he's a blast.  I'm hanging on to him for awhile to see what he's made of.

And now introducing Willie!!!  She's from the last ever breeding of NFC AFC Clubmead's Road Warrior, so I had a hard time passing this litter up.  She'll be ready to come home to me in a few weeks.

Willie is one of these THIRTEEN puppies.  I can't imagine 13.  The biggest litter I've ever had is 8 and they were a handful.  One of these cute little faces is Willie and I can't wait to meet her.

And re-introducing Stewie.  He's from the recent Arson x Miikka breeding and he's Gordie's brother.  Stewie now lives in Ohio and is having a grand time getting acquainted to ducks.

He's already a proficient little retriever.

And as an aside, Miss Miikka was spayed just before the holidays.  Even though she is young (ish) and had another litter left in her, I decided she has done enough.  Having 2 pups on the Top Twenty Derby List in the US this year and many others that are QAA and/or MHs is quite an accomplishment for a 7 year old mom.  I'm proud of her and can't wait to see what the future holds for her daughter Libby and I.

Darbi was due to be spayed the same day, but she came into season.  I'll have the surgery done sometime in 2012 when it's convenient for all of us.  

I have a daughter of each, and that's all I ever wanted.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

From me and the "girls":
Darbi, Miikka, Libby & Ahti.

Training-When do I step in?

Back when I was an Amateur, I really struggled at knowing when to step in and help my dog.  I didn't know if I should handle for a bad line, help for a bad hunt or what to do?

We all know that training dogs is more an art then a science, so there are no black and white rules.  Many different variables arise such as what the particular dog needs at that moment vs. keeping the standards of training high.  But I will point out some generalizations of training on marking set-ups that I've learned over the past couple of years.

When to re-call:
We re-call for a poor initial line to the mark.  We generally only re-call the dogs within the first 75 yards and more often then not it is less then that.  A poor intial line does not mean the dog left great, but fell into factors on route. 
Too many re-calls, especially ones at a distance, can really erode a dog's confidence and momentum.  A re-call is as much mental pressure to a dog as a collar correction is physical pressure.

When to handle:
We handle dogs on marks when a dog loses their line to the mark due to losing the mark itself.  This can be due to many factors such as suction of other marks, wind, terrain or just plain lack of focus of the dog.  We try to use only enough handle to regain the mark and then allow the dog to resume and get the mark on their own.  We don't handle all the way to the bird as if we were at a field trial.  Training and trialing is always different.
Our personal belief is that we don't handle for having a bad mark i.e. backsiding a gun.  Dogs trained to the All-Age level need to be independent thinkers and learn how to negotiate the tough tests they will see in an Open.  We also believe that marking is as much learning where not to go as learning where to go.  So if a dog is taking a wide line to a long retired and it looks to be on it's way to hooking the holding blind, we let the dog go.  This teaches them to recover, to think, to have perserverance and feel confident in doing so.  Many dogs are "area markers" at the distances we're dealing with in modern field trials, so it would unreasonable to expect pin-point marking at the All-Age level all of the time.
Don't forget that water is the #1 "factor" that we handle around.  Our general rule is to correct to get in the water, but never to correct to get them out.  This is always attrition and many a good water dog has been taught to hate the water due to poor corrections in and around the water.

When to have the gunner help:
We have gunner's help the dogs when they've reached the area of the fall and can't come up with the bird after an extended hunt.  Some dogs at times, especially young dogs learning multiples, will "blow" out of a mark if they can't come up with it quickly.  It is these types of scenarios where we have the gunner help to keep the dog in the area of the fall.  We don't put them right on the bird, but get them back to establishing a hunt there.  We don't believe in ever putting pressure on a dog in the area of the fall, as it can lead to dogs being nervous hunting around gunners, popping, "piggy" hunts at the area of the fall, severe blowing out, etc.  Dogs need to be relaxed hunting in and around guns considering some of the tight tests we see these days.

When to do nothing:
There are times when a dog is putting on an extended hunt that is painful to watch.  We let these dogs hunt, and then hunt some more.  A tough short retired on a hen pheasant will need a dog that is willing to go in and really dig out the bird and feel comfortable doing so.  Nothing teaches this more then the dog being rewarded with a bird after an extended hunt in training.  As long as the dog isn't doing anything stupid...we let them hunt.

Before you do anything in training to assist your dog (re-call, handle or help), it is always helpful to ask yourself one question: Am I Teaching The Dog Anything?  If the answer is no, or "I don't know", then best to sit back and let your dog figure it out.

Gordie's Sleeping Habits

Gordie has no problem sleeping LIKE his mother.

He also has no problem sleeping ON his mother.

Still alive

I'm still here.

All is good.

Gordie is already house trained!!!  That's the big news in my life.  Gotta love it when they catch on fast.

I'm a little blog lazy these days, but I'll try to get some pics and a training article up soon.

Mr. Red

Looks like he is having fun with his new owner in New Jersey.

Miikka

This is how she sleeps.

Serious.

Just Gordie

Two little boys have left, leaving me with one.

A quiet, well semi-quiet, house now.

Before he left Mr. Red is shown exhausted from toy over stimulation.  

Too many toys and not enough time for him.  He has gone to his new home in New Jersey.

Mr. Orange left to live with his "Auntie Emma" (a Darbi daughter) in Ohio.

And introducing Gordie!

Elmingo's Hat Trick.

I thought the name was appropriate as there is only three pups in the litter and his mother is named after a hockey player.

It looks like he thinks life is pretty tough.  He didn't even KNOW the couch was an option until yesterday and now we can't get the little rascal away from it.

Some people hate dogs on the furniture.  I respect that.  We are a dog on couch friendly household for sure.

7 weeks!

I can't believe how quickly time flies.  Boys are only a day or two from heading to their new homes.

They are fun and busy.

Mr Orange, like any good Miikka offspring, likes to sleep on his back.

And yes, they are 100% paper trained.  They are pretty clean little pups.

The boys spend a lot of their time playing outside (i.e. dirty noses) and playing in the kitchen where they crash on their dog bed at the end of a long day.  Note: the Angry Bird toy made it's way inside the house, earless.

Can you see it now?

Peanut thinks she's doing a wonderful job burying her bone.

Weird.

Indoor play

Puppies were very busy this evening!

Tired

Sorry for the lack of posts and PUPPY pics lately.  We've been busy trialing and on the road.  I'll be better this week.

Pups are doing great!!  They weather was so nice in Missouri that they spent the better part of each day running around and having fun while we trained.
They also had their first shots and second deworming while there and they came away with a bill of excellent health!!

The trial this past week-end went well.  Darbi and Libby were the Green Queens.  Darbi Jam'd the Open and Libby Jam'd the Derby.
Libby had 7 pins and one hook (again....) and I was really proud of her work. The last series especially.  It was a nice water double with the short bird up on the hill and the long bird across the whole pond, with the gun out of sight while the dogs swam.  All the handlers were a little stunned when they shot the test short, then long.  This order of throws threw a number of the dogs off.

Libby, as only her mother would do, primary selected on her own after the birds went down and I let her.  She smacked the test.  The whole situation made me smile as she reminds me more of her mother every day.  We don't train on primary selection, largely because of the flyer influence down here in the states, but some dogs do it on their own and it worked in this scenario.

Darbi worked her butt off in a tough Open and had a handle on the short retired (a hen pheasant) in the last series Quad.  A number of the early dogs handled or had giant hunts and then that bird seemed to get easier as the day went on.  That's the breaks of running early.

That was our last trial of the year...so now for some rest!

Hard Lesson Learned

I'm still learning this game.  I suspect I always will be.

It's hard.  Very hard.

When my dogs let me down, I get a little frustrated but move on.  When I let them down I can't shake it and dwell and dwell.

First series of the Open in Missouri this week-end was a very hard quad.  The two middle birds were giving everyone fits.  The short bird was retired and thrown angle back against a tree line straight towards a stand out gun.  The birds couldn't have been more then 30 yards apart (I was out there to pick up the blind station later and was stunned at how tight they were).  Dogs were just NOT getting the short retired.

When I ran Darbs I tried to get that bird second, and expected to run past it as most everyone else was doing.  She PINNED that bird.  Absolutely knew where it was and face planted it.  Then the wheels fell off...

Judges said only one other dog had done that...blah blah blah...I started talking to them...made a joke or two...

I still had two more birds to pick up but I thought I had it in the bag.  There was a fairly straight forward retired gun off to the right and then the stand up gun just deep of the retired.

She came back to heel and I thought I was all that and a bag of chips.  Loosey goosey, look at me.  I took the bird and sent her for the right retired.  Sent her WAY fast, didn't bear down and she left weird and nervous and we ended up handling.  Out.

Kenny left me alone for about an hour and then we had the "talk".  EVERY bird matters.  EVERY send is important.  QUIT yakking, bear down and run your dog.

He's right.  I let my dog down and it really hurt.  Hard lesson to learn and I believe I wouldn't have learned it any other way.  I needed to pin the impossible bird to get that one through my thick skull.

Libby ran an amazing Derby.  First three tests were a little light for such a big field.  The third series water marks were kind of puppy markish, but we all had to run them just the same.  They had a 30 yard go bird across a tiny corner of water and Libby hunted that dumb little bird...a lot.  Then they set up a giant 4th series as they had too many dogs clean and knew it.  Not many dogs did it, but Miss Libby did it better then anyone else.  She made the big swim with the gun out of sight the whole way past the short bird.

Pin, pin.

7 flat out pins and a stupid hunt.  That is green and no other color these days.

She makes her debut in the Qualifying this upcoming week-end.  Qual debut and last Derby as we won't run any more after this.  She ages out two months from today.

She's really coming on and I highly doubt I'll be doing any training on 30 yard birds in the future to clean that up...but one never knows.

The Three Amigos came to Missouri with us and they're having a blast!  They stay in the trailer with us at night in their box, but come with us all day and spend lots of time outside in the x-pen meeting new people, and some time in a hole on the truck having naps.

Puppies have already been touched by greatness.

L to R: Dave Rorem, Bill Eckett and the Greatness that is my hubby.

Angry Birds!

Pups are having fun in the yard several times a day.

Miikka was more into her Angry Bird toy.

As you can see, Miikka is still wearing her brace.  The foot portion has been removed and it is being used as a "sports" brace now.  Her partial tear of her achilles is 95% healed and one can't even tell by looking at her that she was ever injured.  

Weaning

Weaning is always fun.

I wait until Momma tells me it's time and then we dive in.

As you can see, pups are still tubby little guys, so the food I put down for them was ignored the first couple of days.

Mr. Blue actually fell asleep on the food dish last night.

They started to show interest today.  

As you can see from the dirty little nose, I've been taking them outside a few times a day now.  They are having a blast discovering the great outdoors.

And they were hungry after their evening romp outside!  The kibble here hardly had time to moisten as I didn't think they'd want to eat tonight, but when Miikka walked away from them I quickly moistened up another round.  It was the first time they dug in to their food!

I let Miikka clean up any leftovers and there wasn't any tonight!

Three amigos walking!

Well, kinda.  Staggering maybe.

And yes, Miikka can sleep through anything.

Home again!

Back home from Kansas.

We're tired.

Darbi ran a great Open and was dropped after the water blind.  I thought it might be good enough, but alas, it wasn't.  They went into the water blind with 30+ dogs, so we all knew some would be pencilled.  Darbi is never going to run a 3 whistle water blind...that's just not who she is.  She runs workman (or lady) like water blinds.

Libby had her marking shoes on...mostly.  The last series was a tight, tight land double and I saw dogs hunt the old fall and switch, and do everything in between, and knew I might be in trouble.  Libby went a little deep of the go bird and looked over and saw the memory bird gunner almost right beside her...she made a couple jumps towards him and I was quick to hit the whistle. As I've mentioned before, I'm a big believer that no green ribbon is worth letting them get away with bad things, especially at her age.  Miss Libby has a bright future ahead of her if I keep her on the straight and narrow.

Can't complain...ran a very hard trying Darbi to the third series of the Open and a fantastic marking Libby to the fourth series of the Derby.

Puppies are big and happy.  Pics to come soon!!!  And a video or two!

3 Weeks

Pups sure growing fast!

3 weeks and 1 day old today.

We had a friend bring their granddaughter over the other day.  The puppies and her shared many cuddles.

Mommy Miikka cuddling with her boys.

Head rest.

They are really starting to interact with one another...including some play fighting.