On another note....My mutt's first foray into the wild - Chase

[Rustic]

Hey Don, as stressful as it was , I wouldn't get over concerned unless it happens frequently .
Jasper ranged out a few times WAY to far.
I tried hiding yet he easily found me and showed no fear of being alone. What did help was a high quality bell in the thick stuff. Many times he was not as far off as I thought. And as painful as it was , more than a few times he was leashed and the hunt was immediately over. That one hit home with him and worked big time .
R

[welsh]

I think everyone has that "Oh, no, I lost the dog" moment in the first season. It's part of the learning process for the dog.

Last season, I actually did lose the dog. Shot a pheasant which fell in thick cover at the bottom of a little draw where I couldn't see. Sent the dog and she barged on in. I waited. And waited. Went and looked, no pheasant, no dog. I'd wingtipped it and she took off after the runner, which apparently went some distance into the woods. Whistled. Waited. Whistled. Waited. Whistled. Contemplated explaining to the kids I'd lost the dog ... whistled, yelled.

After some time I heard a mournful howl from about 200 yards behind me, back in the marsh. The dog was back there contemplating how she'd explain to the kids that she'd lost me, given the language barrier and all. I yelled, she howled, and she found her way back.

I'd like to tell you she brought back the bird, but no. It gave her the slip and she'd got lost trying to hunt it up. But I did learn that I don't really have to worry about losing my dog. If she gets lost she'll call for help.

[Sharon]

Now that's a bonus!