Chase update - On some chuckers

[zoli 16ga.]

Chase update - He is now 91/2 months old. Not posting to brag (ok...just a little), but to give an example of buying a started puppy.

Well.....the stars never aligned so chase could get on some wild birds, so, with a little nudging, I finally booked an afternoon with Chase at Ruffwoods for some chucker. Well I couldn't be more proud of my little guy! After discussion with Mike (I would not hesitate to highly recommend Ruffwood), I decided to go for planted birds, and use this opportunity as a training day.

I was by myself, and on my first pointer hunt. Chase knows way more about this game then I do. I entered the end of the field where the birds were planted, gave him a tap on the head, to set Chase loose. After only a couple of minutes he picked up scent in the air, zero'd in, and held a beautiful point about ten feet away from the bird. I was about thirty yards away. I walked up to his left, seen the bird, but kicked the grass around a bit to temp a creep. He was a statue. Here we go, now I had to do my part...I walked up on the bird, it flushed, I shot (real close, as I really wanted to get some feathers in his mouth), bird down (well what was left anyway). Chase was about half way to the bird before it dropped, he picked it up, and returned on a whistle command. Whew! Boy that could have gone wrong six ways to Sunday, but it didn't. I was so happy. He was always behind me, and I was by myself, so I think he was steady to flush, and not to shot.

Four more solid points occurred, and on one, I did a three sixty around him and he didn't budge. Never had to nic him at all, at any point. Great search and quartering till he caught the scent, then moved in to a nice long low point. Great on come back, this way, and hunt it up commands. Pretty sweet for a 91/2 month old pup. Only once did a chucker flush on him, but he was at least 175 yards from me, on point (boy can he range if you let him). I tried to get there but....didn't have a horse......looked like the bird was closer to him than he thought, or it just flushed without warning, hard to tell from that distance. Nonetheless, a good lesson that he can't catch them. He also had a wild flush with a pheasant, pursued him into the woods, but came out empty handed. Another good lesson for him.

Couldn't be more pleased with today. I'll try to get out for a few more chucker hunts, then move him on to some phez if he's still really steady. I'd say an unofficial NA score of 112 myself, but maybe I'm bias! lol .

No illusions though, there's lots of work yet to be done I'm sure! So far, money well spent on the puppy training, and trip out to Idaho.

Don.

[terrym]

You're doing great and so is your dog. Good job. Mike is good people and has a nice facility.

[Jakezilla]

Sounds like you are manking good progress with your dog, especially at 9.5 months.


Personally, I am not sure I would be trying to proof a dog that young though (kicking grass and doing a 360 around the dog), I would be getting that bird in the air asap. Sooner or later I expect the wheels to fall off the wagon as he starts to mature and come into his own, I might be wrong but that's what experience tells me. I would continue doing what you are doing since it sounds like it is working but be careful not to push to failure and set yourself back.

[Sharon]

Good for you Don ! Glad you were happy with your dog. It's a fine pleasure to see your work pay off.

I had a steady to flush and shot dog at 10 months . No one was more surprised than me either. LOL

[zoli 16ga.]

'Sooner or later I expect the wheels to fall off the wagon as he starts to mature and come into his own, I might be wrong but that's what experience tells me'

Yah...I thought that would have happened yesterday! I'm a big 'Hope for the best...expect the worst' kind'a guy! We're trying to book a hunt near London for next Sunday. There will be other hunters with me...so that may also throw him for a loop. Nonetheless., I'll take what I got and reminise...once he starts jumping the birds...lol!

chase edited ruffwood 1 resized.jpg

[Mount Sweetness]

Zoli 16ga.....what breed of dog is Chase? Did you buy him out of the Cambridge area?

[zoli 16ga.]

He's a very smooth coated Pudelpointer. A lot of people confuse him with a GSP or chocolate lab.....sorry......trying to keep my food down.....Just kidding!!!! LOL!

He's a little on the small stature side, about 23" at the withers. Search 'Chase' in this forum and you'll see our odyssey. Born at Cedarwood gun dogs (Bob Farris), Boise Idaho. Then had him go through their 'puppy training' program in Boise also.

http://www.cedarwoodgundogs.com/

D.

[gboa]

he's a great looking pudelpointer, i like the ones that have just a bit of beard and coat compared to the all wooly ones.
great pic