A big day in the life of a young pup.

[jode hillman]

A big day in the life of a young pup Happened yesterday. I had my nearly seventh month old yellow Labrador Bree out for her first real duck hunt. We have worked in the yard, on ponds, and in the field most of the spring and summer. She has taken to her training well and I was just hoping to get her some more experience. I did not expect much.

She has been sidelined the past 10 days with an infected cut on her head. I thought that she would miss our early season.

However by Saturday it was much better, swelling all down and she seems like her normal self. So I decided to give it a go. We were both happy, as well as my wife to get us out of the house.

There wasn't many birds around but there was enough. She made a wonderful first retrieve on A hen Greenwing teal. And I couldn't be more proud.

Hopefully this is the start of many years of such enjoyment.

 

[J. Overland]

Congratulations to you and the pup. She looks like a natural.

 

[Brad Bortner]

Glad she is better and congrats on the first retrieve.

 

[JR Carsten]

What a great day you and her had! I remember my pup(s) first retrieves. They are imprinted forever on my memory. I'm jealous of your experience with a new pup. Sadly those days are behind me now. Some of our (my dogs and me) best days hunting we were all alone with no spectators. Enjoy that new pup, she's beautiful.

 

[tod osier]

That truly is a great day and what a relief to see your pup do the things they were bred and trained for!

 

[Dani]

Yay Bree!!!!! Glad to hear she is feeling better too!

 

[Brett S]

Congrats Jode! I took a pup through her first season last year after a decade plus of being without a bird dog so the joy that comes with seeing a dog put everything together is fresh for me. I hope you have a great season with her!

 

[jode hillman]

Congratulations to you and the pup. She looks like a natural.

Thanks, I've started a few pups over the years and she has taken to it just as well of any of them. Hopefully it continues

 

[jode hillman]

Glad she is better and congrats on the first retrieve.

Thanks Brad, yeah she look like quite the conehead there for a while. Hopefully it's all downhill from here.

 

[jode hillman]

What a great day you and her had! I remember my pup(s) first retrieves. They are imprinted forever on my memory. I'm jealous of your experience with a new pup. Sadly those days are behind me now. Some of our (my dogs and me) best days hunting we were all alone with no spectators. Enjoy that new pup, she's beautiful.

Thank you. I'm sure you had some wonderful days. I try and cherish every one because you never know how long they will last. Hopefully we will have many years of time together.

 

[jode hillman]

That truly is a great day and what a relief to see your pup do the things they were bred and trained for!

Thanks Tod, yes. What a relief when they finally put together all of the hours of training and do exactly what they were meant to do.

 

[jode hillman]

Yay Bree!!!!! Glad to hear she is feeling better too!

Thanks Dani, She's a tough cookie. Even feeling bad she would always do her best to hang out by my side and make sure I was doing what I was supposed to! Lol. This is my first yellow and she is such a sweetheart.

 

[Al Hansen]

Way to go, Bree! Now Jodi, this great looking yellow female sure looks to be a keeper. Being proud is just the beginning of this wonderful relationship that the two of you will have for years. That makes the two of you darn lucky. I remember those days and they were really something. I am happy for you, Jode. Keep up that work ethic that you have developed with Bree. I'm sure glad you took that great shot of her bringing back that gwt.
Al

 

[jode hillman]

Way to go, Bree! Now Jodi, this great looking yellow female sure looks to be a keeper. Being proud is just the beginning of this wonderful relationship that the two of you will have for years. That makes the two of you darn lucky. I remember those days and they were really something. I am happy for you, Jode. Keep up that work ethic that you have developed with Bree. I'm sure glad you took that great shot of her bringing back that gwt.
Al

Thanks Al, she definitely is a keeper, I Just wish we didn't have our pesky " season split" as I'd like to keep the streak going in the still somewhat ( mid 50s) degree water temps.

 

[Derek Bendell]

Keep up the good work Jode!

 

[Bob M]

That's great Jode !

 

[jode hillman]

Keep up the good work Jode!

Thanks Derek, will do!

 

[jode hillman]

That's great Jode !

It was a good day!