Al Hansen
Well-known member
I know how lucky I was when I found out about duckboat.net. It was a long time ago that I first crossed paths with Doug Bowman. I know he was originally from New Jersey and shooting ducks. Then I remember his voyage west to a duck factory in northeastern Montana where he and Nancy decided to begin a new life out. We have always kept track and it was earlier this summer that I asked him if he might have a chocolate male pup. He told me about the two that he had and it was right then that I made a decision to go up and see them and pick up some new blood for our kennel.
Doug and Nancy's kennel is called Sweetgrass Labradors and they have some great hunting dogs. Back on July 31st I took off early on that Thursday morning and headed almost straight north. I do know that this is the farthest that I have ever driven to pick up a pup. From our house to theirs was 1,226 miles. Basically it was from a little bit north of Mexico to a little bit south of Canada. All I can say is that Rico was worth every mile. I brought my yellow female, Belize, along to keep the new pup company. They bonded easily and my trip went very well.
So today when that Cooper's Hawk darn near caught that quail that lost her life when she hit our kitchen door, things quickly changed. I knew that Rico liked tennis balls but had never had a warm body to toss to see what he would do. All I can say is that there were lots of sore facial muscles from me smiling too much!
Here is Rico, who sat when I asked him and held onto this bird. Not only that when I put my hand down to take the bird it was not a struggle to get it. I will enjoy this fall.
Al
View attachment IMG_4249.JPGView attachment _MG_4296.JPGView attachment _MG_4300.JPGView attachment _MG_4301.JPGView attachment _MG_4307.JPGView attachment _MG_4310.JPGView attachment _MG_4313.JPGView attachment IMG_4256.JPG
Doug and Nancy's kennel is called Sweetgrass Labradors and they have some great hunting dogs. Back on July 31st I took off early on that Thursday morning and headed almost straight north. I do know that this is the farthest that I have ever driven to pick up a pup. From our house to theirs was 1,226 miles. Basically it was from a little bit north of Mexico to a little bit south of Canada. All I can say is that Rico was worth every mile. I brought my yellow female, Belize, along to keep the new pup company. They bonded easily and my trip went very well.
So today when that Cooper's Hawk darn near caught that quail that lost her life when she hit our kitchen door, things quickly changed. I knew that Rico liked tennis balls but had never had a warm body to toss to see what he would do. All I can say is that there were lots of sore facial muscles from me smiling too much!
Here is Rico, who sat when I asked him and held onto this bird. Not only that when I put my hand down to take the bird it was not a struggle to get it. I will enjoy this fall.
Al
View attachment IMG_4249.JPGView attachment _MG_4296.JPGView attachment _MG_4300.JPGView attachment _MG_4301.JPGView attachment _MG_4307.JPGView attachment _MG_4310.JPGView attachment _MG_4313.JPGView attachment IMG_4256.JPG