She's got it. BY GRORGE, SHE'S GOT IT!

Howard

Howard

Well-known member
Six has been an easy dog to train. She picked right up on marks and hand signals, etc. Hunting was a different story altogether. She'd watch birds intently, close or at a distance just like a real hunting dog. Actually send her after a downed bird and she didn't have a freakin' clue. Time to go romp in the water! When that happens she is a complete space case, splashing water with her paws then trying to catch it in her mouth and yipping continuesly. Oblivious to anything else around her. Refused voice and whistle commands, in fact I don't think she was aware of them. Last season I had to chase her 1500 yards and she didn't respond until I was within 15 feet of her. Earlier this year she pulled the same stunt out at Goodwin Island and I thought I'd lost her. After about 20 minutes of frantic serching I found her halfway across the York River still trying to bite the water. Now I have to get a tired dog back into the boat, sideways in a two foot chop. Not my idea of a "real good time". I waited to register her and thought about just finding her a home but then I had visions of some family walking her along the beach then watching her disapear among the waves, never to be seen again. Couldn't live with that so I'll just hold on to her. Other than that one fault she really is a nice dog.

So today I decided to hunt the Piankatank river at Holland Point. First hunt with the new sneak boat too. I set 9 ringnecks, 4 canvasbacks and 4 buffleheads. No camo on the boat, just hunted it like an open water layout. Lots of birds flying on the three mile run down the river so I was confident of some shooting. Lots of shooting going on upriver and birds flying in the distance. Then here comes a bluebill! First of the season too. One shot, dead on the water right in the landing zone. She's lookin' at it! I send her out and it took her a second or two to figure out how to get out of the sneak boat because she's used to having a short run on the Dread Pirate Roberts. Finaly she just slithers in then heads right for one of the ringnecks. Here we go again...... I hit the stop whistle and she actually stopped! Six, back. She turned, saw the downed bird, made the swim back to boat and asked me, "Why didn't ya just say this is what you wanted?" She held it all the way into the boat and didn't let go till I took it from her. We got three buffleheads after that and she did well on all of them.

We've been home 4 hours and she's still in the boat. Reckon I'll just keep her. If I didn't have the same personality as a Chesapeake, I probably would have given up. I'm just not good at giving up.

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well now that your retired i guess you can give a lot of practice, lol.

my buddys dog did the same thing three years ago it was her first year and we were new to duck hunting so im sure we didn't give her enough training/practice (we were still kids). she would swim up to a bird lick it and swim back some times bringing a decoy. but one day (i think she watched me go swiming in a cold beaver swamp) she got it. from then on she has been pretty good, it has been nice no having to go swimming.

Six will get it. don't give up
 
Howard,

Good to hear that the "light" went on. Here's hoping you've got some season left to let Six get in a few more sessions on the water.
 
Howard, i believe what you are describing is called "water freaking". I had never heard of it until I started looking into a Chessie. I thought it sounded weird and did some google searches to learn more about it.

Sounds like she got through it. Great photos of Six. I am patiently awaiting the arrival of my first Chessie, to be named Emma. I get to drive out to pick her up at the end of February.

Good luck with the rest of the season.

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Howard - Way to hang in with a challenging young dog. I don't know how many of us would have had as much patience but everyone who's had success training their dog will clearly remember that magic time when it all comes together. I have read that sometimes the toughest cases can become the the best dogs. Hope that's the case for you !
sarge
 
Bob, we have a week left. Dick the hard part was; I just love her to death.
 
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This will be a great story to share in many years after she has scores of birds underneath her belt. I was laughing quite hard picturing a man trying to scoop a water splashing/eating chessie from the drink in chop. Good luck the rest of the year.
 
Glad to here it Howard, that was the best day for me when everything finally clicked in Betsy's head - no holding her back now!
 
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