Definition of a Deutsch Drahthaar(according to me)

A lot of people ask the question, What is a Drahthaar? Well, here is my definition of a Drahthaar.

A Drahthaar is like a Mercedes Benz, a Lamborghini, a Tonka truck, A bad ass cage fighter, and a one of a kind piece of art all in one. A Mercedes because they are the ultimate versatile breed (and they are German) a Lamborghini because they go balls to the walls, a Tonka truck because they can get the shit beat out of them in the field and still do their job, and a bad ass fighter because, well, just keep your lab on a leash and everything will be fine, and last a piece of art because you can be sure that there is not another identical one in existance!

So the next time someone asks, What is a Drahthaar? Just tell them its a super nice,high performance, durable, tough as hell piece of art!

Long Time, No Blog

Where do I start? Hanks progress is going very well in all aspects of conditioning/training. He is successfully retrieving DFT's at longer and longer distances all the time. He now is really starting to understand the sequence of events and what needs to take place during a retrieve. I have slowly and methodically incorporated certain actions into this. A retrieve for Hank and I isnt just simply go get the dummy. It consists of sit at heel(even though he hasnt been introduced to "heel" this is a precursor to the intro to the command. As i was saying sit at heel, mark, fetch,deliver, sit,praise! He does this a good 85% of the time with the remaining 15% being him forgetting to sit in which case he gets no praise. I have been able to achieve this by incorporating sit into the equation, I am now wondering if i shouldnt start to do some baby pile work with him to introduce to him the fact that something doesnt have to be thrown by me in order for fetching to occur. Hank has also been getting introduced to the whistle and his obedience(puppy obedience) is coming along nicely!
Sit 99%, Kennel 95%, no 0%(stubborn little bastard) come 95%, four toots on the whistle used as come is at about 65-70% he does it 100% of the time if i sit him first and then walk away and then use the whistle but he is going to slowly be introduced to the fact that it means stop what u r doing right now and get ur little german ass to me pronto buddy. He understands "alright" as his release command from his kennel, sitting position, and also used for going through doors etc. It is also being used as a way of getting him out in the field away from me. I have started the intro to hand signals and he got his first up close encounter with a live pigeon a couple of days ago. I have been doing rabbit drags for him once a week or so and working on track. I did a couple of 100 yard plus drags for him last week and bingo. No problem whatsoever. Hank is doing very well and is growing just as fast as all the corn around here. He weighs about 35 lbs right now and is in good shape. I have made sure to keep all of the training fun for Hank and have actually realized what my expectations should be of him, there should be none! As long as he doesnt do his business in the house and doesnt bite, im cool!

Until next time,

David

CHAPTER MEETING AND DRAHTS AND BRATS

OUR CHAPTER MEETING WAS THIS WEEKEND AND SO WAS THE 7TH ANNUAL DRAHTS AND BRATS HOSTED BY GENE AND LONA KLUCK. THEY HAD ALL KINDS OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON THIS WEEKEND AS FAR AS TRAINING FOR ALL AGES OF DOGS AND HANDLERS. THE WEEKEND STARTED OFF WITH A WELCOME BBQ ON FRIDAY EVENING AND A FORCE FETCH CLINIC BY JOHN LUTRELL. THE CLINIC WAS TWO HOURS OF GREAT INFO AND GREAT TECHNIQUES. IT ALSO GAVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO MEET AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHERS EXPERIENCES. SATURDAY MORNING WAS ARMBRUSTER EVALUATIONS FOR HARE TRACK AND GUN SENSITIVITY. THIS BEING MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH I WAS A SPONGE WHEN IT CAME TO LEARNING WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF THE DOGS. THEY HAD ANOTHER BBQ AT AROUND NOON AND DID ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES WHEN IT CAME TO YOUNG PUPS LIKE HANK INCLUDING INTRO TO DRAGS WHICH I HAD ALREADY STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO. SO I GUESS HANK A BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE WHEN IT CAME TO THAT. I WANTED TO MAKE IT A BIT MORE DIFFICULT ON HANK SO INSTEAD OF HIM WATCHING THEM DRAG THE RABBIT I TOOK HIM AROUND THE CORNER AND HAD THEM DRAG IT CONSIDERABLY FARTHER. HANK FOLLOWED THAT SCENT TRAIL ALL THE WAY TO THE RABBIT AND WAS IMPRESSIVE AT THAT. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE VERY EARLY IN HANKS DEVELOPMENT IT IS REWARDING TO SEE HIM USING THE NATURAL ABILITIES THAT HE HAS AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON. SATURDAY EVENING WAS THE DINNER AND AUCTION. WHAT A GOOD TIME THAT WAS. I PICKED UP A LARGE CRATE IN THE AUCTION FOR $45.00. SO NOW I HAVE ONE TO REPLACE THE SMALL ONE I WAS USING IN THE VEHICLE THAT HANK HAS PRETTY MUCH OUTGROWN. SUNDAY MORNING WAS THE BUSINESS MEETING AND LETS JUST SAY SOME VERY GOOD THINGS ARE TO COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR THE BREED. IT WAS NICE TO MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM OUR CHAPTER AND SEE ALL THE DOGS WORK. IT WAS MY FIRST TIME SEEING ADULTS IN HUNTING SITUATIONS SO I WAS IMPRESSED IMMENSLY AT THE PREY DRIVE THAT THESE DOGS HAVE. AS FAR AS HANK HE IS DOING WELL. HE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE CHOKE CHAIN THIS WEEKEND AND IS REALLY COMPLYING TO ALL OF THE COMMANDS THAT I HAVE STARTED HIM ON. I GUESS OBEDIENCE IS REALLY MY MAIN FOCUS AND ALSO LETTING HIM KNOW THAT HE IS NOT SECOND IN COMMAND AND ALL HUMANS ARE TO BE RESPECTED. NEXT FOR HANK IS INTRODUCTION TO LIVE PIGEONS TO BRING OUT THAT POINT INSTINCT. SORRY THE POSTS HAVE BEEN SO FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. HANK HAS KEPT ME BUSY AND MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE IN TOWN SO FREE TIME IS VALUABLE! THE PIC OF HANK AND ME IS IN OUR YARD WORKING ON TRACK LAST WEEK WITH BACON GREASE AND CANNED FOOD AT THE END. THE OTHER TWO PICS ARE FROM THE AUCTION AND THE GUN SENSITIVITY TESTING FOR THE ARMBRUSTER. WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND. THE WHOLE WEEKEND WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED THANKS TO GENE AND LONA AND JOHN AND JULIE TIEDE.

NEW VEHICLE FOR ME AND HANK

WELL I GOT TIRED OF NOT HAVING A VEHICLE. I SOLD MY OLD TRUCK BEFORE MOVING TO SOUTH DAKOTA AND WITH HUNTING SEASON JUST AROUND THE CORNER I DECIDED IT WAS TIME. AFTER SHOPPING AROUND FOR A COUPLE WEEKS I FINALLY SETTLED ON A SUBURBAN. I LIKE THIS ONE BECAUSE ITS E-85 READY SO WHEN AND IF GAS GOES UP IT COULD SAVE ME SOME BUCKS. I ALSO LIKE IT BECAUSE IT HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR HANK AND ALL THE HUNTING CRAP IN THE BACK. I ALMOST BOUGHT A TRUCK BUT DIDNT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE HASTLE OF CLIMBING IN AND OUT OF A BED AND IT CAN GET PRETTY COLD HERE SO IT WILL BE BETTER FOR HANK. IT WILL ALSO MAKE A GOOD FAMILY VEHICLE TOO. FIRST THING I KNEW I HAD TO DO WAS PUT A GRILL GUARD ONIT SO I WENT TO A FRIEND WHOS FAMILY OWNS A GMC DEALERSHIP HERE IN TOWN AND HE HAPPENED TO HAVE ONE THAT CAME OFF OF A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BUYER DIDNT WANT IT.SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $40 BUCKS FOR A LUVERNE BIG TEX. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? IM NOT COMPLAINING. SO AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF RETRO FITTING HERE IT IS. NO PHEASANTS TOUCHING MY RADIATOR! YOU KNOW A COUPLE OF VDD-GNA STICKERS FOUND THEIR WAY ONTO THE GLASS THE FIRST DAY!

AS FAR AS HANK GOES, EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD. I HAVE STARTED THROWING THE DUMMY INTO A BIT OF COVER AND HE IS REALLY SEARCHING FOR IT. WE R STEADY WORKING ON TRACK. I THREW A DUMMY INTO SOME BUSHES THE OTHER DAY AND HE SEEMED CONFUSED AT FIRST BUT THAT SEARCH PART OF HIS GENETICS KICKED IN AND A MINUTE OR SO LATER HE FOUND IT. YOU COULD REALLY TELL THAT HE WAS PROUD OF HIMSELF THE WAY HE HELD THE DUMMY HIGH AS HE RETURNED TO ME. OF COURSE HE GOT A TREAT FOR THAT ONE. HE IS FULLY HOUSEBROKEN AND SITTING BEFORE ENTERING EVERY DOOR AND ALSO WAITING FOR MY "ALRIGHT" WHICH IS THE COMMAND I AM USING TO LET HIM OUT OF HIS KENNEL OR CROSS STREETS OR GO THROUGH DOORS. IT WILL ALSO COME INTO PLAY IN PLENTY OF SITUATIONS IN THE FIELD. SORRY I HAVENT BEEN UPDATING THE BLOG OFTEN. BEEN REALLY BUSY.

HANK'S PROGRESS

WELL THE LAST FEW DAYS I REALIZED THAT MAYBE MY EXPECTATIONS OF HANK WERE NOT UNREASONABLE BUT A BIT ABOVE WHATS NEEDED FOR A PUP OF ONLY 9 WEEKS. I DECIDED TO LET HANK HAVE MORE FUN AND KICK BACK ON THE "TRAINING" A BIT. NOT TO SAY THAT I STOPPED WORKING WITH HIM OR DIDNT TRY TO CONDITION A BIT BUT I HAVE NOW STARTED TO ADAPT THE TIMES THAT I WORK WITH HANK IN THE YARD OR OUTSIDE TO WHEN I FEEL THEY WILL BE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE. FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OR SO I HAD A PRETTY SET SCHEDULE ON WHEN WE WORKED TOGETHER. I WOULD WAKE UP AT 6 AM AND FEED HANK THEN TAKE HIM OUT TO WORK ON STUFF FOR TEN MINUTES OR SO, BUT I FOUND THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS LAY IN THE GRASS AND CHEW ON BARK OR GRASS. SO NOW I HAVE STARTED FEEDING HIM THEN TAKING HIM OUTSIDE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS THEN TAKING HIM BACK INSIDE AND KENNELING HIM WHILE I GET READY FOR MY DAY THEN WORKING A BIT IN THE YARD. ITS MORE PRODUCTIVE AND HIS ATTENTION SPAN SEEMS A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND THE "DRILLS" GO MUCH BETTER. IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON I TAKE AN HOUR OR SO LUNCH BREAK AND WORK WITH HIM BEFORE HE EATS. SINCE I AM INCORPORATING TREATS(PIECES OF HIS FOOD) IN TO TRAINING HE IS A BIT MORE EAGER TO PERFORM WHEN HE IS HUNGRY, MAKES SENSE TO ME. IN THE EVENING OR AFTER I GET OFF WORK I AM TRYING TO EXPOSE HANK TO HUNTING TYPE SITUATIONS. LIKE TAKING A DRIVE OUT TO THE LAKE AND GOING IN THE WATER, OR GOING TO A FIELD AND LETTING HIM SMELL AROUND AND EXPERIENCE COVER. IF I DONT GO OUT TO ONE OF THESE PLACES I WORK IN THE YARD WITH HIM CASUALLY. I DONT WAT TO DENY HIM HIS CHANCE TO BE A PUP.


THIS MORNING WHEN WE WERE LEAVING TO COME TO THE OFFICE I LET HANK EMPTY OUT BEFORE WE GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A PIECE OF COTTON(OR WHATEVER THE TECHNICAL TERM IS) FROM A COTTONWOOD TREE STUCK TO THE GRASS. HANK STALKED IT AND LOCKED UP ON POINT FOR A GOOD TEN OR SO SECONDS. A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.I GUESS MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE DID THAT WITH SOMETHING NATURAL OR UNPLANTED. ACTUALLY BESIDES THE ONE OR TWO TIMES WITH THE WING ON A STRING ITS REALLY THE FIRST TIME FOR HIM. ONE THING THAT I HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO GET CAUGHT UP IN WAS HIS PROGRESS,CORRECTION, HIS PROGRESS WITH MY INFLUENCE. I HAVE EXPECTATIONS OF HIM BEING SOME GREAT POINTING,RETRIEVING,TRACKING ANIMAL THIS FALL. NEWSFLASH........NOT REALISTIC. HIS NATURAL ABILITIES ARE WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE HIM A GREAT DOG, WITH MY GUIDANCE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. UNTIL HE HAS HIS CHANCE TO BE A PUP AND LEARN THAT HE HAS THESE ABILITIES, I NEED TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE. YES I CAN HELP CONDITION THESE NATURAL ABILITIES BUT HELPING TO CONDITION AND TRAINING ARE DIFFERENT THINGS. THANKS CHAZZ!

WEEKEND FULL OF NEW STUFF FOR HANK

I FOUND A FRESHLY DEAD RABBIT ON SATURDAY MORNING ON THE WAY OUT TO THE LAKE SO I DECIDE TO LET HANK CHECK IT OUT. THREW IT IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND CONTINUED OUT TO THE LAKE. I WAS HEADED OUT THERE TO LET HANK SEE SOME MORE WATER AND HOPEFULLY GET HIM TO GO IN PAST HIS BELLY. THE RABBIT DID THE TRICK! HE PLAYED WITH IT A BIT ON SHORE THEN I TOOK IT WITH ME OUT INTO THE WATER AND HE FOLLOWED. THEN AFTER I WAS SURE THAT IT HAD HIS FULL ATTENTION, I TOSSED IT IN, AND THERE HE WENT, INTO WATER DEEPER THAN HE IS TALL AND OUT HE CAME, RABBIT IN MOUTH. I DID THAT A COUPLE TIMES AND THEN KENNELED HIM. I DECIDED TO DO A COUPLE OF SHORT DRAGS FOR HIM JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. I DRUG THE RABBIT 30 TO 40 FEET AND HID IT IN SOME TALL GRASS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HANK ON "TRACK" SINCE ALMOST DAY ONE. I PLACE A SMALL PIECE OF MILK BONE OR A PIECE OF HIS FOOD IN SOME GRASS AND POINT TO IT WHILE SAYING "TRACK" HE NOW KNOWS THAT SOMETHING IS THERE. SO I POINTED TO THE START OF THE DRAG AND SAID TRACK, AND THERE WENT THAT DRAHTHAAR NOSE. DIDNT TAKE LONG AND HE FOUND THE RABBIT. WHAT AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR ME! I THEN KENNELED HIM AGAIN AND DECIDED TO MAKE IT A BIT MORE INTERESTING, I DRUG THE RABBIT IN A ZIG ZAG PATTERN AND MADE IT A FEW FEET LONGER, HE FOUND IT. GOOD BOY! I SUPPOSE THAT SINCE IT WAS DRY OUT AND THE RABBIT WAS WET, IT MADE IT MUCH EASIER FOR HIM BUT A GOOD EXPERIENCE NONE THE LESS. I ALSO LATER LEARNED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BEST IDEA TO USE A RABBIT IN WATER SINCE THIS WILL NEVER OCCUR IN A HUNTING SITUATION AND WET RABBIT CAN GET MESSY SO I WILL NOT USE THIS ANYMORE, BUT IT GOT HANK TO GO IN THE WATER SO I GUESS IT WAS ALRIGHT FOR THAT ONE OCCASSION. HANK HAS REALLY STARTED TO LISTEN TO THE "COME" COMMAND AND THE "KENNEL" COMMAND. WITH THE KENNEL COMMAND HE IS STILL HESITANT AND NEEDS ME TO LEAD HIM INTO THE KENNEL MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES HE GOES IN WITHOUT HELP. HE IS ALSO RETRIEVING WELL(FOR A PUP) AND I AM SURE TO REWARD HIM PHYSICALLY AND KEEP IT FUN AND NOT OVERDO IT. A SITUATION THAT IS IMPORTANT REGARDING TRAINING CAME TO MY ATTENTION THIS WEEK. A NEIGHBOOR OF MINE FELT THAT IT WAS HER DUTY TO TRY TO TELL ME THAT BY PULLING HANK TOWARDS ME AGAINST HIS WILL I WAS "UNPROPERLY"TRAINING MY DOG. SHE ALSO MADE UP SOME STORY THAT I HAD "KICKED" HANK. UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE! KICK MY DOG? THE DOG THAT IS BECOMING MY BEST FRIEND AND THE DOG THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ME ENJOYING HUNTING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ENJOYED. IT JUST GO'S TO SHOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH KEEPING TO THEMSELVES AND STAYING OUT OF OTHER PEOPLES BUSINESS. THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD EVER KICK A DOG, NO MATTER WHAT!!! AND FOR SOME PERSON TO CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH MY TRAINING AND ALSO BRING UP ANIMAL CONTROL FOR SOMETHING THAT NEVER HAPPENED IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS AND DOWNRIGHT EVIL IN MY BOOK. I KNOW THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE READ THIS(IF ANY AT ALL) BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CAREFUL OF WHO CAN SEE THE WAY YOU ARE WITH YOUR DOG. SOME PEOPLE DONT UNDERSTAND THAT HUNTING DOGS ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR EVERY DAY HOUSE PET. THEY REQUIRE MORE STRUCTURE AND DISCIPLINE THAN A DOG THAT ALL YOU DO IS FEED AND TELL TO SIT. IN NO WAY AM I SAYING THAT ABUSING YOUR DOG IS RIGHT BUT HEY, WE USE E-COLLARS ON THEM DONT WE? THIS IS ALSO A SITUATION WHERE I HAVE TO EITHER LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER AND ALTER THE WAY I TRAIN HANK, OR GO SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN BE COMPLETELY ALONE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT SOME IDIOT WATCHING ME TRAIN MY DOG CORRECTLY! F#$%^NG PEOPLE!!!!!!

LONG DAY FOR HANK(AND I)

FIRST OFF, I WILL CONTINUE THE HOUSEBREAKING DEAL BUT SINCE THE POTTY TRAINING IS THE ONLY THING I FEEL I HAVE COMPLETED, I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS DONE BEFORE I WRITE ANYTHING.

TODAY WAS A BUSY DAY FOR HANK AND I. WE WENT TO WORK, PLAYED SOME FETCH AND LEFT AROUND FOUR OCLOCK. IT WAS REALLY NICE WEATHER OUT SO I DECIDED TO INTRODUCE HANK TO COVER. I TOOK HIM TO A TREE BELT OUTSIDE OF TOWN WHERE I KNOW THERE ARE PHEASANTS(NOT THAT I EXPECTED ANYTHING TO COME OF IT) BUT MAYBE HE WILL STORE IT IN HIS MEMORY AS A SCENT HE HAS SMELLED BEFORE SO WHEN I INTRODUCE HIM TO PHEASANTS HE WILL KNOW. THE TREE BELT WAS COVERED WITH WAIST HIGH GRASS. HANK JUST WENT BARRELING THROUGH IT LIKE NOTHING HE WAS LEAPING AND EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE, HE WOULD LIE DOWN AND ENJOY THE COOLNESS OF THE GRASS. WE HEARD A ROOSTER SOUNDING OFF TWENTY YARDS OR SO FROM US SO I HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION HOPING TO HAVE ONE FLUSH. NO SUCH LUCK. HANK DID PICK UP A SCENT TRAIL OF SOME SORT AND WENT CRAZY. THE GRASS WAS SO TALL I WAS CAUTIOUS TO STAY RIGHT ON TOP OF HIM JUST INCASE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD HARM HIM(HE IS ONLY EIGHT WEEKS OLD AFTER ALL) HE TRACKED FOR A MINUTE OR SO THEN I PICKED HIM UP AND WE WENT BACK TO THE TRAIL. I ALSO MADE SURE TO STOP EVERY FEW MINUTES AND GIVE HIM A DRINK OF WATER. THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS WHERE A GOOD MAJORITY OF HANKS TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE. AT LEAST HIS INTRO TO LIVE BIRDS AND THE 12 GUAGE. IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IF YOU HAVE A CAPTIVE GAME BIRD LICENSE, YOU MAY PURCHASE LIVE BIRDS, TAKE SOME SURVEYERS TAPE AND TIE IT AROUND ONE LEG, RELEASE THE BIRD ON PRIVATE LAND AND SHOOT IT. EVEN IF IT IS NOT SEASON. THE LICENSE ONLY COST ME $10.00 AND WHAT A TOOL THAT WILL BE!

SO ON THE WAY BACK INTO TOWN, I DECIDED TO STOP BY THE LAKE(KAMPESKA) AND EXPOSE HANK TO MORE WATER. I WAS ABLE TO ENTICE HIM WITH A TREAT TO WALKING IN ALMOST BELLY HIGH. HEY, PROGRESS IS PROGRESS! WE WALKED ALONG SHORE AND I GOT HIM TO GO IN AGAIN AND I WAS HAPPY WITH THAT.

GOT BACK TO THE HOUSE AT ABOUT 7 OCLOCK(HANKS DINNER TIME) AND GOT A CALL FROM A BUDDY WHO WANTED TO GO WET A LINE SO I FED HANK, LET HIM DO HIS BUSINESS AND OFF WE WENT. HANKS FIRST FISH WAS A WHITE BASS ABOUT 3/4 OF A LB. I REELED IT IN AND LET HIM SMELL IT AND HE GAVE IT A COUPLE LICKS AND STARTED BARKING AT IT AND JUMPING AROUND TRYING TO PLAY WITH IT. BAC K IN THE WATER IT WENT. THE FISHING DOESNT PICK UP UNTIL AROUND 9PM OR SO. WE DECIDED TO GO SHOOT SOME GROUND SQUIRREL AND I LOOKED AT IT AS A GOOD OPPURTUNITY FOR HANK TO HEAR A GUNSHOT. UP UNTIL NOW ALL HE HAS HEARD WAS ME PICKING OFF SQUIRRELS WITH A PELLET GUN AND SINCE HE PAYS NO ATTENTION TO THAT I FIGURED IT WAS ALRIGHT TO STEP IT UP TO A .22. WELL,WE DIDNT FIND ANY SQUIRRELS, BUT WE DID SHOOT SOME OTHER STUFF. I WALKED OUT IN A FIELD WITH HANK WHILE MY BUDDY STAYED AND WHILE I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM HIM I GAVE HIM A SIGNAL TO GO AHEAD AND SHOOT BUT BE SURE TO SHOOT COMPLETELY AWAY FROM US SO THE SOUND WOULD BE LESS INTENSE. HE STARTED SHOOTING AND HANK WOULD STOP AND LOOK BACK IN HIS DIRECTION AND I WOULD PAY NO ATTENTION AND JUST KEEP WALKING. HE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF FEAR SO THAT WAS GOOD. WE ALSO TOOK SOME SHOTS WHILE HANK WAS KENNELED IN THE TRUCK, NO WHINING AND NO FEAR. PRETTY LONG DAY FOR A LITTLE PUP. WHEN I GOT UP THIS MORNING I DECIDE TO BE SURE IF HANK HAD DEVELOPED ANY TYPE OF FEAR FOR NOISE BY SHOOTING THE PELLET GUN A COUPLE TIMES, NONE AT ALL. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,GUNSHYNESS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM TO HAVE WITH A DOG. I HAVE HEARD THAT IT CAN TAKE A YEAR OR SO TO CORRECT, IF YOU CAN CORRECT IT AT ALL! THIS IS THE ONE THING I AM GOING TO BE THE MOST CAREFUL ABOUT. AN E-COLLAR, CHECK CORD, OR TREATS CANNOT FIX IT, ONE OF THOSE CAN FIX ALMOST EVERY OTHER ISSUE YOU WILL ENCOUNTER.


WELL TODAY WAS VERY GOOD PROGRESS. I WILL JUST HAVE TO KEEP EXPOSING HANK TO NEW THINGS AND NEW HUNTING TYPE SITUATIONS ALL THE TIME AND COME THIS FALL, WE SHOULD GET SOME BIRDS IN THE BAG.

I KNOW THAT THIS YEAR IS MAINLY AN EXPOSURE YEAR. NEXT YEAR WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT ME AND MY HANDLING OF HANK.

LATER!