Well, most of you that have seen any of my journals or posts have seen pictures and mention of my yellow lab Drake.
Drake is an awesome dog. Very easy going and loves to hunt! Drake isn’t just a hunting dog but a very loved part of our family. So a recent decision I made was a very hard one. Sending Drake away for training.
Now, a little history as to why I decided to do this. First of all, I have invested many hours in training Drake on my own to go hunting. There is no doubt he loves it! And in all actuality Drake doesn’t do too badly for the type of hunting we do around here. But after a few of the incidents this past season, and having booked a snow goose hunt out West next year that Drake will be accompanying us on.... I decided it was time for some professional help!
Drake’s 1st day home.
Drake was an easy pup. By saying that he was so easy to housebreak, doesn’t bark, will ride in a car forever with no problems and literally loves everyone and every dog he comes into contact with. Love of people and other dogs, that is problem #1. We took Drake to the Lake at 10 weeks old and he didn’t hesitate to jump right into the water and tried retrieving any loose stick floating by. Drake LOVES to swim. That is problem #2. Drake also is not afraid of anything! At 12 weeks old we were outside and Don started his lawn tractor and it backfired. Drake about 5 feet away never flinched. We knew then he would have no problem with gunfire, and he never did. Then came time to take him out and about in the woods, fields, etc. Again, nothing bothered him! He loved the smells and to explore. Although I always kept him on a 30 foot lead, which really helped when it came to him not wondering too far. That usually isn’t a problem. However, be it his personality, his immaturity, Drake can and does become very distracted! That is problem #3.
So we took Drake hunting at 5 ½ months old. He loved it...went right in for the birds, retrieved just like he should and all was great!
Drake retrieving at 5 ½ months old.
Then the next year came. Did Drake do well? Yes! Great! But being as an adolescent, (Drake is only 2) Drake had his own idea, on certain days, of how things would be done this year!
Problem #1: Drake LOVES people and other dogs. I have had extensive obedience training with him and one thing stays true...Drake doesn’t care about the correction. Drake thinks everyone on Earth was put here to pet him! And every dog...is here to play with HIM! This becomes a problem. First Drake doesn’t realize he is 85 pounds. So he knocks people around like a pro wrestler! And...not all dogs WANT to play with Drake. Snickers, our friend Bob Miller’s chocolate lab and Drake are buddies! But, hunting pheasants this year, Drake encountered dogs that weren’t looking for a new buddy. Thankfully we were able to leash Drake and get him away from the dogs ganging up and attacking him. Which Drake totally didn’t understand their hostility! He gave them a look like, “Hey what’s up with you? This isn’t right!” There isn’t a mean bone in my dog’s body unless he is running down a cripple goose or duck. That is the way I want it. However, him running off at the sight of other dogs, as it proved, can possibly be a danger to him.
Drake on a “text book” water retrieve this past fall.
Problem #2: Awe, the water! Nothing better than watching a hunting dog do what it was bred to do...and love it! And labs love to swim! We started taking Drake down to the Lake when he was 3 months old and would throw him dummies in shallow water. Drake would retrieve all day. If you would stop he would go out and swim! And swim, and swim, and swim.
Drake at 3 months old.
He even incorporated Problem #1 with problem #2. He saw people about 50 yards out in a canoe and of course, “Oh how cute is that puppy!” Well to Drake it was an invitation to go see them! This year, during second season, Drake made some totally awesome retrieves in cold water! Retrieved right to hand! First season...well it depended on the day. Oh he would retrieve anything you downed. Even swam after a wounded goose for 15 minutes until he got it! But....if it were a really HOT day, Drake would retrieve and swim in circles around the lake, pond, etc. See he figured out.....”Well if I give mom that bird.....I’m done swimming!” So Drake would come in when he felt like it. Example: Goose hunting...perfect set up and morning. We downed about 4 birds with the first round in. Some floated down into some thicker cover....sent Drake on his retrieve and he came back with one goose in seconds. PERFECT! THEN....he stopped about 4 feet short...something caught his eye....A POND!!!! Drake, with the goose still in his mouth looked at me...looked at the pond...looked at me as if to say, “Hey I didn’t know that water was there!!!”....and off he went into the pond to take himself and the goose for a swim.
Problem #3: Drake can become distracted. Not all the time but times when you really don’t want him too. Especially on longer retrieves. Drake will mark and retrieve like a pro 9 times out of 10. Then that one time...he’ll be right on mark...pick up the bird...then on his way back...”Hey, who’s that kid down by the farm?” OR ”hey....that’s a new smell”....and half way back drops the bird and starts sniffing around.
Now, I tried correcting these on my own and with help from other dog owner’s. Don’t get me wrong, there was one occassion, Drake ran circles around a 4 year old that was “trained”. But, when he ran onto a road after a grouse retrieve...We decided we needed help. I realize that going out West next year Drake will need to be a well mannered hunting dog. For the most part he is. But for his safety I wanted him trained. I am a smart enough person to know...that there is a right way and wrong way of doing things. And, if you do them the wrong way it can be worse than the original problem. So I decided to start checking out some professional trainers. Problem was I wanted one close enough that I could travel in a day to visit Drake. So the research began. The Breeders that I got Drake from, Barnes Puppy Love Kennels have awesome dogs and quite a few of them are titled and professionally trained. Their Trainer is in Ohio. That was a little too far for me. So I started checking some more places. Some I just didn’t get a good feel when I talked to the Trainers and can’t say the references were that great. I did a search on the web and found the Professional Retriever Training Association. There in the East Coast I saw “Ponderosa Kennels” in Smithsburg, MD. So I clicked on their web site www.ponderosakennels.com. I was impressed by the web site alone. But how good are they? So I then started reading Pat Nolan, Owner and Trainer’s credentials. About a mile long to say the least. Ok, but could he help me with Drake? One Trainer I spoke to said “Two years old? He’s too old. Sorry!” Well, I explained the issues to Pat in an email and asked if Drake’s age was a factor and did he think he could help me? I received a nice email replying, “Oh my yes!” I also received an open invitation to come down any time and visit the Kennel, watch a day of training, and bring Drake along to meet him. Jimmy and I did just that one day in March.
During our day we got to see various levels of training and some of the other trainers that worked with Pat. I also meet with other dog owners that had dogs trained, and some that are currently being trained by Ponderosa Kennels. I was very impressed! Pat is a super nice guy and has a very calming way around animals. The dogs seem naturally drawn to him. I felt very comfortable about taking my baby there for training. I made the arrangements and we dropped Drake off 2 weeks later. I won’t tell you I wasn’t upset when I drove away. I was excited and sad at the same time. I would miss my shadow terribly! But I knew that at the end of 3 months he would be a much better dog!
Last Friday, Jimmy had off school so we decided to go down and see Drake. I called Pat on Wednesday and he was very inviting and freely welcomed us down. The dogs were being trained at their retriever ponds. It was about a 2 hour drive from my home in Blair County. These ponds were amazing. All laid out and created by Pat himself out of 2 small fish ponds originally.
Couple pictures of the different retriever training ponds.
Pat welcomed us with his warm friendly demeanor and explained some of the training he was doing at the time with another young lab. Then a more experienced lab named Sunny.
Pat Nolan, far right working Sunny on Swim by retrieves.
It is so nice to have him explain the different drills they do with the dogs, point out weaknesses and how they work at correcting them. I simply could not wait to see Drake. Pat introduced me to the very nice young lady, Annie who was the Trainer working with Drake the past 2 weeks on his obedience training and collar conditioning. Annie is a very friendly, kind spoken young lady. I liked her right away and was thrilled she was working with Drake.
Drake got out of the truck and immediately greeted Jimmy and I. I almost cried. He looked great and I so miss his greetings every day home from work.
Annie and Pat did a live bird retrieve with Drake.
Drake retrieved the bird, took it to Pat instead of Annie then back for a swim. Well hey...it was hot!
Then Annie took us over to the other field and showed us some of the basic obedience and collar conditioning she was doing with Drake. I was quite impressed after 2 weeks how he responded. He was staying steady on his platform post with DISTRACTIONS! First Jimmy and I were there; then Pat was doing the live bird retrieves with the other dogs in the next field, (Drake loves gun fire...means dead bird!); there were other labs running free in the same field we were in; vehicles pulling in with more dogs, and geese honking in the pond 100 yards away. Yes, there was a POND, water, that close. And Annie had Drake staying and sitting without a flinch. I was impressed with only 2 weeks of work. Now I am sure every dog is different in their capacity of learning and progression.
Annie and Drake.
But I was happy with the fact Drake seemed happy, seemed to be doing well, still had the same loving personality, still glad to see us!
Me, Drake and my son Jimmy
I am looking forward to what Pat, Annie and the rest of the crew has in store when I go in May. I will be sure to update everyone with a more detailed Field Journal on Drake’s training. Until next time…
Click Here For Part 2 Of This Story
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