Our Big Win!

I'm so proud of my Meg.

At the second last trial of the year in these parts Elmingo's Prime Suspect (Megan) WON the Puppy Stake at Mountain Valley!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Meg and I. It's probably one of the nicest that I have.

Since the trial season is over, we're spending our time with some light training and hunting.

Next weekend is the big Dovetail Kennels Pheasant hunt and shortly thereafter it will be time for Meg to head south for the winter.

I'm going to miss her....

Noula - The New Star

This is a picture of a friend of mine, Margot, who, over the years has owned several Irish Water Spaniels. I met Margot, 11 1/2 years ago at Handling Class. I was learning to show Logan and Margot was teaching the ropes to Claire. Over the years, Margot has done obedience, conformation and field with her Irish Water Spaniels. For years Margot has been telling me how adorable Irish Water Spaniel puppies are and when Libby had her first litter this year, I went off to visit and was instantly "sucked in" by the IWS charm. Yes, Margot, they are adorable.

Margot kept one of these puppies and her name is Noula. Noula is also known as Noulie and affectionately called "Noodle". Whatever we call her, Noula is a doll and was the hit of training this past weekend. Below are a series of action photos of Noula's first swim and water retrieve.

This picture was taken of Noula on Saturday at training. She puddled around and spent a great deal of time at the line watching "the big dogs". She found it all very interesting and was very intent on watching what all was going on.

These next pictures were taken on Sunday when we trained at a local quarry.

Check out that water entry!!! Go Noula Go!!! Go Noula Go!!!

Amost there......

Got it...what a proud puppy and she turned right around and brought it back.

And away we go....let the games begin.

There you go Margot. Won't be long before she's ready for Master Hunt and maybe Field Trial???

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Better late than never!!! On June 25, 2009 my Logan turned 12 years old and I felt it fitting to celebrate this milestone.


So....I bought a Birthday Cake, some party hats and brought them along to the Mountain Valley WC's Tests at Christie Lake Conservation Area.


Once we all had a piece of Logan's cake, I made sure he got a corner piece!



Although Logan is blind, he is in extraordinary condition. He is happy and in good health. We walk everyday and he swims and retrieves bumpers with my other two dogs. He is my couch buddy and an all around good boy.


I'm already planning Logan's 13th Birthday Party for next year!

Meg's First Trial

If Marcy says she's been lazy about blogging I don't know what to say about myself. I have really been bad about keeping up to date.

Well, Meg went off to Dovetail Kennels in early May to start her formal field training. So far, so good. She is getting along well with everyone. She sailed through Force Fetch and Collar Conditioning and is now on 3 handed casting. She is getting stretched out more and more on her marks and is just tremendous in the water.

So after 4 weeks with Sandie we decided to enter Meg in the Longpoint Retriever Trial Puppy Stake. Pete Ferin handled Meg while I was at another Stake with Jett. I managed to run over to the Puppy Stake in time to watch the land series. Pete did a great job and in the end came up with a 4th place finish! The picture above is Pete and Meg walking to the line for the first mark.

Pete's pretty happy handling Meg. He adores Meg and she's quite fond of him. They make a nice pair. I have to keep reminding him that Meg belongs to me!

Flyer Day!

Just before we left to come home we had one last Flyer Day. I handed Meg over to Sandie and told her to "have at her" while I helped Pete with the flyers. This was Meg's very first flyer. She was extremely excited and had a great time. She also learned that she couldn't be pulling people all over the place and that "sit" means "sit". Meg had a wonderful time in Alabama.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

We spent our first weekend in Alabama attending the Montgomery Field Trial which is held annually in Greensboro, Alabama at the State Cattle Ranch.

The Cattle Ranch is a very interesting place. It is, in fact, a prison and the inmates take on the job of gunners at all the stakes. The Cattle Ranch used to be a fully functioning self sufficient enterprise. Catfish ponds, farming and cattle were the mainstays of the workings of the ranch. The size of this place is unbelievable.

The inmates here are pretty much "lifers". These are not petty thieves. They got to the cattle ranch because of good behaviour and are model prisoners.

There are no fences, no guards that you can see and cars and people drive through the property at will. Nothing holds the inmates in. If they wanted to go, they could. Interestingly, they don't.

The former Warden of the Cattle Ranch is a dog person and trials his dogs. You could book time to train your dogs on the property, pay the inmates to throw for you, and invite the warden to come along and train. It all worked out very well.

About a year ago, the Cattle Ranch was sold to Forever Wild, a conservation group. Their mandate is to return the property to its former state and create a large scale habitat to support wildlife conservation. The Cattle Ranch as it was no longer exists however, the actual "prison" is still intact and inmates do live here. There is no more farming but you can hire the inmates to work for you.

During a break in the action we took Jett and Meg and let them have a swim in one of the ponds on the property. They certainly had a blast. Meg loves the water and so does Jett. I love watching them play and have fun. They really get along very well together.

Not only did the girls have fun, but our Canadian contigent did extremely well in the Qual on this particular weekend. Lorne Langevin won, Dan Devos got 2nd, Peg Willibond got 3rd (honorary Canadian), Connie Swanson got 4th. Pretty much a clean sweep.

We're Baaaaacccckkkk!

Well, our Alabama training trip is over for yet another year. This year I took 2 dogs with me. Meg and Jett made the trip while Logan spent the 2 1/2 weeks with my sister.

This was a big trip and primarily my goal was to acclimatize Meg to life with the pack at Sandie and Allan's because when they get home from Alabama it will be time for Meg to go in for training.

Jett is an old veteran but Meg is totally "green" to the whole atmosphere and I must say the experience didn't faze her one little bit.

She learned to swim, made friends with the pack leaders, Annie and Millie, cuddled up with Sandie and Allan, learned what real birds were all about, experienced the tie-out and riding in the "big truck". Meg is a trooper and did just fine.

The pictures below are of Meg's first time in the water. She loved it. She is now an accomplished "water dog". She just dove right in and couldn't get enough!

Once Meg, got in I couldn't get her out. It was the best fun she's ever had. This picture was taken as I was attempting to get her out. If she could speak I guarantee she'd be saying "Come on, throw me another!!!"

Not to be forgotten, Jett worked really well while we south. I was really happy with her.

I have lot's more pictures and stories to share in subsequent posts. Suffice to say, we had a great time and I can't wait to go back next year.