Labrador Retrievers
The breed
Austin, Texas
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Addie's First Dove Hunt
Dove season in the North zone begins on September 1st. The hunting is always best on opening day as the Doves are caught off guard and provide some easy shots. Addie sits ready to be released for another retrieve. Dove feathers can be seen on her mouth and coat.
Quail Hunting Labs
I was invited on a Lampasas quail hunt in February. Before I left for the hunt I thought carefully before deciding to take Sara. I just knew there would be lots of short haired pointers and that Sara would just be in the way. I would take her anyway and if it didn't work out she could just sit in her kennel. When I arrived I was surprised to find out that no one had any dogs. My group limited out in a little over two hours. Sara flushed the covey's and policed up all the downed birds. None of the other groups had our success.
ADDIE
Addie enjoyed her swim in Lake Austin. This dog will do anything I ask just for the privilege of getting to chase one more buoy.
The Breed
I called Kay early that October morning and said, "Kay I think Sara is going to have her puppies" Kay said, "Sara can't be having her puppies yet, it is too early." Those were profound words as I looked at the mess in the kitchen. Lets see the book says, the dog may throw up, ok, it may loose control of its bowels, check, it may pant continuously, right, its abdomen may experience constrictions, yep. I put the book down just as the first puppy arrived. I called the office to tell them I was going to be a little late. I had to deliver lab pups today, what fun!
The alarm clocks could be heard ringing throughout the lodge as it sounded off at 5:00 A.M. There is nothing like the anticipation before the start of hunting season. None of the thirteen hunters at the 11th Street lodge had any trouble getting up to hunt on Friday morning. The dogs seemed to sense what was coming. Their barks and yelps just added to the morning excitement.
These two pups wait for the right owner. The first year of ownership is not for the timid as Lab pups will chew up anything in their paths. The metal gutter, the deck, the kennel the tree all is fair game to a lab pup.
Field Trial Recognition
Practice
Bob poses with Addie at the Best Retrievers tune up event prior to Dove season. I got so excited when It came time for Addie to do her live retrieve. When I gave her the release command I used a hard voice inflection. It was a big mistake because four other Labs took off with Addie. The guides had to tell me to be more careful.
Sara and Sage
Sara and Sage are ready for yet another South Texas Dove hunt. Trying to work to dogs on a hunt is quite the undertaking. I guess I had a soft heart because I could never leave one of my labs at home.
I pose with Sara and Sage on a dove hunt in South Texas. It was the last hunt for me with these dogs as an unscrupulous individual took the dogs from my backyard in late August of the following year. My new lab now has a chip imbedded in her neck and both gates in the backyard have locks.
