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Majestic Oaks Choxie
07/06/2006
In November of last year, my family selected and
purchased pure-bred Chocolate Labrador Retriever from Majestic Oaks Kennel
in Zimmerman MN. This is MO Choxie's
pedigree. Some noteable ancestors include AFC CFC CAFC Chugach
Hill's Jazz's Rascal and NFC AFC Storm's Riptide Star. The primary
purpose for doing this was to re-associate myself to the traditional Pheasant
and Grouse hunting of Falls past. Falls long past I might add. Over
the course of the winter, I have been training the dog, which my kids have
named "Choxie" to be a working retriever. I've been loosely following
'Water Dog' by R. A. Wolters, and am happy to report some good success so
far. Here is a picture of trainer and dog last night while working with
the "DeadFowl" trainers available at Cabela's.
I like the DeadFowl trainer line because you can inject the dummy
with scent instead of smearing it repeatedly onto the canvas bumper style dummy
that is typically used for this job. Chox does a fine job of single and
double retrieves, nearly without switching, but still wants to break on
the gun or dummy throw if given the opportunity. She is also
whistle trained to sit on one blast while near me, but is not that great
at sitting at a distance. We're working on it every day though.
I have to say that the best advice in 'Water Dog' is definitely to
start the whistle training early on. I feel this is mandatory for working
a dog in the field as the human voice just won't travel as far. Plus it
makes you look really good when you show it off in front of your
neighbors.
The current plan is to start with some live birds in about a month
or so. I've found a game farm in Princeton that has Quail, and will have
Pheasant sometime before now and the fall. I do plan to shoot some more
photo's as she grows into adulthood.
Brent Kastner
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