Day working on the Prairie

Today started early roading the field trial dogs. Additionally, we free ran Tech, Maggie, Doc, Collin and Jakey.

Tech and Maggie - Both ran nice forward race, and they also had contact with some birds.

Doc - Hung close to the quad but ventured out and knocked a group of small pheasants.

Jakey and Collin - Were gone from the start, and the only evidence we had of where they were at was the numerous pheasants and sharp-tails flushed out from the sunflower and prairie and glimpses of white following.

We worked the dogs in brace after a spot of breakfast.

The first brace out was Squirt and Jackson - they worked in perfect foot hunting range and covered the ground well. Squirt had a find on 3 pheasants that were well located and Jackson backed briefly - upon moving he had a small correction and Squirts birds were flushed and she stood with manners. Jackson had no further bird contact.

Star and Sallie - Ran a beautiful well applied foot hunters race, and sought out likely objectives but were not able to make contact with birds.

Buster and Rocky - Worked well together. Rocky running a moderate race and Buster being a bit handier. Rocky pointed a group of pheasants, and Buster was brought in to back and stood after a small "Whoa" and correction. Rocky's birds were flushed and he remained broke through the flush and shot. Buster ran better after that and showed signs of birdiness but did not produce any birds.

Dot and Trevor - Both dogs ran a moderate well applied race, and sought out birdy places . They slowed in the heat, but after a stop at water hole - resumed a good pace. Dot had a find on mature pheasants and stood through the flush of two as the handler dismounted and moved to flush - 1 more bird flushed and handler fired with Dot breaking on the shot. Small correction was well applied and Dot stopped as another late flushing bird exploded out of the grass in front of her. Trevor honored - but needed some correction and encouragement from handler.

Lucy and Max - Ran a great gun dog race, well applied and both had finds on pheasants - they broke at the flush and shot - but it was great work for puppy and derby aged dogs. Max had 2 finds and Lucy had 1 find and honored Max on one occasion.

Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill