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OnX and Garmin Rung My Bell

Your time afield is incomplete without a pointing dog. And that time afield turns down right scary when your favorite buddy cannot be located. Life was easier 25 years ago when I started hunting with a Swiss cowbell on my big ranging Brit. Until it got not so easy, with a big ranging 2 year old who was slightly out of control running more than a mile out at times in big country. But, even the biggest bell couldn't be heard at that range and if the dog was out sight and out of sound, what to do next other than holler, whistle and wait. Or maybe fire off a shot and see if he returned for the retrieved (which I did in a number of moments of desperation with seemingly great success). Looking back on it, I ordered some really great sounding bells, some of which were very pricey and difficult to find in catalogs. I lost or gave away many of them over the years, but the real challenge was getting the dog accustomed to it, and for that task I had to start with clip on fishing bells or cat bells, so that the dog wouldn't freeze up in my training sessions of leaving the bell on for hours around the house each day. I've purchased and experimented with all of these over the years, but I pretty much narrowed my preference to these three below... The big 8/0 Swiss made bell for mountains, the smaller Swiss made one for ruffed grouse woods, and the clip on brass fishing bell for training around the house. All three had the most pleasing sounds and carried well for each intended purpose. Then the day

By |September 2nd, 2020|Categories: Dog Training, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on OnX and Garmin Rung My Bell

Dealing with Sensitive Dogs and/or Gun Shyness

In 20 plus years of having field trial bred Brittanys, I currently Had a number of dogs and bitches. I currently have a Brittany bitch which came to us to us as a little shy or as Gary Ruppel says, she is sensitive. She was the daughter of a famously hard charging field trial dog. Her brood mom, not so much hard charging, more a family hunting dog. So part of it may be genetic. She was kept as the pick of the litter. She liked to bounce up and down in the kennel and was very friendly, enthusiastic and gentle. She was 6 months old when we got her. She had lived in a small field trial kennel her whole life, but one where the dogs are well treated and get out daily for roading or work with birds. They just don't get a whole lot of other contact with people or other dogs until they get a little older and start going to field trials and the local is rural so when they get out, they go a country mile to find birds for 30 minutes and then the next dog goes out. Bounce loved this life, as do I at many times. But, at this point, she was a little timid around people, particularly strangers as she hadn’t been to field trials yet, where they get this socializing with members outside their own pack. She didn't bark and wasn’t neurotic, but she was just a little timid looking at Petsmart, the dog park, or with even the mailman, and you could tell new situations made her uncomfortable. She would frequently roll over on her back, showing submission. She also did this if

By |September 25th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Dealing with Sensitive Dogs and/or Gun Shyness

Bird Dog Training for 25 Years with Gary Ruppel

Take a guided stroll with us through the evolution of dog training with this tribute to those who get their hands dirty and train dogs professionally in both good weather and bad. And, the best set of those hands, at guiding dogs to achieve greatness, are those of Gary Ruppel. Gary was mentored by Mike Gould, and both were written extensively about by the late Bill Tarrant for their extraordinary ability to connect with pointing dogs on a new level. Come step with me, through an invisible veil, deep into the secrets of bird dog training. It is my hope that you will find something here useful, not only for you, but for your bird dog. To me, the joy of wing shooting and upland hunting is in watching the dogs work. If I didn't have a good bird dog, I wouldn't hunt. And, I prefer pointers over retrievers, but Gary breeds and trains both. Sure, the shotgunning part of a day afield is a beautiful thing, both in and of itself, and something I have spent a lot of time and money to perfect that craft as much as possible. But having a finely tuned bird dog is the real key to enjoying what God gives us from a day afield. Just enjoying a day in our safe space in nature and watching a dog run in the grand places in big skies, where our 14 species of upland birds are found, as are some of the most magical places in the United States, often wide open or undisturbed parts of the county, can set your heart right again in the world. So it is, that the training of bird dogs is a critical

By |September 17th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Bird Dog Training for 25 Years with Gary Ruppel

Grooming Your Brittany

http://www.brittanygrooming.com/ is a super link for dog grooming tips for your Brittany for show or field. Check it out! New post on Project Upland   How to Properly Trim Hunting Dog Nails by Joe Spoo DVM, DACVSMR

By |September 17th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Grooming Your Brittany

Sniksoh Equipage Worthy Expense Jr. “Deuce”

Dam - AFC Sniksoh Evolution ( Eve) Sire NFC Sniksoh Worthy Expense (Spenser) Dawn Droel bought Spencer’s half brother Sniksoh Slippery Slope ( Slick) who is doing well as a show Brittany.Whelped 06/12/2019 I have to learn to spell Deuce all over again, as I continually type Duece. Sire: Sniksoh Worthy Expense ( Spencer ) - Spencer won the ABC Central All Age Futurity. Excellent hunting dog with lots of point, nose, style, and desire to please. Dam: AFC Sniksoh Evolution (Eve ) - Eve has been easy to train. Excellent nose with lots of point. View complete pedigree   FC AFC SNIKSOH LITTLE RASCAL   GFC FC AFC SNIKSOH SPANKS HANK     AFC DECANS BLAZIN BYE  Sniksoh Worthy Expense     FC AFC SNIKOSH FREE BOY   FC AFC MKS MY LIL AMMO     FC AFC CHIEFS NUBBINS MY LIL LADY   FC AFC SNIKSOH LITTLE RASCAL   GFC FC AFC SNIKSOH SPANKS HANK     AFC DECANS BLAZIN BYE  AFC Sniksoh Evolution     FC AFC SNIKSOH FREE BOY   FC SNIKSOH SUPER SNOOPER     FC AFC SNIKSOH SWEET HERSHEY Duece's Dad Spencer, (far left) A note about field trials and field trial type training of pups with Jeff This is a living memoir and journal of reminders largely for my daughter, who enjoys the bird dog training with me, and she especially the pups which I hope she will continue later in life. We have spent quite a few days afield with Jeff and we enjoy his methods which are very similar to our dog trainer's of 20 years, Gary Ruppel. But they are uniquely his own, which is not surprising as we all pick up things here and

By |August 12th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Sniksoh Equipage Worthy Expense Jr. “Deuce”

Scarlet Oil

Farnam® Scarlex® Scarlet Oil Spray Wound Dressing is both a germicide and fungicide, which is safe to both horses and dogs.  We use it on all minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds.  Triple antibiotic ointments also work well on small wounds, but scarlet oil is our go to for bigger cuts, particularly on horses where it can be sprayed on.  Wish it came in clear, as it is not great for house dogs because of the red dye. DIRECTIONS - SHAKE WELL Remove protective cap. Point nozzle opening toward wound or affected area to be treated. Spray from a distance of 2 to 4 inches. Release spray by pressing valve stem down for just an instant. A one second application over the area to be treated provides an adequate dosage. Application should be repeated daily until healing takes place. When possible, affected areas should be clean and dry prior to application. Do not use on exceedingly large areas or in deep wounds. Scarlex Scarlet Oil Caution For external use only. In case of deep or puncture wounds or serious burns, consult veterinarian. If redness, irritation, or swelling persists or increases, discontinue use and consult a veterinarian. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. This product is to be used on non-food producing animals only. Active Ingredients Methyl Salicylate .45%, P-Chloro-M-Xylenol .45%, Benzyl Alcohol 2.80%. Inactive Ingredients Mineral Oil, Pine Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Red Coloring and Hydrocarbon Propellants.

By |October 12th, 2018|Categories: Dog Training, Survival, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Scarlet Oil

Books and Articles Featuring Our Legendary Bird Dog Trainer Gary Ruppel and His Kiowa Creek Kennels

Gary Ruppel of Kiowa, Colorado, has been helping me train my bird dogs for 20 years at his Kiowa Creek Kennels and before that at some local gun clubs.  I remember calling him when I got my first 8-week old Brittany puppy from a famous field trial lines, and the field trailer had asked to bring him back for summer camp when he was four months old.  I asked Gary, “When should I come out and start training with you, in two months?”  I’ll never forget Gary saying, “You are already four months late, I start training them in the womb, bring him out tomorrow.”  Gary says that he starts training in the womb, like mother’s read to their unborn children.  He first bonds with the bitch, which is the foundation of all of his training.  “If the dog doesn’t do it because he loves you, you’ll never really get the full potential out of that dog.  You can do all the old methods of force breaking and whatever else you can think of, but a dog that it is doing something out of fear, rather than love, will never be performing at full potential.”  He says, “My pups already have heard all of the whistle commands when they are born, as they have head them in the womb.” Books Featuring Gary Ruppel Training the Versatile Retreiver to Hunt Upland Birds   By Bill Tarrant   Bill Tarrant has authored the first book designed to show the retriever enthusiast how to train his dog to hunt upland birds. Bill got together with the four top retriever trainers in America today: Mike Gould, shooting Labs; Gary Ruppel, pointing Labs; Butch Goodwin, Chesapeakes; and Jim Charlton, Golden

By |February 22nd, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews, Dog Training|Comments Off on Books and Articles Featuring Our Legendary Bird Dog Trainer Gary Ruppel and His Kiowa Creek Kennels

Blue Grouse Hippies

Jeff and I started hunting together for blue grouse over twenty years ago.  We met as young lawyers starting out in the same courtrooms together.  I saw Jeff sitting in front of the bar, waiting for his case to be called, and he was trying to hide an issue of Shooting Sportsman inside of his client's file.  We starting talking and I found out his father, Roger Hill, wrote one of my favorite books, Fly Fishing the South Platte. Jeff went on to say this was a blessing and a curse, as his father was a retired nuclear physicist and that he never got to enjoy soccer and things like that on the weekends, as his father simply left every weekend day saying, "I am going fishing [or shooting], do you want to come along?"  There being no alternative except staying home alone, Jeff obliged and became a serious fly-tier, angler, and shooter of his own.  We immediately started hunting together, a journey down the sporting road which lasted many years and which I hope will continue when he finds time away from his new family.  His dog at the time was a hard-headed English Setter pup, which matched well in the field with my Britanny of field-trial lines who was on his first year afield. After many years of driving dirt roads and discovering dead ends on maps, we discovered the promised land of blue grouse together and promised to never divulge its location to any outsiders, or any other grouse covert we discovered together, for that matter, under threat of death or sending sultry clients to deal with such indiscretions.  After one of our first days on the mountain in the shadows of the mountain, we found a

By |October 3rd, 2011|Categories: Colorado, Cuisine, Dog Training, Recipes, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Blue Grouse Hippies

Epanuel Breton

I was worried that in recent years America's friendship the people of France had waned in light of U.S.'s war with Iraq.  This caused the boycott of French fries in France or the re-naming of them as "Freedom Fries," among other headlines.  But, my experiences in France, and even recent ones, have been evidence to the contrary.  My French friends are lasting allies and even the passing stranger remains happy to help an American tourist, especially in the countryside where we like to spend most of our time. In addition to the French fries, which aren't really French, the French also gave us the Statue of Liberty and the French Brittany, the Epagnuel Breton, or Epanuel Breton.  My friend, Andy Wayment writes, "Before the French Revolution, France was an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges in the aristocracy. Under this regime, land in France was owned mainly by a privileged few. This meant that hunting and fishing could only be enjoyed by the noblemen and their fortunate guests. Generally, the common man was not allowed to enjoy these sports.  Legend has it that the Brittany was developed by the French peasants as the ideal poaching dog. As so aptly described by Michael McIntosh in A Feisty Little Pointing Dog, the Brittany was bred to be 'compact andbidable, close-working and quiet, the perfect accomplice for clandestine sport and the companion of choice among those whose favorite game was someone else's.' The landed nobles, with their big running pointers and setters, did not recognize these shaggy, tailless mongrels for what they were, bona fide hunting machines. Of course, this was all part of the ruse. Brittanys are pointers with the natural instinct to retrieve. Because of its noble history, the French Brittany was destined to arrive

By |September 24th, 2011|Categories: Dog Training, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Epanuel Breton

New Posts

Please check out all my new posts...which are hidden under separate pages and therefore don't show up here.  Kohlrabi Mardi Gras La Buche de Noel Noel House Wine Hungarian Partridge with Gin & Juniper Berries Pheasant Confit Four-legged Friends Gary Ruppel Rim Chung Friends from the Sporting Road Jim Fergus

By |September 22nd, 2011|Categories: Cuisine, Dog Training, Fishing, Fly Tying, Recipes, Uncategorized|Comments Off on New Posts