Grouse and woodcock season are upon us.

Grouse and woodcock season started here in Pa this weekend. Silas is just under 9 months old now and has been gun conditioned and held point on quail and a pheasant. We have not pinned down any wild birds yet, but we also haven't encountered many in Erie county. We started Saturday off in Clarion county and were greeted with rain showers and 20 mile an hour winds. We only flushed one grouse all day and it was a wild flush I could barely hear. We had no woodcocks. Yesterday we tried out luck in some very promising cover in Erie county. We again had rain and despite out efforts encountered no woodcock or grouse. We aren't even finding white wash. Today we flushed a grouse 3 times. We had more rain and Silas tracked the bird 75 yards with 2 flash points before the bird flushed. I am pleased as he has seen scant few grouse in all of our training. With an upcoming move, we are going to be around some fantastic grouse and woodcock cover. My buddy flushed 11 grouse in one hour yesterday so that will be the place we try next week. Silas is certainly showing some promise.

Late summer training.

 

It's certainly starting to feel like fall and a little too early for me. Silas and I have continued to train daily. He is growing and around 30 pounds now at 7 1/2 months old. I use the e-stim collar and am able to run him off lead now. We work on obedience almost daily in the yard. There have been scant few encounters with birds this summer. I joined Oak Ridge Pointers for a training ground. I also have shot the .410 over him while he retrieves. He is quite successful finding the dummies with scent I have placed across the fields. Saturday we are going to visit a farm loaded with pheasants. I can't wait to see how he does. A post will follow.

Canine Connections LLC.

Last evening Sarah and I had Eileen Murdock of Canine Connections come to the house to assist with a behavior modification program for the home. Silas is a very nice dog but we were having some trouble with him around the cats, their food and jumping up. Eileen helped us identify what we were not doing in order to change these behaviors and we are already seeing a difference. Sarah has never owned a dog so she required some education to assist with her becoming a leader with Silas. We were very pleased with Eileen's approach as she is also a hunter and field trial judge. In the field, Silas is moving along. I will contact Knap farms to assist with birds, etc in the next week or so.

Silas is growing in all respects.

 

I haven't posted in some time because it was really just business as usual until I purchased some chukar two weeks ago. Silas was introduced to one I placed in an onion sack. His first response wasn't what I had predicted; he layed down and barked at it. After a short while he became more bold with the bird and started to become very curious. After a second introduction he snuck in and flushed a planted bird which he attempted to chase. Finally, at the third bird he stopped and pointed. It was brief but I did get a photo. I killed one of the birds to use as a retrieve bird when it had cooled. Silas was very eager to retrieve to me. I have started to use the check cord with him at all times because he started to ignore the recall command at about the time he lost his first set of teeth. Also, he hasn't really blossomed into a nice house companion at this time. He is very hyper, running in circles at full speed for 10 minutes at a time, even though he gets out every day on long runs. we are having a very difficult time breaking him of jumping up on us and others. We are staring to look at some various obedience school options. He is a hard worker in the field but not calming down at home. We really hope this improves as he gets a little older.

I took Silas out with the gun for the first time. I aired him out for a while and started to use the retrieve dummy with him. After a few excited retrieves I fired the .22 when he got to the dummy. He didn't seem to notice the shot. We tried a few more times with the same result and I put the gun away quite satisfied with his progress. We were also fortunate to get into a flock of young turkeys which he flushed. He chased them and briefly pointed one that landed in a low tree. After searching for others we came back to the flush site and he worked into the golden rod and trailed the adult hen, he flushed her right at his nose and wasn't at all bothered by her flush and cackle. He jumped after her and made chase for about 50 yards across the field. As you can see by the above photo, we have plenty of open training space in our neck of the woods. I will buy some adult quail as soon as they are ready and get down to some more bird work. I am considering testing at the NAVHDA meeting in Harrisville this September. I think he will do well.

 

 

Warm Temps...

Silas and I continue to get out into new types of cover daily. We go rain or shine, but with the temps heating up we are restricted to early morning or late evening. I am amazed at his growth looking back over the posts now. I will post some new pics after our trip to Clarion county this weekend. We have begun some table work with woah training; nothing too dramatic but a "show dog" style approach. At four and a half months he is doing quite well. I hope to run into some grouse and woodcock before too long.

The steps to nowhere. 5/24/14

Silas and I had took our walk into the steps to nowhere this morning. This is not an official name but the one I use to keep it a secret. This place is full of grouse. We walked about a half a mile along a tram road and then came back. He jumped into the stream to cool off. He took a long, fast leap into the water. This was his first time to play and swim in water. I just stood there and watched. I guess water is not an issue for him. He is now working in front of me on our walks. I try to keep the wind in our face. He is also beginning to explore more boldly on his own. He is also starting to chase robins, etc. He has pointed quite a few bees. I haven't weighed him in two weeks so he must be 15 or so pounds now. He is really getting tall and lanky. I don't really do any training with him at this point other than regular obedience around the house and yard. I just want him to explore and gain some confidence in the covers we walk. I have started some very light, early whoa training and he is doing well with it. He is a very smart dog!

Roderick Reserve, where the idea started.

I have hunted with beagles for much of my life, though I always wanted a bird dog. I had given up on the idea of another dog for a long time before I was reawakened to the idea one morning four years ago as I hid along the pond pictured above hunting ducks. As day was breaking I saw a steady stream of migrating woodcocks crossing the lake from Canada. Upon returning home, I started my search and study of potential bird dog breeds. I initially considered a Small Munsterlander. I spoke with a man in New England at length about one of his dogs, but decided the breed wasn't what I wanted. After some more searching I decided an Epagneul Breton was what I really wanted to help me chase the woodcock and grouse I desired. I grew more determined to have a dog after reading Frank Woolner and Burton Spillers work. There is something magnificent about the staunch point of a well trained bird dog. That said, I have never seen a dog point in person. A woodcock over a pointer is about as classy as you can get. So I came to find Jazz de Cache d'Or (Silas), from Bill Kelly's kennel in Frederick, Maryland. Today I took Silas to the Roderick Reserve. I wanted to see the place with him along. The desire that began again that day has come to fruition in Silas and it was nice to photograph him where the idea began. When he is ready, I will hunt for the woodcocks in the cover around the pond. I can't wait for that day.

Empty Purple Hulls

Silas and I took a walk early Sunday morning on Game Land 191, Erie county. The weather was beautiful, warm and calm. I have a small silver turkey bell I have been wearing on him in the field. I can here it quite well and he seems to enjoy it because it means we are going for a walk. We are able to go for 20-30 minutes before he seems to tire. I am fortunate to live where I can let him off the leash to really run a bit without fear of him running onto a road. We are always along dirt roads that get very little travel. He responds quite well to the whistle; two blasts and he checks back. I ran into some empty 16 gauge shells on our walk, two of them. I don't see many empty shotgun shells and even fewer 16 gauge shells anymore. I like to see them as they tell a little story of other hunters that passed by the same way at one time or another. I often wonder what they shot at and if they hit or missed. The second photo above shows our view at the truck. The view is long.

May 9, 2014

Silas was at the vet on Monday for his last shots of the year. He weighs 12.8 pounds. The vet said he was at an ideal weight. I feed him a half cup of Purina Pro Plan Puppy 2 times a day. He will be bumping up a little very soon. He and I spent the day lounging around since I was off for turkey hunting and killed one yesterday. Sarah got one on Saturday so we are both done for the spring. Silas sure loves turkey and pheasant feathers!

April 30, 2014

Bad weather continues here in Erie. We have had very strong wind and heavy rain for a couple of days now. I took Silas for a walk around the development this evening due to field flooding. We had a nice time in a fenced in baseball field as he was able to run free. There are so many distractions for a puppy in a townhouse area with lots of other pets around. Sarah and I are attempting to make a move back to the country in the Venango/Clarion county area. Silas an I will have much more room to roam there; more wild birds too! Silas spends most of his time now with free range over the entire house. He is doing quite well with all the new space. I have fencing to make the deck safe as well since it is elevated.

April 26, 2014

Mom and Dad came up to Erie this weekend. Silas discovered he likes to  sleep on the couch with Dad almost as much as he does with me. I have noticed quite a change in his behavior over the past week. He is a little more relaxed throughout the day. He explores very well on our walks but checks back with me. He does well with positive reinforcement to include a piece of kibble or a little petting when he does something I ask him to do well. He is fairly reliable with both whistle and call at this point. He has started to really notice birds on our walks. He had his rabies shot on Monday and weighed 10.10 at the time. The week before he was 10.1. I am feeding him 1/2 cup Purina Pro Plan puppy, Focus, 2 times a day. I am thinking I will continue 2 smaller feedings a day throughout his life. Just an update of his development.

April 23, 2014 Jazz/Silas is 12 weeks old today.

Silas is 12 weeks old today. I have not posted for several days because I haven't had a chance. We had a beautiful weekend in Oil City, Venango county over Easter weekend. Sarah sang a church. Silas and I took a nice walk on Saturday. It was our nicest day so far this year. I called a nice gobbler in while Silas hid beside me. He is becoming more and more independent and is exploring his environment a little more on each walk. He alternates from walking around my legs to quick sprints out ahead. I think he is coming along quite well. At home, we have begun to allow him into other rooms of the house. So far that is going as well as expected. He attempts to play with the cats but they are not yet ready for him. He is starting to bark some at the cats or us when we are not in the room with him. I'm not sure what to think of this behavior yet as we live in a town house and I don't want the neighbors to complain. Anyway, he is doing well so far as my limited experience tells me. He sure is a nice boy!

 

April, 15 2014 Snow in Erie

As I write this post Silas is chewing a rawhide on the kitchen floor. We just returned from our evening walk in snow, 2 inches with more falling, and a bitter 20 degree air temp with wind. On a positive note, he seems to adore snow. Silas has changed quite a bit over the past few days. He is biting at our hands, pants, etc. much less. A firm no and short time out have seemed to work well. He comes out and plays hard following this but with no nipping attempts. Silas is meeting many new adults, children and other animals and has become much more outgoing with them. We took a walk through Oil City on Saturday where he was quite a hit among the townspeople. Silas is now sleeping through the night in his kennel. I put him to bed around 10 pm after a restroom trip and he sleeps soundly until 5 am when I get up to feed him and take him for a walk. He is a really good boy. Yesterday he noticed a robin and chased it a short distance. He had a couple of booster shots yesterday and has a rabies shot next week then he will be off to pet smart for puppy class with Sarah and me. I want him to have more socialization with other dogs.

April 11, 2014

Silas and I missed an absolutely beautiful day outside today. I woke up at 2:30 am with the flu, which has been going around work. It was all I could do to get him out to the bathroom. He was a good boy throughout the day as it looked like he was aware of something being wrong with me. On another note, he has become much better with walking on a leash over the past 2 days. I am not certain though that he is able to comprehend the meaning of "no". Perhaps I should use the French word.

April 10, 2014

We finally have a nice day here in Erie. It is in the mid 60's but windy. Yesterday Silas decided he would jump in a water hole and swim across, and it was only 45 degrees out! He just loves mud and water. He and I are impatiently waiting for Sarah to get home from work so we can go play at the game lands fields. I am amazed daily at how bold he is. He loves to investigate everything round him. He is a really good boy at the house too. Since he has come home, he has not barked at all during the night. I've said it several times before, but Bill Kelley has an excellent line of dogs in his kennel. I can't wait to see how Silas develops as a hunter.

April, 8 2014

 

I took Silas for a run on the game lands along Old Waterford Road this evening. I want to introduce him to as much cover as I can early on. We walked about 2 miles, mostly along an old tram road that runs into a hemlock bottom and clear cut. I kept the check cord on him tonight as he has started to range out ahead pretty well and I want to be able to stop him if need be. He has been doing a nice job with returning on 2 whistle blasts. I also use "here" and two whistles of my own. I want to always have the ability to call him back, even if I loose the red whistle. Young pups are really fun to watch and I can certainly see some real potential in this pup. I take along a rope with a ball to toss for him on occasion. I want to keep his trips fun. I am thinking about applying a little bit of grouse scent to it when I start throwing it in cover. He returns to me most of the time. I'm in no hurry to take it from him as I want him to enjoy it. I believe I will introduce him to a cool pigeon this weekend so he can get the feel of a real bird in his mouth. I will also start with some live birds very soon. I am having a little trouble getting them at this point. Well, things are going well. He is sleeping on a little blanket on the floor as I write this. I hope he is having big dreams of wild birds.

April 7, 2014

I had Silas out for his evening run in the rain once again. The weather in Erie has not been spectacular. I believe Si is adjusting well to his new home. Ideally I would be home all day for the first week or two, but that isn't possible with a job to maintain. I have never had a bird dog, nor an indoor dog in quite some time. I often get the feeling I am doing this pup an injustice with my poor knowledge, to say the least. Silas is nearly house trained with only an occasional accident from time to time now. We keep him confined to the kitchen on the linoleum floor to help. He is in the nipping stage. At times any moving thing is a potential target, be it finger, pant leg, shoe lace or whatever. He sleeps well throughout the night and has since we picked him up. I take him out around 1 am and again for 30-45 minutes at 5 am. I have noticed that he goes through periods of lethargy and periods of nearly manic behavior. He has not yet chewed any furniture in his bursts; he loves rawhide bones. I wonder if it is common for a pup like him to have hyper periods. his most active time is in the evening about an hour after feeding. He runs around the kitchen shaking and chasing his toys about 100 mpg. I can't imagine where the energy comes from after the long runs I take him on. Well, I will continue on with the suggestions of Joan Baily and Bob West and do my best. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

April 5, 2014. Still a little snow...

April 5, 2014
I have had Silas for a week as of today. It was 33 degrees and windy here in Erie today but we went to the game lands anyway. Silas has begun to quarter ahead of me fairly well given he is only 10 weeks old. I am able to relay on him returning to me with either my call or the whistle. He is also starting to move through a lot of cover on our walks. He checks back very often as well. We flushed another woodcock so I walked in to the flush point with him and he really worked over the scent. I believe I am going to introduce him to some birds while he is on the check cord, in the next week. I took a retriever dummy along today. I tossed it 20-30 yards and he went out, grabbed it and returned it to hand for me. I'll work on him releasing better in the future. Right now he is sleeping in a sunny spot on the kitchen floor.

The Ruffed Grouse Society

www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/

 

Every serious grouse and woodcock hunter should consider membership in the Ruffed Grouse Society. They promote creation of habitat and provide a voice for hunters.

Serenaded by an American Woodcock

April 3, 2014
I take Si for a 30 minute walk at 5 am each morning before I get ready for work. The robins are now singing at that time but what is more exciting is the fact that a Woodcock has set up shop behind our place and can be heard peenting and flying on our walks.

First day in the field for Si

April 1, 2014
I took Silas to Sigel Marsh game lands for his first real field run today. With patchy snow and quite a bit of mud and water, I was uncertain how he would like it. It didn't take me long to see he has quite a drive to explore cover. He ran ahead 20 yards or so and would come back to my legs as we moved along. He is very curious. He seems to love being in mud and water. He often runs across the snow patches looking happy. This will bode well for him as we chase woodcocks. I saw he was occupied at one point so I snuck away 30 yards and watched him. When he noticed me missing he began to search around to find me. I only allowed this to transpire for 30-45 seconds then gave two whistle blasts. With that, he was quickly on his way to me. He received ample praise for his obedience when he got to me. As luck would have it, we flushed a woodcock on our way out. He saw it fly away and I gave him a nice nose full of scent where we flushed it. What a great two hours in the field with a puppy born only January 23.

16 gauge L.C. Smith feather weight field

I was fortunate enough to find this L.C. Smith featherweight field grade at Presque Isle Firearms a couple of years ago. I have wanted a 16 gauge since I was a boy. My gramp had an Ithaca 37 16 gauge and I loved those shells of his. I have used the gun as pictured but have made the tough choice of having it restored. It is in North Carolina with Dan Printz of The Firing Pin. He is reblueing, color case hardening and beefing up the wrist at the back of the side plates. I believe it was Connors who said the 16 carries like a 20 and hits like a 12. I agree. This gun has killed squirrels, doves, rabbits, pheasant, quail and squirrels as well as a turkey. When it comes back Silas and I will have it in action for woodcock and grouse. I use 2 1/2 inch RST shells. The gun was made in 1937 so the chambers are short. I will post follow up pictures when I get it back.

Cache d'Or Bretons, a Breed(er) apart!

Silas, day 3: 3-31-14
It is becoming quite clear that the excellent breeding program Bill Kelley of Cache d'Or Bretons has going works. Silas has had no accidents in the house today. He is eating well. He comes quickly when he is called. I walked him to an area a bird was feeding in and he used his nose! Silas learned to fetch and return with a small toy after his vet visit this afternoon. I have done nothing more than give these things a try and reward him with some positive praise after he has done well. This is a very smart little 9 week old.

Silas, Day 2 3-30-14

Silas, day 2: 3-30-14
Sarah and I had a very long, rough ride back to Erie with ice and snow making travel tough. Silas did well in his crate on the back seat. He made barely any noise the entire way. He slept or looked at us while he was awake.

 

Silas, Day 1 3-29-14

Silas, Day 1: 3-29-14
Silas learned to wear a collar and walk on a lead today. He is also coming to his name and 2 shorts blasts of the whistle. He is walking up and down steps on his own. I have done nothing.

Finally Meeting Silas

 

Sarah and I drove from Erie to Frederick, Maryland to pick up Silas (jazz de Cache d'Or) on Saturday, March 29. Silas was born on January 23, 2014. We met the breeder, Bill Kelley, at his gun shop in Frederick, Maryland, to get Si. Bill was very helpful over the past few weeks as we waited for Si to be old enough to come home. Bill has some fantastic dogs that perform in both the field and the show ring. Silas was friendly and curious from the start. As he will be my first attempt at training a pointing dog, I hope he has ample natural talent. My primary interest will be in hunting American Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse with Si and my 16 gauge L.C. Smith shotgun. This blog will follow the progress of Silas and me as we learn together. Every now and then we may be side tracked by fly fishing or dragonflies too. I hope you enjoy reading about Silas's progress as much as I will in training him. God bless.