Referrals
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John Averil - Nikiski, Alaska
I often take her into the shed, letting her just observe and smell the pheasants (now 5 1/2 weeks old). This is sweet torture for her. Every ounce of her little body quivers as she studies every move of the little birds, her nose drinking deeply from the air around her filled with their intoxicating scent. When I finally haul her out of there she whimpers and cries as if she were emotionally attached to the smelly little gamebirds.
Yesteday we had a "good" moment! I turned onto our road from the highway on my way home from work. 70 yards down the road I saw a fat Spruce Grouse lolling in the ditch. I passed by on the other side of the road as carefully and quietly as I could, hoping not to frighten the grouse and her new brood. Once passed, I dashed the remaining distance home, swooped up Bree and returned to where I had observed the bird moments earlier. The grouse had in the meantime, disappeared, so I led bree down wind of the bird zone. After about 20-30 seconds of wondering "Why did you drag me into this thick brush, dad?" it became clear that she had caught the grouse's scent. Off she plowed through the thick, prickly cover, obviously on a mission. 20 yards later over a little rise the grouse flushed right in front of her. Well done, Bree!
All that to say, I believe from the ever-mounting body of evidence that Bree is going to be one heck of a hunting dog - short comings of her current trainer not withstanding.
Thank you, Alan.
