The weather people claimed it was going to be warmer on Saturday.
It wasn’t. It was cold and windy.
Not to be deterred, we still went out to train at the farm where we bought our training membership. We picked an area that is low-lying, with hills on a couple of sides. We hoped that maybe the icy wind would not be as icy there.
It wasn’t. It was cold and windy.
Thunder was thrilled to be running in an open field. We ran a few doubles and some blinds. We were using ducks because we are also working on Thunder giving up his birds.
The area that we picked has a nice pond, but we were not going to work in the pond. For one thing, the ponds are still very cold. But the main reason was because we applied Thunder’s Frontline that morning and he cannot go swimming for a couple of days. (These training grounds can be tick heaven!)
There is a little road which runs along the pond and we had the bright idea to use the road and have one of the marks of our double land on the road or on the strip of grass between the road and the pond. Well that was the idea.
We did not want the duck to end up in the pond. We set our winger up in a way that we thought was safe.
We decided to test the fall before bringing Thunder out to run the double. My husband stood at the edge of the pond to catch the bird in case it was in danger of going into the pond.
I loaded the winger, launched it, and it flew right over hubby’s head and….
Oh No!
I guess the wind caught the bird and carried it further than we figured and now the wind was carrying it to the middle of the pond. We would have to wait until it floated to the other side to get it back.
It floated across the pond until…
Time for the cavalry…
Not much training value in that retrieve, so we might as well work on obedience…
And we worked on Thunder giving up the bird…
I took a bunch of pictures on Saturday and will be sharing them this week. Tomorrow–blind work.
Thanks to Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog and My Brown Newfies for setting up this hop.
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Had to laugh about your bird launch! Too bad you didn’t have our weather… balmy and in the 70’s with showers. Think spring has finally arrived here and the dogs have the muddy paws to prove it.
We were hoping for 60 degrees. Never got to 60… Thank goodness we took hats, gloves and winter coats.
I thought that duck was real, it looks so real!
It is real. It is one of our training ducks from last year that we had in the freezer.
Oh, my goodness! How are you coping with having only one dog at home? I bet Thunder is thrilled to pieces to be king of the castle again!
Storm is still here for the moment. 🙂 Long story.
Thunder was happy to be the only dog training. But it is better with two dogs because we stopped between series to rest him. With two, you can just bring out the next dog.
Silly humans 🙂 Good dogs 🙂
Mom is always planning with our Frontline…will it be raining, will I be swimming…that 2 day wait is a hassle. At least Thunder got his paws wet to get the duck and I doubt that did anything to the Frontline. That duck sure looks real!
That was awesome. You don’t know your own strenght. Can’t believe that pond was open. Ours are sti frozen. Have a great day.
Ha ha we thought that was funny. Splash. Well done Thunder. We have Spring at last. Well we hope it is here and not just a teaser. Have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
Thunder sticking his tongue out after releasing the bird deserves a caption contest.
Weather in here has been perfect, Doggy started chasing ducks again and jumping in the river.
I got cold just looking at the pictures! We had a chilly day here on Saturday-it would of been ok if it wasn’t for the wind. I can only imagine how chilly it must of been out in the open field with that cold wind blowing!
Cold and windy here all weekend, too. Hoping spring will come.
Good boy Thunder! It is suppose to be rainy and cold here for a few more days and then maybe sunshine…we can only hope!
Human mischief…love it!
Blessings,
Goose
Haha – Good thing Thunder was up for going in the icy cold water! Not sure I would be 🙂 Loving your new theme, is it especially for spring?
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
OMD, I had forgotten about having a freezer full of ducksicles and pigeon pops…Folks would shriek if they opened my freezer LOL
Great pictures, looks a great day too. I am currently watching the snow fall. Yuck
BOL at the wind carrying the bird a little longer than you thought! Sorry about the weather though. WHEN WILL IT BE SPRING?!? 🙂
I LOVE it when the human mis-throws *wag wag wag*
Especially when it goes over the fence into the neighbours #Pawsomefencejumper
Oh that was a great story, I needed the laugh after the way my morning has been going. 🙂 Love the photo of Thunder with his tongue sticking out.
Nice photos! I can only imagine that releasing a fresh bird is difficult?
You got some great shots, do I see Thunder sticking his tongue out at the duck in the next to last picture 😉
Wow, I can’t believe how easily Thunder gave up the duck and Thunder looks so gentle in the way he’s carrying the duck too! Gosh, will ya’ll just come train Max to “come”?! 🙂
Thunder is quite the impressive retriever. Even though it’s in his name, it must have taken a lot of training for him to go out, get the duck, and give it back. Beamer would have took off with the thing and then eat it 😛
Good boy, Thunder! My Lab Maya would do well at getting that out of the water and bringing it to me. But she’d expect me to throw it back in the water so she could retrieve it again. She would not sit there so nicely as you. 🙂
You know the saying, the best laid plans. At least he didn’t have to swim, good job Thunder 😉
I bet Thunder would rather eat the duck. It takes a lot of self control to give it up. Way to go Thunder.