John-
Has been a great first season for Ellie this year. We had about 4 trips north for grouse and woodcock which we managed to get just shy of 400 flushes between the two species. Obviously she wasn’t in on all those flushes, however she got a very strong dose of bird interaction and really developed as the season progressed. She has a great nose and knows where to look for birds and found more than her share over our trips. She was steady at times, and others she would pressure the birds a bit, but all of this was good learning for her.
My buddies Viszla is not a retriever and Ellie has turned into a really good “dead bird” finding machine. She has improved with her retrieves as well… not rock solid but making good progress.
She has had some pheasant exposure as well. One day we ran a field in Iowa on wild birds, she was paired with a 4.5 year old GSP. We found 15 birds, of which she located 70% of them! I was a pretty proud papa.
This weekend we were goose hunting in the Horicon marsh and we crippled a bird that required me to go get Ellie out of the truck. This was her first exposure to geese so wasn’t sure what to expect from her, but as you can see in the video, instinct and prey drive took over regardless of the size of the bird. This bird is one we WOULD NOT of retrieved if it wasn’t for her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI1Q5RhvW5A
Have had several folks now comment that they can’t believe how far along she is for a 9 month old pup and how obedient she is and wanting to please. What a sweetheart too boot.
Another great L’Escarbot Kennel dog in the making.
Cory Painter
Cottage Grove, WI
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