Stellar's Sunny Ray's Vacation
May/23/2009
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Stellar's Sunny Ray has been in North Carolina for a little over two weeks and has become a Tarheel again in no time! We flew her from Austin To Charlotte with no problems, just a lot of of anxiety on our parts.
The hunt test season is over here, and the training group is only meeting once, maybe a twice a week. But, I am very happy to report that Ray and I are doing quite well together. Each time we run, our rhythm and commmunication are better. Jack will be happy to know that I am remembering to give silent casts. (That's an attempt at humor. Jack told me I only gave verbal casts at the Tejas Hunt Test - talk about being nervous!) Ray is really fun to work with - so enthusiastic and definitely knows what she's doing - she's a pretty good substitute teacher when Jack's not around.
Ray has been an excellent house dog - no "housebreaking" issues at all. She and our older female Lab, Katie, have had one or two skirmishes, but nothing unexpected. They are actually getting along quite well now. I'm not sure Ray really understands why she has to walk on a leash "in town", but she has adapted well to that aspect of city life.
Robert & Mollie Rascoe and Bill & I plan to meet Jack in Arkansas in about two weeks to give him Sky and Ray for the summer trip. That is going to be one hard good-bye. But, I think the dogs will be glad to be back to full-time jobs. I know that they will be ready for Master National when they return to Giddings!
I never finished my blog entries during our week in Texas. In short, we had a wonderful time, saw beautiful country and technical water. We made a wonderful new friend in John Blackbird - what a prince of a guy - can't wait to see John at Master National in October. We also enjoyed catching up with Mike Meek again, one of the Friday Flyers and creator of the Stellar Retrievers web site, one talented guy!
I will never be able to express our gratitude for the positive influence Jack has had on our experiences with retrievers. Jack is such a good teacher. He had me run Blackie as "test dog" before each session with Ray, even at the actual Hunt Test - what a confidence builder. We had a great time and learned so much. There is nothing like Stellar Retrievers' and Texas hospitality.
"Talk" to you soon, Lee
The hunt test season is over here, and the training group is only meeting once, maybe a twice a week. But, I am very happy to report that Ray and I are doing quite well together. Each time we run, our rhythm and commmunication are better. Jack will be happy to know that I am remembering to give silent casts. (That's an attempt at humor. Jack told me I only gave verbal casts at the Tejas Hunt Test - talk about being nervous!) Ray is really fun to work with - so enthusiastic and definitely knows what she's doing - she's a pretty good substitute teacher when Jack's not around.
Ray has been an excellent house dog - no "housebreaking" issues at all. She and our older female Lab, Katie, have had one or two skirmishes, but nothing unexpected. They are actually getting along quite well now. I'm not sure Ray really understands why she has to walk on a leash "in town", but she has adapted well to that aspect of city life.
Robert & Mollie Rascoe and Bill & I plan to meet Jack in Arkansas in about two weeks to give him Sky and Ray for the summer trip. That is going to be one hard good-bye. But, I think the dogs will be glad to be back to full-time jobs. I know that they will be ready for Master National when they return to Giddings!
I never finished my blog entries during our week in Texas. In short, we had a wonderful time, saw beautiful country and technical water. We made a wonderful new friend in John Blackbird - what a prince of a guy - can't wait to see John at Master National in October. We also enjoyed catching up with Mike Meek again, one of the Friday Flyers and creator of the Stellar Retrievers web site, one talented guy!
I will never be able to express our gratitude for the positive influence Jack has had on our experiences with retrievers. Jack is such a good teacher. He had me run Blackie as "test dog" before each session with Ray, even at the actual Hunt Test - what a confidence builder. We had a great time and learned so much. There is nothing like Stellar Retrievers' and Texas hospitality.
"Talk" to you soon, Lee