Mollie at 6months
 

Miss Mollie is off to gun dog school in Mexico NY with Tony Carlo. She's doing very well and I like what I see, plenty of spark and a good marker. She's one happy dog and enjoys summer camp on the dog truck. Tony's training grounds are like Disney World for retrievers. I visit once a week so I have chance to handle her. It a long road to master level but the journey is great fun.

Great news! How long is school?

I miss the years I spent training retrievers. At 6 months it really starts to get fun.

I have two older female multiple Grand Master Labs, and they are the best dogs 'in the field' that we have had in nearly 60yrs of Labs. Their pointing ability just adds icing to the cake. One is 13, the other is 10 and her liver is growing, most likely from a greatly oversized adrenal gland. At only a 50% successful rate for adrenal surgery, we have oped to just give her all the field time we can, both with us and a few close friends. No apparent pain yet and still has energy levels of a puppy. The trainer/trialer is giving us another GM after her last litter is completed. She is 7yrs old and black. We have become his retirement home for his dogs. I like the pose of Craig's young dog, high tail and leg up. Little does she know how lucky she got. Life is Good! Tom

I will keep her with the trainer for 2 1/2 years, until just before turning 3. Plenty of home leave during the year and at home during duck season. She's my last dog so fingers crossed.

I had no idea that the training was that involved. I’ve never hunted waterfowl with a well trained retriever. It must be something to see.

What a AKC Master Hunter can do in the duck marsh would amaze most hunters that have never had the experience of hunting with such a dog. In marsh hunting covered up in a boat blind most ducks fall without the dog seeing the fall. You have to be able to handle the dog to the area of the fall if you hope to retrieve the bird. A great handling Lab is the ultimate in team work between man and canine in any bird hunting I have experienced. No offense to pointing dog lovers.

Mollie at 9 months old. Running singles, force fetching about complete, nice delivery to hand. Next step will be starting handling drills in a few weeks. Nice pup with plenty of drive, she should make a great hunting buddy.

There is much to look forward to in those eyes. So, when will she make her first hunt?

I'll never forget the blind retrieve on that pheasant in SD.:bowdown:

Craig , I’m curious how does she react to you when you visit her ? She doesn’t think of the trainer as her master ?

It's not an issue, she works as hard for me as the trainer regardless who is running her. Labs just love to work and she is always very happy when I visit.

October, no pressure just make sure she has a grand time. Never try to train a dog in a hunting situation. Train for perfection and take what you get in first year of hunting situations. If young dogs have a bad experience in the field they may never recover. There not machines.

Just like a pointing breed. It’s a wonderful, if anxious, time. Good luck, but I’m sure your experience will provide all you need.

I would not mind coming back as one of your duck dogs. :)

Black Labs Matter

Garry my mind set is always been try to give your hunting dogs every opportunity to reach there maximum potential. How many dogs never reach anywhere near their potential. One of the great joys in my life is having the resources and time to have great hunting companions. I can't imagine a full life without a hunting dogs. The memories of great retrieves are priceless.

Craig, you’re preaching to the choir.

Little Mollie may never make it in competition or she may someday get a Master National Plate. She doesn't care about titles like humans. All she wants is to do what she was born to do, find birds to the best of her abilities.