Our goal with started dogs is to produce that all around companion gun dog that every hunting family is looking for. The main focus of our starter program is to provide that companion you can take with you wherever you go, but also give you everything you want in the field! Started dogs are hand-chosen from only the top pedigrees, and only pedigrees that I have first-hand experience with. The process for choosing the right dog is extensive, and I want to assure that you are getting exactly what I would personally be looking for in one of my own dogs. We are not about producing a factory dog that has been through a specific training regimen. We are producing a life-long companion that will hopefully be your hunting partner for the next 10 plus years! This process starts from day one when we begin the socialization process. Pups start out at seven to eight weeks in the house, and the first thing on the agenda is to crate train and house train them. We treat them like they are our own and, they will be a part of our family. It has and always been my philosophy that if you treat a gun dog like a member of your family, they are going to go out of their way to do whatever you ask of them time and time again! Trust is everything! At a young age we focus mainly on socialization, exposure, and basic obedience. Pups will be exposed to a variety of different environments. As they get older we continually progress through the training. What sets our started dogs apart is the focus on developing a all-around, complete, family gun dog! Because of the heavy focus on socialization and exposure we will only have one (maybe two) started dogs in our program at a time. This journey will be well documented and something we hope you enjoy following!
Started Pups:
Our goal with started pups is to lay the ground work for a successful future. We start with puppies at 8 weeks old and build the foundation. A successful future starts with socialization. Whether you're searching for a great family companion, gun dog, or champion retriever, it's important to have a great foundation. We introduce our puppies to many different things including children, other dogs/puppies, the field environment, wings, trips around town, etc... We work with name recognition, wings, water (seasonal), basic obedience, and leash work. Our started pups with be both crate and house trained and ready to hit the running when it's time to transition to their forever homes. Our head start program is typically 3-4 weeks long and our pups make a great transition to those forever homes!
Started Dogs: Ash
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: May 16, 2022
Available: Now
Pedigree: https://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/puppy.asp?id=44866
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: May 16, 2022
Available: Now
Pedigree: https://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/puppy.asp?id=44866
Started Dogs: Raider
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: June 21, 2021
Available: September 20, 2021
Pedigree: https://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/puppy.asp?id=33637
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: June 21, 2021
Available: September 20, 2021
Pedigree: https://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/puppy.asp?id=33637
Meet Raider! Raider is a started pup who is in our puppy head-start program (see info above). He is already house trained and crate trained, and loves his morning walks, spending time with the kids, and hanging with the bigger dogs in the backyard. He's got a great temperament, a great nose, and will make an all around great family hunting dog!
Started Pup: Knox
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: May 21, 2018
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: May 21, 2018
Available: SOLD
Pedigree:
June 1, 2017
Started Dogs: Guage (SOLD as Started Pup)
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: May 5, 2017
Available: As early as Fall 2017
Pedigree:
July 16, 2017
With the weather being as hot as it is today (95 degrees) swimming is a necessity. Cooling off at Sandy Hollow is a daily routine, and Gauge is getting braver every time we get to the water. Up unto this point he was pretty content getting wet, but only if he could touch. Occasionally he would find himself out a little farther than his comfort zone but tonight he didn't seem to care. I think he was just happy to cool off, and figured out it was actually pretty fun doing what the other dogs do. He even thought it was pretty fun to do a few water retrieves!
July 13, 2017
Morning road trips and morning runs! There's something about getting up in the morning and taking the dogs on a run. Gauge is enjoying this time, and it's been fun to see how his confidence and stamina has grown over the past week. He went from trailing behind, sitting at waiting for me to go back and get him, to leading the way. He's venturing out into the tall grass and exploring like the big dogs do! He's also got the sit command down decent enough to snap a couple photos here and there! I even think he wonders why he can't just ride in back with the girls.
July 7, 2017
The name of the game these first few weeks is "exposure". Exposure to a variety of different environments is what I believe is the most critical element to developing an all around family gundog. In the past week Gauge has been swimming, running, on road trips, and probably his favorite place, grandpa's farm. The kids are busy getting pigs ready for the fair, and Gauge likes watching them do their work!
July 4, 2017 "The Start of a New Journey"
As the last few days have gone by and Gauge begins his journey as Rock Solid's new started pup, I'm looking forward to the time that I'll have to spend with him. Some of the traits that stick out about him so far are his curiosity, boldness, and intelligence. At 8 weeks old, he's pretty much got sit down and is crate trained! We've started our daily runs/walks and for the most part he enjoys them. Once in a while he'll look at me and sit under the pickup with a look on his face that says, "dude, I'm 8 weeks old, do I really have to run 1.5 miles?" I'm looking forward to this new journey, and documenting it along the way!
Started Dogs: Gunner(SOLD)
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: June 29, 2016
Available: Spring 2017
Pedigree:
The Journey
March 5, 2017
September 5, 2016
August 28, 2016
Gunner has quickly become acclimated to our family. This morning the first thing he did was stand by the door and whine so I let him out and he went to the restroom. You would think my kids would have never seen a dog before the way they fight over him? I love his temperament and disposition so far. This afternoon we took him for his first swimming lesson. He first waded out to see what the big dogs were doing, and shortly after jumped in head first after a dummy. Little did he know that he was "jumping off the deep end" and his paws could no longer touch. He figured out rather quickly that he needed to paddle.
August 27, 2016
Gunner came home to live with us on Saturday afternoon, and it has amazed me at how quickly he has caught on to things. Part of this is the socialization he received in the first 8 weeks of his life, but by the end of the day he had already figured out that his crate was his own little space. Through the night I got up with him every 2 hours to make sure that he didn't have any accidents. In the first day he would whine when he needed to go the bathroom and he hasn't had one accident in the house. If I had to describe Gunner in one word the first day it would be "Intelligent"!
June 1, 2017
Started Dogs: Guage (SOLD as Started Pup)
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: May 5, 2017
Available: As early as Fall 2017
With the weather being as hot as it is today (95 degrees) swimming is a necessity. Cooling off at Sandy Hollow is a daily routine, and Gauge is getting braver every time we get to the water. Up unto this point he was pretty content getting wet, but only if he could touch. Occasionally he would find himself out a little farther than his comfort zone but tonight he didn't seem to care. I think he was just happy to cool off, and figured out it was actually pretty fun doing what the other dogs do. He even thought it was pretty fun to do a few water retrieves!
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| Gauge and Remi just hanging out. |
July 13, 2017
Morning road trips and morning runs! There's something about getting up in the morning and taking the dogs on a run. Gauge is enjoying this time, and it's been fun to see how his confidence and stamina has grown over the past week. He went from trailing behind, sitting at waiting for me to go back and get him, to leading the way. He's venturing out into the tall grass and exploring like the big dogs do! He's also got the sit command down decent enough to snap a couple photos here and there! I even think he wonders why he can't just ride in back with the girls.
The name of the game these first few weeks is "exposure". Exposure to a variety of different environments is what I believe is the most critical element to developing an all around family gundog. In the past week Gauge has been swimming, running, on road trips, and probably his favorite place, grandpa's farm. The kids are busy getting pigs ready for the fair, and Gauge likes watching them do their work!
July 4, 2017 "The Start of a New Journey"
As the last few days have gone by and Gauge begins his journey as Rock Solid's new started pup, I'm looking forward to the time that I'll have to spend with him. Some of the traits that stick out about him so far are his curiosity, boldness, and intelligence. At 8 weeks old, he's pretty much got sit down and is crate trained! We've started our daily runs/walks and for the most part he enjoys them. Once in a while he'll look at me and sit under the pickup with a look on his face that says, "dude, I'm 8 weeks old, do I really have to run 1.5 miles?" I'm looking forward to this new journey, and documenting it along the way!
Started Dogs: Gunner(SOLD)
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: June 29, 2016
Available: Spring 2017
The Journey
May 20, 2017 "One Incredible Journey"
As I sit back and reflect on this incredible 8 month journey we close one chapter, and open another one today! Gunner is "going home" to Washington today, and it is with mixed emotions. For the last 8 months I've poured my heart and soul into raising him to be that all around great family gundog that most people only dream about. He's been by my side (and the rest of the family) everyday since we took him home on August 27th. He's far exceeded my expectations in every quality. My first goal in all of this was treat him like he was one of my own , and I'm proud to say, "that's exactly what he turned out to be!" My second goal was to find someone that is going to love and appreciate him as much as I do. I can cross that off my list too. The Gibson family flew out from Washington a couple weeks ago to see him, and I knew from the first time we talked on the phone this was the perfect match. My final goal in all of this was to create a dog that epitomizes what it means to be a "Rock Solid Pointing Lab." There are certain qualities that I look for to represent my passion, and Gunner possesses every single one. Looks, companionship, drive, instinct, passion, love, patience, resilience.....The list can go on, but Gunner has far exceeded my expectations and goals when I began this incredible journey in August. It's safe to say that he will be greatly missed. That's impossible when you put your heart and soul into something! I'm thankful for the time that we got to spend together, I'm thankful for the many memories made, but most of all I'm thankful that I can pass that same love on to the Gibson family who has the opportunity to make a lifetime of memories with the type of dog that only comes around once in a lifetime! Enjoy the video below. It's just a brief snapshot of the many memories made, but it's a true reflection of Gunner and his relationship with our family for the past 8 months.
May 18, 2017
In less than 2 days Gunner heads home to Washington! It's bittersweet to think about him going home, but its also been an fun ride. As we sat in the shed tonight, I was thinking about what it means to be a "Rock Solid Pointing Lab." It's hard to see the sign, but that's our logo, and Gunner is probably the poster child of a "Rock Solid Pointing Lab" The first and most important quality is that he is/has been rock solid from day 1. At 8 weeks old he would keep up on our 1 mile runs, and never complain. His ability to connect with people on a personal level is probably his greatest attribute. No matter what he's doing he's always wanting to please. As far as hunting abilities, Gunner is also "Rock Solid" he'll go through anything to get a bird! He has a passion burning inside of him for the game that he and I love! Finally, Gunner is that once in a lifetime birddog that most only dream about having and spending their lives with. He can do it all. So when I think about a Rock Solid Pointing lab, I would define them as "Gunner" one that is going to be by your side through thick and thin, one that is going to provide a level of companionship that most don't believe is possible with a gundog, one that has a burning passion inside of them to hunt, and one that people are going to walk up to and say "wow, that is one great looking dog!" So when you ask me what is a "Rock Solid Pointing Lab," I'll probably just say check out my blog and go to the started dog page. Gunner is a "Rock Solid Pointing Lab!"
May 11, 2017
With the new additions to the family Gunner is curious why he can't just hang out in the shed like he usually does. He sneaks in every chance he gets (not without supervision) to see all of his new hunting buddies. I can't get over his gentle nature. Most dogs his age would not be trusted in the whelping box with week old puppies. Gunner on the other hand is pretty content laying there and observing!
May 7, 2017
Gunner is definitely a lover! He enjoys going to the farm every chance he gets. The kids have the showpigs in the barn, so many of his evenings are spent with us at grandpa and grandma getting the pigs broke and helping walk them around the yard.
April 16, 2017
We're continuing on working on steadiness in the blind and water work. As the weather shapes up here in Iowa, Gunner is loving the water more and more. He gets pretty excited for his daily runs/swims to Sandy Hollow.
March 5, 2017
Today we spent sometime doing bird work with Gunner. I purchased some quail and it's safe to say we both had plenty of fun. This is probably the first time I've hunted behind only him. All season long he's been used to hunting in a group so it was fun to see how he performed by himself! I was very satisfied by his performance. He showed all the drive, intensity, nose, and marking that I was hoping for! He was slamming his points, but most of all he has love and passion for the game! One of the quail bumped out of cover and flew before we had a chance to get set and he literally chased it 75-100 yards to where it landed. The bird bumped again and flew another 50 yards to an open field where Gunner finally caught up to him! Those are the intangibles that tell whether or not a dog has "it," and it's safe to say he has it. I love everything about this dog! As much fun as it was for Gunner today, it was equally as fun for me! It's gonna be awfully tough saying goodbye to this guy!
February 20,2017
Today we spent some time with the beautiful weather refreshing some skills. There has been a lull since the end of the hunting season, and it's always nice to be able get out and enjoy the outdoors. I can't get over how much he's grown since he first came home. As you can see from the side by side pictures he's still the same great looking dog, but fills out his blind a little more!
Today we spent some time with the beautiful weather refreshing some skills. There has been a lull since the end of the hunting season, and it's always nice to be able get out and enjoy the outdoors. I can't get over how much he's grown since he first came home. As you can see from the side by side pictures he's still the same great looking dog, but fills out his blind a little more!
January 8, 2017
The final day! As the Iowa season comes to a close, I reflect back on where we started a few month ago! Gunner was a "wet behind the ears" pup who was about half the size he is now. From the first hunt to the last there has been immeasurable growth, and he's not even begun to unleash the full potential he has! I have been around a lot of dogs in my life, but Gunner is that perfect mix of drive and consistency without being over the top with energy! In the field he has learned the ropes, and has seen plenty of birds for one fall! Between our morning and afternoon walks at the prairie, local hunting trips, and trips to South Dakota I would estimate that he been on as many as many as 300 birds in the first 6 months of his life! He has been a pleasure to work with, but I know one thing is for sure! I am going to miss hunting with him next fall! However, I know that his next hunting buddy, shares the same love and passion for hunting and gundogs as I do! I'm hoping in the next month to get to a preserve, and maybe even take a stab at a spring snow goose hunt if I can find one in SW Iowa. I'm not quite ready to say to goodbye to bird hunting for another year, and I don't think Gunner is either!
January 2, 2017
As the season winds down, we continue to chase the smarter roosters around the countryside. Gunner continues to progress. This weekend I hunted with someone who hadn't hunted behind Gunner before and didn't know his age. As the morning went on he asked me how old Gunner was. I told him a little over 6 months old and he was in disbelief! He couldn't believe the drive he had, and how
"birdy" a 6 month old pup could be!
"birdy" a 6 month old pup could be!
December 28, 2016
Gunner has been on a lot of birds in the last week. Christmas break has been great for him, and it's been equally great for me! If there's one thing I love about being a teacher is the nice long breaks! He's getting more aggressive every time go out, and I love seeing that mentality start to come out in him!
December 10, 2016
Snow, cold, and late season roosters are a few of Gunner's favorite things! He continues to show improvement with every moment he gets in the field! We spent a few hours chasing some smart roosters around, but at the end of the day at least we outsmarted one! I missed on a couple of others I should have had, but for the most part they didn't seem to want to fly in the direction that they should have! Gunner even got what I would classify as his first solo retrieve. One particular rooster held extremely tight with Gunner working in close proximity. He did not have much of a chance at survival, and landed about 15 yards straight ahead of Gunner, who as on the bird before the other dogs could get there. He was also going to make sure that he wasn't going let them have it as he had a firm grip on his first retrieve!
November 26, 2016
Here are a few more pictures from the weekend! Gunner got to experience Iowa pheasant hunting at it's finest on Saturday. There are very few hunts, I can recall, in Iowa ever being this good. It seemed like birds were flying with every step we took, and Gunner did his part to try get in on the action. There were a few downed birds that buried themselves awful deep that Gunner helped sniff out! I love to see that confidence grow with every hunting trip! It's also a whole lot of fun when you don't have to go too far for world class hunting!
November 19, 2016
After the first winter snow, we got out and chased some roosters! It's always fun hunting after the first snow, and this hunt did not disappoint! There was plenty of bird scent on the ground and it was fun to see Gunner really work out ahead and do his thing. Unfortunately most of my good hunting spots were spoken for so we had to wait until later in the day to hunt a couple spots. It's always rewarding to go in after other hunters, who also have dogs, and clean up all the birds they missed! We even found a cripple that was shot and used it as another opportunity to build Gunner's drive and confidence! He loves his roosters!
November 18, 2016
Gunner enjoyed his first snow storm of the year! This would also have been his first encounter with snow in his life, but on a cold blustery day (even better we got out of school early) we braved the elements and went for our daily walk! I get a lot of comments on my dogs looks in general, and though a lot of its great genetics, an another big part of it is diet and exercise! There are very few days the take off! It looks pretty peaceful in the picture, but the wind was howling pretty good. We also went out in the morning which was less fun with the sleet coming in sideways at 30 mph! I've come to learn that very few things bother him. He's kind of a "Steady Eddy" I've been around a lot of pups that would rather sit inside where it's warm, but not Gunner. Any chance he can get out he loves!
November 12, 2016
Saturday morning, the dogs and I decided to check out the local pheasant population! It was a cool morning with a little frost on the ground so the conditions were great. We literally walked 15 minutes before bagging our limit, and Gunner got in on the action with one of the flushes. The big dogs must have run past, but Gunner who was working behind me kicked the rooster up. It only took me three shots to drop him, and he didn't hit the ground too hard. The dogs found where he went down and tracked him from there. It was fun to see Gunner get in on the action! He's learning more with every trip out, and although he still hunts close he ventures out more and more, and isn't afraid to go through thick cover!
November 6, 2016
Here are a few pictures from Gunner's first waterfowl hunt. He thoroughly enjoyed his time on the pond, and got to experience a lot of great things this weekend. The duck hunting was not very good, but we had a great time anyway! Gunner was able to get out and enjoy what he enjoys most. Before sun up he was out tromping through the water to see what all the ruckus was about, and it didn't take him long to get dirty! He even got in on a short retrieve. A group of 3 ducks flew by and I was able to shoot them as they were coming straight at me. The duck literally landed about 10 feet away on the edge of the shoreline and he was off to the races! All in all I am very pleased with how he is progressing. Every day he learns a little bit more, and every day he gets more and more excited to get to work!
October 30, 2016
After three days in the field, Gunner started to develop some promising traits of a great bird dog! He still did plenty of walking by my side, but by day 3 he was using his nose about every where he went. He spent less time by my side and more time out ahead with his nose to the ground. He also got a chance to bring back a wounded bird. On Saturday, we had one that was only wounded, and this became a great learning experience for Gunner. He never showed any fear, and you could tell by the "birdy" tail he was loving every minute of it.
October 28, 2016
Today Gunner got his first real experience as a bird dog. He finally got a chance to earn his stripes after weeks of practice, and for a 4 month old puppy he held his own! He did a lot of following, and watching the big dogs, but the experience he gained today went a long way in building confidence. It was fun to see him develop throughout the day. It was unseasonably hot, so conditions were far from perfect for the dogs, but by the end of the day he was putting his nose to the grindstone and doing some work on his own as well. We walked through some pretty tough terrain, and not once during the day did he complain. I think it would be safe to say that he loved every minute of it, and I think its only a matter of time before he'll have a passion for pheasant hunting.
October 23, 2016
Today we took Gunner along to Oak Grove State park for a family outing. Every year we get together with my wife's extended family and enjoy an evening of food, fun, hiking, and roasting marshmallows! My wife thought I was crazy for bringing Gunner along, but her exact words as we were leaving were, "I can't believe how well behaved he was!" That was kind of the response among most people there. First it was, "How old is he?" then, "wow, he is really well behaved and very calm for his age." He enjoyed scavenging for any food scraps that were left on the ground, and hiking up the trails.
October 19, 2016
A little fall cleanup with Gunner goes a long way! The kids enjoy his company most days, and I can't get over how laid back he is around them. He loves to be loved, and loves to be outside chasing the kids in the yard. He even enjoyed playing in the leaves that the kids stole from the neighbors yard!
October 14, 2016
Gunner's first bird experience went well. He's been around the big dogs when they've kicked up some roosters, but this was the first time he's gotten bird exposure by himself. It was fun to see how he used his nose to wind the pigeons and even more fun to see him flash point when he got close enough. At first he was unsure, but it only took a couple times for him to catch on to what the game was all about. We clipped the wings so the pigeons couldn't fly too well and as soon as they went up in the air he was in hot pursuit. His first response was to catch the pigeon and run away from me so that I couldn't take away his new found "toy". However after a couple retrieves he figured out that I was the one planting the birds so in order for him to continue with this new and extremely fun game he needed to bring the pigeon to me!
October 12, 2016
I continue to work daily with Gunner. Most mornings start out at about 6:00 am with either a run, or a trip to the prairie about a block from my house. There we either get our cardio in for the day, or the dogs get exposure to the pheasants that are in abundance. It seems like each day he continually improves. Yesterday the big dogs kicked up a rooster, and he couldn't get enough of the scent that was left behind. His tail was a waggin, and that's the first time I've seen him get real birdy! It's fun to see the progression with each day. After school we to Sandy Hollow which is another area with plenty of birds. We kicked up a few more roosters and spent some time working with the blind. He's getting pretty good the "blind" command and will sit still for a lot longer than most pups his age. From there we went and did a little water work. At 46 degrees out it wasn't the warmest of days, but it didn't seem to bother him too much. It's good to slowly accommodate them to colder conditions because I have full intentions of taking him along for my waterfowl trip to South Dakota in early November. I also got out the dummy launcher to continually accustom him to the loud noises. The more I have Gunner around, the more I wonder if I want to sell him as a started dog. As you can see from the pictures he'd make a pretty good model someday!
October 4, 2016
In only a couple days work, Gunner has gotten pretty familiar and comfortable with the dog blind! I give him the "blind" command and he goes with no questions asked. One thing is for sure, he figures things out very quickly!
October 2, 2016
Gunner is growing fonder of the water every day. We spent some time at the pond today and did some water work. I'm constantly working to build confidence and comfort level at this stage and just trying to get him exposure to as many different things as possible at this point. It seems like no matter what I throw at him he's willing to try and catches on very quickly.
September 28, 2016
Gunner learns a little more every day! I continue to be amazed at how quickly he picks things up. He loves to play and is getting more and more bold around the bigger dogs. It won't be long before he's showing them who is boss! On our walks he is starting to venture out more and more, and he is starting to use nose to identify various different smells. He is growing fonder of his dummy and retrieving every day, but the thing he loves most right now is picking on the little puppies that are 7 weeks old and half his size! He has also grown very fond of his crate, and I would say crate training is pretty well finalized. Some nights he sleeps in the house, some nights he sleeps in the big kennel inside/outside run, and some nights he sleeps in his crate. I want him to be comfortable in a variety of different settings. I also started introducing him to loud noises. Tonight we went to the prairie and brought the dummy launcher. The big dogs worked on some long retrieves, and Gunner got to watch! The noise didn't phase him one bit, he was more curious about the little orange thing flying high and far through the air! I also started spending time tonight getting him used to the blind. This is something I'll continue to do so that he's comfortable and used to hunting out of a blind in the future.
September 21, 2016
September 20, 2016
Today we got some water work in with the unseasonably hot temperatures. Gunner did pretty well for his first real experience in the water. The more we're around it the more he's willing to venture out farther after the big dogs. He's getting to enjoy chasing his dummy around more and more everyday! As long as you don't throw it too far he's willing to swim out and get it. I can say I'm very impressed so far with his mentality, fearlessness, and drive!
September 18, 2016
September 14, 2016
Gunner is liking his daily walks more and more. Every time we go out he ventures out a little further, and gets a little braver. This morning we headed down to the prairie for a morning walk. The prairie makes it's home to lots of pheasants this time of year. Even though we didn't kick up any birds, there were plenty of roosting spots with scent that the dogs could enjoy! Yesterday I was quite impressed with the little guy. I've been hesitant to take him on a run because most pups his age will get tired quickly. We ran 1.5 miles without stopping. He's a determined little fella to say the least!
September 10, 2016
Gunner enjoys spending time with the big dogs. The more and more time goes on the braver he gets! He and Mags (far right) are especially good buds. They are spitting images of each other, and I would say that Gunner is the male version of Mags. Gunner went for his first real ride like the big dogs in the back of the pickup today! It won't be long and he'll be big enough to hand his head out the side and enjoy the wind blowing through his hair!
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| One of Gunner's favorite spots to snuggle up after a long day! |
Gunner is adjusting well to the crazy family life that we offer. He is now sleeping through the night, and I would say is pretty well house trained already. He has yet to have any accidents, other than the one by the door that was "owner error." When a dog stands by the door and whines even after he was just out its probably a good idea to let him out again! He is a great mix of energy, but yet laid back enough to by himself. He gets more and more brave every day, and finds himself pestering the big dogs quite regularly already. He also enjoys jumping in the whelping box to check out his 5 little cousins and of course tries to wrestle them. He's starting to understand what sit means, and he absolutely loves retrieving his dummy! We start them young, but it doesn't take much persuasion to get them to love the retrieve. That's bred into them pretty deep!
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| Watchin the big dogs work! |
August 30, 2016
"The Walk" If you've never read Julie Knutson's "Training the Pointing Labrador" I highly recommend it. One of the chapters highlights the importance of taking young pups on daily walks. It is also one of the things I enjoy more than anything. Give me my family, a beautiful summer evening, and a great dog and I can walk forever. Ask me to go on a walk by myself.....not a chance! Tonight we took Gunner and the big dogs for a nice walk at Sandy Hollow, a recreation area near town. He did well on the mile plus trek. He should be tuckered out tonight!
Gunner has quickly become acclimated to our family. This morning the first thing he did was stand by the door and whine so I let him out and he went to the restroom. You would think my kids would have never seen a dog before the way they fight over him? I love his temperament and disposition so far. This afternoon we took him for his first swimming lesson. He first waded out to see what the big dogs were doing, and shortly after jumped in head first after a dummy. Little did he know that he was "jumping off the deep end" and his paws could no longer touch. He figured out rather quickly that he needed to paddle.
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| Swimming Lessons |
August 27, 2016
Gunner came home to live with us on Saturday afternoon, and it has amazed me at how quickly he has caught on to things. Part of this is the socialization he received in the first 8 weeks of his life, but by the end of the day he had already figured out that his crate was his own little space. Through the night I got up with him every 2 hours to make sure that he didn't have any accidents. In the first day he would whine when he needed to go the bathroom and he hasn't had one accident in the house. If I had to describe Gunner in one word the first day it would be "Intelligent"!
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| Naptime! |
