Blind Ambitions

One of the more common things you hear, when you work with dogs, is guys talking about how they just want a “meat dog” or “just a hunting dog”. They don’t want one of those “test dogs” or “trial dogs”. So, what is the difference when training a “meat dog” versus a “test dog”? In my opinion, absolutley nothing. No matter what your goals and plans are for your dog, it all starts with Basic Obedience. I have posted before about the importance of a solid obedience program, and it cannot be stressed enough. Whether you are planning to run field trials, hunt tests or pick up ducks in a marsh, it all starts with obedience. As your training program progresses you teach the same skills and run the same drills through all the basic retriever work, such as running single marks, double marks, Force Fetch, Force to Pile and Water Force. The differences in the training can show up once you get the dog into transition type work, doing things like swim-by, angle back casting drills, lining drills, and cheating single drills may not be totally neccessary for a dog that is gonna hunt on the weekends during duck season, but it sure doesn’t hurt that dog either. Remember a good hunting dog, should perform well in hunt tests, so maybe ‘ol Fido isn’t a “just a meat dog” after all.

A report from Delta Waterfowl says that Cananda is considering dropping their Duck Stamp Program:

Delta Waterfowl has gone on record in opposition to two proposals by Environment Canada (EC) that would potentially end the Canadian duck stamp program.

Environment Canada recently posted a “consultation document” proposing three possible outcomes for Canada’s duck stamp. The first, which is supported by Delta, is to leave the program in the hands of Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC), an independent, non-profit organization that has managed duck stamp dollars since 1984.

Under the other two proposals, resident and nonresident waterfowl hunters would continue to pay a fee, but the stamp would be eliminated and WHC would likely cease operations.

Under the first of those options, fees collected from hunters would be given to a non-government organization for delivery. The second option calls for the fees to be directed to EC’s “protected areas” system, many of which are bird sanctuaries where hunting is banned.

In a letter to Environment Canada, Delta President Rob Olson encouraged Minister of the Environment John Baird to leave the Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp program intact.

“We strongly believe that waterfowl hunters, migratory birds and the habitats they depend upon would be best served by continuing the present arrangements with WHC,” Olson wrote. “We believe it is premature to consider alternative methods of fund distribution.”

Olson says diverting the duck hunters’ money to protected areas would be unfair because many of these areas are not open to public hunting. He also objects to the proposal that involves distributing the money to non-government conservation organizations, explaining that, “Delta has lost confidence in the ability of the traditional NGO model to provide adequate levels of accountability and to deliver of programs that benefit ducks and duck hunters. We’re increasingly concerned about what we see as a mission drift away from waterfowl interests.”

Elaborating on those concerns, Olson said, “The traditional model has failed to reduce the wetland-loss rate across prairie Canada, there’s very little permanent protection of key waterfowl habitat and no data to suggest more than a minimal impact on duck production. Delta has been fighting for a new management approach that puts the focus back on ducks.”

Besides, he adds, WHC is already working with numerous agencies and organizations. “The stamp program has served as a significant bridge between conservation interests (that) keeps decisions about allocations of duck stamp dollars out of the hands of a few large corporate conservation interests.”

“Our strength is that we can do things other groups can’t,” says WHC President David Brackett, who for 11 years was director general of the Canadian Wildlife Service.

“We support all the non-government agencies,” Brackett says. “If the fees go to a non-government organization, you’ll have groups like Delta, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada competing for these dollars. That’s why WHC was formed in the first place—we don’t compete with the NGOs.

“We’re like venture capitalists who distribute the money where it will do the most good from the duck hunter’s point of view,” he added.

Brackett says he’s also concerned about using the fees for Canada’s protected areas, saying it’s unfair to use fees generated by hunters to fund non-hunting areas.

Since 1984, WHC has invested $52 million in habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement, especially in wetlands and wetland-associated species. About $32 million was generated by duck stamp sales.

In the most recent year, 40 percent of WHC grants went to North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) partners, including the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, Delta Waterfowl’s partner on Adopt a Pothole, the largest wetland easement program in Canada.

WHC’s board recently announced a provisional $100,000 grant for Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS), a habitat program jointly launched by Delta Waterfowl and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), for a demonstration project on the Vermillion River in Alberta.

Brackett says the consultation process is a review that, given the cost of the program, was probably over-due, and he is hopeful that WHC will be left intact.

Due to the drought we are having in NC, the NCWRC is saying that some permit hunts are going to be cancelled because of dry conditions. The first casuality looks to be the Butner Waterfowl Impoundments. Below is a Media Alert form the NCWRC:

MEDIA ALERT: Butner Waterfowl Impoundments May Remain Dry

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2007) – Due to severe drought conditions, the waterfowl impoundments at Butner Falls of Neuse Game Land may remain completely dry this fall, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

The impoundments are typically filled by pumping water from adjacent creeks, but the Commission is not planning to do so this year unless the area receives significant rainfall in the coming weeks.

The impoundments are open to waterfowl hunting through a randomly drawn special permit hunt, which requires a $5 application fee. Though the permit hunts remain available, prospects look dim for productive waterfowl habitat on Butner’s impoundments.

The permit drawing for Butner’s hunts takes place in early October. When those permits are mailed, the Commission will include updated information about water levels at the site.

Permit hunts are scheduled to take place beginning Nov. 10.

To learn more about the Commission, or other waterfowl hunting opportunities, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

I’ll do my best to post the cancelled hunts as I hear about them.

As the month of Septemeber winds down, it has been unusually hot and very dry. However, the goose hunting has been equally hot here. I have had several guided trips this month and so far it has been good. The resident birds have acted like they are supposed to; they have decoyed pretty well, but more importantly they have kept their patterns; which for a guide is a truly wonderful thing. Here are a couple of pictures from the season so far.

One of our hunters with a good morning.

Me with my first of the season.

A hard working dog.

A pretty Western NC sunrise

For information on guided waterfowl hunts in Western NC visit www.averycreek.net

Skinny Moose Media has launched their internet radio station recently, and today I will be a guest on the Moose Droppings  Radio Show. Tune in at 1:00 on Friday September 21 to hear moose and I discuss some goose hunting strategies and a few other tips, tricks and information. The Moose Droppings Radio Show has aired a few times previously and you cna find the archives here. So I encourage you to take a listen, maybe pick up some good information, or at least get a good laugh at my expense.

Moose from www.moosedroppings.net and the Moose Droppings Radio Show

Centronuclear Myopathy has has had several names over the years since it was discovered in labrador retrievers in 1976. It is a disease that effects the muscle and skeletal system of the dog, and ends in death.  A study conducted in France has been able to identify if a dog is a carrier of CMN, and now the tests are available worldwide. Youc an visit http://www.labradorcnm.com/ for tons of information about the disease and information on how to have your dog tested and registered as CMN clear. I think quite possibly in the near future this test may be a standard health clearance test, much like OFA and CERF. Some good informaiton on this site worth taking some time to check out.

Below is a press release from the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission.  This appears as if it may be a great event for youngsters. As someone who has hunted tundra swans, I cna tell you tha tyou would be hard pressed to find a hunt that is more fun for a waterfowler than a swan hunt. Huge birds decoying in to big spreads, it is truly a sight every waterfowl hunter needs to experience at least once.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 11, 2007) – Looking for a good opportunity to introduce a youth to waterfowl hunting? If so, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission may have just what you need.

The Commission is accepting applications for its first youth-only swan hunt that will take place Jan. 19 on private land in Tyrrell County. Just 10 slots are available for youth hunters, ages 15 and under, to participate.

“Partnering with several private individuals and organizations, the Commission is offering a truly unique opportunity for youth interested in waterfowl hunting,” said David Cobb, director of the Division of Wildlife Management. “This event provides not only the chance to pursue the largest - and perhaps most unique - waterfowl species that winters in our state, but also to spend time meeting and interacting with other hunters while learning about the biology of, and hunting techniques for, tundra swans.”

The event, which will also include free activities such as skeet shooting, is made possible by private partners. Participants will be provided lodging for the evening of Friday, Jan. 18, along with a hunt orientation and complimentary meals. Licensed adults may attend and join their youth in the field, but are not allowed to shoot.

The deadline for permit applications is Oct. 1, and requires a $10 processing fee. Apply at any wildlife service agent, by telephone at 1-888-248-6834, or at the Commission’s headquarters from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1751 Varsity Drive in Raleigh.

To learn more about the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission or migratory waterfowl, visit www.ncwildlife.org .

Since my wife and I have opened our kennel operation, we get tons of comments from friends and family about what it must be like to run a kennel. Some of the comments are about how lucky we are that we get to work with dogs all the time, some our concerns of how we will be able to afford to eat because all we do is “play” with dogs, and everything in between. What most fail to see though, is some of the dirty work that goes along with it. Things like feeding a kennel full of dogs and washing dog bowels twice a day, washing and disenfecting water buckets, cleaning kennels and scooping poop from the airing area. Which leads me to a funny story. Last week, I had to run to the drug store one evening, so my wife decided tohelp me out and scoop up the airing area we have fenced in. So she grabs the plastic rake and shovel I use and a 5 gallon bucket. Well she is making her way through the airing yard and scooping every “pile” she finds. Unknown to her, some friends of ours had pulled up the driveway. I guess they knew someone was home, and when nobody answered the door the came around to the fence at the back of the house, and there was my wife leaned over picking up a fresh “pile” and dropping it in her bucket. She tunred around in time to see the grossed out faces on our friends. I pulled up a minute or so later pretty much covered in muck because we had been doing some water training that evening and I had to go in and help one of the pups. I am sure it must have been a site to see the both of us. I think our friends walked away that evening with a new outlook on what it is like to run a kennel. As the were backing down the driveway, my wife looked at me and with a grin said “I think they caught me scooping poop”; all I could was laugh.

My last post described a bloody scene I dealt with the other day with one of my dogs. I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss what needs to be carried in a first aid for your dog. There are plenty of commercially available first aid kits you can buy as a package; or you can put your own together. I only caution you to carry only the items you know how to use. It does no good to carry a skin stapler if you don’t know how to use it. If you decide to put your own kit together a few things you will need to start with are several different size gauze pads, some gauze rolls, stretchy tape (nurses tape) and a roll or two of athletic tape. A rectal thermometer some forceps, tweezers, sciccors, tongue depressers, Q-tips and cotton balls should also find there way in.  I like to carry Wet-Naps and Bactine towelletes, some latex gloves, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol pads, an instant cold compress, one or two large triangle bandages, a syptic pencil, super glue or EMT Gel, a skin stapler,  some sterile eye wash, a couple “Rehydrate” tablets and some packets of honey (for low blood sugar). I also like to keep a First Aid in the Field Book in with the stuff becasue sometimes in an emergency you may be thinking clearly.  Essentially what I carry should be able to patch up just about anything long enough for me to get to the vet. Also keep your vets phone number in your cell phone, along with a local 24-hour emergency hospital. If you are travelling use a search engine to get some local vets numbers and store them in your kit or put them in your cell phone. Hopefully your kit will never need to be used, but is always better to have it an not need it, than to need it and feel helpless.

This is a commercially packaged kit that can be found at:

http://www.outdoorsafety.net

Last night a situation came up that got me thinking, how many retriever owners, or dog owners in general, are prepared for an emergency?  I had just finished our evening training sessions with some client dogs in the water and just got them back in their kennels. I walked up to my back deck where I had my yellow female “Joy” with a new chocolate puppy I jus togt in to work with. I thought a little socialization time with the pup would be a good idea. I walked up and saw just tons and tons of blood all over the place. It scared me to death that Joy had tore this new client’s puppy to pieces. I grabbed the pup and began checking it out, but it was being way to playful to be hurt. So I decided to check on Joy as her back legs were covered in blood. I began feeling around and put her on her back and checked her out, all the while, I am getitng covered in blood. I finally found the source; she had ripped one of her toenails up. I went to my K-9 First-Aid kit and got a Styptic pencil to get the bleeding to stop. Then I put her in the bath tub, and washed it off real good, put some hydrogen peroxide on it and then some Neosporin. Called the vet this morning to get a shot of antibiotics I can give her this evening to fight infection. Luckily, it wasn’t too big a deal and wasn’t a serious injury, but it made me wonder how many dog owners are prepared for emergencies? Keep checking back this week as I will spend a few days discussing K-9 First-Aid and how to build a First-Aid kit that really has what you need.