Another site I belong to set up a Pheasant hunt at Dunn Creek in Michigan on Monday so I decided to go.  I was  a nervous wreck because I knew that ZZ would get a lot of new things thrown at her that she had not seen before.  But I was excited about getting to hunt her anyway.  After the training day we had a few days earlier I thought she might be a handful but she handled herself like she had done it a million times before.

While I was getting her ready from the truck I had whoaed her near me and a few of the dogs and owners came up to see her and she just stood there and waited for me finish up what I was doing.  Her heel still needs to be better but on this day she held it all together.

Once we got to the field I released her and she blew through the field like she had been there a hundred times before.  In this field she ran with a young german shorthair, two weimeraners one of which was only 9 months old.   The first half of the day she kept up with all of them.  She even got one pheasant point.  Which I did not get to see.  Darn it.

All day long I worked with her on backing the other dogs and  I could not have ask any more  from her.  Yes she did break at the flush a few times but was happy with it all the same.  At one point the German Shorthair was pointing with the two Weimeraners were backing and ZZ backing behind them.  Just as I was about to pull out the camera the rooster flushed so I did not get the photo.  But the memory will be priceless.

I did have to chuckle at one of the guys in the group.  He leaned over to me and said hey your girl is out there pretty far.  I just laughed and said I know  she will work her way back, she always does and she did. On this day the pheasants burrowed pretty deep in the snow and grass.   This was her first time running in this type of cover.  After she finished the field she headed for the edges and into the woods.  I don't think I could have grinned any bigger if I had tried.

ZZ is now only 8 months old.  She the  most mellow, exciting, fun dog I have ever owned.  When she runs she looks like she is smiling.  Happy to be out there working, searching for birds.  I can't wait until our next exciting adventure.

Catherine,sounds like you and ZZ had a exciting and fruitful day.Jim

Yes we did.  One day I hope that we can both get together and do a bird hunt.  I would absolutely love that and I know that given the opportunity ZZ would to hunt again as well.   She is growing into a beautiful young dog.    A little noisy at the line but everything else trumps that out.

Frank is going to take her soon and get her through FF.  I think that might help in a few other areas as well.

Good for you! I really like hunting over a seasoned hunting dog. But watching a dog learn the game especially with pheasants is just the neatest thing to me.