Jim, I just got back from my Vet. I pulled Holly from her crate and people flocked around her.

Three people wanted her picture and your number to see if you had any more pups left.

My vet was really impressed with your paper work as well as your practices.

She also got your number as well. So just an FYI you might be getting some more calls. ;-)

At 14 weeks old she's already retrieving bumpers in deep water. I have never had a lab take to the water so quick.

Holly is training really really well. I thought her head strong attitude was going to be difficult but the puppy

is it in slowly dissipating and she is becoming quite a dog. I will start lining soon, As her baseball

training is wrapping up. I will begin testing her more and more with commotions and people and other dogs.

By the time dove season rolls around she should be ready to go.

Doug Swinton Cedar Falls, Iowa

JIM

I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO WRITE THIS FOR SOME TIME, BUT JUST GOT AROUND TO IT NOW.

I PURCHASED A FEMALE PUP FROM YOU, WHICH I CALL “STORM”. SHE IS FROM “CORI” AND “LUCKY” MATCH.

“STORM” IS THE SWEETEST MOST LOVING LAB I HAVE EVER OWNED.SHE WAS THE EASIEST TO LEARN OF ANY DOG I HAVE TRAINED. SHE HAS GREAT ENDURANCE AND IN THE FIELD AND IN THE WATER SHE IS A TIGER. OUR FAMILY LOVES HER. SHE IS A LUCKY DOG AS SHE GETS TO HUNT DUCKS,GEESE, PHEASANTS AND QUAIL 4 MONTHS/YR,ALONG WITH HER BEST BUDDY “RADER” MY OTHER YELLOW LAB (AN AKC FIELD CHAMPION). AT TIMES SHE OUTSHINES MY “TITLED DOG”.

I MUST ADMIT THAT INITIALY I WAS APPREHENSIVE ABOUT BUYING “STORM” AS “LUCKY” LACKED AKC TITLES, BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS ITS WHAT THE DOG DOES THAT COUNTS.

I THANK YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO OWN ANOTHER CHAMPION DOG.

AS A SIDE NOTE I JUST RECEIVED “STORMS” HIP X-RAY RESULTS.THEY WERE “EXCELLENT”. SHE IS THE FIRST DOG I HAVE OWNED THAT CHECKED THAT HIGH. KNEES WERE NORMAL.ALSO I HAVE OWNED AND TRAINED WELL OVER 50 LABS IN MY LIFE SO PLEASE DON’T TAKE MY COMMENTS ABOUT YOU BREEDING CHOICE LIGHTLY.

“STORM” HAS THE ABILITY TO BECOME A SENIOR HUNTER,OR FIELD CHAMPION BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE DESIRE TO SPEND THE TIME TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.SHE WILL BE LIKE HER MOM AND JUST BE A GREAT HUNTER AND COMPANION WITH NO LAURALS OTHER THAN THAT. IF I DON’T SEE YOU IN THE FIELD I HOPE THAT YOU ARE SUCESSFUL IN YOUR QUESTS.

BOB DIRK

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Hi Jim,

The pup did great. We had three very young pups to work with and my dog showed the most savvy toward retrieving. He easily retrieves a small doken or a small canvas bumper but he prefers the doken. He even goes over to my training basket and drags out the big dokens sometimes. I took some pigeons to the training day and my pup pounced on the birds where the other dogs just stood around and sniffed. After much coaxing we finally got the other two pups to drag one by the wing. They wouldn't have anything to do with a live clipped-wing bird but my pup was tearing up the turf to get at it, pick it up, and bring it back to me! We were all very impressed with this pup's spunk. This week it has finally got up into the high 70's and low 80's and warmed the shallow ends of my two large ponds. I tested the water by hand and decided the young pup could handle it and I started dragging a small doken in the water to get him to try swimming and lean forward so his front feet wouldn't splash. He took to it like a pro. He is swimming pretty well for a first timer and the water hasn't scared him. He seems to like it so I'll get him in again a time or two this week. I'm busy introducing him to everything but at a controlled pace and he likes everything so far. Every day I bring him in the house, close all the hallway doors and toss 6 retrieves for him down the hallway. He brings them back without haste. Outside I put a rope on him and do 6 retrieves every day. The rope ensures the retrieve is successful and he doesn't learn bad run away habits. I really haven't needed to use the rope yet but it's there just in case. He is settling in very well. My vet checked him over and gave him his second series of shots. He gets his third round next month.

I'm glad Steve called but also a little surprised. He has a year-old chocolate lab that has just been FF by a professional trainer and been given early single marks. Steve ran him in four UKC hunt tests and got an SHR title. I think his wife also has two dogs so a new pup would make four. He said his son was wanting a dog so maybe four is not too many. He was impressed with my pup so hopefully he will buy one too. Again, everyone in the retriever club was impressed and I was too when I saw what he did with live pigeons. There's no question that this dog is birdy and will be a retrieving maniac. We have a fairly famous pro trainer in Texas (Danny Farmer) and I am in the process of contacting him about getting this dog in his program when the pup gets older. I would like to train him myself but this dog may be destined for bigger things than just hunt tests. Time will tell us more. I hope to get you some photos soon.

Mike Fisher

Decatur, Texas