[BonMallari]

I know most training is pre trial/test or post trial/test for you semantic buffs, but I spent the last two mornings throwing birds for Al Wilson and his training group as he get ready for this weekend's trial in Niland Ca (SDRC)...yesterday was strictly business, simulating an all age test, gunners all in white jackets, and retired behind camo umbrellas and blinds

I had the long memory bird some 350+yds away, I had trouble seeing the handler waving from that far back against a very bright sky and in front of a dog truck...the weather was fabulous , temps in the low 70's with just enough of a breeze to keep things cool and the dogs working hard

Here is the line

and here was my view from my station

today was nothing but flyers,not to brag, but I did not miss...I am finally getting used to a bird thrown from a Tangelo tosser and timing the pigeon unfolding before creaming them with a single shot of AA skeet loads.Sure makes for a fun day for the dogs, handlers and the shooter...none of the dogs broke and there was excitement in the air...the guys all have some young year old dogs that are littermates, so it was a bonus for them to get birds thrown with a shotgun being fired instead of a blank pistol..

youngster Bo (with Al) and his brother Cody (with Rob H)

.

Good luck Al..bring back some silver from the trial

 

[J. Walker]

Do rattlesnakes count as a factor?

 

[BonMallari]

Do rattlesnakes count as a factor?

Now why did you have to go and remind me that we have them in the desert .. have seen them crossing the highway at night near the Calif desert, and killed one with a well placed 1 iron at a golf course here in Vegas

 

[Labs a mundo]

Oh!! How I wish I were there!
Good luck to our Canadian friends, Bob, Gord and Marlene, Mickey, and Bruce!
Have fun!

 

[2tall]

Somebody needs to move that truck!

I'm so jealous I could cry. I have those old cabin fever blues. Even though the snow is gone, the mud goes on forever.

 

[Rick_C]

Somebody needs to move that truck!

No kidding. Bon, how many times did you get yelled at for not throwing when they signaled for you because you couldn't see the arm wave?

 

[BonMallari]

No kidding. Bon, how many times did you get yelled at for not throwing when they signaled for you because you couldn't see the arm wave?

No yelling, I actually suggested we use a flag (like a goose flag) when we do marks at that distance...I could actually see if the handler was wearing a white jacket or if the person behind and to the right waved

 

[HarryWilliams]

Yell at good volunteer help, I don't think so. HPW

 

[Gunners Up]

Bon,

When you are out there, do you bring a dog or do any training yourself? Or are you there to enjoy the fellowship, being outdoors and watching the dogs work?


Rich Davis

 

[BonMallari]

Bon,

When you are out there, do you bring a dog or do any training yourself? Or are you there to enjoy the fellowship, being outdoors and watching the dogs work?


Rich Davis

all the dogs I get to train are in Idaho, dont have the domestic abode to keep a lab here in Vegas...Getting to meet Mr Wilson, Mr Bradley, the Smith's and making a new friend in Rob H. (aka saltcreek) is a big bonus..I also have learned some new things about setting up tests from Mr Wilson who is a well respected judge...later this summer the guys are all going to try and make it up to Idaho and train with Clint and I when they run the summer Utah trials...it sure beats sitting in front of a computer

 

[Gunners Up]

Ice/Snow storm here in Tulsa today and your photos had me day dreaming. It looks like you had great weather and good company. A guy could do a lot worse than sitting around in Southern Cal watching the dogs and shooting pigeons!

Rich

 

[Rick_C]

Yell at good volunteer help, I don't think so. HPW

Is today literal day? I didn't really think he got yelled at. Just making the point, jokingly I thought, that I could imagine there were plenty of missed arm waves judging by the picture.

Generally, a etc... is to let the reader know we aren't being 100% serious with our response.

 

[Bayou Magic]

Bon,

Please tell Al that I said hello and go kick some butt. Al is one of the good guys in the sport.

Frank Price

 

[Judy Chute]

Snowstorm (again) today, coming down like crazy so pictures are to die for.

Totally shocked, though, that the line is in front of a truck with the company you are in...not only zero visibility for the guns to see birds being called for but the same for the dog if a handle is needed.

Enjoy!

Judy

 

[laila]

all the dogs I get to train are in Idaho, dont have the domestic abode to keep a lab here in Vegas...Getting to meet Mr Wilson, Mr Bradley, the Smith's and making a new friend in Rob H. (aka saltcreek) is a big bonus..I also have learned some new things about setting up tests from Mr Wilson who is a well respected judge...later this summer the guys are all going to try and make it up to Idaho and train with Clint and I when they run the summer Utah trials...it sure beats sitting in front of a computer

While training dogs, have you ever came across dogs that were really shy? Even of certain family members? My dog is not shy around be but he just does not cooperate well, and hides from just about everyone else.

 

[BonMallari]

While training dogs, have you ever came across dogs that were really shy? Even of certain family members? My dog is not shy around be but he just does not cooperate well, and hides from just about everyone else.

dont confuse a dog being "shy" with a dog being "soft"...in my limited experience I have been around dogs that would only work well for one person...but then for example Mr Wilson has let me handle two of his dogs, one which is an FC AFC (Ruby) the other a retired dog that was one point short of an AFC (Jade) and one handled like a Porsche, the other like a Cadillac..it was a real treat for me

 

[DarrinGreene]

No yelling, I actually suggested we use a flag (like a goose flag) when we do marks at that distance...I could actually see if the handler was wearing a white jacket or if the person behind and to the right waved

Bon, how do you train a dog in a situation where the thrower can't see the handler due to these factors? Seems as though if the thrower can't see the handler, we wouldn't expect the dog to see him, in the event we had to handle for any reason.

Is there some method here I'm missing?

 

[john fallon]

Bon, how do you train a dog in a situation where the thrower can't see the handler due to these factors? Seems as though if the thrower can't see the handler, we wouldn't expect the dog to see him, in the event we had to handle for any reason.

Is there some method here I'm missing?

I think he was refering to trucks normally being a poor background around the line.

Move the "fricken" trucks regards

john

 

[Breck]

must be nice out there in the warm weather.
Signaling visibility is a non issue if you use radios. Don't need to say much, just "Bon Go".
In training you shouldn't necessarily eliminate all the things going on at the line you'd normally see as undesirable at a trial. Dogs need to see it all or not see as the case may be.
Not sure if they're shooting ducks or pheasant at the trial but I wouldn't be using pigeons on Wednesday before a trial, especially true if there will be pheasant at the trial. A hen duck or pheasant as a short retired check down bird is good to throw in a pre trial setup. On the other hand if those guys win the trial I may be building a pigeon coop.

 

[BonMallari]

must be nice out there in the warm weather.
Signaling visibility is a non issue if you use radios. Don't need to say much, just "Bon Go".
In training you shouldn't necessarily eliminate all the things going on at the line you'd normally see as undesirable at a trial. Dogs need to see it all or not see as the case may be.
Not sure if they're shooting ducks or pheasant at the trial but I wouldn't be using pigeons on Wednesday before a trial, especially true if there will be pheasant at the trial. A hen duck or pheasant as a short retired check down bird is good to throw in a pre trial setup. On the other hand if those guys win the trial I may be building a pigeon coop.

this was Mr Wilson's show and he has a couple of FC AFC's in his kennel and has been a National Finalist, I trust he knows what he is doing, and we did have radios, but just knowing if I was gunner 1,2, or 3 sometimes wasnt enough...We will work out the logistics