[Leah]

As a long time lurker of this forum, I just wanted to take a minute and introduce myself. I got my first dog “just for a pet” three years ago. I was introduced into the retriever training world when my golden girl was bumping two years old, and after some thought, I decided to go for it. So I began training my golden last year - as complete amateurs, Mandy and I are learning together and we’re both loving it. I’m hoping that we will be ready to run a hunt test or two this fall.

I am so thankful that a site like this is available – I have already learned so much here and I know I will learn much more in the months that follow. And I'm sure that I'll have quite a few beginner questions for you all as well!

Leah

 

[AmiableLabs]

So you are a "Phase 1?" :lol: :wink:

WELCOME!

 

[Andy Carlson]

Welcome to RTF!

Andy

 

[John Gassner]

Leah, welcome to RTF! What part of central Mo.? Lots of tests, trials, and trainers around the state.

Good Luck!


John

 

[Dale]

Welcome to RTF. Your in trouble now, you belong to one messed up family.
We won't even fault you for having a golden.

You don't have to be crazy to be here but it helps regards.

 

[Leah]

Thanks for the welcome!

I live just a few miles west of Columbia. I've been to a few hunt tests in Sedalia and Smithville and one field trial. (the GRCA National - definately the highlight of my year!) I've learned a lot from watching and hopefully I'll be on the line someday with my golden girl.

And Dale... I wouldn't have it any other way. =)

Leah

 

[larrynogaj]

new

welcome, and enjoy the journey.

 

[K G]

Judy Chute's gonna love you! :lol:

Welcome to the fray!

kg

 

[Becky Mills]

Leah,
Your Golden girl is gorgeous!
Welcome!
Take Care,
Becky

 

[hhlabradors]

Hi Leah! Welcome out of lurkdom

What a pretty bitch you have!

 

[Suzanne Burr]

Welcome aboard. We need all the fluffy owners we can get on here. We're woefully picked on--however, Judy can beat the daylights out of any non-fluffy lover with her pom-poms!! Hey Judy--wanna form a pom-pom mafia? I still have my old pom-pom costume. As long as I don't have to wear it, I'll be okay, if I do, I'll suffocate in about 20 seconds flat! :shock:
Suzanne B

 

[Becky Mills]

Count me in! I was a cheerleader in high school! Not that anybody would ever guess...I never utter a peep when any of my buddies are running :wink:

 

[Dave Combs]

What a pretty bitch you have!

Possibly the most 'biker' thing ever said on RTF!


Oh and welcome Leah

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

I began training my golden last year - as complete amateurs, Mandy and I are learning together and we’re both loving it. I’m hoping that we will be ready to run a hunt test or two this fall.
Leah

You Fool! do you know what you have done? Run, run now, run like you have never run before!! You stand right at the edge of a very slippery slope. The tiniest move forward and there is no turning back. You will never have a carefree, nothing to do weekend ever again, for the rest of your life. You will start planning all your vacation time and weekends around dog events and training groups. You will start accumulating clutter that will live in your truck. What, no truck? You will buy vehicles not on price or mileage but on how many dog crates will fit in them. Then you will just get a chassis mount and trailer. You will spend more time in a field with your dogs than you spend with cousins and uncles. You will put a whistle around your neck before you put your pants on in the morning. You will never drive past a field, swamp, pond or lake without thinking "Can I train there, who owns that?" The non-dog folk in your circle of friends will never see you anymore. End tables and decorative home decor will be replaced by dog crates and dog prints won at raffles. Your favorite splash on fragrance will contain D.E.E.T. And in the middle of August, months from hunting season, you will have mallards thawing in your crisper drawer for the mornings work...... Run you fool!
Ken Bora
ps- welcome to the madness!

 

[Boondux]

Leah,

I have a few things in common with you. I also got my first golden "for a pet" three years ago and started training spring 2006 - when my dog was 2. We are amateurs also and are trying to learn all we can (and have fun). Nice looking golden you've got! Bring on the questions!

Carrie

 

[K G]

Ken, that's one of the best posts I've ever read on any board, anywhere.

Well done, friend...bravo!

And too true, by the way......... 8) .........................

kg

 

[Gun_Dog2002]

I began training my golden last year - as complete amateurs, Mandy and I are learning together and we’re both loving it. I’m hoping that we will be ready to run a hunt test or two this fall.
Leah

You Fool! do you know what you have done? Run, run now, run like you have never run before!! You stand right at the edge of a very slippery slope. The tiniest move forward and there is no turning back. You will never have a carefree, nothing to do weekend ever again, for the rest of your life. You will start planning all your vacation time and weekends around dog events and training groups. You will start accumulating clutter that will live in your truck. What, no truck? You will buy vehicles not on price or mileage but on how many dog crates will fit in them. Then you will just get a chassis mount and trailer. You will spend more time in a field with your dogs than you spend with cousins and uncles. You will put a whistle around your neck before you put your pants on in the morning. You will never drive past a field, swamp, pond or lake without thinking "Can I train there, who owns that?" The non-dog folk in your circle of friends will never see you anymore. End tables and decorative home decor will be replaced by dog crates and dog prints won at raffles. Your favorite splash on fragrance will contain D.E.E.T. And in the middle of August, months from hunting season, you will have mallards thawing in your crisper drawer for the mornings work...... Run you fool!
Ken Bora
ps- welcome to the madness!

You'll be drawn uncontrollably to every bandanna counter you pass and will experience incredible urges to tie them on your dog in front of national monuments so you can take photographs of your long haired lovehound with them wearing red, blue, pink, purple bandannas prompting your friends and family to consider having you locked up...

/Paul

 

[DEDEYE]

I began training my golden last year - as complete amateurs, Mandy and I are learning together and we’re both loving it. I’m hoping that we will be ready to run a hunt test or two this fall.
Leah

You Fool! do you know what you have done? Run, run now, run like you have never run before!! You stand right at the edge of a very slippery slope. The tiniest move forward and there is no turning back. You will never have a carefree, nothing to do weekend ever again, for the rest of your life. You will start planning all your vacation time and weekends around dog events and training groups. You will start accumulating clutter that will live in your truck. What, no truck? You will buy vehicles not on price or mileage but on how many dog crates will fit in them. Then you will just get a chassis mount and trailer. You will spend more time in a field with your dogs than you spend with cousins and uncles. You will put a whistle around your neck before you put your pants on in the morning. You will never drive past a field, swamp, pond or lake without thinking "Can I train there, who owns that?" The non-dog folk in your circle of friends will never see you anymore. End tables and decorative home decor will be replaced by dog crates and dog prints won at raffles. Your favorite splash on fragrance will contain D.E.E.T. And in the middle of August, months from hunting season, you will have mallards thawing in your crisper drawer for the mornings work...... Run you fool!
Ken Bora
ps- welcome to the madness!

LOL! And then you might buy a dog box for the top of your truck that your dog only goes in when at a trial. Mostly it will be used to store your training stuf. And then your "normal" friends and co-workers will start to make fun of you for your conversations on the phone with your training partners... Maybe even avoid you. Then you might start "dealing ducks" out of the back of your truck in your work parking lot... Probably you will start a shrine for ribbons complete with pictures of your dog.

Listen to Ken! Dogs are a weird addiction!

 

[ducksoup]

Ah the madness!!! -- the wonderful yet all encompassing sheer madness known in scientific circles as "retrieveritis" -- welcome Leah to the madness that never ends -- from a former Phase I who quickly got through and out of Phase II to where I am today: to a happy Phase III who spends far too much time deliriously (and quite happily) reading and posting here on RTF; oh, to be able to just "lurk" once again in the shadows

 

[hhlabradors]

You Fool! do you know what you have done? Run, run now, run like you have never run before!! You stand right at the edge of a very slippery slope. The tiniest move forward and there is no turning back. You will never have a carefree, nothing to do weekend ever again, for the rest of your life. You will start planning all your vacation time and weekends around dog events and training groups. You will start accumulating clutter that will live in your truck. What, no truck? You will buy vehicles not on price or mileage but on how many dog crates will fit in them. Then you will just get a chassis mount and trailer. You will spend more time in a field with your dogs than you spend with cousins and uncles. You will put a whistle around your neck before you put your pants on in the morning. You will never drive past a field, swamp, pond or lake without thinking "Can I train there, who owns that?" The non-dog folk in your circle of friends will never see you anymore. End tables and decorative home decor will be replaced by dog crates and dog prints won at raffles. Your favorite splash on fragrance will contain D.E.E.T. And in the middle of August, months from hunting season, you will have mallards thawing in your crisper drawer for the mornings work...... Run you fool!
Ken Bora
ps- welcome to the madness!

Ken,

What's your point? :wink: