[Chris Atkinson]

I just wanted to make a quick public plug thanking my friends Pete and Pam Poling at Prairie Winds Kennels and new friends Bill and Marsha Butikas at Blindfaith Retrievers.

We had one heck of a fun training session at Bill's place near the IL/IN state line on Bill and Marsha's farm this past Sunday. I had to zip home and pack up for a week-long trip right after, but got a few moments to catch up here in the hotel...hence the delay in my post.

A few of you have undoubtedly thought it sappy of me to write how therapeutic, cleansing, and mentally beneficial it has been to me to train this new Joe X Diamond pup of mine. I mean it sincerely though. It is amazing how much it means to me each day to train this young dog. Pete and Pam have been there to throw marks and help with the training of Bus since the day he came home from Dr. Nate's place with me and Max in August.

Seeing a young labrador make daily advances in training, and being a key part of influencing this pup's development as a working retriever, is unbelievably rewarding! It had been over a decade since I'd brought a 49 day old pup into my home and begun the journey. As I do my yardwork, with young Bus zipping around past Bubba's and Champ's graves, I repeatedly give thanks for the opportunity to be part of the life cycle of another labrador puppy.

While I'm at it, congrats to PWK for the safe arrival of their repeat breeding of Chena and Ronnie/Connie Prudhomme's Roux! The saddest part of this deal is that they were a few pups short to fill out the deposits in-hand! (what a great problem for a breeder to have!)

- can't wait to get back to IL and start pile work (ala-Lardy) with young Bus!

Thanks again to teams PWK and Blindfaith!

Chris

 

[Miriam Wade]

Chris A wrote:

A few of you have undoubtedly thought it sappy of me to write how therapeutic, cleansing, and mentally beneficial it has been to me to train this new Joe X Diamond pup of mine.

Chris-

I don't find it sappy at all. It's just plain awful to not have a dog in the house & the only thing that's going to make things better is to be able to load up the Jeep & head out to a field to train again. Glad that you had a chance to spend some quality time this weekend & I hope you post about the Bus and his adventures along the way.

Enjoy!

M

 

[Jerry]

My good friend,

There has to be a way to invent a business trip down here in May and bring the youngster with you.

Paul-Texas and I were prepared to cook for you at the duck calling thing in Katy but that 7,000 acre parking lot was filled.

You have almost 2 months to figure out how to pull it off. Even I could do that in my old age.

Think about it!!!!

Jerry

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Unca Jerry,

I wish I could! I really wish I could be a part of your dog gig. If I weren't heading to Ireland for a week, shortly after your event, I might have a shot at it.

I'm afraid I've committed to staying close to home and family that weekend! (but I"ll still try to sneak out and throw some marks for Pete & Pam's dogs while my kids take a nap or something!)

Chris

 

[Tom H.]

Hey Chris - I met Pete and Pam last year at a HT in Joliet , Real nice folks , I enjoyed BSing with them . Might even run into them a time or two this year !
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