Of Training a Bird Dog

So I’ve been doing everything wrong.

Two weeks , I’m already at risk of ruining my bird-dog!
I have three human children, one of them who is four years old and already turning out to be a good little person, and I’m ruining my puppy.

Meet Boone.
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That’s his call name, anyway…

His registered name is Three Cedars Backwoods Master.
Daniel Boone, one of the first “frontiersman”, was often referred to as “The Backwoods Master”.

Why did we name our dog after a legendary frontiersman?

Let’s start with what they have in common.

Both Daniel and our Boone were born in Pennsylvania.

Daniel Boone was born near Reading Pennsylvania. He spent his childhood exploring the Pennsylvania frontier. One story tells us of a young Boone playing in the woods with his friends, when suddenly a panther approached. While the other children ran for cover, Boone calmly cocked his rifle, and shot the beast through the heart as it lept towards him.

Is this story true? I don’t know, but it’s the kind of fearless protective spirit I want in my family pet.

Like Daniel, Boone was born in Pa. He comes from an extraordinary line of yellow Labrador Retrievers.

Jack Biddle, and his Wife Mary Kae, are the wonderful people behind Three Cedars Retrievers. They breed what they refer to as a truly versatile companion gun dog! I can attest to that… More on that later though. Back to the legend…

Daniel was know to be a great hunter. Another tale about Dan describes a teacher concerned about his performance in school. His father is suppost to have replied something like “Let the girls do the spelling, and dan will do the shooting.”

Daniel would leave his home for years long hunting expeditions. During that time he would encounter wild animals, native tribes, and in-climate weather. But his love of the outdoors never would wane.

I cannot attest to the hunter that is in Boone per se, what I do know is the quality of his Sire and Dam.

Back in the fall, before Boone was born, I spent some time with Jack, and more importantly, with Mas and Babe.

Mas is an incredible animal. He is a dog capable of 500 yard blind retrieves.
Whats a blind retrieve?

Go out to a field. Hop in an ATV, and drive 500 yards out. Place a rubber toy down in the high grass. Drive back to the starting point. Get your dog outside of the car, (he was inside so he couldn’t see where the toy was placed) and with a series of whistles, and hand signals, direct him to the toy. Mas did this in just a few minutes. It was Awesome to see!

This was no mere parlor trick. A fee days later we spent the afternoon hunting Pheasant, and Mas repeated this feat in the field.

My friend took a shot at a bird about 40 yards out. He hit, but the bird soared over the hill, at least 450 yards away, into a nehboring field. Totally out of sight. We had little hope of seeing that bird on the dinner plate.

But Mas was back in 4 minutes tops, bird in mouth.

That said, Babe, Boone’s Dam, was the real sell. A great hunter herself, she won us over with her lovable, calm and personable nature. Mas would hunt for anyone, any time. You didn’t matter much to him. Babe made us feel special.

No matter how special these dogs are, the most importiant reason we choose to buy a dog from 3 cedars Retrievers, is Jack.

When we decided to purchase a Bird dog, we knew we wanted to find the right dog for us. We were going to so our research, and make sure the dog was a good fit.

My first call to Jack, (he was 1 of many breeders whom we contacted) he spent an hour on the phone with me. He explained all about his dogs, what their like, and what they need. He didn’t have a dime from me, and yet he took the time to teach me.

And he still is. I just got off the phone with him. It’s been 2 weeks Boone’s been here on the farm. And I’m doing lots wrong.

But I know I will not ruin Boone, his a smart dog, from great lines, and Jacks only a call a way.

join the Email List to follow Boone’s story, as we take you on our journey- Of Training a Bird Dog”. Next week, what was I doing wrong? And Jacks advice on how to stop a puppy from nipping kids!