OK a little take off on times BratMan007’s thread My Dog Lied to me.
What has your pet done to make you look like a fool?
Here’s mine:
I bought a new puppy(Montana) in August 95. Black Lab, good bloodlines etc. The intention was to have a companion and to utilize her skills as a retriever of ducks. So I dutifully got the books and checked out the videos and set out on a course of training. The sad thing, which is a disservice to the dog, is that we were not able to get out all the time because we lived in town in a house with essentially no yard and had to find a open area at the park where we could work on the training. (lame excuse I know, make the time if it is important.)
Anyway, so the first duck season she is too young. 12 weeks at the start of the season. We work on her retrieving sporadically throughout the year. Take her out the next year with my buddy on opening day and she is an out of control youngster who ends up back in the car while we finish hunting. (with the window down and water it was a cool day)
However, we found a very nice spot that no one else was hunting so I took the next day off from work and decided we would try the one on one approach. She behaved but the ducks weren’t cooperating. Finally, I decided to slip away from the decoys and check a small pond back through the woods. We slipped through the woods and utilized the crawling on hands and knees to approach the pond. Sure enough I could see 3 Mallards. I snuck a little closer with Montana close at heel. Jumped up and took one of the drakes as they took flight. All of a sudden about 100 Mallards get up from the other side of the pond. I take my 2 remaining shots and one drops in the woods.
So here it is, the moment of truth. I quickly and excitedly dig out my disposable camera and tell Tana to “Fetch it up”. This of course is met by the blank stare that says “Fetch what dumbass, you didn’t throw anything!”
Ok fine I can work with this I grab a small stick and toss it out next to the duck. Montana proceeds to go out to the duck, stop sniff it, then bring the stick back.
So I say to myself “Fine , the water is not deep and I have waders on I will show her what to do.“ So I set the shotgun in a secure place, take off my camo coat, put the camera away and start out for the duck. At this point I am about 6 feet off shore in about 4 inches of water and a little perturbed. So I’m not watching where I am going and trip over a submerged log.
Face Plant!!!
I come up sputtering and cussing! Spitting muddy water out and wiping mud and grime off my face. Finally get my eyes clear and look up….
Here comes Montana with the duck in her mouth.
I swear she was laughing!!
I was so proud of her for getting the duck though that everything else was forgotten.
She then found the other duck in the woods on her own.
So for anyone who knows me…the pictured of Tana’s first retrieve is staged! Same duck but not the actual moment.
