I post in this forum with much trepidation. As a many year bird dog owner and handler I wandered in here the first time rather blithely and left blubbering like a baby, snot all over the front of my shirt, eyes nearly swollen shut from the "I lost my Best Friend today," threads. Of course I sympathize, certainly I've been there more than once, but Holy Cow! Talk about a great way to ruin a perfectly good evening!

Anyway, this is Babe.

Babe came from Trieven Kennels in Wyoming three and a half years ago at the age of 8 weeks and has hardly left my side since. Were I a little more well to do I'd buy her a seat on the plane for my trips overseas. I have not found myself any too comfortable leaving her in others care.


Babe and I have spent mucho time training and exercizing around here and lucky for us Dillingham provides plenty of open space for hunt training. I believe the training has paid off. Babe is a steady retriever and an enthusiastic flushing dog. This last weekend my wife and I spent the weekend up the Nushagak River hunting swans and ducks. All told we filled our annual limit of three swans and reduced to possession about 5 ducks, mostly mallards.

My appologies for the brag post, but I did think this picture turned out rather well!

Added to note that Babe has retrieved 50 ducks and geese since last Friday morning.

For the life of me I just can't figger why anyone would favor a pointer over a Labrador.

It's just a darn shame, you forcing that dog to do something she obviously hates so much.

Been there on the "We lost our best friend today" threads as well.

Babe's a beauty. I'd love to see a pic of her actually carrying, or dragging one of those planes swans.

And here it is!

The first bird gave her a pretty hard time but the second and third, (we're allowed three in the fall,)she figured out in the water. Certainly she can't budge one on land but then again I'm happy to help at that point in that case.

I think the older I get the bigger weenie I become. It seems I have less and less fortitude all the time for the "Just lost my best buddy dog" threads. Recently a friend loaned me a movie on dvd to watch that was a similar story line. Geez! the next morning my face was still swollen from blubbering. Thank God I was home alone that night.