A little entertainment is always good. None of us would have and train our Chessies if we didn't enjoy it, and it seems that when they are pups they are particularly given to funny acts.

This season, when Oz was about 8 months old, I had the opportunity to hunt him in flooded corn. The water was about 1 1/2 feet deep, just enough so he could stand.
We dropped a mallard just outside of the decoys (around here we set out to 35 yards). The duck still had its head up. I had Oz tied to the blind to prevent breaking, and it took me a couple of seconds to get him untied. Meanwhile Mr. Mallard is swimming for the standing corn. The race was on. Gangly pup v. wounded drake! Oz won, just barely. Because he was chasing the duck, he made a butt-grab.

Now comes the funny part. Oz has the duck out of the water by the back end, and the duck decides it wants to fly! Flap Flap Flap. Although I couldn't see the look on his face I am sure he was puzzled. The duck escaped, back to the water and immediately dove. Hmmm, never seen this before. Is it under here? Head goes underwater. Nope. Is it behind me? Spin Spin Spin. Nope. There it is (duck rises about 5 feet away) Chase. Dive. Head underwater. Spin. Duck Rises. Dog sees duck. (here is the cool part) Duck dives. Dog freezes. Looks around. Duck comes up. Dog pounces. Delivery to hand.

Todd
I have a similar story about my pups very first hunt.
It was openning day of our early goose season on the st.lawrence river. Its 7:30 in the morning and the birds are just starting to get moving. Riley is tied up in the boat(we hunt out of duck boats here alot)to prevent braking. 5 birds appear over the decoys and the boys drop three of them, Riley is going crazy being his first hunt he knows that something awesome has just occurred. I sent him for the closest bird that was breast up just outside the decoys (we set our decoys close)he gets 5 feet from the goose and it flips over and attempts a get away. Riley grabs it as it proceeds to peck him in the head, he doesn't skip a beat, brings the goose to the boat and can't wait to go again. That one retrieve on openning day made my whole season and all the training worth while. He went on to make about 300 retrieves last year and never looked back.

DeadGrass
Pro Staff:
SWAT Boats
St. Lawrence Outfitters Inc.
Mad Decoys

I finally got a response to my story!

The sad thing is, in order to get the true working dog that we all want, we have to sacrifice the puppy that we love to watch learn and grow. I don't think I'll get to see those antics very often anymore, but I know I'll get compliments on my fine dog.

Todd

Todd
Your right, experience is what shapes the true working dog. I'm just glad that the beating Riley took from that first goose didn't shy him off of those big birds.

DeadGrass
Pro Staff:
SWAT Boats
St. Lawrence Outfitters Inc.
Mad Decoys

Hey Todd!
Sorry to have not seen your post earlier. I wondered what yawl were up to having not seen anything of you since before the Kansas Trial. Now deep into hunting, you and OZ will be focusing on field WORK instead of Trials, no doubt.
It doesn't look like I'm going to get out this year...a whole kennel full of fine, eager, deserving guys and gals, and my recent medical issues are not resolving themselves so that I can give them what they so richly deserve.
So, keep us posted on the heroics you experience, and we will hunt vicariously.

Why would anyone hunt without a dog?