My Duck Dog Training A to ?

Tonight I needed to catch up on some chores around the house and I felt that a day off for the dogs to just be dogs was in order.  While I was puttering up in the garage I heard a loud crash of a water entry in the front yard.  I went to investigate and there was my 10yo son Andrew throwing a tennis ball for Artemis.  He wasn’t just pitching it in and letting her tear after it either.  He would heel her in say ‘mark’, throw the ball, put his hand down and send her on her name.  I watched a couple of retrieves with the biggest smile on my face.

About 15 minutes later I glanced out the front windows of our house to see Andrew put Artemis in a sit-stay on the shore, walk about 10 feet out onto our dock, cue Tucker for a mark, throw and release Tucker for the retrieve - luckily Artemis stayed solid in her sit stay.  Perhaps Andrew ranks higher in the ‘pack’ than I thought the dogs gave him credit for.

Now, this is truely amazing because my daughter Jenni has been the only person other than myself to take a keen interest in field handling.  Andrew has come out to throw for us but only rarely handled either dog.  So, as Jenni’s interest wains Andrew’s is piqued.  Perhaps Andrew and Artemis will make a hunt test team before too long.  Already we are discussing having Andrew run Artemis in a WC (working certificate) test one week Thursday.  Newest member of ‘Team Claimer’?