[NSR]Hunting Dog: Paco is KILLING IT![NSR]

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 10:24 AM

For those of you who care or are interested in dog training or hunting dogs, AKC Registered Chocolate Labrador Retriever Sir Soft Paco Supreme, aka my dog, Paco, is killin' it.

At 8 months now, he's weighing in at a huge 80+ pounds and is one of the most handsome dogs around, hands down. I've been training him with the whistle and fowl trainers, etc., pretty regularly since he was just a couple of months old.

Yesterday I took him to "Boot Camp" to meet his Drill Sargeant. Paco will be living there for a few months shortly to be polished on his advanced retrieving skills and commands. Well, he had to "try out" first, to even be excepted in this prestigious academy. I was nervous because while Paco is well trained, he's also just an eight month old goofball who loves to play. He also loves other dogs, which there were plenty of here at the kennel. So concentration and focus was my worry.

At the sarge's command, I began running him through basic verbal commands like sit, stay, here, heel, etc. Naturally he dialed them all because that's the easy part. Then came the whistle portion which is basically a series of whistle blasts that translate into the above verbal commands. He dialed those, too, which was nice. Then came the retrieving test. We started out with his own "dead duck trainer," a rubber duck which Paco is very familiar with. I threw the duck with Paco sitting attentively at my heel. He didn't break upon the throw, which was a relief, but sat there waiting instead. I had him hold for about 20 seconds, then gave the "Paco, BACK!" He took off full sprint, grabbed his favorite ducky, and ran back, dropping it at my feet and sitting attentively. I praised him. "Well, that's about it, Mark," I said to the sarge. "Oh no it's not, Rev," the sarge said. What? What was he going to do? This was all Paco knew! Was there something else I didn't train him for? Mark walked into the kennel building and then returned with a shotgun. Wheeeeeeeew! He just wanted to see if he was gunshy, which he wasn't. Thank god, I thought. But wait. In his other hand was something else. To my horror he produced a live bird. "You done any real birds, Rev?" "Well, no. I didn't think I was supposed to." "Depends on the dog. But we need to see if he likes birds or if he'll spook." Shit. I had thrown frozen dead ducks for Paco, but nothing like this. I was afraid he was going to freak out and either tear the bird to shreds or worse--he'd run away from it. I hollered to Paco to heel up and Mark waited for him to be sitting at my side. I swear Paco knew what was up, as he sat staring straight ahead, ears pricked and waiting. Mark through the bird up which started to fly and BOOM! Down went the bird about 30 yards away. I sent Paco in total fear.

Paco ran full speed, skidding on the ice at the barely dead bird. He gave a curious sniff then grabbed it in his mouth and sprinted back full speed to me, dropping it right at my feet and sitting at attention.

Mark was even blown away. "You say that's his first live bird? Bullshit!" "No, I swear!" I said with a huge grin, rubbing Paco's belly. "Well that's great. No hesitation, no playing around. Good work with this pup!"

So I'm stoked. I'm going to hunt Paco on Sunday for the first time ever. Then Paco will begin boot camp in about 3 weeks. You have to realize that I already had a dog when I got Paco and his sole purpose was to hunt. So I'm pretty stoked because so far it looks like he's going to be a spectacular hunting dog.

**Lumpy** · 01-09-2004, 10:31 AM

Just outa curiousity rev, is boot camp located southeast of Bellevue on the way to Point of Rocks? Can't remember the name of the road...

Nice pooch report! We've got a yellow lab that would be psyco-hot in trials or out of the blind....if you subtracted the water from the equation

and the birds were made of grade 8 steel...

**Big E** · 01-09-2004, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by The Reverend Floater
I'm going to hunt Paco on Sunday for the first time ever.

Hope you're a bad shot.

**lemon boy** · 01-09-2004, 10:33 AM

FUCKING A RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

Nice Rev!!!!!!!!!!!!!

edit-
Good luck on Sunday too! If I might offer one small tip it would be to have a buddy do most shooting and you mostly think about el paco!

(BTW- I'm sure you know to be careful but I just heard abou a guy who lost his dog yesterday when it fell in the river and went under an ice shelf

)

**Zittel** · 01-09-2004, 10:35 AM

The good Reverend should know that the NY Times categorically stated today that wild bird hunting is the hottest sport for yuppies. Designer hunting duds are all the rage.

**Knockneed Man** · 01-09-2004, 10:38 AM

Yo Rev, give a heads up when you breed him... My girl would love a Paco Puppy!

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 10:39 AM

LB--yeah, fortunately it's supposed to warm up pretty good this weekend here. Definitely a concern, though. And yes, my friend will be doing most of the shooting. My priority is for Paco to have fun, and nothing more.

Z--We shoot yuppies in Idaho, designer duds or not.

**Foggy_Goggles** · 01-09-2004, 10:40 AM

For those who've never seen it, the mutual satification between hunting dog and owner for a job well done if difficult to explain. Congrats Rev for a job well done. Dale, my buddies lab I hunting, is on ducks for his second season and is kicking ass. Opening weekend he brought it two ducks 50 yds out in one retreive. Last weekend, he pulled a buffalo head out from under an iceshelf about 150 yds from where it went down.

Duck hunting = what to do when the skiing sucks!

**Grange** · 01-09-2004, 10:42 AM

Good job training Paco. I have a coworker that sends his springer spaniel to be trained. He is absolutely amazed at the difference in his dog when he gets her back.

When I was a kid my father took our chessapeake, Pepper, to a field trial just to see what she could do. The test was retrieval of 3 birds. My dad downed all three and Pepper sat anxiously at his side. When he gave the command she immediately got the first one and brought it back. She then retreived the second one with out a hitch. However on the third bird she stopped took a shit and then retreived the bird. That was pretty much the extent of Pepper's field trial days. I guess it's true, when you gotta go you gotta go.

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by Lumpy
Just outa curiousity rev, is boot camp located southeast of Bellevue on the way to Point of Rocks? Can't remember the name of the road...

Nice pooch report! We've got a yellow lab that would be psyco-hot in trials or out of the blind....if you subtracted the water from the equation and the birds were made of grade 8 steel...

You got it, Lumps. Gannett Road.

**xboat** · 01-09-2004, 11:03 AM

sweet!

tomorrow is the final day of the season here and i'm kinda bummed about it. i'll be out there though....

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 11:07 AM

Nice Roosters, X.

Labradogs are just plain comical in their expressions.

**Tippster** · 01-09-2004, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by xboat
sweet!

tomorrow is the final day of the season here and i'm kinda bummed about it. i'll be out there though....

That's one beautiful girl, xboat! What's her name?

**xboat** · 01-09-2004, 11:35 AM

the two black ones are a buddy's.

the labramix is one of my brothers and this pic is another hunting buddy's dog. we usually have 3 of them around when we go out.

**lemon boy** · 01-09-2004, 11:46 AM

But what are their names?

takin Sue(baru) out tomorrow, season closes on the 18th

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 11:51 AM

Post a pic of Sue, LB. I went hunting with a dog the other day which I think was the same breed. INCREDIBLE dog!

**lemon boy** · 01-09-2004, 11:56 AM

if all brown (maybe small white chest star) then it probably was.

The breeder I got mine from is in ID (Boise) and I think they're fairly popular there...

**lemon boy** · 01-09-2004, 11:57 AM

my favorite pic:

**xboat** · 01-09-2004, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by lemon boy
But what are their names?

sorry man. i've only hunted with the two black labs once and can't freakin' remember right now, damn crack...

the labramix (bros dog) on the tailgate is Raika.

the male yellow w/ the bird is Brit.

this is our duck dog (bros dog) Brandy -

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 12:01 PM

Yup, exact same dog. Man, this dog I was with was incredible--much better than the springer also with us. Very cool dog!

**tibaher** · 01-09-2004, 12:05 PM

very well then.
introducing,
in the deep snow,
weighing in at 45 pounds,
at just over 4 months in age,
the snow lovinist puppy on the planet,
the one seen at over 4 different WA ski resorts,
part golden part yellow lab,
da na dana
Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilson!!!
http://biglines.com/photos/blpic16717.jpg
thanks for indulging

BTW congrats Rev, your dog's got a good life ahead of him

**lemon boy** · 01-09-2004, 12:05 PM

Good to hear Rev- Now I just have to work my ass off with Sue this spring summer, we've had a frusterating year, entirely my fault too

Oh well. That's the way it goes in Colorado, land of no birds and no snows

But, I luckily got turned onto a feed store here in town that sells pigeons pretty cheap so I'll be way more prepared. Going to pick some up this afternoon to spice up tomorrow's hunting

EDIT-

Xboat, that's such a sweet fuckin pick man!

**xboat** · 01-09-2004, 12:23 PM

Originally posted by lemon boy

Xboat, that's such a sweet fuckin pick man!

thanks LB!

yeah, probably the best one i've ever taken. i wish it would have been on a digital. the original is pretty sweet though, that is a decoy on the water but it's hard to tell in that pic.

**Pillars** · 01-09-2004, 12:27 PM

That's definately cool. After I get out of college and have a house of my own i'd really like to have dogs of my own and try hunting..it looks like a ton of fun.

Just curious as to how you guys got into hunting? My Dad doesn't hunt and I don't really know anyone that does. Do most of you hunt grow up in a family that does?

**The Reverend Floater** · 01-09-2004, 12:33 PM

Heh. That's funny, Pillars, because neither of my parents hunt, either. My mom used to when she was growing up, but my dad is terrified of guns. I got into it mostly because I loved my bb gun growing up! So I took Hunter's Safety classes with my best friend, and then my mom bought me a .22 and I started rabit hunting around 12. Finally, my mom asked a coworker to take me duck hunting at 14 or so, and I was hooked.

BUT...I have lots of friends who had never fired a firearm in their life before moving here who are now avid hunters. Sort of the place I live, I think. Bottom line is that it's never too late. Start with Hunter's Safety classes even if you don't legally need them. Then find a friend who's into it.