One Step At A Time

Strive For Your Personal Best

I have owned a horse for a while now, Tony (I call him my big dog), but recently I have started riding more.  Just the other day we went to our very first "Gaming Show" (it was just for fun).  I'm pretty sure I was the most inexperienced rider there (even compared to the 5 year old kids), on the slowest and oldest horse.  When I went through the gate to start our first barrel race I was a little nervous then I thought to myself "why?"  I was just there to have fun, and there was no way I could win anything. So I just focused on doing my best to get around the first barrel the right direction, then the second, and then the third.  At the end of the evening I had a great time win or loose (which I did lol)!  Which made me think about competing with the dogs...

Granted in most of the dog sports it's not win or loose it's pass or fail but who wants to fail.  Everyone wants to pass (win) and have the best dog there!  But I believe if we just focus on doing our best one step at a time we will be better handlers.  We need not worry about the other dogs, handlers, or about the next series.  We need to just focus on doing our best one step at a time.  For example, in Hunt Tests we need to worry about one bird at a time not the ribbon at the end of the day. You can't get it anyway if you haven't got your one bird at a time.  In AKC Rally we need to focus on one sign at a time, not the sign that our dogs are having the hardest time with, just the sign right in front of us.

I believe if we focus on one bird at a time, one sign at a time, one barrel at a time we will be better handlers and our dogs will be more successful.  We will also be able to take joy in the little things, for example, maybe your Labrador messed up on a mark (we can't all be prefect), but maybe they had the best blind out of all the dogs; and that is what you were working on all week in training.  After all these dog "sports" are supposed to be fun and our dogs are just dogs they, don't know if they go home with a ribbon or not.  So try your best to focus on the first step and I will try my best to practice what I preach.  Not just when I am riding my horse! 

Congratulations Rogue Retrievers

Client Achievements

• Raider, for his AKC Master Hunter Title owned by Bill Knight and Brenda Meece
• Kirby, for her Working Certificate owned by Jenifer and Ray Blake
• Luci, for her Working Certificate owned by Meg Hayes
• Maple, for her AKC Rally Novice Title owned by Trisha Ferris
• Buddy, passed his National Search Dog Alliance Area field trial owned by Wade Boyd
• Congratulations to 4-Paws 4-H Group at the Columbia County Fair!

Training Tip

Socialize Your Puppy!!

Socializing your puppy is the most important thing that you can do for your dog, your family, and the public!!! Take your puppy to a puppy class even if you don't have time...make time! Have them meet as many different people and children as possible! Take them to every store that you can, take them to dog shows, parades, and Yappy Hours!  Anything you can think of to expose them to all kinds of new things.  I have a friend/client who took her English Mastiff puppy (Winston) to puppy class from Rogue Retrievers. I encouraged her to enter in a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test last weekend at the Canby Dog show. Unfortunately, Winston didn't pass because he had a "puppy moment" on his recall, but in my opinion, just the fact that Winston was at the dog show, met new people, dogs, and attempted the CGC test was more valuable than any certificate he could of gotten!!!

Dog Litters Current And Upcoming

Int Ch. Abe MH x Rosie

Together Abe and Rosie have made very well rounded Chocolate Labrador puppies.  This time is no different. Their puppies will be healthy and beautiful with drive and desire. They will make excellent pets and/or bird hunting companions. Rosie whelped 9 puppies (3 boys and 6 girls) on June 13, 2012. The puppies will have their dew claws removed, be vaccinated and micro-chipped. The puppies will be well socialized and exposed to birds. Rosie puppies are ALL SOLD and in their new homes!

Rogue Retrievers plans to breed Hemi and/or Luci in the near future. Possibly as early as this coming fall.  Please continue to check our Puppy Page for Up-Coming Labrador Retriever Litters!

Reminders

Hunting Season & Various Classes

Hunting Season will be starting sooner then you think! Make sure your dog is ready! For suggestions on getting your hunting companion ready for opening day read some of my previous blogs/newsletters; For your senior dog read, "Is your Senior Dog Ready for Hunting Season?", for your inexperienced dog read, "First Hunting Season" (link to sept 2011 newsletter), and for your dog's safety read "Tail Gate First Aid" and "Getting Ready for Hunting Season".

If you are interested in any of my Classes please contact me to have your name on my interest list.