Darn dogs.

[Redfrog]

Rules For Owning a Gun Dog
By Peter Fragiskatls

1. Spend time with them each day. You are their everything.

2. Don’t hide your excitement, let them see the kid in you.

3. Your expectations of a bird dog are high but their expectations of an owner are higher.

4. Don’t sleep on it take them to the vet.

5. Go hunting with them at least one time just the two of you.

6. Tell your new friends about your old dogs.

7. Their falses aren’t the only ones in the field.

8. Judge your hunting friends by how they treat their dogs.

9. Always stop to pet them.

10. Stop walking, sit down you will see how much they love you. Enjoy it.

11. Treat puppies like puppies and treat your 12 year old like he still is one.

12. Know when to retire them and give them everything they want. They gave you everything they had.

13. Have patience when they are hard of hearing...it’s the birds fault.

14. Show your boys that there’s reasons to be gentle in this world. Bird dogs are just one of them.

15. You helped her down the stairs when she was young now help her up them when she is old.

16. Take the picture every single damn time. It’s worth it.

17. Enjoy their determination even when it’s not after a bird.

18. When it’s time to say goodbye don’t leave his side. Hold him. He knows what’s happening and he’s happy you are with him.

19. Remember them, visit the places that made you both so happy. Think about her while you stop walking and sit down with her daughter on an October afternoon.

20. Understand that you can not fill the hole they left in your heart but remember them and they will be with you every step of the way.

[flydad&son]

I don't know where you found that or if you wrote it. It is absolutely perfectly said. I have my girl who is a six year old chocolate lab retriever. She is an absolute extension of me and by my side always.

Thanks for sharing.

[JDK71]

good stuff right there thanks

[threeforthree]

Perfectly said

[Howard Hutchinson]

Very well said indeed. Hard on the eyes as I feel I've got something in them..

[sewerrat]

IMG_1646.jpg

This is my girl, she just turned 12 and we are going camping this weekend and she knows it as she gets super exited like a puppy. She is my best friend.

[pavilion]

That list kind of gets to me, not that I dont try anymore but there just never seems to be enough time, between babies naps and preschool and gymnastics and skating lessons and on and on and on it sure makes a guy feel pretty guilty when you cant give them what they need,.... the first four years of her life it was me and the dog, all we did was hunt and go running or swimming, used to put miles on just to find one partridge, then the first kid showed up and things were still pretty good, two years later another one, then the partridge hunting dissapeared and just stuck to waterfowl and pheasant, then last year the twins came and we didnt do any pheasant hunting, she turned 8 this year so hoping things can get somewhat normal for her last few good years

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[Sooner]

Thanks Red, great post. Been 5 ish years since my last GSP moved on. She made it to 16. Miss all 3 of the darn shorthairs I had. Time for a new pup, hopefully sooner than later.

[58thecat]

How true and to follow these simple rules....do it all the time just never seen it written as I thought it was normal.....

[does it ALL outdoors]

Great post and well said.

[IronNoggin]

Thank You. From the bottom of my heart.

Nog

[urban rednek]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Rules For Owning a Gun Dog
By Peter Fragiskatls
5. Go hunting with them at least one time just the two of you.

16. Take the picture every single damn time. It’s worth it.

They can express so much with a simple look.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by IronNoggin

Thank You. From the bottom of my heart.

Nog

Puppy kisses are the best kisses.....no dry eyes here Nog.

My ol'girl limped down the road to meet me....precious as she is....we are blessed to have a such companionship.

[32-40win]

Some days you wonder at the contradictions in their behaviour, one minute they are so smart you go "wow!! , nice move!!" , the next minute you wonder where their brain went. Mine will go thru hell to get to a bird, spot long flyers at 200yds+, most of the time, and then can't see 2 gophers standing up 3 ft from him, even though he is running around checking holes like a mad mutt. Makes me chuckle every day. Can't live with em, can't live without em.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Just as most have already commented, you need to spend lots of time with them just like a wife. If you neglect them they will neglect you when time to hunt or play.

[Birdhunter]

6 month have passed from the time I said goodbye to my boy. He was 14years and 4month old. At his last moment of life I was had to head with him and was listening to his last breath. His ash beside my bed. Thx for the post.

[Bigwoodsman]

My Golden Girl is 10.5 years old. Rides shotgun in the old pickup unless she's tired, then she'll sometimes lay on the front seat if I put to console up, or make a bed in the back seat.

We walk together everyday, and she hunts on every walk, it might be for a pee spot, but to her it's still hunting, don't chase the squirrels or rabbits as much anymore, but still stands on the shore with me as a bring my line in with a fish. Often while out strolling a stream or river bank or a trail through the forest, she flushes a bird of two, that is something she will never stop doing. She doesn't seem to mind that I don't hunt with a gun anymore, as she still gets to do her own thing.

Sits by the fire and listens to my ramblings with her golden smile. She's a huge part of my life and always will be!

I feel sorry for people who don't have a dog in their life!

BW

[Dale S]

My fishing dogs.

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[wbl170]

I got choked up reading that. Well said!