New career ( for Sage)

[GunnyMack]

Sage does that is. She is no longer the silly puppy as today she started her hunting career.
Our opener for Upland birds this morning, I had to sneak the gun, E-collars ( no matter how hard i try the bells make noise!), my vest & shooting bag out of the house while the dogs were outside.
As soon as Claro smelled my brush pants she knew the jig was up. I reluctantly left her home, she is 11.5yrs old and has arthritis. However Parker and Sage jumped into the truck, Parker knowing what's going on and Sage completely clueless to the significance of the day!
I was the first at the farm, I let them out and pandemonium as Parker is trying to tinkle and poop with the yellow puppy jumping up and down on her momma!
Then all of a sudden they both caught a tantalizing aroma and walked to the bird house. Encouraging both dogs to 'sniffy' Parker knew today was the day! Oh so happy. I unlocked the bird house so Sage could see the birds and really get a nose full.
Couple of other guys showed up, a little bovine excrementing and we took our birds out to stock.
I release the dogs from the truck and Parker sounds like she is being scalded alive with her excitement, happy dog !
Off we go into the field into the wind. Parker leading the way, Sage following. Parker finds the first bird, flushes it a little fast in her excitement but I make the shot and she makes the retrieve. Her daughter by her side. Lots of praise to both.
Swing around with the wind to make a big loop. I let Parker range a bit wide so I could get Sage on the other bird. She walked past it, stopped and swung her head back to that wonderful olfactory ditch chicken scent!
I see a head pop out of the grass , Sage is holding point! I'm thinking this is fantastic as I took a few more steps and both dog and bird held! Oh man this is great as I push the rooster with my foot. It flushes right then a hard right going behind me as I had to turn a 180 to make the shot. Feathers! Give it the second barrel and down it goes! Out of thin air Parker is on the bird, Sage grabs it as well. Am I happy? Yes! Am I proud? You bet !!
Of course Sage has a lot to learn yet but for 18 months old she did very well .

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[Bronco]

I love it when a plan comes together

[Griff]

Congrats. I had a Springer-Spaniel/Pointer mix that hunted well. Fun times till some low-life stole her.

[Bill in Oregon]

Will, the magic circle is unbroken!

[gamekeeper]

An excellent introduction to a life of fun, lucky Dog doing exactly what she was bred for...

[marlinman93]

Sounds like a wonderful first hunt for the young dog!
I sure miss having a good bird dog, or any dog at all! But my bird hunting days are behind me, so just a good dog for home is what I'd like again. One that can give the two cats something to harass, or to harass them!

[GunnyMack]

Sounds like a wonderful first hunt for the young dog!
I sure miss having a good bird dog, or any dog at all! But my bird hunting days are behind me, so just a good dog for home is what I'd like again. One that can give the two cats something to harass, or to harass them!

Three words

JACK RUSSELL TERRIER
The cats, squirrels,mice,rats, groundhogs and everything else will be harassed up to and including bears!


Sage had a very good day! She had 4 flushes, 3 of which were chukar and no previous scent experience. She made 3 retrieves. She also helped Parker run down a rooster that was winged- was a real rodeo!
Oh and the new Parker is a joy to carry and worked just fine !

[Paul105]

Been following your posts re Sage from the beginning. This post (rodeo pheasant event) reminded me of one (of many) good times we had with Willow over the years. Rescued her when she was 10 months old. Wild as a march hare. Daughter wouldn't stay home alone with her (she would relentlessly moon walk and bark at you to play with her). Took a while but she turned out to be the best dog I've ever had or hope to have. She was my all day every day companion for 13 yrs. Here's a picture when she was 12 or 13 with a shed she picked up on one of our daily walks.
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She's been gone for 10 yrs now and I still miss her.
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Love the Sage stories - keep em coming.

Paul

[marlinman93]

I think a Jack Russell Terrier would be great Gunny! And the size dog I'd like with our situation. Have to see what's available around here soon.

[GunnyMack]

Another first for Sage this morning, Hun's ! No not those Huns - Hungarian Partridge !
Sage had the first point this morning, a hen pheasant. She grabbed it, I took it away and tossed it up, shot it. Parker delivered it to hand. Parker had the second and 3rd flush.
Then Sage found, pointed and flushed two Huns all by herself.
Sadly I didn't get any pictures as I'm giving her as much praise as possible, I'll try to start getting pics. Oh and the 20ga Parker has seemingly doesn't need me as it just knocks birds outta the sky! Must be the 111 years of previous field experience !