My dad, the avid hunter, called one day. Seems he wanted to get a dog from this great field dog breeding and asked if he got it would I train it for the first 6 months for him. I said "Sure Dad." How hard could it be?We went to go pick her up on the hottest day of the year. I was trying to pick out a black puppy in 98 degree weather. I ended up taking home the smallest, cutest one of the bunch. Really it was the only one that crawled out from under the bush long enough to follow me around. That should have been my first clue.
This dog had energy.
My dad named her Belle after his mother. She came home with me and within a week I called Dad and said "Belle just doesn't fit, How about Stormy?" So she became Camano Island Perfect Storm.
Stormy is turbo powered. She does everything full tilt. She is small and compact with a beautiful sleek coat that begs to be touched. After 6 months of socializing, training and starting on birds she went into field dog training. She was called a once in a lifetime dog by the trainer. Dad and I had fun taking her to trainings and hunt tests where Stormy quickly earned her Jr. Hunter title. I will forever remember this special time with my dad. But then the training got hard and intense and we weren't comfortable with it so we brought her home to just be a dog.
Stormy came back to my house, and taught my husband how to hunt birds. My hubby was not a hunter. He was an expert marksman but didn't kill anything and has been know to, on a hunting trip with above said dad, say "Shoo Shoo" to a deer coming over the hill because it looked too much like his wife's goats. So when Stormy came back here my dad gave hubby a shotgun. Hubby said "Why not?" and went out with his dog and right into a new passion.
It is as old as time. Early morning, wandering the field with your best friend and bringing home dinner. Stormy has brought dinner home 18 times this year and is doing her part providing locally grown food.
Now that's a once in a lifetime dog.
10 comments:
That's a great dog and a lovely story. :)
That is a pretty awesome dog (as dogs go). Goats are very alert. I bet a goat could be a good hunter. After all we see everything.
The goatfather found a new passion too. His is a chainsaw. He is always packing it about in the truck, especially in the snow. You never know when you might need to cut something up. Oy.
What a beautiful black lab. Reminds me of Smokey, our lab we had for over 11 years. One time my husband bought 6 ducks. That evening we left all 6 ducks splashing away at the pond, which is a good ways from the house. The next morning Smokey couldn't wait to show off his prizes. Laid straight in a perfect row, in front of the house, were all 6 ducks. Smokey just didn't understand why we weren't as thrilled with his feat as he was.
Beautiful photos.
Marigold, I'm sorry but I have never known a goat to bring back anything once they take it.
ga.farmgirl, There's a reason the Lab is the #1 dog in the country. They are great dogs. Thanks.
Tag! You're it! Go to my blog for details. :)
OMGosh DCV, That's way too much work. I wish those baby goats would hurry so you had something to do:)
This is a wonderful story! The look on Stormy's face holding that pheasant says it all: pride, sweetness, intelligence. You are very fortunate! Love the pictures..
Danni, Welcome back from the other side. How's the move?
Hey there...thanks for asking. We are slowly settling in, though there are still many (many) boxes to unpack. Still waiting for the snow from last week to melt...it's really hanging on up here. Drive 1 mile down the road, though, and there's not a sign of it left! Here's what I'm thinking about tonight: 1) I found HUGE racoon prints in the snow yesterday (worries me about my future chickens). 2) When the clouds part, the stars are absolutely incredible! (my husband just walked in to remind me of this and how much he loves our new property). and 3) I didn't like the satellite t.v. installer guy that was in my house all afternoon today. But...we've got t.v. again now. (funny, but i haven't even turned it on tonight!!) :-)
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