We do a lot of bird dog training before we ever shoot a bird for the dogs. I like the dog to do everything right before they get a bird shot over them. Shooting a bird for your dog is a reward for them and they love every aspect of it. From the point, to the flush and the retrieve – they are in bird dog heaven. Lizzy stands her birds nicely and is doing really well so to celebrate her first birthday this week we shot a bobwhite quail for her.

Lucy broke her leg while jumping off the back of my flatbed truck a few months back. She stuck her front leg through one of the bed rail slots and then jumped off. It was a pretty bad break and I felt just awful with her dangling by her broken leg yelping. She recovered nicely and I got the bed rail slots fixed the next day. A few bucks in lumber and I could have avoided this train wreck. It never hurts to take a second look at your gear and vehicles and think “Is this a safe way to do this”? or “How can I make this safer”?