Set Up And Test Dog~FitDog Friday

When you train for hunt test competitions you need to set up your training tests. You need to set up holding blinds (for throwers or remote launchers to hide behind), need to set up blinds (stations set up with just birds to practice handling skills yours and your dogs for blind retrieves) and set up decoys out in the field to distract the dog running. There are many different things you can use to set up a training test and many different ways to set up a training test. Since Nellie is retired from competitions but still hunts she doesn’t get to train with us on a regular basis since my car only holds two dogs so when we are at home training she gets to be the set up dog as well as the test dog because everyone needs a test dog to run first and make sure there are no “bugs” with the test you set up for the other dogs running. If there are now is the time to change the set up.

This day we were setting up blinds at the pond so Nellie got to walk along with carrying her bumper after she retrieved it from me throwing it.

Ok mom throw the bumper already! I will throw the bumper in the pond to give Nellie some swimming exercise which is great exercise for a older dog with joint issues.

She still likes to fly into the water.

Blazing a trail through the pee soup.

Nellie you need to leave the bumper there for the other dogs.

After we set up the blinds at the pond we set up a test in the marsh and Nellie got to be test dog for the live flyer we were shooting during this training test.

Here I go, here I go.

I got it.

 

Since Nellie is 10.5 years old we don’t want her to have to do difficult tests but she still needs to get out there and get some exercise and why not be set up and tests dog because there has to be one and she fits the job perfectly.

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The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With LoveSlimDoggy and Emma from Mygbgvlife to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!). Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the Hop.

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#FuelTheCure With Zuke’s Loving Life Contest & Fundraiser

Today we are joining Oz The TerrierSugar the Golden Retriever for their part in Zuke’s The Dog And Cat Cancer Fund. They are helping to spread the word by hosting a Loving Life Contest & Fundraiser. All I have to do is write a blog post about my dog loving life with #FuelTheCure in the post title. How easy is that! Very easy for me because Gambler is always loving life so it’s no problem to show him off and help raise money for the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund. Zuke’s will donate $5.00 for each blog post.

Gambler was loving life the weekend he got his first AKC Master Hunter pass. Here are some photos my friend Kim S took of him while out in the field doing what he does best, retrieving birds and loving life while doing it!

What do you think? Is Gambler loving life?

If you would like to #FuelTheCure check out the contest by stopping over to Oz’s or Sugar’s blog and join in the fun while helping raise money for a great cause.

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Canine Influenza~Causing Mischief In The Midwest

You’ve probably heard by now about the outbreak of the Canine Influenza Virus, mainly it hit the Chicago, IL area hard with over 1000 dogs sick and 5 that have died, Chicago has been the first outbreak in the US from the H3N2 strain. They are calling this a outbreak that may last several weeks. There has been one case diagnosed in Madison, WI last week, a dog that traveled to Chicago as well as cases in Indiana and Iowa. CIV is a highly contagious virus which was discovered in 2004, the CIV strains have been identified as H3N8 and H3N2. The disease also has a higher mortatlity rate in young and  older or immunosuppressed dogs.

Merck Animal Heath sent out this helpful sheet to our vet clinic.

Tips to Protect Your Dog from Dog Flu (Canine Influenza)                             

Between March 16 and April 1, 2015, Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) has been positively diagnosed in 89 dogs in the Chicago area. Canine influenza virus causes a respiratory infection in dogs that is often referred to as canine influenza or “dog flu.” Canine influenza virus was first isolated in Florida in 2004 at a Greyhound racing facility. Since then, the virus has been confirmed in dogs across 40 states and the District of Columbia. Since it is a relatively new virus, almost all dogs are susceptible to infection when they are newly exposed because they have not built up natural immunity.

Most infected dogs show only mild symptoms, but some dogs become very sick and require veterinary treatment. Most common clinical signs include lethargy, anorexia, low-grade fever, nasal discharge, and cough. Dogs with more severe disease can present with a high fever and pneumonia.

What You Need to Know and Do

  • CIV is not the same as Bordetella and Bordetella is not the only pathogen that causes kennel cough.
  • Canine influenza is highly infectious and the virus spreads very quickly from dog to dog.
  • Canine influenza virus can be spread by direct contact with respiratory discharge from infected dogs, through the air via a cough, bark, or sneeze, and by contact with contaminated objects such as dog bowls and clothing.
  • To prevent the spread of disease, wash your hands with soap and water or disinfect them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after contact with dogs.
  • Dog owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus.
  • Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog has the following symptoms:
    • Coughing
    • Discharge from the nose or eyes
    • Loss of appetite
    • Lethargy/lack of energy
  • Canine influenza can be prevented through vaccination. Talk to your veterinarian about whether or not your pet is at risk. Merck Animal Health offers a Canine influenza vaccine which is available through veterinarians.
  • Information on Merck Novibac Canine Influenza Vaccine can be viewed here.

Should you be worried and what should you do about it?

If your dog(s) don’t come in contact with other dogs especially in close confinement (dog performance events, groomer, doggy daycare, boarding, training class, dog shows) then you probably don’t have much to worry about unless you work  in any of these area’s where an infectious  dog  may be and you bring the virus home on your hands or clothing. If you work in any of these area’s or your dog(s) will be in these area’s or staying for any length of time then I suggest you talk to your Veterinarian about getting the CIV vaccine. Since I train with a training group, bring my dog’s to work when needed and participate in performance events I did vaccinate my dog’s this week. Now remember when you do get the vaccination done for your dog it doesn’t work immediately, after the first shot the body is building up immunity but until you get that second vaccination and until two weeks later your dog won’t be protected so you still need to stay away from high risk areas. The vaccine currently offers protection against the H3N8 strain, the Midwest outbreak is the H3N2 Asian strain. They are hoping there will be some crossover protection but can’t be certain.

Canine Influenza FAQ ~ AVMA

Canine Influenza ~ AVMA

Dog Flu: Canine Influenza ~ Huffington Post

Key points from this link if you don’t have a chance to view it:

Morbidity: 20-50 percent of the dogs exposed to this virus will make antibodies against this virus and will successfully clear the infection. These pets will not show overt signs of their infection.

50-80 percent of the dogs exposed to the virus will show flu like symptoms — like fever, lethargy, coughing and purulent nasal discharge. A small percentage of these pets will develop pneumonia and it is this population that is at risk for death.

Mortality: 5-8 percent.
Most pets will recover with supportive care only.

Incubation Period: 2-5 days.

Length of Infection: 2 weeks.

Immunity: Dogs that recover from Canine Influenza are believed to be protective for 2 years. A Canine Influenza (H3N8) vaccine exists and aids in reducing the shedding and severity of the infection. This vaccine does NOT prevent the disease. The vaccine is given in two doses separated by 2-3 weeks. Yearly re-vaccination is recommended for high-risk dogs.

Hopefully this outbreak will subside soon and no more dogs become sick or die. Be proactive on keeping your gang safe.

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This is a Blog Hop. Thanks to Alfie’s BlogSnoopy’s Dog Blog , Luna, a Dog’s Life , and My Brown Newfies for setting up this hop. Please go to any of the sponsoring blogs to find out who else has been mischievous.

 

 

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Wordless Wednesday~Gambler-Lunch?

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Wordless Wednesday is a community linkup of bloggers. Visit our host, BlogPaws, and you can use the icons below the post to hop from site to site. It is a great way to discover new blogs…..or even just a convenient way to find all of your favorites in one place. When you visit each site, be sure to leave a comment and let them know you found them through Wordless Wednesday.

https://sandspringchesapeakes.com2014/03/17/monday-mischiefst-patty-day-mischief/

Wordless Wednesday~Spitty

 

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Wordless Wednesday is a community linkup of bloggers. Visit our host, BlogPaws, and you can use the icons below the post to hop from site to site. It is a great way to discover new blogs…..or even just a convenient way to find all of your favorites in one place. When you visit each site, be sure to leave a comment and let them know you found them through Wordless Wednesday.

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Scoop That Poop

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Today’s scoop that poop message is on a serious note and going to be about the importance of making arrangements to have someone to scoop that poop when your health deteriorates so much that you can’t scoop that poop yourself and the out come of what happens when you don’t scoop that poop.

When your health is terminal and near the end and you live by yourself with your animals you need to make arrangements to have someone come in and scoop that poop if you can’t.

If you own cat(s) you need to scoop the litter box on a daily basis.

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When you don’t you have this……

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When you have that you have a cat going outside the litter box which isn’t good at all.

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Because my friend was near the end of her life and she didn’t make prior arrangements to have someone come in and take care of her pets both the cat and dog were peeing/pooping in the house. She was so sick she couldn’t clean up so when the emt’s came they ended up calling the police who ended up calling the animal control officer who came in and took the pet’s to the sheltera.

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I went to the shelter and got her cat and dog out of jail and took them back to the clinic with me. The house on the other hand will have to have some work done to it.

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When you are so sick or near the end of your life and you live alone please make arrangements to have your pet’s taken care of and have someone check on you also. Have them scoop that poop so the animals don’t get carted off to a strange place wondering what the heck they did and what is going on.

PoopScoop_thumbToday we join Sugar The Golden Retriever and her co-host’s Oz The TerrierThe World According To Garth RileyMy Pawsitively PetsThe Lazy Pitbull and Emma MyGBGVLife. Thanks to all of you for having this informative blog hop to raise awareness of the importance of picking up after your dog. Spread the word #ScoopThatPoop.
#ScoopThatPoop is a monthly blog hop (every 3rd Monday of the month). Follow us on Twitter @Scoop_That_Poop. There next hop is on Monday, Feb 17th.

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Nothing But Norman #27

Happy Saturday Everyone!

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Today for Sepia Saturday I am going with our host Ruckus The Eskies theme. Over at Ruckus’s blog you will see a beautiful sunset in sepia so I thought I would post up my sunrise pictures with Norman hunting in Saskatchewan 2009.

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A HUNTING DOGS PRAYER

I thank Thee, Oh Lord, for the rivers, woods, and fields wherein lie the game birds I love to hunt. I thank Thee also for the men and women who protect and preserve wild life in all its forms so that future generations will have the healthful pleasures of hunting and fishing. My master means more than life or death to me and I pray for intelligence, ability, and strength to understand and execute his or hers commands and desires. May our companionship lead to complete understanding so that our moments will be the happiest of all. Help my master to comprehend that I will gladly give my life for them, be they millionaire or pauper. Their love and confidence is all I ask. I beseech you to guide him or her and protect them from thoughts, deeds, or actions which will disturb the faith of others in them. I want my master to be respected by their friends as I look up to them. The wag of my tail indicated the feelings of my heart and no blows, privation, or hunger will ever keep me from being happy when I hear my master’s voice or footsteps. When the curtains of death are about to close my active life, I pray Thee, Oh, God, that my master be near, their hand caressing my head as my eyelids close.

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This Sepia Saturday blog hop is brought to you by Ruckus The Eskie.

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Tasty Tuesday~Rum Chata Cupcakes

Over the Christmas holidays I made these Rum Chata Cupcakes twice and got rave reviews from my family and friends.

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The ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (1 stick, at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Rum Chata
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
4 egg whites

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine sugar & butter and beat until fluffy
Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, & cinnamon, set aside
Mix the Rum Chata & vanilla together, set aside
Alternating, add in the flour mixture and Rum Chata mixture in to the butter and sugar.
Start and end with the flour mixture.

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In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form (this will be easiest in an electric mixer)
Fold egg whites in to the batter – do not do this in an electric mixer, use a spatula

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Give your pooches the yellow portion of the egg.

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Fill cupcake liners

Bake for 20 minutes

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Rum Chata Cream Cheese Frosting

12 ounces of cream cheese (1 1/2 packages, at room temperature)
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick, at room temperature)
1/2 tsp of vanilla
5 tbsp of Rum Chata
1 package of confectioners’ sugar (2 lb. bag)

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Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth
Add vanilla
Slowly add confectioners’ sugar

Mix in Rum Chata
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Frost the cupcakes

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Enjoy

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Tuesdays, Just Got Tastier!Tuesdays, Just Got Tastier!
We are joining the Tuesday Blog Hop Hosted By Kol’s Notes and Sugar The Golden Retriever

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Monday Mischief~Pheasant Down

We haven’t been doing much pheasant hunting since the weather has been cold and we have gotten a bunch of snow. The DNR isn’t releasing anymore birds for the season so we have been staying home. Since we haven’t gotten out to hunt Gambler has extra energy so he took it upon himself to go pheasant hunting himself with a pheasant that lives in our house.

Pheasant down, pheasant down.

Pheasant down, pheasant down.

I must clean my kill.

I must clean my kill.

With all the extra energy Gambler decided to leave the yard and go look for a pheasant himself. He managed to find the carcass pile that John took way across the pasture into the marsh. Instead of staying there and eating on the pile like Nellie does he thought he better get home before he got yelled at and of course he couldn’t leave the pheasant behind so here he came running across the pasture with his prize in his mouth.

Here I come with my prize.

Here I come with my prize.

I don't know why they took this nice bird way out into the marsh.

I don’t know why they took this nice bird way out into the marsh.

When not able to burn energy all kinds of mischief is to be had.

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This is a Blog Hop. Thanks to Alfie’s BlogSnoopy’s Dog Blog , Luna, a Dog’s Life , and My Brown Newfies for setting up this hop. Please go to any of the sponsoring blogs to find out who else has been mischievous.

 

 

 

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Follow-Up Friday/{This Moment} See Beautiful-Canada

We are joining Jodi at Heart Like A Dog for Follow-Up Friday.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-Up Friday, the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.

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FUF Co-Hostess is another chessie owner who has 3 beautiful chessies that are training and running hunt tests just like my crew is. Hop on over and say hi to Thunder, Storm and Freighter from 2browndawgs, while your there say hi to Linda too.

Black And White Sunday

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HAWK AKA BROWNDOG says:

Hi Y’all!

What’s with the mustache? What’s the big secret?

Norman wanted to impersonate a cowboy and Glory was telling Grandpa he looked silly.

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2BROWNDAWGS says:

Congrats on Gambler’s title. I just knew he could do it! Channel blinds are always difficult for our doggies. Hooray for Glory and congrats! Maybe she is figuring out that hunt tests are FUN!

We are lucky enough to have a friend who has a bunch of channel ponds lined up so we have been practicing on them a lot. Yes I think Glory might just be figuring it out. She was super excited in the holding blind wanting to get around it and check out the action so hopefully we are on the turning point.

TARYNFT says:

Congrats on the new titles! However, if getting cold spring water over your head is the reward for a job well done…..not sure I’d want to keep trying ;-)

Having Gamblers seasoned was well worth the well water! The HRC people figure we make our dogs go in the water no matter what the temperature is so if they title it is pay back time!

Tuesday’s Tail

Doc

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DOC’S CONTACT INFO

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rescue of WI, Appleton, WI

Wordless Wednesday

A couple out take photos from our picture taking day getting ready for Tasty Tuesday’s 2nd Anniversary Blog Hop on August 13.

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This ‘N That Thursday

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My Friend Oz The Terrier wrote Norman his very own Limerick, it made me cry, it was so beautiful and I will cherish it forever, if you missed it you can see it here. I will proudly display his badge on my blog.

Again I want to congratulate Taryn from A Tail of Two Cardis for winning the Rain Forest Coastal Labs Shampoo.

Please don’t forget to go tohttp://pheasantsforever.org/page/1/puppycontest_2013.jsp and vote for Glory. She isn’t doing to bad on votes.

My blog friend Phe is in the cutest but caught contest also, stop on by and vote for her also. Her mom is Lisa from Dogs N Pawz who is hosting this blog hop today. Hop on over to the cutest but caught contest and give Phe a vote.

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I’m doing my first blog hop combined post today so here is Blog Hop # 2

{This Moment} See Beautiful-Canada

This is my first {This Moment} See Beautiful post. I hope you all enjoy it.

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See Beautiful is hunting with my soulmate and watching the sunrise in Sasketchewan Canada. There is beauty in the sky and beauty in the brown dog sitting by my side enjoying the moment with me!

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{This Moment} See Beautiful is a once a month Blog Hop, every 2nd Friday of the month. simply create a blog post that made your day, week, and/or month … inspiring you in Seeing Beauty. Blog Hop inspired by See Beautiful.

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