Editor’s Letter: When I asked the love of my life, Sandy, what she would like for her birthday, I expected the usual “oh, you don’t need to get me anything.” Then (as usual) I would try to come up with something that she’d like, she would open it, say how sweet I was and everybody would be happy. However, this year, she threw me a curveball. When I asked the perfunctory birthday question she immediately said, “I’d like a dog. Maybe a puppy.” Say what? With everything we’re responsible for doing every day, the last thing I thought we needed was a dog…especially a puppy. They have to be trained to go outside, they chew up expensive shoes, laptops, 100-year old woodwork in the kitchen, and they bite your ears.
But hey, Sandy’s a thinker. She had obviously thought about this issue and with her scary intelligence decided that we needed a dog.
The first Saturday after her birthday, we were the second and third people scrambling into the SPCA and there she was! The cutest little puppy since dogs were domesticated 15,000 years ago. Since this was Sandy’s gift, I tried to keep my mouth shut about the dog, but secretly I loved the little gal immediately. Why? She’s adorable and she’s obviously a hunting dog! Her name is Sunny that’s her with me on the front porch swing. After the first trip to the vet, we learned that Sandy’s new puppy was a cross between an English pointer and Heeler. As you can see, Sunny has the classic looks of a pointer. She also has the tendency to freeze when she sees any birds that land on the ground. Hello pheasant and quail hunting! She loves to fetch anything and is an extremely quick study on everything but when we scream to “quit digging up the flowers and put down Art’s shoes!” I spend a little time everyday sitting in my upstairs office looking out of the window with Sunny in my lap. I whisper the word “dove” when I see one land on the tree or ground. Soon she will know that a dove is something that dad really likes. I also have started reading to her from one of my favorite books, “Game Birds of North America” and she’s getting better at recognizing the difference between dabbling and diving ducks. If she’s restless when it’s time to go to sleep, I just start talking about the advantages and disadvantages between a modified and full choke shotgun and she’s asleep in no time. I hope you enjoy this issue of The Outpost, especially the article on choosing a hunting dog. If you have a dog story that we need to hear, please email us and don’t forget the picture! Sunny and I will look forward to seeing them. Hopefully, she and I will get to go hunting this year. However, we’ll have to clear it with mama. Sunny is, after all, her dog! We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think of the eZine and pass along to your buddies. We want to know what you like and what else you would like to read. Send us your story and or photos and perhaps it will make the next issue. We always love a tall tale. Email us at:
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THE OUTPOST Gorilla Marketing, LLC • 3164 Normandy Circle • Marietta, GA 30062 • 770-675-7200 Jason Martin, Partner • Jim Zegers, King of the Jungle • Art Young, Editor in Chief Contributing Writers: Art Young, Jason Martin, Patrick Meitin Photo Credits: www.desperateduckhunters.com - Michael Moscardelli - Sandy Earl “It’s a Jungle Out There!” National Wild Turkey Federation - Flickr Creative Commons