Mossy Oak
Gamekeeper Kennels Courtesy of
WORDS ARE WASTED ON TRYING TO DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIRD DOG AND OWNER. FROM THE EUPHORIA OF LIFTING A MALLARD OUT OF YOUR RETRIEVER’S TRAINED MOUTH FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO THE GRIEF THAT COMES WITH THEIR INEVITABLE
Story and Photos by Sam Raetz
PASSING YEARS L ATER, THE JOURNEY MUST BE EXPERIENCED TO BE KNOWN. THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF A HUNTING DOG’S LIFE ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST CRITICAL. IT’S IN THIS TIME WHERE EXPECTATIONS ARE SET AND GROUNDWORK IS LAID FOR TRANSFORMING A PUPPY INTO A FUNCTIONAL MEMBER OF BOTH THE HOUSEHOLD AND THE DUCK BLIND. TRAINING A PUPPY INTO A WORKING BIRD DOG IS AN UNDERTAKING THAT MANY DON’ T HAVE THE TIME , KNOWLEDGE , OR PATIENCE FOR. INSTEAD, SENDING YOUR DOG TO A CAPABLE TRAINER IS THE LOGICAL CHOICE—AN INVESTMENT THAT SHOWS PERPETUAL RETURNS , OR RATHER, RETRIEVES, FOR YEARS TO COME.
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LEGENDARY LIVING