Ducks Unlimited Member Forums

Does anyone have any good training facilities references forthe Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia areas?  Somewhere close to Pennsylvania's side of HWY 79 would be great but we are willing to driver further.  The better half and I have our wedding and honeymoon coming up and wouldlike to send our Chessie to where she can still get training while we aregone or at least stay were it is mainly focused on hunting dogs.  Keep in mind she’s only 6 monthsnow.  We want her mind to stay in learning mode while we are gone and getting 4 10 minutes sessions a day in stead of a our morning and evening sessions would be great.  We're not looking for hardcoretraining for field trial level just staying the course for goose and duckretrievals. Plus, being a first time trainer, it would be nice to send her to some expert trainers every so often throughout theyear especially one to make sure I’m doing my training correctly and second for whenwork really takes over and we’re not training at 10 to 11 o’clock atnight.  I’m looking basically for a 5 to7 day stay.

Well I have found out why there was no feedback on this one.  I did not know Chessie’s were an unwelcome item to most training facilities, unless you like driving to North Carolina, Minnesota, Texas, or Idaho.  I couldn’t even find one in Maryland.  I can’t figure that one out.  Boarding them is no trouble but the most common phrase “we don’t train them”.  The facilities I call gave me the impression as if I had a pit bull.   I guess Ginger and I are on our own.  I was even told no because they have small children around the kennel.  What does that mean???  Yes I’m a little steamed about this.  She’s only 6 months old get real!!   A 5 year old was walking Ginger around this weekend and telling her to mark and retrieve, heel, sit, and lay with no issues. 

I agree getting a pro is going to be out of the question.  But maybe they would have a kennel service that has water retrieval as play time or walking using the commands we all know, maybe some student trainers working on the basics.  What I’m steamed about is the fact there are 9places around me that kennel hunting dogs. They have 2 to 3 ponds for taking the dogs out and playing retrieve with them, but they will only house Chessies. Chessies are not allowed to do this activity.  It almost sounds like a Rudolf story.  The reaction I got was as if it was a legal liability as far as someone getting hurt. I mean is stinks enough I can’t get her to the water more than I can.  I don’t have a pond or swimming pool and the body of water around here smell like straight interstate from all of the run off unless I drive 45 minutes.  A pond is in the plans but still a year away. Uh oh wait a minute for the correct Pennsylvania term ology I meant to not use pond but a landscaping water feature.  Anything other than landscaping water feature requires DEP and Core of Engineers.  But hey it is what it is.  Ginger and I will keep plugging away at what we are doing and see what goes of it.  I guess you can say I'm a little home sick from the south.  I found 5 respectable places back home within20 minutes.

The whole Mike Lardy thing was just part of the soapbox.  I asked him some insight of his training video in reference to Chessies and it’s just those first time discoveries.   Ginger and I are going to kick back with some spite and Eagle Rare and watch Take'em Six……

I would be willing to bet that you can name it what you want, but the engineers that review the floodplain permits or the biologists that review sovereign lands permits, don't really care what it is called. They care if it will impeded the flow of water, if it is in a floodplain, will it effect any T&E species. Remember they are there to protect our land, air and water. Don't be pissed because they do not let every individual do whatever they want. Just think where our environment would be today without regulations. 

Don't worry I have already talk with all govern agenciesabout the matter. Actually I can if you research what classifies a pond,wetland, lake, ect.  The Government’s 8 departments have it all brokendown some have their own definition of each.  I'm well under their regulation and specs of being classified as apond or wetland.  That is why a coy pond at Lowe's is only advertised as apond but not regulated by the 8 departments otherwise you would need a permitto purchase and install one.  At this point in the conversation less ismore.

PS some of these agents are also trying to pass a regulation to tax people who have their definition of pond for the collection of any rainwater not making its natural course to streams and rivers.  Unless these bodies of water are owned by a government or state agency.  Too much regulation just for someone leaching off the government payroll to justify their job is not a good thing because eventually we will need a permit for a camp fire and MSDS sheets for smores.  It amazes me it's 4 times more expensive to improve and persevere the environment than it is to destroy it.  If you live in a subdivision or gated community that's for the help destroying it!

Sorry a Ginger and I just took a good run in a park where they just cleared 40 acres of wooded trails for some soccer and baseball fields to help clear the head.  I just get fired up about regulations and more regulation.  Coming from a 2 light town we didn’t need regulation you were just taught not to do it.  If you did you got corrected real quick!  Rule number 1 you can tell a lot by person when they sit down and leave the dinner table - Hat off, pray, elder / guess takes the first bite, and push chair back in when you leave even if you are royalty.  Take a look around and see how many do that these days!

I don't know why this combines word after hitting the post button.