doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Incredible hunting dog feats.

Sometimes even good things can happen to a fool, and Lady was one of those blessings. I had a neighbor with a registered lab [censored] desperate to find a home for nine puppies; so he came to me with a offer to take my pic for free. I didn't want a dog, but my neighbor insisted and my youngest son who was with me at the time (and then named this lab Lady) swayed the argument in my neighbor's favor till I had no choice. In exasperation, I declared that I had no need of a registered lab pup because I didn't have a clue as to how to train the damn thing. But my neighbor even had a counter for that argument. He then went into his garage, brought out a book called "Water Dog" buy Richard A. Woolters and said; "read this book and do what it sez, and you'll be fine"! Well I did, at least for the most part; and it seems this little black lab (AKC - Tom's Redneck) Lady seemed almost human at times, so much so that most folks probably wouldn't believe the amazing stories I can tell of things I've witnessed her do. Lady became a member of the family in no time at all, and I quickly learned that she absolutely lived to hunt; and whenever we went dove shooting Lady was all business. So when I missed (was very often), she seemed to take it personally and would glare at me disgustedly as if to say; "how in hello could you have missed that bird"! So, you say, what were some of the things I saw her do? On one "hot" early morning December dove shoot attended by a large number of shooters; with birds flying everywhere, guns popping, doves falling, and people shouting I decided it best to keep her on a lease and pick up my birds when the flights slowed; till that time I'd just mark downed birds. So, while shooting I had one bird sail about 100 yards across the pasture and go down at the edge of a hog-wire fence row; so when the action subsided I had Lady pick up all my nearby birds, then we moved across the pasture to hunt the bird in the fence row. As we neared the fence row I could see the bottom strand of the wire fence actually on the ground. Lady was obviously too large to squeeze thru the fence and was trained not to climb fences; and as this fence seemed to stretch for hundreds of yards, I watched to see what she would do. As she neared the fence it was clear she smelled a bird in the thick vine growth on the other side and very quickly located the dead dove about 12" or so inside the fence. She tried sticking her head thru the fence to no avail and began pacing up and down the fence row looking for an opening. Not finding an opening, she came back to the point where the bird lay; she got her body as close against the fence as possible and laid down on her left side. She then reached her paw thru the wire and slapped at the bird until she had it in a position to get it in her mouth, at which point she proudly put the bird in my hand. To me this was a demonstration of intelligence; Lady faced a dilemma; and with no direction from me devised a plan to solve her problem.
In this same pasture on another Saturday morning, a shoot again attended by a number of shooters; I figured I best keep her on a lease, as she was obviously very excited by all the commotion. Although still missing my share of shots, I was also connecting on my share and marking them down for retrieval later. As the morning progressed, I knocked down a pair with my CHE Parker; and a few minutes later was surprised by 3 birds passing overhead and moving away. I fired too quickly and missed with the right, then feathered the bird well with the left; but it didn't fall, sailing instead and ultimately going down at the base of a hay roll far across the field. When I realized the bird was definitely going down (Lady's eyes were already glued to the bird); I shouted "mark", unleashed Lady, and then shouted "back"! Away she went, quickly circled the hay bale and headed back to me with her prize, but unknown to me she had somehow remembered and marked the double I'd dropped prior to this bird; so I watched in amazement as she retrieved both those birds and delivered all three to my hand (I have a pic of her holding those three birds somewhere). Lady did all sorts of amazing things on the dove field; I've watched her shake vines and bushes holding a wounded or dead bird until it fell to the point that she could get it in her mouth, I've sent her after wounded birds that were sailing 3'-4' above the ground for who knew how far and watched her leap and catch the bird in mid-air; and she always managed to find everyone's lost bird at the end of the day when the shoot was over. My shells to bird average was never higher than when I hunted with Lady; if a bird went down, Lady always managed to find it no matter how far away it may have sailed.
But she wasn't just a dove dog, she tracked down two deer my son shot with his bow and couldn't locate. She would not point quail, but she could smell and track quail; and she always managed to do so in a manner that would allow me to get in position before she flushed them. And on one occasion I took her rabbit hunting. My brother in law wanted to go and I knew his dogs were sorry as dirt. I figured if I had Lady along I'd
at least have some company while he was off chasing his crazy beagles, but Lady had never been exposed to rabbits or rabbit hunting prior to this trip. As the morning moved along, we jumped several rabbits, the dogs would run them 50' or so; and Lady would then investigate the commotion to see whatever it was these strange dogs were howling about; but I could also tell she was scenting the bunny. So while my BIL was off chasing his worthless dogs, I noted a promising briar patch and decided I'd have Lady investigate. I placed Lady at the upper end and told her to sit and stay; then walked down to the other end and said "Lady, hunt"! She had no idea what I wanted her to do; but she was always anxious to please me so she immediately lunged
into those briars to see whatever it was that had me so excited. About 20' into the thicket she bounded a rabbit that came balling out my end; I rolled that bunny with my old G Grade Lefever and said "Lady, back"! Lady picked up the bunny like she'd been retrieving rabbits all her life and placed it in my hand; the only bunny bagged the entire day. We had a long driveway at the house and being lazy, I got weary of walking down to the street; so one morning Lady greeted me as usual and for whatever reason, I pointed to the street and said "Lady, back"! Lady didn't have a clue what I wanted her to do, but knew I wanted something; so wondered down the driveway, made a few circles and spotted the rolled up paper. She then picked up that paper (a big Sunday edition) and brought it to hand; I praised her mightily and from that day onwards, she delivered the news. I learned from my sons, who were teenagers when Lady was in her prime, that Lady was a "girl magnet"; seems the girls were always impressed when they demonstrated Lady's "tricks". I could go on and on, but bottom line Lady was the best dog I've ever been privileged to own, or will own; and she'll never be replaced. Lady never learned to speak obviously, but somehow she just seemed to understand; the things she could do were amazing, especially given that I had "trained" her; why I'd never
even attempted to train a dog in my life before Lady came along.
Our last dove hunt took place in another pasture in early January after a freezing rain; a few late season doves were using the portion of the pasture where horses were being fed hay. Lady was now 14 years and 3 months old; was deaf, and no longer had the ability to get into the truck without being lifted. I took with me that day the John Linneman Optimus Lefever I'd just gotten back from Buck Hamlin (later featured in the DGJ); I'd never fired the gun before that day and didn't know what to expect, but I wanted to take the opportunity to be in the field with Lady; as I knew her days were numbered. With the pasture completely bare and no place to make a blind; we huddled by a corner fence post with Lady at my right side as always. I shot that old Lefever 21 times that day and together we bagged 9 doves, Lady placing each precious bird in my left hand as she had done hundreds of times over the years; what a memorable day! Three months later, Lady became very sick; I immediately took her to the vet who told me that, given her age, there was nothing I or he could do except humanely end her suffering. Reluctantly I agreed, but asked that he give me some time with her privately before moving forward. Placing Lady's head in my lap, I stroked her fur and talked to her; the whole time absolutely sickened by the thought that I was being forced to give her up for no other reason than that she was old and at the end of her allotted days. I held her as the shot was administered, I felt her body relax; I listened as she exhaled for the final time. And then, in front of God and everybody I
cried uncontrollably like a broken-hearted child. When finally composed to the point I could drive, I took Lady home and buried her on the bank of Collier's Creek; that seemed appropriate as Lady always seemed to enjoy splashing in that creek as much as she loved retrieving doves. Every man who loves the outdoors should be blessed with at least one exceptional canine partner during his lifetime; and for me that blessing was the "runt of the litter", a gentle sweet natured black fuzzy ball of energy named Lady. (Sorry, I obviously got carried away)

What a great story Tom. I had to have my last English setter Max put down Dec. 23, 2014 because of cancer. I, like you held his head in my hands as he went to his final sleep. The vet had known him since he was 9 weeks old and now almost nine years later. He was a great companion that I miss greatly.

One of the best things about a duck or bird hunting camp is sitting around the fire and telling all the tales of dogs gone bye. I've had a number of great dogs over the years and have a ton of stories like these but will save them until your sitting across the fire from me. My friends say I should write a book so a thread like this is just too short.

Topgun, you didn't get carried away. That was a great read about a great dog. Thank you.

Wonderful story about Lady Tom. Thanks for taking the time to tell it. When Jim, the OP told us how his dog Mandy remembered a dove that was shot and unable to be retrieved until they returned a week later, it would be easy to write that off as simply the dog smelling the very ripe dove. But having seen some of the things I have seen with dogs over the years, I have no doubt that they have memories and the ability to think and reason, and that Mandy had not forgotten that bird.

Like people, some are obviously better and smarter than others. Some are very clever but not as willing to perform or please as others. That can be especially frustrating when you know how smart they are, and they refuse to perform for a friend or visitor. Yet they do exactly what you asked them to do right after your visitor leaves. I think some of them eventually shut down after a while when we are not smart enough to understand what they are trying to tell us. The memories of dogs is the stuff of stories and legends. Argos, Ulysses' (or Odysseus') hunting dog was the only one who remembered him after he returned home in disguise after 20 years in battle. I guess ancient Greek dogs lived longer. I named one hunting dog Argos, but he got away from my wife while still a pup and was killed by a car, so I never got to see if he could live up to his name. He sure had the potential and took to training unbelievably quickly. When you get one like your Lady, it becomes impossible to ever think of them as dumb animals again.

Just think... after 70 years, Ed Good isn't even housebroken. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Great story, Tom. Thanks for writing it for us. I got a new black lab pup three weeks ago today. Her name is Cady. Her father belonged to a close friend and duck hunting buddy of mine. He gave me Cady, pick of the litter, after he bred his dog to a local female. The owner of Cady's mother called me about half hour ago to check on her, and to tell me that her father, Rev, had been hit by a car and killed. I texted my buddy with my condolences just now, and urged him to get one of Cady's littermates while he still can. It's so fresh for him, and he is grieving, but I really hope he gets one of the pups, 'cause there won't be anymore. We'll talk soon, when he feels like it.

Thanks for starting this thread, Jim. It's a good way to remember Mandy, she was a fine dog. Glad I got to know her at Tunica (and you too ).

SRH.

I have had a Setter and a couple of French Brittanys that will block a running bird.

It starts out with them ground trailing a pheasant or bob down a game path through the grass and brush. I can't see the bird, but I recognize what is happening by watching the dog. The bird and dog are running faster than I can walk. Suddenly the dog will veer off to the right 100 yards, turn left for 100 yards, and then turn left again and set up in the trail, facing me, with the wind blowing from his tail to his nose. I continue up the trail and then the bird flushes, usually withing 20 yards of the blocking dog.

How did that dog know how to do that?

Because it used to be a wolf!...Geo

I had a dog that I swore could spell.........wonder if he used to be a school teacher? ;-)

Way back when Georgia had plenty of birds I had three female pointers.They were good blooded dogs but far from being registered.Some of them were great.Lady would come back and get me if she found a covey and I could not locate her.Try training a dog to do that.Bess was the best retriever and I never lost a bird. Bobby