Best Retrievers

Central Minnesota Hunt Test

2009-06-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

What a nightmare this trip was!!! Lyle's truck breaks down on our way up to the hunt test on
Thursday and we don't end up getting to bed until 1:00 am.

The Friday master test went great initially; Tug, Bella, and Charlie smoked the first series. The second series was a double blind, and they dropped Bella. Then, I lost both Charlie and Tug in the third series because they had to handle on two marks. It was a tough water test and it would have qualified Charlie for the Master National and given him his Master Hunter Title. I was very frustrated. The second Master test on Saturday was just as frustrating!!! Bella and Tug had to handle on the go-bird of a double, and then struggled to complete the land blind. They passed Bella, but dropped Tug. Then, Bella nails the second series, and Charlie handles on a mark that he should've nailed. In the third, Charlie handles again on another mark, and Bella handles on two marks. I'm not believing what I'm seeing!!!

The Senior test on Sunday was at least a little better. Rocky and Layne sailed through the first land series, in fact, Layne lined the blind. Reed had a big hunt on the memory bird and when I tried to handle, he struggled to work with me. We completed the test, including the blind, and honored off-lead; but they did not call him back to the second series. That was dissapointing, because it would've been for his Senior title. Scout, the young buck of the the Senior group, had a spell of bad luck. When we got to the line to start the test, the honor dog broke as soon as they live flyer was launched into the air. I had to go back to the holding blind with him and come back up again to the line. He watched the marks and picked them up cleanly, then ran a good blind. However, this time the temptation was too much for him when he had to honor, and he broke for the live flyer this time!!! I was dissapointed, because we had worked so hard on his blinds the week before, and he had honored fine in training. The second series was a very challenging water test and I was happy to see Layne and Rocky complete this series very nicely, and both recieved passes. It was Layne's AKC Senior title- congratulations Cody Woodland!!

We stayed the night on Sunday, then woke up and went back out to the test grounds and trained until about 2:00 in the afternoon. From there, Butch and I drove to Dubuque, Iowa to Ainley Fabrication, the birthplace of my dog trailer. We got a hotel about 11:00 that night, and had the trailer to their shop by 7:00 the next morning. I had scheduled to have some minor work done, and wanted them to fix a leak in my water tank. Well, turns out that my trailer needed a whole new stainless steel water tank; the aluminum one had rotted from the corrosive Texas water! Chachang!!! It took them most of the day to replace it, and we finally hit the road sometime that afternoon. From there, we drove back to Lyles, and got to his place around 11:00 that night. By the time we aired and fed the dogs, it was midnight. Man, we're tired!!!

I'll post pics tomorrow...gotta get some rest tonight!

Wednesday Training in Missouri

2009-06-10T19:43:00.001-07:00

We set up three poison bird water blinds and 2 water marks.

We used a crate of live ducks on a point for the ultimate temptation!

Here's a view of one of the poisoned birds and a water mark.

Charlie Williams watching the poisoned bird!

I grabbed the camera when Butch wasn't looking and took a self-portrait.

Running Layne Woodland on the water blind.

Bella Lecocq is leaving the line for one of the water marks.

Here's the man we should thank for taking the photos!

Lyle Steinman got caught playing "Brick Breaker" on his
phone while sitting in a Best Retriever chair!

Abby Williams going for a water retrieve.

Scout Heinrich being taught to go over a brush pile on a blind.

And here's a shot of him leaping back over!

Puppies in a row....

2009-06-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

3 weeks old

Training in Missouri with Lyle Steinman

2009-06-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Lyle Steinman and his family let us stay at his house in Gower, Missouri and train on his grounds before the Minnesota hunt test. Thank you Lyle!

The 'boys' getting aired out.

Monday training. 5 water re-entry singles and a breaking bird.

Abby Williams and her first water retrieve!

A view of one of the lower ponds.

Tuesday morning training, 5 water singles.
We got poured on about 11:00 am and had to quit early.

Nebraska AKC Hunt Test in Valley, Nebraska

2009-06-09T12:52:00.001-07:00

Kota White was running for her Junior Title on Saturday.

This is Kota taking off for a mark on the land test.

This is Kota getting ready for a water mark.

First Series of Master

Bella watching the land marks.

Charlie hitting the water for a live flyer.

Rody and Tug waiting to run the first series.

Charlie running out for the go-bird of the second series.

Memory bird of the second series, thrown right to left.

3rd Series of the Master was a Double Blind and a Single

Senior Test on Sunday

Layne getting set to run the land blind.

Reed returning with the memory bird in the second series.

Rocky lined the first series land blind!!!

Rody and Scout getting ready to run the second series water test.

Thank you Butch Lecocq for taking all the pictures.
Congratulations to the following dogs and their owners:

Charlie Williams- Master Pass
Scout Heinrich- First Senior Pass!
Rocky Woodard- First Senior Pass!
Layne Woodland- Senior Pass
Reed Grace- Senior Pass
Kota White- Junior Pass

Summer Hunt Test Trip

2009-06-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

We stopped to train in Kansas on the way up to Nebraska.

Grandpa Heasty got to come out and watch!

3rd series of the Spring Grand

2009-05-26T03:46:00.000-07:00

3rd series water test- triple with a diversion and blind. Marks thrown left to right. Blind up the middle. Wind was blowing from the left about 20 miles an hour.

Results for 1st series of the Grand

2009-05-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Test is a water triple with a blind and honor. It's cold and breezy.

Blind is a challenge and the marks are well placed.

Jack ran first and did good on the marks, and good on blind except he popped twice(?).

Mardi handled on the left bird-which was suppose to be the go-bird, but she pick it the easy middle bird first instead. She always has to make it more difficult than it really is:) She ran a good blind and the honored fine. Gotta be perfect from here on out!

Running conditions have gotten tough, dog after dog is having trouble- not sure why. Light? Wind? Tug is out. Handled on two birds.

Ann handled on the left bird- did the same as Mardi.

Our whole flight is having a difficult time for sure.

Charlie Spanked it! One of the best runs yet.

Katie did great on the marks, but had trouble at the end of the blind-

she passed but got marked down.

Lost Red- Handled on two marks.

Rocky just slammed it. The best run all day!

Leaving Oklahoma

2009-05-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

Thursday after lunch- leaving Oklahoma and headed for South Dakota.

Morning stretch for the grand dogs....

2009-05-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Leave it to Red to get in the water every morning!!

Puppy Pics!

2009-05-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

BIG "blue" boy and TINY "gold" girl

She is half his size! But, she is a strong sucker!

TINY "Gold" girl

"rainbow" girl

(she has a white lightning bolt on her chest)

"Pearl" girl

"Pink" girl

"Green" Boy

Lost the single pic of "blue" boys, but he is the one at the top with tiny "gold"girl....

1st grand set-up for today

2009-05-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

two shoreline blinds...

We are having puppies!

2009-05-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

5 puppies so far!

Second set-up.....

2009-05-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

2 Flower pot land/water singles from behind the mound on left. Land/water
slot blind under tree on right.

First set up of the day.....

2009-05-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Three land singles and a water blind....

Oklahoma training grounds for the grand...

2009-05-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

The lodge and kennels of War Eagle Retrievers.

This is what Rody sees when he wakes up in the morning.
It is just beautiful!

A huge thank you to Derek Randall with War Eagle Retrievers
for letting Rody stay at his facilities before the grand!

Look at all the water in our new lake!

2009-04-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome!

2009-04-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

We are excited to now offer the Best Retrievers blog!

We will be regularly posting pictures and events!

Happy Easter!
Best Retrievers
Rody and Kristin

Chase and Finn

2009-02-19T12:22:00.001-08:00

2009-02-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

Patience

White boy trying to escape!

Chelsea playing tug of war with the camera strap:)

5 week old girls....

2009-02-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

5 weeks old boys.....

2009-02-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

2009-02-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

More puppy pics!

2009-02-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

Look at how big they are!

2009-01-26T17:12:00.000-08:00

Jazz and her puppies...

2009-01-20T20:02:00.000-08:00