Hunting and Training. Gun Control. Politics are important.

Yes, politics are important.  Better yet, who we vote for is MOST important.

Guns aren’t banned yet but if this administration had its way, they would be.  What this party can do it make it nearly impossible for us to own guns by making it a law to have outrageous insurance.  Another way to keep us from owning or using guns would be the outrageous price of ammo.

Peaceful decent human beings have the right to own guns.  We don’t use our guns as weapons.  We obtain them legally.  We use them legally whether it be when we are hunting, trap shooting, shooting at ranges and training/competing our hunting dogs.

Think of what we could lose if the wrong person were to be elected into office.  The responsible people who have purchased, trained, acquired titles and who love their Retrievers would be out of business.  That is just for starters.  If we are not allowed to use or are not able to afford to use our guns, we can’t hunt, train and compete our beloved Retrievers.  Some of us pay thousands of dollars for our healthy Retrievers.

There would no longer be hunting shows on television or the Internet.  That means that photographers, video masters, production companies and many more would be out of business.  Networks would lose hunting shows, which leads to subscribers dropping stations.  Training supply stores and firearm stores would be out of business.  No more hunting licenses.  The list truly goes on and on.

Crime and mortality statistics are often used in the gun control debate.  Controls often create burdens for law-abiding citizens and infringe upon constitutional rights provided by the Second Amendment.  Some would argue, including myself that nationwide gun ownership is one of the best preventatives to crime as well as to a potential dictatorship, whether it be by our government or gangs.

Please pay close attention to who you vote for.  The wrong party could and would try to strip away the rights of law-abiding citizens.  To take away our right to bare arms and defend ourselves against criminals.  They will not only take our right to defend ourselves away, but this action could strip us everything that we have worked hard for.  They could and would try to take away our American Dream, the TRUE American Dream.

Trump for President?  Ted Nugent for President?  It’s a thought!  A great ticket might be Trump and Nug for his running mate.  Crazy or not so crazy?

Trump: 

1. Has nothing to hide.  We know it all about his professional and personal life.  He lost millions and billions.  However, he did work to get it all back and is now better off and has even moreso than before.  He knows how to run a business.
2. He has enough money to run his own campaign without asking for millions and promising a bunch of pork.  No need for him to bribe anyone for votes.
3. Trump has back bone.  He would say “NO” and he would mean it.
4. He would bring jobs back to the States.
5. He is very informed when it comes to the US Constitution and our rights.
6. Illegals?  What illegals?  There would be no more.  Especially if Nug is his running mate!
7. I could go on and on and on.

Me?  I’m in hopes that Trump decides to run.  I think he would be the best choice for the US.

Possible running mates for Trump?  Palin.  Bachmann.  Nugent.

Hunters, Retriever breeders and trainers, Target Shooters and more….please remember that politics are most important.  Please study everyone running and make your choice wisely.

Labrador Retriever Training

Training is starting up again. Getting ready for fall. Will have beautiful Labrador photos to post.

http://www.totalretriever.net
http://www.shadowhillretrievers.com

Kimber

Kimber was to have come into season the first of September.  She still hasn’t come in.  Now I’m hoping she will wait until the end of December.

For me, I would rather purchase a puppy in the spring for potty training.  Also, by fall, the puppy would be ready to pass his/her first hunt test!!

Kimber’s litter mate didn’t come into season the first time until she was 2 years old.  The second time she came in at 3 years old.

Maybe Kimber is telling me she wants to nail down her HRCH before she has a litter of pups!!  Sounds like a plan to me!  At this point, I’ll probably wait to breed her with Tick until she does have her HRCH title.

 

Kimber Earns Her HR Title

“Kimber” The Hunter’s Gunpowder And Lead earned her HR title at Southern IL HRC Hunt Test last weekend at Rend Lake.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

I realize Kimber is my Chocolate Labrador Retriever but she truly is a special girl.  Kimber is the daughter of FC AFC Cuda’s Blue Ryder MH.  Ryder was an exceptional Chocolate Labrador Retriever as well as his father,  FC AFC CFC CAFC Barracuda Blue MH.

Kimber’s siblings are all doing rather well.  Her brother is with Chris Akin working to earn his CH and already has his MH.

She loves to retrieve and has a lot of drive and desire but let me go back a little bit in time.  I first saw Kimber when she was 11 months old.  I was told she was almost two.  Once I received her AKC papers after purchasing her, I found out she was 11 months old.  Her home?  A garage.  She had a kennel inside of the dark garage.  I knew her pedigree but didn’t care how good it was or wasn’t once she bolted out of that dark home of hers and ran to me.  She loved on me as if I had owned her since she was a puppy.  We bonded immediately.  I knew then that I wasn’t leaving her there a day longer.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

The “trainer” who had her in MI where I found her said the Cuda pups were rather stubborn and hard to train.  I soon found out that his statement was truly off base.  Once I bought her, 2 other trainers that watched her work said that she had not had much if any proper training at all and that the collar had been used on her and not in the proper manner. Kimber is very easy to train.  She learns quickly and loves to work.  She was just in the wrong hands.

When I got her home, I took her out to retrieve bumpers.  She was just insane about it.  Loved it.  Alert and marked well.  I sent her to a trainer for a month or so to work on her force training.  When she came home, she and I worked on her “back” for blind work.  She was catching on very fast.  This past spring Kimber and I earned her SHR title with HRC and then she went to a trainer to work towards her HR title.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

When Kimber and I worked and I handled her for her SHR title, we worked like a team.  We had a very strong bond and still do to this day.  People commented on our bond running at hunt tests and they still do.  People see us together and comment on how much she loves me and how close we are.

I’m trying to make a very long story short but it’s not very easy to do!

When Kimber went to the trainer to get ready for her HR title, she did well with training.  Please keep in mind how she lived the first year of her life, not much outside time, in a garage with a garage door closed so neighbors wouldn’t hear dogs barking. It was a man who was over using the collar on her.

Kimber started running hunt tests with the new trainer since he had been spending more time with her than I had.  She was doing the work but wasn’t working to her full potential.  Something was missing.  She and I earned her SHR title and went 4 for 4 passes.  She was happy and had and still has excellent line manners.  She’s a dream to run with.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

She began to fail at her hunt tests.  It was not the trainer.  The trainer loves Kimber and she loves him to pieces.  What was missing?  To this day, I believe it was that she and I were not running together.  She had 1 pass towards her HR title and 2 failures.  After another failure, I told the trainer I wanted to try.  I knew she missed her partner.  I felt it in my heart.  We ran together at Gateway and she and I got our 2nd pass towards her HR title.  We then ran Saturday at Southern IL HRC hunt test and earned her title.  Kimber was happy running, her tail was wagging, she was alert and very happy.  She was a different Retriever altogether.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

I truly believe that the reason she works well with me is because she knows I saved her from her prior living conditions.  I know she is thankful.  Some may think I’m nuts.  Let them.  I don’t care.  I know my dog.  I love her as if I had owner her since she was a pup.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

What Kimber and I need to work on now is her confidence.  Her lack of confidence was man-made in her first 11 months of life.  She was born with drive and desire.  She had and still has plenty of that.  Judges and handlers enjoy watching her run and think she’s a great Retriever.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

From now on, this special girl goes nowhere else to train.  No one else will handle her.  We are a team.  She stays with mom to train.  I will ask a million training questions, train with my friends, and she and I will learn all about earning her finished title together.  I am looking forward to working with her.  There is nothing more rewarding than training and handling your own Retriever.  She’s an amazing gal and she has a great future.  Together, Kimber and I are 6 for 6 passes.  Let’s see if we can go ten for ten and get that finished title next year!  Once she does that, it’s on to AKC!

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

Once Kimber comes into season, I am breeding her with Ten Bears Road Trip QAA “Tick.”  I am keeping a puppy from that litter.  I love Kimber with everything in me.  Her temperament is out of this world, her drive and desire are fantastic and Tick, well everything about that boy is amazing.  This will be a special litter of Chocolate Labrador Retrievers.  It will be one of the best bred litters of Chocolate Labradors.  I want this breeding to take place because I want a Tick/Kimber pup so bad I can taste it.  The best thing is that I will be training this pup myself from start to finish.  I’m looking very forward to this special event.

Please enjoy Kimber’s title hunt test photos from Southern IL HRC Fall 2010 Hunt Test.  Wayne Greenwell took them for me with my camera.  He did a fantastic job!!  Thank you, Wayne.  Josh Ward took some of us at our first HR Test together at Gateway HRC Hunt Test.  Hopefully he will edit and send them soon so I can post them here as well.

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title, Going for the Diversion!!

"Kimber" The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead working for her HR Title

Please feel free to read about Kimber and Tick at my Kennel Website:  Shadowhill Retrievers please click on upcoming litters.

Southern IL HRC Fall Hunt Test – Rend Lake

As always Southern IL HRC put on one heck of a hunt test.  All aspects of their hunt test weekend was very well-managed. Members and non-members all pitched in to help when needed.  Southern IL HRC members welcome everyone with open arms, they always have a smile on their faces, they are packed with loads of laughter and are just a darn good time!  I want to thank Southern IL HRC board, members and all of the wonderful judges, for doing an awesome job once again.  Southern IL is my favorite hunt test to attend.

Blu and Kimber both earned titles spring of 2010 at Southern IL’s hunt test and Kimber just earned her HR with Southern IL this past weekend!  Hopefully next year will be no different and Kimber and Blu can both earn their CH titles at Southern IL!

The location was absolutely beautiful.  Check in and hunt tests were held at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park.  Rend lake is nearly 19,000 acres big and is known as one of the premier waterfowl hunting places in Illinois. Both ducks and geese make Rend Lake their home during migration so you be assured of a great waterfowl hunting season!  The trees were a mixture of red, yellow, green and orange leaves that were just beginning to change.  What a sight to see.

Once again, a big thank you to Southern IL HRC, the board, the members and all who attended for holding a premier hunt test at a premier location!  I look forward to attending spring and fall 2011.

Wendy Porch
Shadowhill Retrievers
Total Retriever Photography And Supply Store

Kimber at the office!

Kimber isn’t running in a hunt test this weekend because Mom had to run the office today.  My boss is in MO so I had to open.  😦  Not to fret, I have 55 minutes and 15 seconds left!

Needless to say, Kimber is bored and would rather be looking for some ducks than lying around the office with mom.

Look at this face…….she’s pleading with me to lock up so she can go play on such a beautiful day!

Shadowhill's The Hunter's Gunpowder And Lead "Kimber"

Gateway HRC Photos

These are photos of Kimber and myself that Matt Settlemoir took at the Gateway HRC UKC Hunt Test in St. Louis / St. Charles, MO last weekend at Busch Wildlife.

Kimber and I ran on Sunday for a pass towards her Seasoned HR Title.  She passed!  Kimber is the daughter of Cuda Blue Ryder.  She will be bred with Ten Bears Road Trip QAA “Tick” as soon as she comes into season.  You can read about the breeding at Shadowhill Retrievers

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber The Hunter's Gunpowder and Lead Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

 

Gateway HRC – Josh Ward

Kimber ran at Gateway’s Hunt Test this past weekend and I took photos Saturday. She earned her second pass towards her HR Title.

We met Josh Ward, my fellow D3 Pit Crew buddy. It was so nice to meet him. He took photos of Kimber and myself running our seasoned hunt test yesterday. It was very kind of him.

The hunt test was a huge success and Gateway did a fine job of putting on a great test.  Congrats to all of the handlers, owners and Retrievers on their passes and titles.  There were some very nice dogs running.

Thanks Josh and Gateway!!!

The Next Generation

This is a photo of my 8-year-old granddaughter handling Blu on a single mark.  The minute she wakes up she says, “Grandma, can I retrieve Blu?”  All shes wants to do is handle dogs and go fishing!  She is actually very good with my Labradors.  She learns quickly and is getting the hang of it.

She watched me work with Blu on blinds Saturday.  After she saw that, running  him on single marks wasn’t enough.  She motioned her arms as I did when handling him on the blind and asked if she could do what I did.  So, I sat up a blind on land after explaining to her what I was doing, how to do it and why I was doing it.  I explained the difference between a mark and a blind.  She understood completely.  She handled him on a land and water blind.  It was funny because I had to throw a blind into the water.  After I did that, she wondered why she wasn’t sending him on his name instead of back.

Mickey handling Blu "Shadowhill's The Hunter's Blu Shadow on a Single Mark

Mickey and Blu, Shadowhill's The Hunter's Blu Shadow

I will be running Kimber at Midway HRC Fall Hunt Test.  I’m going to take Mickey with me as well as Blu so she can handle him at either a started test or a Jr. Handler test.  If they will allow her to run him in a started test, I’ll sign her up for that.  She’s very excited.

Wendy Porch
Shadowhill Retrievers
Total Retriever Photography and Supply Store

Hunt Test Training

I was at Busch Wildlife in St. Louis, MO Sunday.  We practiced for HRC and AKC fall hunt test season.  Kimber, my chocolate Labrador Retriever and I worked on our seasoned test for HRC.  She did really well.  Below are some photos that Matt Settlemoir took of us.  Thanks Matt!!! 

Wendy and Kimber, Chocolate Labrador Retriever

 

Wendy and Kimber, Shadowhill's The Hunter's Gunpowder & Lead at Busch Wildlife in St. Louis, MO

 

Wendy and Kimber, Shadowhill's The Hunter's Gunpowder & Lead at Busch Wildlife in St. Louis, MO

 

Kimber on her Walkup

 

Wendy and Kimber, Shadowhill's The Hunter's Gunpowder & Lead at Busch Wildlife in St. Louis, MO

 

Kimber’s sire is Cuda’s Blue Ryder. 

Shadowhill Retrievers
Total Retriever Photography and Supply Store