Treasure Lake Chesapeakes
Bob
Just a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate the work you put into turning Bear into a finished retriever prior to this past duck season.
Bear and I spent several days afield early in the duck season with some friends hunting some big water here in Virginia. He displayed good manners on these hunts despite the lack of birds.
In January of this year. I took Bear with me on a big hunt down in Stuttgart, Arkansas. It was a big test for him. He passed the big test with flying colors. While hunting a small puddle, one of the other hunters took an extremely long shot on a widgeon and connected. The bird sailed about 250 yards away from the blinds we occupied across the puddle. Bear honored (though not happily), as I thought the gent who shot the duck would send out his retriever: however, he realized this long retriever was beyond what his pup was capable of. So I cast Bear and he worked for me right to the bird. I had to cast him far right of the bird, and then work him to the left as he would nose some dead ducks that were in an unoccupied blind over on that side of the field. He was on the whistle, and it only took me about three left casts and he had the duck and returned with it. Bear's abilities impressed my fellow hunters. As we left the field later that morning, our guide told me that was one of the best retrieves he had ever witnessed. By the end of our three day hunt, the guide asked me if I could leave Bear to work the rest of the season. He has seen many dogs, but he really appreciated Bear's abilities as do I.
Thanks again for developing Bear into a finished retriever. Our little girl is next in line to spend time with you, and I look forward to hunting over her this coming season.
Sincerely
Jeff Buffa 3/30/2008
This letter was sent to
Bob Reckart my training partner about a dog we trained who happens to
be one of Tigger's puppies.
Missy out pheasant hunting with her owner after going home for the 2006 season, Missy completed her junior hunter title in 2007 with Kathy handling her.
Well I am back in Afghanistan. (When I return,) I will also attempt to run her in her last leg of her JH myself. I want to do it but I have a feeling I will be calling you in the spring and asking you to do it. We did manage to find time to go pheasant hunting. They released 4 birds. She flushed 7 total only 2 where birds that they released. She was awesome. She flushed retrieved to hand and really worked the field. I have attached some photos. Thanks again. Steve 11/20/06