Salute to Sunni

We spent the next few weeks working on our skills.  Water  retrieves would be no problem, as she relished the opportunity to bring anything I threw back to me. She had no fear of water, unless there were suds involved. We did some work with obedience, which involved me jerking her around by the collar.  I got the look, "Is this really necessary?"  I decided it wasn't. She almost always stayed at my left side, jerk or no jerk. Anyway, sit and stay seemed like enough. Heal would work if I really forced the issue.

The days were getting shorter, and the smells of autumn were getting everyone excited about opening day. I found out I was going to have to work, so I wasn't going to be there to experience her first duck hunt. I lectured Craig about all the do's and don'ts. Do praise her when she does it right, don't chase her to get the duck if she doesn't bring it right back. Ya Da,Ya Da,Ya Da. The three of them headed out early in the pitch black to be there before the sunrise. Of course, there were lacey-edged fried eggs, and  black-bottomed biscuits to be consumed before facing the elements. I went on to work, watching the clock constantly and waiting for the call to give me the report. Finally they called. Craig was once again impressed with this young little female. She did exactly what she was bred to do. Two ducks and no problems. I was beaming!

You need to know about where Sunni did her work.  My father-in-law owns a duck club  where the blind occupied by family members is adjacent to a large pot-hole.  There is buck brush and heavy cover all around the little body of water, and there is no place for a dog to jump out and not get skewered!  Therefore, there is no dog box on the blind from which a labrador can scan the skies and see a duck fall.  This dog made almost every retrieve with her nose.  She had to smell the ducks to find them.  The few times that she actually saw the duck fall was when sneaky wood ducks would bolt by on the way to or from the blind.  I can't tell you how many times we would stand there like fools, pointing in the direction of the fallen bird and screaming "Fetch" to a dog who was headed in an entirely different direction.  We learned eventually to just go back into the blind, pour another cup of coffee, and wait till we heard her return to the back door, duck in mouth. 

I was fortunate to have been able to spend a lot of quality time with this quality dog. I was self-employed as an artist and picture framer from the time I brought her home as a puppy. She went to work with me everyday and greeted all my customers at the door. The only time she stayed at home while I went to work was when she was busy herself being a Mommy. (My idea, not hers!) She gave us three beautiful litters over the years, 23 puppies total. I gave up my business in 1994, when she was 8 years old, and went back into the work force. She wasn't thrilled with this new plan, and had a hard time adjusting to being by herself. She eventually had to be medicated to keep her from freaking out occasionally and escaping from her kennel. Old dogs are like old people. They get a little needier, smell a little different, and move a lot slower. She still wanted to go hunting, even though she had to be lifted into the car, and afterwards she could hardly walk for a week.