Back to Winter

Our usual late winter training consists of turning a bunch of dogs loose on a dead end road with no traffic and letting them have fun.  It was too cold Monday and Tuesday this week but they've been out every day since.  They really can't get into the woods much as the snow is still a little deep.  But it's good to get them some exercise and soon the snow will settle and we'll start looking for some grouse.  The year old puppies -- Sam, Glo, Maddie, and Little Frankie -- get a little over 30 minutes on the ground and the little puppies from Kentucky get about 20 minutes.

All four pups getting some exercise.

Glo and Little Frankie

Little Frankie

Sam and Little Frankie

Puppy Needs a Ride

Elhew G Force Puppies

One of these Elhew G Force puppies is coming north to be a grouse dog and will need a lift some time After March 15th.  If you know anyone making that trip please drop me an email.  wildapplekennel@gmail.com

Puppy Prison

Glo, Sam, and a parcel of new pups in my office.

Got home yesterday afternoon after two months in Kentucky.  Winter was tough in the South this year but nothing like New Hampshire.  It was -18 this morning and the high today will be 14 above with a good stiff wind.  There isn't a lot of snow here as most of the big storms have stayed to our south.  There may be around 18 - 24 inches in the woods which isn't much by our standards.  It's supposed to be -17 tonight so until it warms up a bit all the pups are imprisoned in my office with regular, but short, romps in the yard.

The last week in Kentucky was the best as far as working dogs was concerned.  Scott and Tammy Chaffee came down to Berea on Tuesday and Thursday and we got a lot of dogs run.  Thursday was especially good as we got work on both quail (leftover from the weekend trial) and woodcock.  If my family is still in Kentucky next year I expect I'll stay down a couple weeks later to get more woodcock work done before I come North.  Looking at the Ten Day forecast, it doesn't look like winters going to give up early this year, but it can change fast with a couple of big warm spring rains.

As far as training goes it looks like the summer program is full with six adult dogs and a bunch of puppies.  I've got more puppies coming right now then I have owners for so if you might be interested in a started puppy in September you should get in touch with me soon.

The guiding schedule is also starting to fill up with much of October booked.  There is still some great bird hunting in November and that time is still pretty open.  If you're thinking of booking a trip you should probably be working on dates soon.