Pictures are below story
ump. Summer Camp, 2019. Desert Point Kennel.
If you have ever spent a summer in the Yuma Az. area you will understand the reason to get out. We have summered in a few places, such as northern California, Montana and Washington. The first was northern California to be closer to the kids. This however presented a few problems. First is that the summers in Amador County where we wanted to go are also very hot. Not uncommon to average around 90+, and be in the 100s, and hit around the 105s. Also, where we wanted to go was loaded with ticks, and had no electricity.
Our Toy hauler is set up for boon docking, or living off the grid. We have around 900 watts of solar, a 5000-watt generator as well as a choice 2000-watt generator. The real problem is keeping cool in the heat. Air conditioners are designed to drop the temp about 20 degrees, after that the air conditioners can't keep up. Running the generator all the time even if it did keep the trailer cool would make us slaves to the trailer and do nothing for the dogs and puppies, we would have with us. They would be stuck in the heat and really the morning would be the only time to do something with them.
We looked at parks where Kim and the girls could stay but could not really find anything that worked. Tried to find property with electric proved too much for the budget.
Flagstaff seemed the logical answer, but a part of me really wants to get to where the kids are but that just proved too much. So, Flagstaff it would be. We looked at 1 to 10-acre pieces of land and almost went that way. Some land was going for about 1000 dollars an acre.
The reason for Flagstaff area is of course the weather, which is approx. 75 degrees in the summer which is 30 to 40 degrees cooler than Wellton. Also, it is only 5 hours away from home, and being in Az. is a huge plus. I have checked the Flagstaff area out a few times and it is really a treasure in so many ways. The weather of course, lots to do and lots of open public land with free camping. The people are great, and the area is almost perfect for the dogs. Cool weather, both forest and open ground, and the forest and open ground is lacking of such things as underbrush such as in California, and Washington. California where we like to go in the mountains is full of mountain misery. The ferns that grow up and make getting around in it very difficult. Also, in Flagstaff, no ticks, fleas or mosquitos. Any idea how nice that is? In Washington the girls had bad reactions to mosquito bites. That being a big reason we did not go to Alaska. Also, no rattlesnakes, or cactus. The only thing I was thinking we would have to worry about are people and porcupines.
So, Flagstaff area it is. How to make it work. That area in the summer grounds of the pointing dog groups, the people who do trials and hunting tests, so that would be a plus in case we wanted to try it.
The National Shoot to Retrieve Association and maybe the Arizona Pointing Dog Club were the only two I was really interested in. While attending a NSTRA event around Parks Az. with my friend Rashawn Gordon I learned at the site of the event, in the past had also been a trainer who summered there with his dogs. This seems as good a place as any, and better than most so this is what I set my sights on. It also had the added advantage of a porta potty being left there from the trial.
Now to put it all together and make it work. This proved challenging in so many ways. It got to the point where we had so many vehicles, and so much equipment that I just had to say, let's do this. We had the bus not set up for traveling with the dogs. It was running great, and we had license and tags. I got a 1997 Ford F150 that I had $2000 in. A nice 2nd trailer that was ready to go if we needed it. The Toy Hauler was ready able and almost willing. We had friends that we willing to help us at the home front.
I must admit there was a little sense of being overwhelmed, which is unusual for me. There is, of course, the money I had spent on the extra trailer, bus, and pickup that kind of put us in a tight spot. There was making sure that Kim and the girls were taken care of. But the biggest challenge was the dogs. We were close to 37 counting the little puppies.
The dogs from about 12 weeks to adults would be handled in the following manner: An outdoor area comprised of chains and stakes, and an indoor sleeping area, of the Toy hauler, cargo trailer and the back of the pickup. So, I bought about 130 feet of chain and cut them into 6-foot lengths. Then put a swivel in them and a snap. The 2.0 chain was perfect to put a one-foot stake, which is just a one-foot nail in the end. This was almost perfect. The nail could be put through the end of the chain and driven into the ground. This in itself made an excellent swivel. And the fact that they were less than a dollar was also a big hit with me. I also made some complicated stakes that used an 18-inch cement stake, two large washers, 1 ¾ inch threaded coupling, and a ¾ inch leg flange. This needed welding, was a lot of work but proved an almost perfect stake. The cost of this stake was almost 12 dollars. The chain runs from around $1.18 to $1.60 a foot, the swivel a buck or two, and I was super lucky to find double snaps at Tractor Supply on clearance 6 for 3 dollars. So, I got 36 of them. They run about 2 to 3 dollars apiece most of the time. That makes a 6-foot chain set up with chain, swivel, snap, and 1-foot stake cost approx. $12.50.
So, to get ready for summer camp, including the things I did not need to do was the following. 2nd pick up, into shop for some front-end work, flush radiator, wheel alignment, both change and flush, and new filter for transmission, change oil in front and back axles, and transfer case. $1100.00, I would change the oil, after running sea foam in the oil, and also added sea foam to the gas. $50.00. Two new tires $175.00. I then made a metal shell to keep the dogs enclosed in bed of truck. Railing from friend Tony, and wire for $75.00. So, counting price of truck $2,025.
Bus $500, for tags. Bus cost me $4000.00 a few years ago.
Extra camp trailer, thanks to a fantastic price from our friend Tony, $800.00.
Tires for main pickup, $500.00 off Craigslist.
Tires for cargo trailer, $ 230.00.
There were a lot of extra money spent to get ready for summer camp, such as tools, food, clothes, and who all knows what Kim spent money on.
When it was time to go, we decided on Kim's Dodge van and not the pickup. If you know Kim, you know she does a lot of running around. We might get the pick up to summer camp later. We did not bring the extra trailer, maybe later. The main pick up would bring the toy hauler on first trip and then the cargo trailer with 13 crates, and two 55 gal barrels filled with dog food.
It took so many days to get ready, and so many hours to pack. But we finally did it. Everything was packed and ready to go. So, after packing until midnight, we were up at 3:30 am to load the dogs.
So into the cargo trailer, which I had set up with a great vent nan were loaded: Jack, Bajenks, Jill, Dusty, Lady, Rose, Ms. Charlie, Sophie, Buddy, Arlo, KC, KiRime, Dan, Little Ann, Frann, Heather, and her 3 pups Delta, Blue, and Angus, and Rose's 3 pups Lemmon, Little guy, and Big guy, and Sophies 3 pups Sasha, Brock, and Malia.
Left at home under the care and supervision of the Gordon's Melissa and Rashawn were Katie and her 7 puppies, Bonnie, and Tina, as well as Bella and her two pups.
The idea was like driving to the sun. When you go to the sun, you must drive at night. We left the Redneck Ranch at 0515, or 5:15 am. This should get us into cooler weather in 4 hours and into our camp at Parks in 5 hours. If, as my grandfather Pop would say, God willing and the creek don't rise.
The Toy Hauler was already there. Rashawn and I had already taken it up when we went up to the NSTRA trial. We left it at cowboy Joe's. That trip had us changing two tires, when it was hot.
The trip from Wellton Az. to Red Tank area 11 miles north of Parks General store was uneventful and stress free. The fan pulled plenty of cool fresh air into the cargo trailer where the dogs were, and we made it to camp in approx. 5 hours. All dogs were unloaded and staked out, and within an hour I was back with the toy hauler and camp was officially set up.
Camp was set up around noon on June 23, 2019. As I type this it is June 23rd. As of yet we have seen no one, we are almost at the end of our road, and there is no reason for anyone to drive by. The temp at noon the last two days has been about 68 degrees. The mornings are cool, the nights perfect, the air is fresh and cool. The sun has been out and the days lovely.
The second day, all the dogs and I except the 3 smallest pups of Rose's went out on a morning outing. And how nice it was. The pink collar girl of Sophies got separated from us twice. Causing her to howl and carry on. Arlo headed back to camp probably because he also got separated from us. Everyone else was fine. I, for reasons I do not know, left both my phone and camera at camp. When we got back everyone was fed, watered and chained up, with the exception of a few A team dogs and Rose's 3 small pups. Kim went into town and left me worried if she could find her way back. I told her if by chance she could not, I would meet her at the Parks store. She did find her was back and the girls and I were happy.
After a time the girls and I decided that we were going to work dogs. I have two remote control launchers. They hardly ever get any use because I don't do a lot of training. I do a lot of doing, which is getting the dogs out and letting them train themselves via their genetic make-up. But since summer camp is also training camp, we decided to do some training. First the girls did as they do every day. Walk the young dogs on the leash.
These girls for being so young, Hailey 8 and Scarlett 6 are very good with the dogs. First, I showed both of them how to shoot the revolver. We would be using blanks and I would need Hailey's help firing some blanks off.
I brought up 10 pigeons to train with, and they should last a while if I was careful. I needed some bobwhite quail but those could wait.
I want to evaluate each of the dogs, old and young, natural instinct to point, hold a point, and then to retrieve. In hunting I am looking for a dog that can find game, point, and then retrieve.
In our training I would place a pigeon in the remote launcher, meaning a launcher that I can activate remotely to launch the pigeon in this case up in the air. Because we do not have a lot of pigeons, I tied a string onto the pigeon, the pigeon would be tossed up in the air, fly some and then come down. I did not however want the dogs to catch the pigeon because I did not want it killed. Most have a soft mouth, but you never know.
I would have the camera for videoing the training and the remote. Hailey would have the revolver and when the pigeon was launched her job was to fire one blank round. Scarlett would bring me the dog I asked for and then after the bird was launched Hailey would set the revolver down and both her and Scarlett would try and get the pigeon from the dog. At least that was how it was supposed to work.
Ms. Charlie was the dog closest to being ready for Shoot to Retrieve composition. She holds her points very well, and has a very good nose. Ms. Charlie has found a lot of wild birds so planted birds should be no problem for her. She does not range big however.
So, the first dog Scarlett is sent for is Ms. Charlie. Scarlett turns her loose and she enters the training field, and goes toward Hailey holding the gun. Charlie goes on point, lefts her right front foot, she is a little over 20 yards from the launcher. She does well holding the point until the bird is launched.
The rock star of the day was probably Buddy. A Scout and Rose boy who is showing tons of talent, and loads of cooperation. He is put on a long line and goes on a picture perfect point, head, foot, and tail up. He is perfect and is about 20 yards away. The wind is blowing straight back at the dogs. Buddy is about 11 months or so. Buddy starts to walk in toward the bird as I walk past him. I tell him to whoa, and he freezes as if he has actually heard the word before, which he never has.
The bird is launched and Buddy really wants to get it, I however hold him just a foot or so away from getting the bird.
Frann, Sophie's young solid black pup out of Buck, did extremely good. She pointed well back from the launcher. Her foot was up in a nice point, which does not always happen with DK dogs. Her tail was out 9 o'clock and was all puffed out. She held her point very well and looked great.
Dan was just so so just kind of walked into the bird.
Frann did excellent the 2nd time too.
Little Ann was her very happy self. She came in happy and went to work, however like Dan she just kind of went to the launcher until the bird was released. The gunfire like with Dan, did not bother her at all. She went after the bird with a vengeance.
Arlo, the son of Bella and Rob, using his nose, he did not point the bird but wanted to get to it. Went after the bird once it was launched.
Bajenks ran into the field. Bajenks is a big runner and does cover a lot of ground. He ran up close to the launcher, and pointed close. The bird was released, and he went after it making a wonderful looking retrieve. However, he killed the pigeon.
Blue boy of Heather and Jack. The worst of the 3 boys. He found the feathers and did cover the bird when it was released.
White Boy of Jack and Heather. Went on point soon, and stood well. Went after bird when released, and good with gunfire.
Black boy, Heather and Jack. Did ok, looked at the launcher at about six feet, watched the bird go up and down and just kept watching it. He was at the end of check cord and he was trying to get to the bird.
Heather, ended it pointing very nicely, after the pigeon was released. She pointed where the launcher used to be. She however just slowly ran into the launch until the bird was launched and went into get the bird.
KiRime, she is pretty bird crazy. She was brought in with a check cord and preceded straight to the launcher where she had to be held back from the launcher, she really wanted it. After the bird was released, she really wanted it.
KC did just so so.
June 23, 2019. 3rd day. We are trying to get into a routine. Dusty woke me up at midnight, I thought she wanted outside, but she just wanted in Kim and the girls sleeping area. At 0500 hours my day started as it often does. At 530 the A team dogs who sleep in the toy hauler got the clue and let themselves out of their sleeping areas, and then outside. Next the pups in back of the pickup were let out, and then the pups, Rose, and Arlo were let out of the cargo trailer. I holstered up the 45 acp, grabbed the phone, and camera and we were off. T shirt and long sleeve light flannel were prefect. I would guess it was close to 45 degrees. We were going to be on a little longer morning outing. Rose's 3 pups once again stayed in camp. I had opened the back door and called for Dusty before we left but she looked comfy up on the bed, partly covered up. Lady jumped down, but I had my doubts about Dusty.
After about 100 yards away from camp I turn and find Dusty following. She is 12 or so, and is starting to look her age. She is moving at a little over a walk and it takes her a while to catch up and they glide on by. She picks up the pace a little as she goes by. This is a girl who I have never seen stop while hunting. Once in the sand hills of Nebraska after hunting, I watched to hunt 10 miles on both sides of the road while I snail paced it back out to the main road. Today would be no different. Once she got loosened up a bit, I would watch her for the next couple of hours eat up ground in that ground eating pace that all K9s have. I would see once more, as I so often have, her glance over to catch the direction we would be headed to stay on path. How many outings, how many hunts have this girl and I shared. A tear rolls down my face as the thought of one day her not being her with me.
Dusty, how the memories come back as I type. Two huge whitetail jacks in South Dakota, the pheasant that she retrieved out of water there as well. The many pheasants that she beautifully pointed. The cotton tail she was holding at point until I could get there, only to see it break cover and try but never succeed in rushing under her. The ducks, the grouse in Nebraska and Montana. How many rabbits, treed cats, fox? She is so smart. How many doves have I watched her find in a tree, and circle behind and then flush back to me with her following them? Dusty would watch me to see what I was going to do. If I lifted the gun, she would continue on in the hopes of a retrieve. If I would not lift the gun toward the dove in flight, she would turn and once more hunt in front of me. If I wanted her to walk behind me while rifle hunting or jumping a pond she would gladly do so. How many deer has this girl tracked down? Yes, my friend this is a true hunting dog, and when she is gone, she will be missed because she is loved so.
Back to the morning outing to the 23rd. Everyone looks great, Arlo is becoming one of the pack, the pups are paying better attention to the pack and me. This is their life, how much better for them compared to being back home. Yes, they would be free of crates and kennels, but also free of hunting, which is their life and their passion. They seem so happy, so content, and I'm running through my mind just how wonderful it is up here. No ticks, Mosquitoes, fleas, rattlesnakes, cactus, nasty undergrowth to hinder us, no hornet nests, no people, no restraints. Cool fresh air and woods and meadows. How blessed. Only worry might be a bear with cubs, unlikely this time of year. Maybe a skunk to think about, but the gang would quickly kill a skunk. My only real concern was a porcupine. I would not want another Montana where 13 dogs all at the same time got into a porcupine. What a nightmare that was and only one dog held calmly while I removed the quills. Fancy was the only one. All the other 12 had to have their collar wrapped in their mouth to hold their mouth open and fastened around the back of their head, and then they had to be strapped to the bumper of the truck and they fought me every step of the way while I removed the quills with a multi tool. Never leave without your multi tool.
These were some of my thoughts as I entered the blow down area. The dogs love this kind of area. It's good for moussing which they love to do. It gives me a good photo opportunity as they jump over downed logs. It is also good for the young dogs to learn how to get over and around such things.
Dawn has just broke and the sun was playing in some areas, but the shadows still ruled when I heard the barking. I then saw Ms. Charlie very focused and very loud barking at something just below her at a log. She was just starting to draw a crown of gang members. I thought it was a skunk because just a few years ago in Nor. California at just such a down fall they had killed a skunk. Bajenks was the main aggressor in that conflict.
It was happening fast and I was only about 20 yards away when I watched Bajenks dart in and come out with a mouth full of quills. The older dogs know when I yell, to get back. The younger dogs and pups for some reason just don't get it. That has caused more than one rattlesnake bite. As soon as I see Bajenks face full of quills I start yelling, there is no time for pictures or videos, it's just crazy man yelling. For the most part everyone backs away. The Montana crew, and the older dogs know, and they are out of there. Too many younger dogs are still too close. I move away, and call the gang, even the young gang members get it, and everyone moves away with me.
Bajenks by now has a pretty good understanding that his mouth really hurts. He is trying with both front feet to get them out, which of course is impossible. I get him to stop such craziness and grab him by the collar and move him even further away. Other gang members are visibly concerned about Bajenks. They know something is terribly wrong but don't know what it is. Everyone is coming over to check on him. Even Arlo who does not like Bajenks is concerned and looking close at his face. The young pups are all coming over and getting in his face, which is making it impossible to work on. I have to yell at them and swat them away so I can get the quills out of Bajenks.
Bajenks and I bonded well when he was a pup, and this proved that he has a lot of faith in me. He wants the quills out and he knows that is what I am doing, taking the quills out. This is not going to be easy, not because of Bajenks, who is being almost perfect, but because of me. Yesterday I placed the multi tool that I always carry on the dash of the pickup.
Porcupine quills are barbed at the end that they go into the dog and this makes it a little hard to get out. This I believe was a young porcupine and the quills were smaller. It was easier than I thought to get them out of his face. I could just pull them out. A few I had to use my teeth, but Bajenks was being great, and very cooperative, as far as one can be with quills in your face.
Getting quills out of the inside of the mouth isn’t very easy, but must be done. I have found that if I take their collar off and force it to the back of the mouth, and then fasten it, I can keep the mouth open and the collar will stay in place. I have to admit that Bajenks was not fond of this but did not fight it either. I was able to pull almost every single one out. The rest would have to wait until Kim and the girls could help me. I did get a video and a few snaps of the quills in poor old Jenker.
Bajenks was no worse for wear and was happy to have the quills out and be off to more hunting. So, we all moved off in a different direction, and hunted some more and then headed for camp. The gang was content. Everyone was ready for a drink, and some food.
I showed Kim and the girls the picture of Bajenks with the quill and of course they were very concerned. It became quite the group effort but we managed to get the remaining ones out and they were quite pleased with themselves.
Camping seems to always mean great food. I fired up the outside BBQ, and made eggs, potatoes, and bacon, and Kim makes hot coco and toast on one of the racks. The toast was for some reason a great hit.
A pigeon got out while I was tending to them, and later Bajenks brought it back unhurt, making up for the one he killed yesterday.
June 24, 2019, Day 4. We meet a bull, Girls swim at Red Tank, I get water, and we work with some young dogs.
Yesterday a huge black bull walks in front of camp. The dogs barked like crazy, and he just kept on walking.
We are off at 0530 on the morning outing. Pretty uneventful until we were almost back to camp. After making a wide loop and being straight across from camp two lead dogs started barking to beat the band. I yelled no to the rest of the gang and I was rewarded with every other gang member turning with me toward camp. I was able to see the big black bull off to the south east in a meadow. His travel from yesterday afternoon did not take him far. When the barking would stop, I would give a big yell. Once more within very short order I was rewarded with the sight of Sophie and Arlo catching up with us.
We were back at camp in a snap, being met part way out in the field by Kim. Everyone seems already in a routine back at camp. The food is out in two big containers, and the water is in 4 crock pots. Everyone including the pups eat and drink together. Even Arlo is no longer being grumpy.
After everyone eats and drinks they are place back on the chains. Kim and I make breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and toast and we ate with girls.
I decided to make a training log to keep track of their training and we started evaluating the young dogs first.
We worked through 13 pups. The girls played a big role. They would take turns getting a pup, training, and then putting the pup up. I would instruct, take notes, and video. Kim would help where she could.
Each pup would be tossed a ball, a stuffed toy, and a bumper. Then a rag on a fishing pole would be used to see if they wanted to point or just chase.
We started with Heather and Jack's 3 solid black boys that did not sell because they are solid black. Even though they are wonderful pups. Blue collar, white collar, and black collar. They were born on 1-3-19.
Blue collar had a great retrieve, retrieving the ball, the stuffed toy, and the bumper. Classic point with foot up. He looked bold and confident.
White boy really wanted the sock on the pole, but never stopped to point. He did retrieve the tennis ball and stuffed toy.
Black Collared boy. Same as White boy on the retrieving, tennis ball, and stuffed toy. He did have a good point, and was bold and confident.
Next we did Sophie and Bucks pups. Three girls and 1 boy. These pups are DK, German Shorthairs based on both mom and dad are German and not American Shorthairs. They have since been taken out of the German registry and re registered as American. All 4 are solid black and also have not been sold due to their color. Kim sold the liver roan girl I wanted to keep and so I keep Frann. These pups were born on:
The first pup that we tested was Frann, I have put more time into her. Frann was excellent on the sock. She had a classic point with foot up, which not all DK dogs I've seen have. She loves the sock on the pole game. She went after the bumper, ball, and stuffed toy, but did not retrieve them.
Barock is the only boy, excellent with sock, classic point with foot up. He, like Frann, did not retrieve.
Sasha retrieved ball half way back. She also had a classic point of the sock with a foot up.
Malia retrieved the ball, went after the stuffed toy but did not retrieve it.
She was good with the pole game and pointed well.
Buddy is about 10 months old and continues to act like a rock star. He retrieved the ball, toy, and bumper with gusto. He loved the pole game and has an excellent point.
Dan retrieved the ball 3 times and then went exploring. He loves the pole game, and has a very good point.
Little Ann, also has a great point and loves the pole game. She retrieved toy twice, ball none, and bumper none.
KC sucks on retrieving and just wanted to be loved on. He did well on the pole game and pointed.
Little Man of Rose's pointed sock, got tennis ball, no toy or bumper.
Big Man of Rose's retrieved ball, did not point.
I was lucky to find out a friend who has one of our dogs is building a place about 5 miles from camp and we can get water there. I have to take the generator and pump out of a big tank, but what a blessing. He even offered us the use of a 1200-gallon water tank, but that would mean we would have to take everything out of the cargo trailer or get another small trailer. It seems that most everyone gets water and brings it back to a storage tank. Water can be got in bulk for about 3 cents a gallon. I was able to get about forty gallons today. We and the dogs go through a lot of water.
There is a small pond which is called Red Tank about a half mile from camp. The water is red from the red soil, and thus the name. It will however be a great place to work the dogs. I will be looking for ducks soon.
I took the girls to the tank being that they love the water. They went swimming for about 45 minutes and loved it.
What else today? Kim got one of those plastic solar showers. The kind you put water in and let the sun warm it up. It worked well other than the fitting being loose. I had to seal the treads but we used it twice. We do also have a very good shower.
The dogs are doing absolutely wonderful. Their behavior is excellent and they are getting into a very good routine. The young ones spend most of the time off the chains, most of the A team dogs have never been on a chain, and the others are let off often. Because of the outing no one is inclined to run off. I will take them soon and introduce them to Red Tank.
The weather remains stellar, the girls happy, and Kim lovely and content.
June 25, 2019. We are up and out by 5:45 am, a short walk with the gang was in order, I needed to run into town and get a few things. We headed straight to the east end of the logs on the ground and continued to the next open meadow. Bajenks was left behind with Lady and Rose's 2 pups. Bajenks was limping a bit because of a sore leg.
We came to a partly fenced in young growth of pines. The fence was pretty much useless but some of the young dogs and Sophie had a hard time getting through it, even though some of the places the fence was down. We were about a mile from camp when I decided to make a right-hand loop and head back to camp. To my surprise I could see the banks of a water tank and a yellow warning sign.
When we got to the water tank, I could see a sign that named the water tank Elk Tank, and had the road as 171. The warning sign warned of falling rocks. The tank was pretty muddy, but the dogs got a drink anyway. Road 171 was a well maintain, and well used gravel road. The gravel being crushed volcanic road. I understood in my mind where the tank and the road were, and in what direction was needed to travel to get back to camp. I figured I was no more than a mile or so away from camp and decided to walk on the road thinking our camp road might run into it. I figured our camp road would be no more than a trail but thought it was probable because I had seen a two-track head that way from our camp.
I moved the dogs off the road not liking the volcanic gravel that would surely be hard on their feet. However, after about a half mile I knew that this direction was not going to work. I decided the smart move would be to back track and go back to camp from the direction we had come. This proved simple, but while walking back I decided it would be a good idea to bring the GPS, and mark some of these places I had found, and have the camp marked as well. With the GPS it would have been a simple matter to push the camp button and return directly to camp. The compass would be nice to have as well.
The GPS system I have is a Garmin / Tri Tronics Alpha 100 with 2, tt 15 dog tracking collars. I got this set up with the Purina points, or the cost would have been, in March of 2017, $1,099.98. Before this I had the older model, and before that the Garmin hand held only.
The system had only been used a few times. I had not hunted away from home the last few years, and the system was simply not needed.
The new system is truly remarkable. The hand held can be used as a stand alone system giving you a ton of information about the surrounding area such as tanks, road, maps of the area, towns, cities, food, gas, surrounding interests etc. You can plot routes, line of sight travel, way points. You can mark the truck, or camp to return to. Mark bird coveys, or any other thing you want to mark to return to.
The system is tied into your dog’s collar, even giving you the option of correcting your dog via a shock if you want too. You are about to keep track of where your dog is, how far away he is, and what direction via a compass, and arrow you will need to find your dog. You can later see you and your dog’s tracks. Shows how far, and fast both you and your dog have traveled.
Later in the evening Kim, the girls, some pups and I would take a walk and I put the tracking collar on Dan. It looks a little funny and big on Dan, but makes him look like a big dog. Dan went 2.34 miles on a one-mile hike. His average speed was 4.82 miles an hour. He did not look that fast.
I ended up going to town to return a 12-volt car battery for the cargo trailer, get 3 walkie talkies for camp, a battery charger, some more 5-gallon water jugs, and some odds and ends.
When I got back Kim showed me Jill was laying on the couch. Jill and some of the A team dogs have never seen any time on the chains. She was bleeding from two of her pads. Two very small places on her pad, one of each of her front feet. I snapped a photo of them for some reason, and wanted to close them up with super glue but we did not bring it. They were oozing blood, and Kim was a little worried. Jill was licking them and keeping them clean so I was not worried.
Jill had not really been her active self in some time. She was overweight, and was pretty slow to get around, kind of like Lady. Like Lady, she also had had a major operation. A huge tumor about the size of a volleyball had been removed a couple of years ago. She was enjoying the outing, often just walking beside me. I would talk to her as we went along and reach down and rub her ears. This would put her out of walking outing for a while.
Beautiful sunset, after a nice walk, and BBQ.
June 26, 2019. We lose Rose and Jill. Kim and I are up at 5am. Kim has to meet Andy at the truck stop to deliver Rose to Daniel in Missouri. We were not looking to have Rose leave, however because we are sometimes too nice, we helped someone who had a breeding and could not sell their pups. We helped sell them. We got 350 dollars a pup and the breeder got the other 450. They, for some reason, decided to breed too close, and the pups had a too high of a COI.
The breeding had a lot of our dogs in the pedigree and the pups seemed very nice and when a breeder wanted a black roan female for later breeding, he got one of these females. Well she ended up having an epileptic seizure. She went on meds and may live a long life. However, she cannot be used for breeding, and they of course love her and do not want to give her up. They also want to get going on their breeding program. They want to hunt test their dogs and a female of hunt test age would be a plus.
I know it might seem odd to guarantee a pup that we did not breed, and would not have bred in the manner the pup was. But never the less that's where I was. So off went Rose at no cost, and of course they could keep the pup. Rose had just produced Buddy, one of the best young dogs we have, so she should work good for them.
Kim and I decide to let the older dogs out before she leaves to deliver Rose. Kim is not feeling well, already kind of behind the 8 ball. She has a headache. I look down and can see Jill is not breathing. She is cool to the touch and I can tell she is no longer with us. She looks at peace, and there is no blood, poop, or fluid around her. It looks as if she had just gone to sleep and died peacefully in the night. I had slept only a couple of feet from her during the night, and I had not heard a sound.
It was very sad as Kim and I hugged each other and cried like babies. And poor Kim had to drive off to deliver Rose, who we also loved. Lord how was I going to tell the girls? This is not going to be an easy job. It's been only a few hours as I type this, and of course more tears.
At 6am I have a plan to bury Jill in the meadow where she had last hunted. I would wake the girls, and take them and Jill best buddy Jack and drive to the beautiful green meadow, surrounded by pines and place our beloved Jill to rest. This was not going to be easy, and it wasn't.
Jill had been placed in the bed of the truck, the girls woke up and started to get dressed. They wanted to know were grandma went, and wanted to know where we were driving to, and why I was crying. I was trying to be strong, but it was proving to be impossible.
After being told Jill had died, they had a dozen questions. Why? How old was she? Why Jill? Hailey said she was old; Scarlett had a harder time trying to understand why 9 was old to a dog. Hailey said she is my therapy dog, what was she to do now?
We got to the meadow, maybe a mile from camp. The girls picked out the place to lay her to rest. A beautiful place that was in the middle of a circle of 8 or so small green sage bushes.
Hailey watched me dig the hole while Scarlett stayed and petted Jill for the last time. Each girl did a little digging and then went off to pick wild flowers to place on the grave.
After the grave was finished, I took off my long sleeve shirt and told them to lay it out in the bottom of the grave. When I returned with Jill in my arms, I had seen that they both had taken off their shirts and placed them also in the bottom of the grave with mine. I laid Jill once more down and we all gave her one last kiss on the head, and I laid our beloved girl in the grave and folded her legs along her belly, and we filled in the grave.
The girls had removed the small rocks on top of the dirt, smoothed the rich soil, and gathered rocks to make a rock circle around the grave. A beautiful rock with moss on it was place on top of the grave, and the girls took the beautiful wild flowers and placed them spread out all around the rock. The girls got on their knees and said a prayer to God.
As Hailey and I moved from the grave I could see Scarlett taking a little more care and placing some small flowers on a rock, that would mark Jill's grave. And that is how we laid Desert Point's Jill, the most loving and kind dog that I have ever known to rest.
As we were driving away, Scarlett wanted to know what we were going to do with Jill's yellow collar? I said maybe put it on Frann, she already has a yellow collar. Scarlett said no, she wanted it to go on a dog that looked exactly like Jill. Maybe Jill's daughter Hailey said. Bella is Jill's daughter, and Hailey said she looks just like Jill. Scarlett said she gives kisses like Jill too, even more.
Hailey said out loud, “who I'm I going to get as a therapy dog now”? My dear blessed little girl, you are surrounded by therapy dogs.
I remember when Jill came to us. I had met the breeder in New Mexico, he and his family were from Kentucky, headed to Montana. I had picked her, and Jack, and Jack's brother up at the same time. Jill was just under 8 weeks and Jack and his brother a few weeks older. Jack's brother would live just a week or so, dying in a freak accident. Dad had placed a ceramic wagon wheel outside the garden and the puppy got his head stuck in it.
Jack and Jill would change our whole breeding program. I knew that blacks had more German lines in them and thinking them more versatile I was wanting to try them.
Most all German Shorthairs are kind and loving but these two dogs were over the top sweet. I have often said that if all GSPs were like Jill, Labradors would not be the #1 dog, Shorthairs would be. Jill may be the kindest most loving dog that I have ever seen. She has enough hours at the day care center to get a title, if such things were important.
Jill was also so beautiful. I remember taking her to a dog show in Yuma with Jack and Kim and I walking around. Being they are black they could never compete in an AKC dog show, but we did not care. Well Valerie Nunes Atkins the famous shorthair show lady came up to us. The same Valerie that won with CJ. She was excited to see our black GSPs, because she had a couple of European men with her that were asking about blacks being at the show.
Valerie never took a second look at Jack but said she had just the male to breed to Jill, to get a certain show champion. This is when she told me her dog Val's Smolt was a dog behind Hill Haven's Hustler. The breeding never took place, getting a hold of Val proved to be difficult.
When Jill came to us as a baby puppy, I put a bird out for her to find. That's when I found out Jill was special. Her nose was wonderful and she was the most careful of bird finders. She found the bird and went on point at a tremendous distance for a puppy. She was a cat walker. If she thought she was around birds she would be super careful. This proved valuable many times.
In Montana she proved to be the best grouse dog. She was always careful and just did the best job finding them and holding them.
She was a little slow in South Dakota on pheasants. She knew what they were, she just seemed to have a harder time at first finding and holding them. She did however figure it out and got the job done. I remember one she found buried deep in some cover and she was holding well when the pheasant decided to break cover. It was just ahead of her and she dove to try and catch it by the tail. She just missed it, and I brought it down with a single shot and she retrieved it. She had the most wonderful soft mouth retrieve.
There was the time when she was chasing a cotton tail rabbit back to me. As they both rounded the trail the rabbit decided to make a giant leap right at me. It hit me hard in the private area, and bounced off. I never missed a beat, and snapped some close ups of the rabbit, by then Jill was right on its butt. The rabbit did get away, as they most often do.
Jill was a good water dog, and retrieved great naturally from land or water. She had a good point and back and was a great versatile dog. She could point quail with the best of them and produced wonderful puppies.
One puppy we have out of her is Bella, from her and Jack. Bella maybe slightly prettier than Jill, and just as loving. Kind sweet dogs that never cause you one bit of trouble.
Jill did prove to have one problem she was a carrier of a urinary problem that was carried probably from her mom's side. This was passed down to Bella, who is also a carrier. This means that their pups can never be sold as breeders.
That said, Jill's influence on Desert Point Kennel's breeding program is substantial, because it has set the standard on the type of versatile hunting dog, and family dog that we think is close to the ideal. Good point, and back, good nose, a team player in the field wanting nothing more than to please you. Love of the water and good water work. Natural soft mouth retrieve, beautiful in every way, and the most loving kind dog in the world.
When we got custody and care of the girls, they were quite the mess, they had had it pretty rough. Jill became Hailey's therapy dog. She would love on Hailey and Hailey could love on her. Unconditional love. Jill would sleep with Hailey and thus the healing began.
Jack and Jill started my love of the black shorthair. They seemed so perfect of dogs. I would go on to research the blacks and their history. All blacks seem to come from Germany's oldest kennel the Pottmes Kennel. The blacks are in every modern German line that I can find. We breed them not because they are easy to sell, they are not, we breed them because their pups continue to come to the top in their performance.
So, it is with sad feelings that we say goodbye to Jill, and may you have many happy hunts in the happy hunting grounds. Jill will live on in the heart and soul of Desert Point Kennel, because she showed us what an almost perfect dog is. Rest in peace beautiful girl.
PS, at this time we have a 3 week old or so black roan granddaughter of Jill’s, Bella has one beautiful girl that we may just keep and name Jilly. Also, of note is that both David, and Katie are Jill's half-brother on their sire's side. Katie has a litter of 7 pups at this time. None black roan, but a beautiful solid liver and liver roan girl. Jill is Bajenks aunt, and so many of the gang are related to Jill, so in one form or another Jill will live on.
June 29, 2019. Water, friends, computer problems and thinking of Jill.
June 29th, at 7pm finds me sitting outside waiting for the sunset. All the dogs are off their chains laying all around me. The girls are playing in the hammock and Kim just out of a hot shower. Life is good, and it is very peaceful.
The day after Jill died found me in a funk. Losing her was heartbreaking. The thought that we have older dogs that will die was also very sobering and surreal. I know of one breeder who breeds his girls for a few years and then sells them or places them in home. This way he at least avoids the heartbreak of a death of his dogs.
The death of Jill left me so down that I was feeling that it was not really worth having a kennel if you have to go through this kind of pain. Then friends showed up in camp and I did not have time to dwell on the sadness.
First Chris and his wife Lea’ showed up with their two shorthairs, Copper and Wrigley. Wrigley is out of our Ms. Charlie and Bajenks. What a wonderful and fun couple they proved to be. They love their dogs more than most and ended up taking two more home with them. A Sophie and Buck solid black girl that they were thinking of naming Heide, or Adelaide. Also 6 month old KC who is a bit of a goof ball and was not really making the grade. KC is a Scout and Holly boy. A very nice-looking boy. Chris and Lea’ were extremely excited with their two new additions.
The 2nd couple were George and Carol Ann. They also have two German Shorthairs. An older girl named Bella, and one of our girls. A young girl named Leiba out of Bajenks and Sophie.
We went on hikes and outings with all the shorthairs. We did train with birds, and went to the water for huge group Shorthair swims and competitive retrieving. We would toss one or two bumpers in the water and watch a dozen shorthairs compete to get it. There were a few parts to this. The first was everyone going crazy when the thrower was getting ready for the toss. The next was when the bumper was in the air and everyone was headed to the water, then when they entered the water, and then the competition swimming event where they were racing to the bumper. Then the one who got there first, often was not the one who kept it and retrieved it to the thrower. Then there was the retrieve once on land where all the teenagers tried to get it away. There was a lot of barking, jumping, swimming, and just crazy fun. There was water and mud, and the dogs, girls, and us had a blast.
Lady at 11 was there to show them how it was done, and she is always competitive. Her daughter Ms. Charlie who was selective to what retrieves she was going to try for was always competitive when she jumped in. Young Buddy who is not yet a year old is proving to be a top swimmer with almost perfect form. His back is high in the water, and is tail is moving and seems to be a help. He is super-fast and very competitive. Sophie, the German dog, is always there, going to be in the top 4, most often 1st or 2nd. Jack at 9 is always a top performer. He is smart, has a huge leap, is very focused, and when he goes, he is determined to get there first. Jack however is not a brawler. He will make a few fancies moves to avoid the others from grabbing the bumper but will most likely release it to an aggressive dog.
The great thing about Jack is that he will watch to make sure the bumper is returned to the thrower. Copper, the white liver boy of Chris and Lea’, is always in the mix and is never happy to lose a race or a retrieve. He is a strong swimmer at 5, and can dive underwater with the bumper to keep a retrieve. He will fight to get the bumper away from whoever has it, on land or water. Our boy, Arlo 3, is very strong physically, in the water or on land, and he also is very competitive.
The 3 boys of Heather’s are also strong swimmers at around 5 months and gave it the old college try. They looked good and did not shy away from the water, but just did not have what the older dogs had. Same with Wrigley who was very good in the water.
The real young dogs at first, and when the bumpers were not way out in the water also were giving it a try.
One day when we were there, the big black bull we often see was also there. He was about 50 yards from the water and was for the most part out of site. Most of the gang payed him no never mind, but there was a few who checked him out. The worst was young Little Ann who is only 4 months old. Now 4 months might sound old, but try 16 weeks old.
This bull is huge, I mean a read giant. Little Ann however took it upon herself to do battle with him. Now one wrong move and she would be crushed. The bull was not really intimidated by the dogs, but was moving out of the area. This along with Chris going out to save her, I believe gave her confidence. Chris said she was dashing in there, yipping and snapping at the bull and his legs. The bull would try and spin around and Ann was just dodging like some kind of pro.
At one point the bull turned around and Chris thought he was making a move on him, and he was looking for a tree, but Ann was the bulls real worry now. At one-point Ann actually bit the bull on the back leg above the huff, because that’s about as high as she could reach. Then Ann turned and ran back to Chris, and only Ann can if you have seen her strut her stuff. I think she believe she not only saved Chris, but maybe the rest of her gang, which included us too. Chris as well as just about everyone who sees Ann was quite impressed by her boldness, confidence, and touch of independence.
The water proved to be a huge hit. As most of you know, we love a good water dog, and will not have one in our program who does not love the water.
The hikes with the whole gang are exciting for people to go on with their dogs. Just something about seeing their dogs run and hunt with the pack. Chris’ dog, Copper is not as bold and brave on most outings, loved the pack. He ran with them up hills, through the pine forest, and out into the meadows. I believed it brought great joy to both Chris and Lea’.
We BBQed, and stayed up late taking and overall just had a wonderful him.
We did some training with the birds. Everyone played a part, even the girls. We worked with Chris’ dog Copper who would make a nice hunting dog if it were not for the fact that he is gun shy. He proved to be bird crazy, and the flapping to the pigeon wings drove him, as the other dogs into a state of frenzy.
While Copper was after the pigeon, we shot a 22 blank about 20 yards away. This did not faze him. While he was after the pigeon and later while working with the launcher he did well.
We worked Dan, Little Ann, Frann, Ms. Charlie, Buddy, KC, Heidi, and Sasha. All the dogs did well.
We are going through a lot of water. The dogs are drinking about 20 gallons a day, and every other day or so we are going to pump almost 50 gallons. We are lucky to be able to go to a friend’s house and pump it out of his tank. There is so much rock, and I guess wells either don’t work or there is no water. It would be nice to have a 1200 gallon or so tank on a trailer. Then we could take the trailer into Parks 11 miles away, fill it up for 3 cents a gallon and then we would be set.
Today we went into Parks to dump the trash, and get fresh ranch meat, homemade bread, and a Dutch Apple Pie.
Life is good, and we continue to have fun, and consider ourselves blessed. As I type this after sunset, we have a young Turkish couple who have come from Venice California to look at puppies. Kim and the girls are helping them pitch a tent and I’m enjoying watching them. The girls Scarlett and Hailey are always so excited to see people. Both girls are very bold and confident and it makes me proud to see how they have matured.
June 30, 2019. Turkish friends, Knocked down tent, and Photo shoot.
The last day of June finds us up and out early on a slow, kicked back hike. Gokay, Naz, Hailey, I, and the gang start out on a slow hike just before 6 am. I put the tracking collar on Bajenks, and I grab the hand held. I need more time practicing with them, and it will be interesting to see how many miles Bajenks run. He is our biggest runners.
Gokay and I are talking about his family, his brother who was in New York on 9-11, and Gokay’s photography business and such. Then I find Naz picking at the pine trees. She is a herbologist of sorts, and she is finding pine sap deposits. I give both her and Hailey a knife and my hat so they can collect the pine sap, which I find out is good for healing and pain. We are going to try some on Sophie’s split toe nail later.
Gokay and Naz are here to look at one of Sophie’s pups, Sasha. Sasha spent the night with them in the tent and she did very well, and on one point on the outing Sasha came up to Naz and put her head on her knee. I snapped a picture it was pretty cute. Later a bird ran past Sasha and she went into a perfect point, flattened out with her tail up. Gokay was very impressed, even though they would not be hunting her.
Naz was very pleased with her stash of pine sap when we made it back to camp. We make a big breakfast of eggs and steak, warmed bread pockets, fresh salsa, toast with homemade strawberry/rhubarb jelly, and some strong cheese was graded. The girls were loving their visit with Naz and Gokay, as they do with everyone who comes to visit. On the walk, Hailey had been talking up a storm with Naz as the slowly walked along, and later picked pine sap with her.
I checked the info on Bajenk’s collar to find he had gone 6.76 miles at an average speed of 6.40 mph, on a one-hour walk. Then I saw some dogs around their tent and Dan and little Ann were inside. They had found a sheep skin rug and were going to town on it, and then they were trying to keep it away from Naz. The tent was zipped, so Dan climbed on top of it and collapsed the whole tent and then laid down on it.
Gokay and Naz wanted to do some sightseeing so they followed Kim into Parks. The girls and I stayed back. It was cloudy, and there was a cool breeze, and it was 74 degrees at 11am.
Later in the evening Gokay set up his 4 x 6 inch film camera and took two photos of Kim, the Kids, dogs and I. Looking forward to seeing the end results. Gokay, being a pro photographer, took a lot of pictures. He needed to have some for a photo show. He has to do so many a year to be able to stay in America.
The next two days I would be getting a pretty good lesson on Turkey, Turkish history, Food and culture. Gokay was a very happy and outgoing person. Both he and Naz were fun to be around for the next two days.
Gokay goes by his middle name, his full name is Ali Gokay Sarioz.
July 1, 2019. The Sarioz’s leave, Scarlett learns to ride a bike, Frann Leaves, Girls get bikes, Kim falls down, I get hit on head. Using lap top instead of tower computer for typing and photos.
I don’t seem able to get the tower computer to work on either the inverter, trailer generator, or Honda generator. So, there is no editing with light room. Instead the lap top will be used for all photos, and word processing.
Morning Outing starts before 6, and was enjoyed by all the dogs, the Sarioz’s and me. A one-mile outing to the rock area, then a big breakfast with Kim and the girls joining us. Pancakes was the #1 fare.
The Sarioz’s wanted to see the dogs at the water. So, after they broke camp, we took the girls and headed that way. The girls are always ready for a swim.
Not sure why but they wanted Frann and not Sasha. Sasha had been loveable, good in the tent with them, swam and pointed well, but it was Frann they wanted. To tell the truth, I could see little difference between the two sisters.
The solid blacks have proved difficult to sell, no matter how well-bred they were. I had decided that we would place Jack’s daughter Heather who is solid black, and no longer breed solid black dogs.
So, I felt that they would give Frann a good home even though I had originally decided to keep her. They were very excited to have her, and because they did not have kids and Naz worked from home, I figured Frann would be treated like their child.
We all had fun at the water, the girls swam, the dogs retrieved, Gokay took pictures and tossed the bumper, Naz videoed and tossed the bumper. We soon said our goodbye to Frann and the Sarioz’s and they were gone.
We had not brought the girls bikes up here, and Scarlett had never learned to ride. Kim took the girls to the Library and to Goodwill, while at Goodwill she found two girl’s bikes. One bigger almost new, very pretty one for Hailey, for 13 dollars, and one smaller one with flat tires for Scarlett.
While getting the air compressor from the truck the lid blew down on my head, broke my glasses I had on top of my head. It hurt like crazy and I had a cussing fit, that scared the dogs. This was not the first time the lid had fallen on my head. You think I would learn.
Kim was teaching Scarlett to ride after I got the tires aired up, and while helping, Kim tripped and fell cutting up her knees and foot. She showered and was right back at it.
In no time at all Scarlett was riding her bike, and we were cheering her on. Scarlett road for the next two hours, then the girls played Barbies in the large dog kennel area. Then we all watched “8 Below”.
After getting all the dogs put up, the huge black bull came into camp, driving the dogs crazy. We had fun watching the bull and it was still in camp when we came into camp for the night.
All the pictures have been updated and edited ready for either Facebook or the website.
July 2, 2019, Dusty does 5.62 miles on morning outing at 6 miles per hours. Girls ride their bikes.
The girls ride their bikes that Kim got them from Goodwill. I’m surprised that the bikes were so cheap, Hailey’s is a beautiful girl’s bike and it was only 13 dollars. Scarlett’s needed two new tubes, but at a price of only 5 dollars. 2 bikes at 18 dollars, Kim nailed it with those two.
The morning outing was in such a beautiful pine forest. After morning outing the girls and I did some training with the dogs. Little Ann, Dan, Sasha, Barock, Ms. Charlie, Blue, White, and Black. Gun fire and pigeons in the launcher.
I have decided to start Hailey’s photography career, with the Canon EOS T5i. I brought 3 batteries for it, but some reason no charger in the camera bag.
7-3-19, Girls and Kim to Wildlife Park. Things to consider.
One might ask, what is the easy as well as the hard part of boondocking? Preparation can only go so far. After all these years I have added to an already huge list of what is needed, or not needed, or what I think is needed. Then you add what Kim thinks is needed.
At some point you just have to say it’s time to go, knowing that you already have more than most people in the world could only dream of. It comes to mind that the American Indian had a tent and their belongs and when it was time to move, they packed up and moved. I have at least a thousand times more items than they, and a toy hauler and at some point, I have to say it’s enough and move.
My first boondocking trip was when I was 23 years old. And by boondocking I mean living in some kind of rig away from hookups and rv parks. My first boondocking trip lasted one year. A small Air Force van, the ones that look like a UPS truck. I had very little then, a few items, like a propane tank and two burner stove. I had no solar, no generator, no way to plug anything in.
Life was simple then; it was just me and my police dog Copper. We traveled to about a dozen states and Mexico. I had a dog and took pictures as I do now.
Boondocking: “The ability, or lack of ability to live off grid.” Unlike 30 plus years ago, I now have the best of everything to boondock. A newer truck, a toy hauler with every conceivable convenience. Propane and stove like the first trip, but that’s about where things end. Also, a propane BBQ that hangs on the side of the trailer. Hot water heater, water storage, toilet, black and brown tanks. Refrigerator, shower, sink, l.e.d. lights, battery bank, and inverter & converter for the 900 watts of solar power coming from the solar panels. 5000 watts built in generator with built in gas tank. A second 2000-watt Honda generator. Radios, computers, microwave, heaters, air conditioners, and the list goes on. A trailer for dogs and food, a van that Kim and the girls can run around in.
The biggest challenge to boondocking are: Power, shelter, and water. Power to run all the modern stuff we feel is necessary to live comfortably. Shelter to keep us comfortable, and to keep all our stuff in, and water because dogs and people have to have it, and use an unbelievable amount of it.
One person and a dog don’t use much water, and I don’t ever remember either having problems with finding or storing enough. In Montana, with the gang and a grandson, water was not as easy as you might think. It was not easy to run into a town and get some, most of our water was taken right out of streams or rivers.
At home we all take water for granted, we have water available everywhere, inside the house and out at the turn of a knob. Here at camp Flagstaff with a wife, two grandkids and 20 dogs we use about twenty gallons a day. This is mostly used by the dogs, but water makes the camp go around.
For power, solar makes the trailer run smooth. Want to watch tv, run the lap top or print something, turn on a light, run the water pump, run the heater fan, listen to the radio, run the 12 volt fans, charge the camera batteries, gps collars or controllers, walkie talkies, phones, took batteries, then it was the solar panels, battery bank, panel controller, and inverters, and 12 volt plugs with usb ports that do the job. Day in, and day out, and all thru the night a solar system makes many parts of living off the grid easy.
Generator power for the big things like air conditioning, I mean the big one on top of the trailer. I can run the evaporator cooler off the inverter or big or little generator. The generator is also used for short bursts with the microwave, air compressor, as well as the battery charger in case the solar panels did not get enough sun or we used too much 12-volt power. The generators run off gas, and since the generators are used very seldom, gas goes a long way.
The other power of sorts is propane. Propane for most boon dockers is a must, one can use a little or a lot. It is used to run the stove for cooking, the heater for heat, the hot water heater for of course hot water, the propane BBQ, and in some cases the generator.
So, gas and propane can last for weeks, or even a month, but water is every other day or so trip. If we had a trailer with a water tank on it, we could do as many other do here in the Flagstaff area and get a bulk water fill at about 3 cents a gallon. However, at this time we do not have that. How nice it would be, make the 11-mile trip into Parks, fill the trailer tank with water, and return and park it. Whenever water would be needed it would be a simple matter.
We came to camp with about 60 gallons in our fresh water tank, and 10 gallons in water jugs. At first this proved to be a disaster, Kim would make a trip and get some water for about 50 cents for 5 gallons or even more. There were not enough jugs and this first few days of this was not looking good. Then a friend of ours Rich Caristo who has one of our dogs offered us the use of a 1200-gallon tank for the camp, or the use of his tank at his property.
The tank at his property was the savior for now. I would have to bring the Honda generator, hose, and an extension cord. But this pumping of water, 5 miles from camp would prove a God send and save us hours of time and a good deal of money.
Now we tackle the second big task that we are not set up at camp to accomplish, and that my friend is the task we are all very familiar with, LAUNDRY! I, of course, with the limited attire of a hunting Redneck, could do in camp my own laundry. A 5-gallon bucket, a little soap, and a gallon of water twice could in fact for me do the task of laundry.
However, with a wife and two grandchildren, the three being lovely ladies, the amount of dirty laundry, or seemly not so dirty to me,
seemed mountainous. So, every few days a trip to the laundromat was in order. To make things easier for the third, I was volunteered to watch the two.
Now that we have simple boondocking out of the way there is the matter of both living and running a kennel from such a boondock. That being said, the boondock is not the boondock of yesteryear. With cell phones, quick vehicles, and close civilization boondocking is a matter of the mind.
The number one job, the most important task of the Kennel curator, or kennel master if you will, is twofold. First develop, and second evaluate the young stock. Every good kennel should be as a builder. Building on the accomplishments of the previous years.
As you can see, my job is not as complicated as one might think, and is not hindered in the least by boondocking. It might be helped in where you’re boondocking.
Kim’s job is far harder, she has the responsibility to place the wonderful young pups and a few older dogs who have not been selected to remain in our program. Everything in between can be accomplished as a team, Kim, the girls and I, with the help of a few friends.
The selection is made easier by the breeders who have went before me. They have done a wonderful job, an outstanding job really. That said, not every breeder is breeding for an end goal the same as mine. Some like a more English pointer type of dog. Twelve O’clock tail, white in color, maybe smaller and bigger run. Some don’t really care if a dog likes the water or has a natural retrieve.
Many thankfully for me, have kept the original intent of a complete versatile hunting dog, and have bred for such. This makes my job much easier. That being said, you just can’t pick out any two dogs and put them together and expect perfection down the road. I must continually pick out dogs who meet my standard.
My standard is imprinted in my mind like stone tablets. I know the look of the dog I want. I want a dog who is over the top loveable. A loving dog is a structural pleasing dog, meaning one that wants to please people. Then I want the following traits: healthy, a great love of water, a natural love of retrieving, a good hunting dog that is hunting with me, a dog that keeps track of me, not me them. I want to watch my dog hunting; I don’t want to have to hunt my dog. I want a dog that has a natural point, and back. That’s it, pretty simple!
I could go into how we got to where we are, but I’ll save that for another story.
I will however tell you about the Gang because they are here, I will also tell you about the pups I am considering, and the pups not yet 8 weeks old that I’m excited about.
There are a few main lines, American lines that have all started from German lines and now stretch the gambit from 100 percent German, to American English Pointer type. Others with their unique stamp are the UK type dogs. These are the ones we will deal with.
A simple statement would be, the German dogs should be perfect and the American Pointer Type not so much. And that is a generalization and a good starting point. It’s more than I wanted to type about, but in order to understand the “Gang Members” you must have an understanding of the type of dogs behind them, and what happens when they are blended. The problem is over generalization, because there are often exceptions to the rules.
If you have read the web site www.desertpointkennels.com or talked to me, you already have an understanding of what I think, but here it goes again.
The GSPs were all once 100 percent German and of course only to be found in Germany. They were designed to be a hunt everything that moves, in water or land, feathers or fur. And that’s just what they did. In 1924 they came to America. And that’s just what they did. However, in America we leaned toward more birds, and Germany in many areas lean more toward fur.
The real split came when we started focusing on running GSPs in field trials with English Pointers and Setters. The name of the game became run, the more run the better. We liked run so much that we jumped up on horses to better watch the run.
Both Pointer and Shorthair breeders were breeding for the biggest running dog possible. They started breeding for an over exaggeration of a trait, and that trait was RUN.
The great Pointer breeder Wehle, and his famous yet today Elhew lines won numerous field trial championships. But Elhew tried to get the Pointer breeders and those in charge of field trials to stop placing so much importance on big run. Our dogs are running too big. Wehle, according to himself, was a breeder of Pointers for the foot hunter. Wehle acknowledged that his pleas fell on deaf ears. As he said,” the young Turks”, as he called the young and upcoming breeders, had their way and big run would become the standard.
“What”, you might say, has that to do with German Shorthairs? Well it has everything to do with American field trial big running Shorthairs, because if the Pointer is running too big, and the Shorthair is running lock step with the Pointers, then how far out of step are many American Shorthairs to the original design? The answer is a world away, so much that the German breed club would say that the American Shorthair is no longer a shorthair at all.
Might have been one thing if the American Field Trialers would have spent some time on other traits such as fur, water or retrieve, but they so completely abandoned those. Thus, making the Shorthair into a specialist, as the Pointer itself is.
It was estimated that approx. 28 percent of all AKC registered Shorthairs were white field trialing dogs. It might be less now that more versatile old school shorthairs are being raised.
It should also be noted that in Germany only about one percent of dogs were white. And the pointer influence in Shorthairs were from black pointers not white pointers. It is believed, by many, that the big run and the white color has come about from white Pointer crosses, and thus another example of a breed change away from versatility. However, they do have big run, a great cardiovascular system, great stylish point, and a good back.
UK dogs are bird dogs for the foot hunter first and foremost, but all must be good in the water. Their hunt tests are designed to duplicate hunting situations.
Most other American lines are somewhere between the older German type, and the American Field type. That said, remember that a modern German dog can be registered in an American registry and become a 100 percent American Shorthair.
So, you can see that American German Shorthair breeders have great leeway.
With that in mind, and without further ado, let me introduce you to our Gang Members:
1. Dusty, liver roan, our oldest at 13. American and American Show, and Field lines. Great hunter, always healthy and on the move. Good nose, good point, very smart, always moving. Likes the water, not the best natural retriever. Somewhat cranky with kids and other dogs.
2. Lady, 11 years old, solid liver, the best of hunting dogs. 2nd to none. She will kill herself to make a retrieve on land or water. Her nose is outstanding, great point, back, water work, retrieve, great mover, super smart. High energy level, and very jumpy. Would be the most likely to bite someone. Will jump if you reach down to pet her and she did not see you. My dad’s favorite. Mother was a solid liver versatile hunting dog, and Dad was a white big running field trial dog. Lady does not get around as well, but still likes to go hunting. She has one of the very best noses. There was a time when I believed she could hunt better that anyone else’s dog. Hundreds of wild birds, ducks, fox, bobcats, wild cats, rabbits, a badger, pheasants, grouse, etc. She could simply do it all. Very few dogs could find a dead bird faster or better than her. She truly was an amazing hunting dog.
3. Jack, 9 years old, black roan, the best of everything shorthair. Most loving and kind dog ever. Great with pups, other dogs, and people. Good on fur, ducks, and upland. Never have to worry about this dog anywhere. Great Point, and back. Works with you, and keeps good track of you in the field. Natural soft mouth retrieve. Can be a little soft at times. Overall close to my ideal shorthairs. Well built, great legs and feet. Most of our dogs are this line, and from Jack, his half-brother David, and half-sister Katie. Jack is German lines like all blacks, which come from the Pottmes Kennel lines. Jack’s mother is UK lines, and sire from good hunting dog lines.
4. Jill, 9 years old, black roan, who we just lost on this summer camp. As Jack, the best of type. Super loving, with everyone, pups, dogs, and every person she has ever met. A great hunting dog, the best grouse dog, comes from great grouse lines, a great therapy dog. Loves the water, great natural retrieve, point, back, great nose, works with you, and the list goes on. A great dog in every way. She is gone but lives on with us, and our kennel. Jill’s mom’s side is black lines with American lines, her dad is the same dad of David and Katie, he is a solid liver, he himself have field trial lines.
5. Bella, black roan like her mom and dad Jack and Jill. Bella is 7 years old is a perfect combination of Jack and Jill. I always thought she was our prettiest girl. She is a little bigger than her mom Jill. Bella is also a therapy dog like mom and dad. She loves the water, natural soft mouth retrieve, good point and back. A very nice hunting and family dog. I always thought that if every shorthair were like Jack, Jill, and Bella then Labradors would not be number one, Shorthairs would.
6. Bonnie who is 7 years old, black and white, is a daughter of Jack and Lilly. Lilly is a white and liver, out of a field trial line and hunting dog line. Lilly’s father is our Pepper who was a white and liver out of almost 100 percent field trial lines. Pepper has the famous field trial dog Dixieland Rusty, the top producer of field trial champions 5 times in 5 generations. Pepper was a big powerful dog. Not very good in the water, and not a very good retriever. But good point, and a great hunter. Would tree fur with the best of them. I once saw him and Lady kill a bobcat. Bonnie is super loving, unlike her grandfather Pepper who was a little mean. Bonnie is very versatile, and you can always tell by her tail weather she was on a quail or not. Super loving like her dad, Jill, Bella, and her mom Lilly. Bonnie is a little high strung and nervous like Lady. In fact, she is related to Lady on Pepper’s side.
7. Ms. Charlie who is 6, and is a black and white. She is out of Jack and Lady. She has all the great qualities of Lady without the nervousness. She is also so loving. If any of the dogs get a cut or have sores on them, she will clean them up and take care of them. Ms. Charlie is an excellent quail finder and holds her point a long time naturally. Great in the water, great nose, super loving. Ms. Charlie is always a first go to girl on any hunt. Easy keeper with excellent manners. Whether sitting for dove, or hunting quail, or retrieving ducks, or tracking, or putting a fox up a tree, there is no need to go further than Ms. Charlie, she is a real credit to her mom Lady and her dad Jack, and just goes to show what can happen when two great hunting dogs are bred together.
8. Heather is Jack’s youngest girl at 2, she is out of Bailey who is out of Tom C Foolery and Jackie B. Heather is solid black and is so super loving too, like her 3 sisters Bella, Bonnie, and Ms. Charlie. She is excellent in the water, nice natural retrieve, very good nose, and nice point, and can find quail. She has everything that we want in our dogs. Her biggest drawback is her solid black color which produces a lot of solid black pups which are hard to sell. Not many people are looking for solid black German Shorthairs.
9. Sophie, a liver roan born in Germany. She has a nice build for hunting all day. She is not the best at pointing but does produce nice pointing dogs. She has a high fur pray drive, great in the water like all German dogs, loves to play retrieve like all our dogs. She loves to hunt, covers a lot of ground and is also very loving. She is not as patient with the younger dogs as our other Gang members. Sophie is a good representation of a German breeding. Her litters have been extremely good and people love them. One hunter of over 30 years said that his Bajenks and Sophie boy is the best he has ever had. The young 14-week-old pups out of her and Buck also a German dog are proving very nice, with a nice natural point.
10. Katie, 6 years old, and solid liver. Jack’s half-sister on their mom’s side, David’s full sister, Jill’s half-sister on dad’s side. Katie, Jack, and David come from UK lines on their mom’s side. These lines have worked for us extremely well. Katie at this time has 8 puppies almost 5 weeks old out of Jack, her half-brother. 4 solid livers like mom, and 4 liver roan like there UK grandmother. One liver roan girl, and 3 liver roan boys. One of these boys just may take over as the main stud from their sire Jack. Very exciting news for Desert Point Kennel. Katie is super sweet as well, a real love bug, she gets along with all other dogs and is very good with young puppies. A very nice versatile hunting dog that meets all our expectations.
11. David, a 6 year old liver roan full brother of Katie, and half-brother of Jack, out of the UK mom Lacey that we like so much. David is an outstanding dog, everything his black brother Jack is, only in liver. Very will built with a nice large head. Everything a versatile hunting dog should be. David now lives with my very good friend Richard Roscoe, and Katie will soon go and live there as well. David remains very much in our breeding program and one of our main stud dogs, Bajenks, is his son.
12. Bajenks is named after Berry Jenkins who has Bajenks mother, Vera, out of our Jack and Dolly. Dolly is a half-sister to Lady, Dolly being a lighter liver roan, and Vera a darker liver roan, and Bajenks being even a darker liver. Bajenks is a big powerful dog. He consistently produces nice pups, of course bred to our girls who are themselves very nice. Bajenks is a bigger runner than our other dogs. Bajenks does a pretty good job, and having David as a sire, Vera a wonderful girl as his mom, and Jack and Dolly as his grandparents helps his ability to produce good pups. Bajenks is a tireless hunter that covers a lot of ground. He loves the water and has a nice natural retrieve. He always wants to pick something up and bring it to you like his sire David likes to do. He is also extremely loveable and is one of Kim’s favorite dogs.
13. KiRime is named after Kim Rime who bred Georgie a sister to Bajenks, who is out of Vera and David. Georgie was bred to Pretty Boy Roy. Pretty boy is an excellent hunting dog out of Jack and our girl Fancy. Fancy was a white field trial dog, who’s entire lines are field trial dogs. Fancy’s sire is a field trial champion. Fancy was a white liver dog, who was a good hunter with a great point, and hunted well, but often way too far out. She also was not a good retriever, but sometimes she did come up with a good retrieve on birds. Pretty Boy Roy is a black and white shorthair, thus proving once again that a field trial dog bred to a versatile hunting dog often produced good versatile hunting dogs as Pretty Boy Roy, and his brother Ranger Roy both are. Fancy is a half-sister to Lady, and a niece to Dolly. KiRime is a beautiful liver roan girl. She is good in the water, sweet and loveable, good retriever and like Bajenks she is one of our biggest runners. She minds well and is an easy keeper, and is bird crazy. She still has a way to go to prove herself but remains very promising.
14. Buddy, is an extremely handsome black roan. At only 9 months or so, he has proven to be a most promising young dog with tons of natural ability. His swimming is outstanding, high in the water, tail working as a rudder, and as fast as any adult dog we have, and we have outstanding water dogs. His point is stunning, head high, tail high, and well off his rump. He holds a natural beautiful point and has even stopped and held with a whoa command that he had never heard before. He loves to hunt, has a nice nose, is good with other dogs, extremely loving with people, loads and kennels great, recalls nicely. Has a wonderful natural retrieve and is overall an outstanding prospect for a future A team dog, and stud dog. On a recent outing his natural ground cover was excellent, he was working rabbits well, and his dove hunting for collard dove was simply outstanding. He was watching the gun, and birds fall and retrieving like a pro. Buddy is out of Rose, who is out of Chuck and Bonnie, Chuck being out of Lady and Buck. Bonnie being out of Jack and Lilly, and Lilly being out of Pepper. Buddy is out of Scout who is out of frozen semen from Luger, who is out of Bodo who is the last German born dog to get his Dual Championship, and his grandfather is the famous Ybold the only American Dual Champion, and German KS Champion.
15.
July 4, 2019. Girls and Kim, watch Parks Parade, visit swim park, watch fireworks at Williams. Am is Morning Outing with Gang, family meeting to talk about behavior and make up rules. Visit from Bill from Kingman who has a Jager and Tina boy who looks just like Sophie, 2nd outing with Gang, and 3rd outing to water. Arlo runs to next camp ½ mile away for BBQ.
I put the tracking collar on our youngest boy Barock, 14 weeks or so. He does 3.54 miles at an average speed of 5.06 miles per hour. A fun morning outing for sure. The younger dogs including Buddy love chasing birds in the big field.
Ran into Parks to make a phone calls, get ice, bread, and some excellent homemade salsa.
I had a very nice visit with Bill, lots of hunting talk.
July 5, 2019. Morning Outing, Kite Flying, Too the water, Chris and Lea’ here for a visit, Dog Training.
At 6 am I head out in the meadow for the morning outing. I put the two tracking collars on Dan and Little Ann. This should be interesting, there is no doubt that Little Ann will go more miles than Dan. Little Ann, and Buddy are already in full tweedy bird mode, chasing and pointing.
We don’t get very far when Chris and his wife Lea’ pull up in the beautiful blue Dodge Power wagon. They have 4 German Shorthairs and are ready for the morning outing.
They have 3 dogs from us, KC, Heidi, and one they call Piggy. I get an update on how the dogs have been doing. Little Heidi who is a 14 week old Sophie and Buck girl, has turned into a great little swimmer who loves their pool. KC, who they call Ollie now, is bonded to Lea’, and all the dogs are getting along great, and they are part of a wonderful family.
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be a police officer in a big city now a days. People have gone insane. The gangs and violence are out of control. The lack of respect for police officers, the lack of respect for human life in general, much less the common human decency that allows us to live in peace. The police often are what holds the devil in people at bay, and protects the innocent.
I hear a story of a young child, 5 years old, on her birthday, still in her birthday dress, and her birthday cake still on the table. The mother has been shot in the back of the head, along with the 5 year old baby birthday girl. The baby girl has been placed in her bed and a blanket placed over her. Why? Because the step dad is furious because the real dad had shown up and gave the little girl a gift.
How would you like to be the police officer who shows up, and pulled the covers back to find this innocent birthday girl?
I love our military; you all know that. But you must keep in mind that many go into the military and never see death, or violence. They do a few years and go home. Every police officer spends many years as a patrolman and sees violence and death, and the worst that society has to offer. And for a while it seemed that the military was loved, and the police distained.
Anyway, Chris and Lea had brought gifts for the girls. A camp chair for each of the girls with their names on them, some Barbie toy, some cool bubbles, etc. The girls made bubbles for the dogs to chase, and the girls to run in. I snapped some fun pictures of girls and dogs in bubbles.
Then Chris helped the girls fly their kites for their first time. The girls loved that, and Chris seemed to as well.
Oh, by the way, on the morning outing Dan did 4.78 miles at an average speed of 4.93 miles per hour. Little Ann did 6.14 miles at an average speed of 5.54 miles per hour.
Next was working with the dogs, with pigeons in the bird launcher. We worked with Chris’ 3 dogs, and Dan, Little Ann, Buddy, and Sasha. First with the help of the girls we put the dogs we were working with on a chain gang, where all dogs could see what was going on.
I walked around to each dog and showed each dog a pigeon flapping his wings. This got all the dogs worked up well. We let Pig, also known as Wrigley, and Heidi off their leashes, and I let the pigeon loose. At first the pigeon flew only a few inches from the ground, just in front of the dogs. For almost 25 yards the pigeon flew just ahead of the chasing dogs. Then the pigeon gained altitude and flew away with the dogs chasing.
After returning from chasing the pigeon the two dogs were returned to the chain gang. Two remote launchers were set up with a pigeon in each. The pigeons were tied to the launchers, and when they were released, they could fly a bit and then come to the ground.
Pigeons are a good bird to train with. They are very tuff, fly well, have a strong scent, and when flying their wings hit together and make a loud flapping noise that drives the dogs crazy.
We had a real nice team setup going on. Hailey had a camera and was snapping some photos. Lea’ was firing the blanks as the launcher was released. I released the launcher, snapped some pictures, and made some videos, and reset the launchers. Chris worked the dogs.
The main instruction for Chris was to make sure the dogs did not think they were being punished for catching the pigeon after it was released. Sometimes in a hurry to save the pigeon, we would run in and pull the dog back, and grab the pigeon and forget to praise the dog for a job well done. This did not happen today; all dogs were well praised.
I have long held the opinion that German dogs do not point well. What I have seen of dozen or so I have been around is a strong pray drive that seems to override the urge to point. I remember having six or so on point and having Barbara come on scene, and never even pause for a back or a point, but bust right in the bush at full speed. I don’t remember ever seeing her or her brother Buck point. Sophie our German dog is not a pointer at heart. I have seen her point a bit, but it’s few and far between.
That said, these pups out of Buck and Sophie are pretty good pointers and love to point. They will point butterflies, and grasshoppers in the field. They will point tweedy birds in field, and will point, and hold point on pigeons in the launchers. They will point with a classic one foot up.
This is very encouraging to me. Both Heidi and her sister Sasha, who are both Sophie and Buck pups did an outstanding job, at 14 weeks on finding and pointing the pigeons.
Buddy was his wonderful self, he pointed and held well and looked like a million dollars doing so. When the pigeon was released Buddy was super focused, and a bolt of lightning getting after the pigeon.
Ollie proved his nose was working and looked better than I’ve seen him before. He did the classic run by and spin around and go on point. Then went after the pigeon and held it nicely. We were all very proud of him.
Wrigley did a wonderful job and we got some good photos of all the dog work.
Old Dan, and Little Ann were their wonderful selves. They pointed with foot, and tail high. They held the point well, and went after the released pigeon with gusto. None of the dogs were the least bit bothered by the blanks. I’m pretty sure they never even heard the firing.
After the pigeon work, we took those dogs and Bobo, Rose’s son, to the water. The girls swam and the dogs played and retrieved bumpers.
Chris and Lea’ had to head home early, so we said our goodbyes.
Later we would cook some ranch fresh hamburgers, and the girls, Kim and I would watch “Where the Red Fern Grows.” At the end of the movie, Scarlett asked if Kim and I wanted her to bring us a tissue?
And All Remains Well at Summer Camp.
June 6, 2019. Morning Outing, Dog Training, Watched Titanic with girls, while editing photos. Kim went to Flagstaff for the day to do laundry etc.
Heather’s 3 five month old boys, White, blue and black, Arlo and Buddy all had the tracking collars on.
Blue did 5.49 miles at 3.97 mph. White did 6.12 miles at 4.14 mph. Black did 6.86 miles at 4.55 mph. Arlo did 7.87 miles at 7.76 mph. Buddy did 9.12 miles at 7.73 mph.
The trip was un-eventful with the exception of when we went too close to a logging road. One logging truck went by and I wanted to move the dogs away from that area, which was working until Little Ann, the independent cuss she is, decided to go into someone’s camp on the other side of the road.
I did my best to get her to come back, whistling, yelling Pup Pup, etc. Finally, when she had explored the camp, and when she was good and ready headed back to the rest of us. She ran up to me and jump up and gave me a kiss like she was the best girl in the world. Maybe she is.
Training was releasing the pigeons from the launcher. Arlo ran in to the launcher and did a good retrieve, but not much of a point. Little Ann did an all-around great job. Good point, great chase after the pigeon, and finally a retrieve back to me when she was good and ready.
Dan just went to the launcher without pointing. Ms. Charlie did great a couple of times, but then had problems finding the bird. Buddy was a rock star and did great, right up to the point of bringing me back the bird, same with Barock, and Sasha.
Editing pictures, and typing this can be pretty time consuming.
July 7, 2019. Morning Outing, German Shorthair, Kim and Girls to Church, then to Bearizona.
Put the tracking collar on Dan and Little Ann, but Ann’s battery died. Evidently you cannot charge the collar while it is on. Dan however did 4.15 miles, at 5.04 miles per hour.
First time I grabbed the camera and an extra battery and they were both dead, had to do some charging when I got back.
It’s close to 6pm and Kim and the girls are not back yet, as always.
One of the reasons I came to summer camp was to think and get some studying in. I want to write about shorthairs, and also of my life, because I want the kids and grandkids to know about me and the things I did. I wish my parents and grandparents would have taken the time to write about their lives.
I have read every single book I could find on German Shorthairs, as well as living and breathing with them for so many years now. So, here are some thoughts.
In short, because long would take a book: The German Shorthair was developed to be a practical gundog, the words of Jack Shattuck the owner of Rusty the first American Dual Champion. Jack went on to say for retrieving on duck and capably handling upland game, this is what the breed is meant to do. It is not meant to be a wind splitter, but is as close to the ideal as a man can get with a pointing dog to follow on foot. It is not entered in the Big Trials for Pointing Dogs because it is not bred for that. It is a top shooting dog. That is why its trials are run with birds to be killed and retrieved.
Or how about this. In the 1970s Professor Alfons Lemper, wrote in the Klub Kurzhaar’s, about why the Wirehair is more popular in Germany then the Shorthair. The following, in summary, is in Maxwell’s book. What we know is the old-time breeders wanted quiet, cheerful, versatile retrieving utility dogs for all occasions, to serve one-dog owners. It was Dr. Kleeman’s insistence on elegance, dogs with great nose, the distance movers, that generated inbreed need for wide spaces to cover and professionals able to handle such fireballs. Kleeman having his way, the breed has developed a type from which the ordinary hunting-sport man turns from, buying instead a Draathaar.
Maxwell goes on to site Joe Stetson the respected journalist, writing in Field and Stream. “If the German Shorthair is to be used as an ordinary Bird Dog, pushed out further and further, faster and faster, why not get a Pointer or a Setter in the first place?”
So, as you can see the Shorthair has been continually bred since the 40s to go faster and faster, to range bigger and bigger.
In America not only has the Pointer continually been bred to run bigger and faster, but the German Shorthair has, by many, been bred in lock step to keep pace with the Pointer so in many cases there is not only little difference in run, but little difference in look, and type.
It was believed 40 years ago, and I believe today, that the versatile Gundog, perfect for the foot hunter still exists in the German Shorthair for any breeder with the interest to make such a dog for the hunter that has interest in such a dog.
In part that is what I have been trying to do. Because un-like many breeders of today, I was lucky enough to see the hunting shorthair of the early and mid-1960s and that type was imprinted onto my soul.
July 8, 9, 10, and 11, 2019. Trip back to Wellton, 2nd trailer comes to camp, 4 more A team dogs, and 19 puppies come to camp. Working on better discipline and manners for the girls.
I drove back to Wellton to pick up the parvo shots for the pups, also microchips, Bonnie, Katie and her and Jack’s 7 puppies, Tina and her and Arlos’s 10 puppies, and Bella and her two pups. Counting the pups that puts us at 38 at summer camp.
The short trip back home was a little hot. The temp was 106, and was moving into a heat wave so I needed to hurry. I needed the 125-gallon water tank and it’s stand and a big long list of other items, as well as the other camper trailer.
I worked steady from 6 pm to midnight getting everything ready to go. It seemed like I made a hundred trips putting things in the trailer. Cleaned the tank the best I could and strapped it and the stand on top of the truck. Looked a bit like the Beverly Hillbillies. Either the strap or the hollow leg made a very loud and annoying noise while driving. The whole trip back I was just hoping and praying that there were no flat tires or other troubles. I was rewarded with a trouble free 6 ½ hour trip back to summer camp. I did well up until 4 am where I had to stop and take a 40 minute nap.
I was excited about picking up our dogs and pups and getting them back to camp. The 7 pups of Katie’s and 2 pups of Bella’s made themselves right at home on the thick artificial grass that makes up the front door mat. I got in a short nap before Glynn and Diana showed up.
Glynn brought us up an old trailer to use to haul water. Diana was here to see the pups I promised to bring back. They not only brought us up a trailer but also a great lunch. These pups are going to be very well socialized.
I had to stop typing and move a blanket under the trailer and move the pups off the fake grass because it’s raining. Enough to settle the dust anyway. All the A team dogs are on the back bunk, and the B team Gang members on the bottom bunk so everyone is up and out of the rain.
Tina and her 10 pups have a wonderful place in the living room of the toy hauler. She has her whelping box set up, and all is well for the dogs and pups at summer camp, above Parks Az. USA.
The evening of the 10th, after getting some sleep, I was able to take the gang out for a nice long outing.
The morning of the 11th started out a little before 6 am with a morning outing. I put the tracking collar on Lady 11, and Dusty 13. After 30 minutes Lady had gone 2 miles at an average speed of 5.69 miles per hour. Dusty had gone 2.38 mile, and 6.39 mph. At the end of the 1 hour and 40 minute outing, Lady had gone 5.45 miles and 4.96 mph. Dusty had gone 6.18 miles at 5.55 mph.
One area that Kim and I have been trying to do is work on the girl’s behavior and manners. Kim is like a Cadillac of grandmothers and loving people but she has a low tire when it comes to discipline. We came up with a check system that gets the girls 5 minutes early bed time for each check. We want them to say ok when told to do something, as well as thank you and you’re welcome. Yes, ma’am and yes sir would also be great. So, every time they use yes ma’am or yes sir 5 times, they can get a check off.
This worked well for the first few days but when I got home their behavior was not too great, and Hailey was the worse. We are trying to keep it positive but sometimes it’s not easy. It got so bad I had to cancel their free ice-skating time, and send Kim into town for a meeting, and the girls could stay with me. There was a lot of crying over that one.
Water continues to be the biggest hassle. We need to try and stay clean, the red dirt gets everywhere on you, and clothes very seldom last longer than a day.
I was going to a friend’s house who has one of our dogs, 5 miles from camp to fill up our water jugs. I was told to use the submersible pump near one of the tanks, but I would need a generator. This I did until one day the pump was gone and his truck was blocking the tank. I sent a text asking if everything was ok? Then I went to the KOA to fill the water containers.
Evidently, I was not supposed to pump out of the tank because it was filled and had to sit for 30 days for a leak test. But there was a 1200-gallon portable tank that I could use to either put on a trailer, or take back to camp and have water delivered.
I decided to skip on the use of the tank to avoid further conflicts. Now I had a trailer and a 125-gallon water tank. If that was not a big enough tank, I can add a couple of 55-gallon barrels or get a bigger tank.
There is a water satiation in Parks. It has a drop hose that allows you to pull up and pump water into your water tank. I see so many people up here having either delivered by a big water truck or pulling their own water tank or having one in the back of their pickup.
You have to set up an account at the pump station, and water is 3 cents a gallon. I just hope there is not stipulation like residency to open an account.
July 12, 2019. Morning Outing, Chris and Lea come up for the day, Very nice lunch, rain, trip for water.
Morning outing short and sweet with the Gang of 19. The tracking collar was on Dan and Ann. Ann’s came off and Dan retrieved back to me. Ann was leading the mile race at this time.
Chris and Lea’ showed up early just after the morning outing. We had started breakfast. Kim had found a cast iron, double sided fry plate for the BBQ. It was the perfect fit with the exception of the side handles that stuck out, so I sawed them off. Now the pan fits in and the BBQ lid can close.
It worked well on eggs, pancakes, and hamburgers on the first day. The flip side has ridges and should work will for bacon and steaks. This was a very good find on Kim’s part and for only $10.00.
Chris is one of those guys that is always prepared. The forecast was for rain, so he brought up a 12-foot pop up, which worked out perfect when it did rain. They were glad to get out of the 112-degree valley heat and come up to the 75-degree cool fresh weather.
They also brought up a ton of food, from chips to hamburgers. The girls love them, and they are so good with them. Scarlett got in the back of their pick up and really wanted to go home with them. Needed water, and was thankful they brought up 10 gallons, but we needed more.
The silicone patch on the tank was not yet set up well enough for use, so we had to take the jugs in to get some. I did want to get the water account set up before I brought the big tank in. This should be easy, it’s an online registration where you make an account, and put money into the account. You get a pin number to use when you get water. I however kept getting kicked off the information page and never did get an account. The water through the water station is 1000 gallons for 30 dollars. At the KOA I payed 15 dollars for 60 gallons. That said, I was glad to get the water.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, or camp we had some puppy work to do. Bella and Katie’s puppies needed their first shots, and microchips. Tina’s pups need their tails and dew claws removed. We could not find the tail cutting kit, so the scissors were a bit big for the dew claws. It was nice get these out of the way.
Having the pup pups in camp is such a blessing. They are over the top cute, and are always doing something worth a smile, a photo and a “did you see that?” Tina’s are still in their whelping box and we are just watching them grow, and enjoying having puppies this small to look at.
The other 9 pups are just 5 weeks old, and are super cute. They like the fake grass door mat, and the blanket just under the trailer that allows them to get out of the few short rains we have had.
They are exploring everything, and loving their new freedom. They eat and drink with the big dogs, as well as having their own food and water. They try and play with dogs older than them, as well as try and find a place that has a milk outlet. You can often find them snuggled up with an older dog, which always seems cute to me. The older dogs have been extremely gentle with the pups and very seldom is there a cross word.
But the cutest part of puppies is just watching them be puppies. The running and tripping, the grabbing and shaking of everything, the coming up and fighting and playing with your shoes and pant legs. The awkward way they bound around, the jumping, the puppy breath, and the ability to scoop one up at any time, and hold them in your arms.
These pups are a bit more special, Katie and Jack’s, because I am looking to replace Jack as a main stud dog with one of his sons, a little Jackson. There is already a lighter ticked boy that is a real whipper snapper.
The girls continue to get checks, Hailey more than Scarlett. We keep chipping away. The girls are usually very good with the dogs and they really do love them, and the dogs and pups are so good for the girls. But sometimes I have to shake my head and give the girls a little talking to. I find Scarlett tossing one up in the air, and Hailey holding one from the skin of It’s back.
July 13, 2019. Morning Outing, new valley, and Lazy Saturday.
Arlo gets the tracking collar, as did Bajenks. Bajenks has one with a dead battery. I’m getting the feeling that the red collar is defective. Probably a bad battery, or one that needs more charging than the other one.
Arlo did 7.08 miles, at an average speed of 7.25 miles per hour. Arlo is doing very well with us at summer camp.
Kim headed to town and will be gone most of the day. The girls are with me, and are watching a movie. Kim has a lot of laundry, has to open a water account, have the oil, and front pads changed on her van.
Not much different on this morning outing, we did finely get to explore the meadow on the other side of the ridge from us.
The gang covered at least 90 miles of ground today, if every one of the 18 dogs that were out did 5 miles. I would guess that each dog will travel at least 150 miles a month while at summer camp, or 450 miles for the summer. This would add up to approx. 8,550 miles of ground covered by the Gang while at summer camp. That would put me walking about 360 miles.
July 16, 2019. As we nudge past the 30-day mark, we find that we have learned a thing or two. Kim and I make a good team because we roll with the flow extremely well. That does not however mean we do not have our days. The biggest challenge for me is the girls, and their lack of good behavior, minding, and manners. It becomes a real challenge at times. I need to think about where they came from, and all the progress they have made. Most days with them are enjoyable. They are very young and they do and say funny things.
The puppies in summer camp have also brought up the joy factor. They too are always doing something amusing. I spend most of my time outside with them and the Gang and always have the camera ready for photos, and the phone ready for videos. I will have many hundreds by the end of summer camp. The puppies sleep for long periods of time and then wake up at full charge ready and willing to get into everything. They do their best to jump on, and bite, and play with every older dog we have, and to the benefit of the older dogs they either take it or move away. Some of the older dogs really seem to enjoy having the puppies around. Often you will find the pups in one of the large food containers. There might be four pups inside eating and the older dogs just eating around them as if puppies in food happens every day.
As I type this one of the liver pups is biting Sophie on the nose, ear, and lips, and Sophie is just laying there. Some of the older mothers act as if this is old hat to them.
At times some of the things that seem to bring the pups enjoyment are: Exploring the camp, bugging the older dogs, tug of war, feeding on either Bella, Katie, or sometimes Tina. They also like picking up stuff and shaking it, or eating it. They seem to like tennis balls, water bottles, anything soft, or anything another pup has. The like to snuggle up with an older dog, but they love puppy piles and nap time. They like to be held and loved on by the girls or us. They really seem to enjoy being puppies. Their biggest enjoyment that will last many into their older years, is play fighting, jumping, dodging, play biting, knocking into each other, running after and trying to trip each other, stocking or waiting in ambush and then attacking each other.
There is a lot of jumping, and falling over. Tripping and falling or rolling. A lot of this behavior builds the puppy into a dog. It builds confidence and boldness, let’s them know they are part of a pack, and that there are pack rules, such as fair play, and kindness. That too rough a play and biting is not acceptable. That play is fun, and can be done often with others as long as you’re not a bully. This will serve the pup, and later the dog well when they go and live with humans, it’s the same rules. Be kind and don’t bite or hurt others. The lack of this socialization can cause the dog big problems later, and the lack of the new puppy owners not continuing these pro social dog skills is the number one cause of bad dog behavior.
Puppies are fun, and I could go on forever about them. Puppies are the purest form of K9 enjoyment. They are a small package of everything we love about dogs and life for that matter. They are happy, playful, super loving, extremely entertaining, they are both bold and vulnerable, week and strong, funny, clownish, and so extremely sweet. They will make you laugh with the funny things they do, and cry when they chew up your shoe, or other such item. They will lay or sleep in the oddest manners, on their backs, feet up or off something, head hanging over or on something, half off or on something, on or off of you or something, in a little ball or stretched way out. In or on a small chair or your whole bed.
Pups will run as fast as they can, and will most likely not be graceful. Often will look like their backs are trying to pass their fronts, or their fronts are going in a different direction then their backs. They will often as not, trip, fall, or even roll. They will hop and often jump while they run. They will lose balance and glide to one side or the other. They will try and jump over or go around something and not quite make it. They will jump in the oddest of manners.
Puppies love to bite, nibble, and lick your face. They like to untie your shoes, pull on your pant legs, and bite and pull your hair.
Puppies are so special that God gave then their own breath that everyone loves the smell of. Puppies are so magical that they turn grown men and women into little boys and girls with just one glance. Old people are transferred back to their childhood. One puppy snuggle can bring love and warmth to a person’s body and send peace and kindness both into the body and brain.
So, when I say we have puppies at Summer Camp, I mean we have Magic at Summer Camp.
WATER: We use a tremendous amount of water. Even with Kimberlee being very frugal, we use a lot of water. The many dog and pups drink a lot of water. They drink about 15 gallons a day. The girls get so dirty that they need a quick low water shower every day. I was not prepared for that amount of water.
Filling up water jugs with no river is very time consuming and costly. The KOA was charging 15 dollars for 60 gallons. In one respect we were lucky, and that is that everyone has to either have the water delivered to holding tank at their house, or haul water with tanks in their trailer to their house. Because of this, there are water stations, like gas stations where to pull in, and fill up.
First, which took a few days, was getting an account. You must do this on line, at least for the water station in Parks Az. that we were using. After the account is open you must put money in the account. Water at the pumping station is 30 dollars for 1000 gallons, Huge saving. One large tank in the back of the trailer, parked above the toy hauler would solve the whole water problem.
So, with the borrowed trailer, and our 125-gallon tank in the back, the girls and I went the 22 miles and filled up the tank. It was quick and easy and the girls loved holding and being in control of the big water hose that filled up our tank.
They also loved the ice cream and Parks store, and the ride back home to camp. My silicone patch work, did not work too well and we did lose a gallon or so of water on the ride back to camp. The trailer was parked higher than the top hauler and after the hose was hooked up it was just a matter of filling up first the holding tank on the toy hauler, then a 55-gallon drum, and then the smaller 5-gallon jugs. Then the tank patch work was redone. I’ll let you know how that works out.
The major components of boondocking should not be so big a problem that they make the boondocking experience regrettable. Electric power from solar, 12-volt batteries, with generators, and invertors, and converters. Cooking fuel from propane. Water from water station stored in tanks and jugs. Food stored in cabinets, ice chests, and propane refrigerator. There are some very good 12-volt refrigerators out there. Laundry for us is Kim going into the laundromat, where she can catch up on the texts, emails, puppy lists, etc.
The last concern of boondocking is the toilet. Composting toilets are getting popular with boon dockers, either in the non-complicated or complicated applications.
For us it’s the flush type toilet in the toy hauler with a holding tank called a black tank, and the outside porta potty that was left here from the last field trial. We are going on just over one month and have not had to dump our black water tank.
To dump the black water tank, one must go to a dumping station, either by pulling the trailer, or having yet another tank that is hauled to a dumping station after it is filled from the black tank. We don’t want to have a scene from Robin William’s movie RV, but a second portable tank can get a little complicated and messy. There is even a black water pump that pumps your black water up into a tank in your pickup to be dumped at the dump station.
All of this would explain why RV parks are so popular, and why boondocking is not so popular. Water, power, dumping, all in one place, with activities and of course 20 feet away.
Traveling in an RV can be pretty much like living at home. Many have all the connivances of home. Many even have a washer and dryer. Ours has almost everything. Four tanks, 1 for gas for the generator, 1 fresh water, 1 grey water and one black water tank. We have everything a modern RV has.
One good thing is that either for a weekend, a week, or a month or longer the same items are needed. I always felt that a week RV vacation with the kids was a lot of work, packing and unpacking everything, and then I needed to get home and back to work to get some rest.
Our situation is not hard, taken one task at a time, it’s all the tasks combined. Ours becomes much more complicated when you add 6 and 8-year-old granddaughters, 12 adult dogs, 7 teenage dogs, 9 five-week-old puppies, and 10 pups still in the whelping box one more due in a couple of weeks.
That being said, we seldom feel stressful, we usually feel blessed. What stresses me the most is that I’m not in California with my kids and other grandkids, but I know I’ll be there within a year, and I want to enjoy what I’m doing now.
Even with all that, Kim is able to get her and the girls into church, as well as many other outings.
June 24, 2019. Day 39 at Summer Camp. Ready for the rain, lots of visits, Flagstaff Dog Show, Shoot to Retrieve Judging class and test, the zoo, and camp life as usual.
It’s been a few days since I last typed so I will go in reverse order. This morning finds the outside very wet. The pups who now sleep outside seemed warm and quite comfy. At 6 weeks old they are quite busy little bees. Sleeping, eating, exploring, and overall just being cute little camp monsters. They don’t roam far but it is cute to watch them explore at the edge of camp and a little further.
It’s the night time sleeping arrangements that cause the most concern. At first it was a kennel crate in the trailer with a wire crate they could go into. The kennel had their blankets to sleep on and the wire crate to poop on. The mornings found both to be quite messy, and took some time to clean up, plus they were always up at 5 am crying to get out. I then moved them to a wired in pop up with their crate, food and water. This was better, but they still cried at 5 am to be let out.
The next try was a small table with a wire crate on one side, and a plastic crate on the other. Blankets on the ground under the table, and in the crates. The blankets that covered the crates, and then blankets that covered the table and crates, and then tarps to cover all 3. This made a nice fort and den area for the pups to snuggle up inside.
The crate fort worked well, and at 4 am when it was raining pretty good, the pups were fine and cozy. At 5 am there was no crying because they could get out and roam their familiar surroundings.
Because of the rain, the morning of the 24th was the first morning that we slept in until 6:40 am. The puppies who always have food are given extra food in the morning of canned dog food, powered milk, and eggs with shells on top of their dry dog food.
Saturday, we went to the dog show with Chris and Lea’ to watch Darcy Skinner and her daughter Christopher show their Shorthairs. There were quite a few shorthairs, and it was hurry up and wait. While waiting, Scarlett and Hailey, supervised by Kim were able to visit with each handler and pet all the Shorthairs plus a few more. I was told that the girls were very polite and quite cute. Lea’ spent most of the time talking with one of the supervisors about what the judge was doing, and what she was looking for. Both Chris and I were sure she would come away with a pretty good understanding of Judging, which she did.
One visitor we had for a few days was my friend and hunting partner Tony Roscoe. Tony has a large, solid liver boy out of Katie and Bajenks. He is an excellent boy who did quite well when we planted pigeons. He has a very nice point and looks great. Tony has spent a lot of time with Harley and it shows. Harley is a ball driven, retrieving machine. Because Tony was willing to stay and watch camp and the dogs, it allowed Kim and I, for the first time to leave camp together. So, we went to the dog show and Bearizona Wildlife Park.
Sunday after showing Darcy and Christopher came and camped for the night with us. These two ladies are something else. Kim and I met them at the Yuma dog show. We don’t show, but like to go and see the Shorthairs. We became instant friends with them and we are very supportive of each other.
The two day visit of course was too short. Darcy and Chris have been on the road for four months showing their excellent shorthairs in the mid-west. Always good to get your dogs in front of different judges. They finished a few of their dogs to Champions, and had a lifetime of adventures. Both ladies are bold, confident, and competent, but it’s what they do that sets them apart.
Darcy and her husband started their kennel some 25 years ago. Her husband Greg an avid world hunter of course having and wanting hunting dogs. Starting with Springers, and moving to Shorthairs. They both wanted beautiful and versatile hunting dogs and thus the Shorthairs which became a lifelong passion, love and devotion to the breed. The love and devotion to the breed is matched by very few breeders. They have simply made it a point to be involved with their Shorthairs in as many endeavors as possible. AllStar Gundogs or Kennel.
In short here is a quick and probably lacking history of their Kennel with an emphasis on the daughter Christopher.
Greg and Darcy, who make a wonderful team and are very supportive of each other involved their two daughters in hunting, shooting, and all areas of their dog work. Greg an accomplished dog trainer and under study of the Smith’s world-renowned dog trainers. The family team, hunted, showed, trained and tested their dogs. Darcy was learning the show ring from mom, and hunting and training with her dad at an early age.
Their dogs were old school, versatile Shorthairs with a darker look about them. This line of dogs they have stayed with all these years. Breeding little, and for quality New lines were added after Chris went to live in Germany, and became involved in learning and participating with the Germans. Chris was accepted by the Germans which is not always an easy task. She became friends with a German breeder and acquired a Shorthair, got her hunting license, learned, and participated in the German testing system.
Back in America AllStar Kennel marches on. Hunting, Hunt Testing, Doc Diving, Barn Rat Testing, Showing, etc. Christopher decided to up her game and apprentice with the same trainers as her father had. She finished the multi month, vigorous training program with flying colors, becoming the first woman to do so.
Christopher is young, beautiful, talented, and confident, as well as calm and very polite. For the first time the AllStar dogs will become available in a larger number. It will not be easy to get one of these fine pups, but they will be worth the effort. All dogs are health tested, hunt tested, and showed in the show ring.
One last note, Christopher has become one of the premiere Lady trainers. Her training is low stress. Many who are trying to get a hunt test title on their dog or need hunt training on their dog feel more comfortable with a lady trainer. AllStar Kennel is located in Southern California, you might want to check them out.
Tony, Chris, Lea’, the girls and I did get a chance to go watch for a bit the NSTRA trail. The girls had a blast looking at dogs and pups. I had to remind them that pups with tails were not allowed to come home with us. One setter pup sure was cute. Scarlett even got a ride on one of the horses. This was so exciting to her. The trial grounds did not allow for good viewing. I was told by Tina that back east many of the fields have towers for better viewing. Tina and her husband are from Colorado and Florida, and they travel all over the country competing. They had their 10-year-old grandson on this trip and he was having a blast. I invited them to camp and to Bearizona but they never showed.
Tina’s husband runs German Wired Hairs, and Tina a German Shorthair. Tina and her Shorthair Kookus Nikki won the 2017 Trial of Champions. So now if her husband gives her a hard time about something or tells her how to run the field, she reminds him of who has a National Championship.
Friday was the NSTRA judging class. One must take this class and pass a test among other things to be able to become a NSTRA Judge. Tony and I went to this class. Tony figured out that the trial grounds above Flagstaff was only 11 miles from camp if we took the Forest roads, or 70 miles if we went around and through Flagstaff.
The class was interesting and it is clear that the rules take on a common since approach in the judging with an attempt to judge a working bird dog. The goal is a working team of dog and handler, in an attempt that the dog finds and holds a point on a planted bird until the handler flushes the bird, at which time the dog can break point and go after the flushed bird. The handler then shoots the bird as it flies away. The dog then finds and retrieves the shot bird to the handler, and then the dog returns to hunting for more birds. There is also points given for one back, where a dog on point is backed or honored by the brace mate.
In Shoot to Retrieve, the dog who finds and retrieve the most birds is the dog that wins the day.
You might ask what I think of Shoot to Retrieve Trials? It is obvious that the people who participate in NSTRA love it, and feel that it’s either fun when they are not hunting, or for them replaces hunting altogether.
Because of the nature of who finds the most birds the dogs participating have become quite fast. It’s a race to find the birds in the field, so the dog with a good nose, covering the most ground in the best manner finds the most birds. In theory a slower dog can and sometimes does win the day, but most participants I talked to feel the faster dog covering the most ground finds the most birds.
As far as rain goes, we have been late as far as the Monsoons go. The forest has been very dry and there are 3 fires going in the area. If a fire gets close to us, or the danger gets to great they will make us move. Pop ups and tarp, I put up in place of the awning.
I had picked up a very small and cheap pop up at Goodwill before we headed up, it proved almost worthy. Our real savior was Chris and Lea’ who let us use two of theirs. An older 10 foot one, and a newer 13x13 Coleman with eves. The tarp in place of the awning also proved very helpful. I have a brand-new awning cover that I never got to put on. Wish I would have.
On July 24, 2019 at 3:30 the girls, dogs, and pups were playing outside. I was also outside watching everyone. Kim had the truck in town and it started to rain, and the rain turned into a down pore. Everything was ready for the most part because I knew the rain was coming. But the amount of rain was soon a little overwhelming.
The nine pups were under the big pop up on a blanket sleeping but the water was soon to be running over their blanket. The girls were playing in the same area. The awning was filling up with gallons of water, the dog trailer was open at both ends. The pigeons needed put up, I had silicone curing on the tank I was fixing, and windows and the back big door was open on the toy hauler.
The first thing I did was yell for all the dogs to come into the toy hauler, and send the girls into the other trailer. The dogs were very willing to get into the toy hauler, and within one minute all but Buddy, Dan and Barock were in and up into their sleeping area. It was quite impressive if I do say so myself.
The silicone tank was put on its side and pushed part way under a protected area. The pigeons were moved quickly into the dog trailer and front and back doors closed.
Thunder by then was pretty loud. I could see the girls watching me run around like a mad man, and I could not tell if they were frightened or not. The pups were quickly moved into their water tight, blanketed sleeping area, and none had gotten wet.
The girls were hustled from the trailer to the toy hauler because I did not want them to be afraid. The top bedroom vent was open as well as the two back windows. There were kids sleeping bags on the beds that saved the beds from getting wet. I got drenched closing the rear door.
I dropped one end of the awning, and the water poured off.
Dan did not want to get wet and had to be carried to the toy hauler. Buddy, timidly went from under the trailer to under the toy hauler and then into the toy hauler where the girls were ready to dry him off. The thunder had the girls yelling with a fake fear that caused me to yell at them to stop yelling.
Barock had made it to the front door and the girls saw him from under the window, and started yelling at me to save him. He was pretty dry, but that did not stop the girls from drying him anyway.
A movie was put on for the girls to keep them calm. Every one of the dogs and pups were safe, dry and sleeping within a few minutes.
The rain lasted for only about 30 minutes but in that time, there was a lot of water. My big worry was Kim, who was out in the truck and did not know how to put it into 4-wheel drive.
The sun came out and the pups who are 6 weeks old wanted out. The first thing 3 of them did was run to the water puddles in the road. Kim soon pulled up and said she was only worried in one spot.
Camp is on a pretty good slope, and the water ran off well and did not leave us any mud other than in the road.
When all the dogs were let out, they played in water like little kids as did the girls.
July 29, 2019. 1 ½ months at camp. Sophie another porcupine, more visitors.
Yes, Sophie got into her 4th porcupine. She is a little slow. This last one was not as bad, the quills were longer, but not as many; however, they went in deeper, and made her mouth bleed more. It seems that she knew the routine, and stood very calm while I removed the quills both inside and outside her mouth.
One great thing about summer camp, and outings with the dogs, is that you have plenty of time to think. Communing with nature and God. The ability to put things into perspective, like family, friends, faith, and business.
One area that I don’t talk often about, but is the core of our life is our Christian faith. One reason is that I often don’t feel that I’m very good at it. I have a feeling in the back of my mind that I just don’t do it right.
I was not brought up in church, I sought out the church and God. I’ve read the Bible as a whole and the New Testament many times. I’ve read a lot of books, went to many churches, even Bible college for a short time. I’ve been baptized in both the Catholic church, and a Pentecostal church.
I’ve taught Sunday school, and lead Bible studies, I’ve went door to door proclaiming the good news. I’ve been active, and a pew warmer. I’ve been both a good tither, and poor tither. There have been times when I’ve missed the mark as far as sin goes, and when I’ve been pretty good.
We have led a pretty good Christian life by American standards. We have run our business with open honesty. We have paid every tax owed by us or the business and treated everyone in a Christian manner.
We have programs to help the vets get our dogs for free. We have taken care of my mom, dad, grandmother, and grandfather and they never went into a care center and they passed in our loving care in our house. We have stepped up and taken care of our grandkids when their parents dropped the ball.
We have done many things that are Christian for sure, but something is still missing. I have never lost faith in my belief of God and Christianity. I feel the church is the best thing the world has going for it. A love-based religion for sure.
The problem I have in sharing may seem odd, but it’s because I don’t feel any better than the average person. I mean the average Christian in America is living the average American dream, and doing little if anything more for people than the average American, and that’s what I am ashamed of.
I wanted to go back to Bible college but never have. I wanted to travel and help people but never have. I wanted to travel to churches and give inspirational speeches that would help people, and kids especially, I wanted to travel to poor countries and help where I could and tell them about the love of God that I feel, but I never have.
I made a promise to God after my son Jeff was shot, that if he saved Jeff, I would do my part in telling others of the God I know, but never did. So, you see, that I’m not a very good Christian, and feel very hypocritical, and I don’t want anyone to Judge Christianity by me.
The Bible teaches that to everyone who is given much, much is expected of them. Not too many people have been given more than I, yet I’ve done very little in comparison to what I could have done.
There have been so many ordinary Christians who have done extra ordinary things just by following their leading by God, but not me.
We as Christians are told to seek out our calling and our gifts. We live our American dream just like the non-believers and waited to discover our calling. The problem is that we are rich, and we have been given a lot, approx. 99 percent more than almost everyone else in the world. And how do we live? We as Christians live exactly like everyone else in America. We live the American dream. We live to please ourselves and we give only out of our extra. Nothing is done by us that causes either a physical or financial hardship. We very seldom if ever step out of our comfort zone. That’s the American Christian Way.
Over 30 years ago, I heard some visiting Russian Christians say: “You American Christians are so willing to die for Christ, but so un-willing to live for him.”
The truth is we don’t need to search for our calling, the Bible already tells us what it is. Preach the Gospel to the world, and make disciples of all we can. Help the poor and down trodden. Care for the widows and orphans.
American Christians have done some remarkable things for sure. I mean some over the top, giving that is nothing short of remarkable, but that is just a drop in the bucket compared to what could be done if American Christians would reach down and really give of both their money and time.
I hope somewhere in this last part of my life I can become a Christian to be proud of. One that brings glory to God, not me. Doing things for others, where it is clear that God did that, not me. Where in the end, I will be met with, “well done, my proud and faithful servant.”
July 30, 2019. Morning Outing, Kim edits this story, portable black tank.
As I leave at 5:50 am for the morning outing, I find for the 3rd time that Jack and Katie’s boy wants to go with us. I have named him Jack’s son or Jackson. He looks like his uncle David. He has become my favorite with one of Bella and Bajenks boys. Little Jackson goes about 1 mile before I pick him up. He is a liver white ticked boy, and is super cute.
The girls and I head to Flagstaff, so I can do some downloading, paperwork, etc. We also get a portable black water tank so we don’t have to pull the toy hauler in to dump.
Aug. 3, 2019. Kim heads to Wellton, Kim breaks down, 2 long nights for her, Portable black tank, Propane tank leaks, Rocket get returns, Grandkids are not always easy. Heavy rain, and hail. Visit from a hippie.
We have been lucky to have a portapoddy at camp, so have not been using either toilet much in the trailers. The portapoddy is almost full and the toy hauler’s black tank has about 25 gallons.
Not wanting to have to break down, and pull the toy hauler to a dump station, the only option was to get a portable black tank. I found a 27 gallon one at a local RV dealer. Not cheap at just under 200 dollars. It proved easy to work with though a little heavy once filled with black water, at almost 8 pounds a gallon, and 25 gallons.
There is a hose on the portable tank that couples with the black tank on the toy hauler. A pull of the handle and the transfer is complete. Both tanks are closed, and it’s a matter of getting the heavy portable tank into the back of the truck. I thought I might pup the tank in the back of the truck, and then transfer the black water 5 gallons at a time, with some kind of huge funnel.
Getting the tank into the back of the pickup, meant first pulling it onto the back of the drop-down ramp on the toy hauler, then lifting the ramp high enough to drive the truck’s tail gate under the ramp, and then pulling the tank into the back of the pickup. Easy peesy.
Now finding a free dump station. This was in Flagstaff. Hailey wanted to go with me, and so off we went, right into heavy rain, and hail. The ground was covered with white, like snow in Parks. Very heavy rain for a few miles on Hwy 40, then clear the rest of the trip. The dump went smooth.
Kim went into Yuma to get the girls signed up for home schooling. It proved a long tiring couple of days for her. After the long trip to Wellton, she ended up driving another couple of hours to help a friend bring a tire and jack to her husband. It was pretty late when she got back to Wellton, then the next day headed home there was a problem with the trucks back lug nuts, and they needed to be replaced.
It took hours at a rest stop waiting for a mechanic with a portable work truck to finish the job. Four Hundred dollars later and she was back on the road. Kim pulled into camp late, and she was one tired and stressed lady. It would take a couple of days of extra sleep to get her back to normal.
The lines on both trailers were old and hard, and 3 out of four were leaking where they go onto the propane tank. The part that is hand tightened, onto the tank was leaking at the backside. I was able to take the good one line off the trailer, and move it over to the toy hauler, and then get a new line for the second tank on the toy hauler. Three new lines will give us all new lines on both the toy hauler and trailer.
The girls, Scarlett 6, and Hailey 8 for the most part are happy and well adjusted. Their life with us would make an interesting movie. There is a lot of joy and laughter around camp, but there are challenging times for sure. Proper discipline has proved challenging for sure. Not so much with Scarlett, but Hailey’s behavior ranges from very good to extremely selfish and self-centered, to even violent, and even defiant. Over the years she has made great gains, and she has become much more loving. However, she is not out of the woods yet.
We got a Ms. Charlie, and Bajenks boy back. He is 2 years old, and is black and white and looks a lot like Charlie. The owners drove from California to the Glendale area and dropped him off with Chris and Lea.
We had been contacted by the owners and told that Rocket had snapped at their son, and they were going to take him to the pound if we did not know of someone who would take him. Kim told them to return him, and we would refund their money.
Chris and Lea, had Rocket for a week before he was returned to us here at summer camp. The story that was given to Chris was that someone brought over some small yapping dogs and Rocket was having a hard time with them, the son grabbed Rocket’s collar, and Rocket turned and snapped at him, not breaking the skin.
Chris said the husband seemed very upset at having to return Rocket, the son was crying the whole time, and the mom was standing there with her arms folded. Chris said that Rocket did not appear to be aggressive to either his family, or his dogs.
Rocket has been with us for 3 days. He has gone on 4 outings, and has not been aggressive so far. He loves the girls, and Hailey has clicked with him, and she calls him, and he comes. Chris said Rocket loves his son, and that’s who he stayed with at his house. Rocket does not respond to me at all. He does not wag his tail when I call his name. He does not recall for me at all. He does stay with the gang, and seems to like being with the other dogs on the outing. But he does not play as yet with the other dogs.
I’m at a loss to really understand this dog, or figure out what kind of life he has led up to the point he has been returned to us. He does howl, and cry whenever he does not see people.
We have also got another call, form someone telling us the dog has proven to be more than they expected.
I’m not even sure of the definition of a hippie. Someone o has long hair and has done drugs. Free love movement etc.
Someone who looks like a hippie, was camping with his two sons just down from us. On Kim’s way out to Wellton, she stopped and told them that they should come down and visit the girls and puppies.
This they did early in the morning Greg, and his two sons, Greg Jr. and Wolfe Gong. Wolfe was 4 years old with very long and very blond hair. Greg Jr. 10 years old and short hair. They girls had a blast playing with these two. Greg Sr. was everything in looks and speech that one would identify as being a hippie.
People as a whole are very interesting to me, and Greg Sr. proved a very interesting person. Well educated, and well-traveled, both the U.S. and world. He and his wife Jessica love the woods and camping. She was home with their new born and he was getting away with the boys for a quick adventure.
Greg Sr. had a hand made cross so we talked of Christianity, then of traveling, hiking, the forest, relationships, kids, family, and then we got around to politics. I at first thought Greg Sr. was a hippie, vegetarian, and demarcate.
It seems that Greg Sr. was neither a Demarcate or Republican, and was not one to even vote, believing that both parties were equally corrupt. Then I find out that Greg Sr. believes in conspiracies. This causes him to look more deeply into things that are going on.
Greg Sr. is a huge fan of Trump, so much that he even considering cutting his long hair.
I also got some pictures of some huge antlered elk a mile or so from camp.
Sunday, August 4, 2019. Morning Outing, Rain, Church, Military Family, Movie, Visitors bearing gifts.
Kylie, and Ryan came up and picked out an Arlo and Tina girl, and spent the night. They brought so much wonderful food and gallons of water. We had a great visit with them.
We also had a visit from Carlos and his wife Marissa who both served many years in the military. Carlos is a Falconer whose last dog did not work out. We were able to give them Angus, a solid black boy out of Scout and Heather. Angus just turned 8 months, they wanted a started dog and I believe Angus will work out very nice for them.
A very nice, and cool morning outing.
Kim and the girls went to church while I tended the dogs and edited some pictures. Later while it was rainy and overcast, we watched Miracle Dogs, for the second time.
August 14, 2019. California to court, Kirime’s pups doing well, Heather has 10 pups today, Kim runs the show at camp and girls are jerks, Rocket a Ms. Charlie and Bajenks does well after being returned, Lot’s of birthdays, Chris and Lea at camp for a few days and pick up a Jack and Katie solid liver girl. Back at camp. A Tina pup dies.
As I begin to type this, one of Tina and Arlo’s beautiful girl pups died. She was just a few days from being 7 weeks. I have been giving a reduced vaccine of kennel cough at 5 weeks old when we do the parvo vaccine. Up until these last two litters we have never had a problem. But both Katie’s and Tina’s litters had some pups that came up coughing. I believe the live virus given to the pups at to early an age caused the problem. Katie’s litter a few weeks older than Tina’s pups overcame the virus, but for one of Tina’s pups it just proved to much.
Kim, Lea, and the girls gave the pup extra doctoring, antibiotics, prednisone, water, and rest. The young pup died in Scarlett’s arms, and the girls took it pretty hard.
Our second to oldest son Jason was going through an extremely tuff custody fight in California and needed either Kim or I at the court hearing. I decided to go, but I was apprehensive about leaving Kim in camp for so many days. She would be in the forest with no service, a lot of dogs, many puppies, plus 6 and 8-year-old granddaughters.
Kim proved to be a fierce leader, and rose to the cause. However, the girls took advantage of her. Hailey the 8-year-old granddaughter was by far the worse. She had wanted to go with me because she wanted the fun of Boden’s 5th birthday party. Hailey being resentful took it out on Kim. Kim as she may, could not get Hailey’s behavior under control. Scarlett seemed to be willing to join in with Hailey’s mis behavior and this compounded Kim’s frustration.
It was very heart braking to me knowing what Kim was enduring with the girls. Hailey had hit the tv and broke it for no apparent reason, she was being very disrespectful and not minding or helping.
I was gone for 5 days with Jack. When I got back to camp on the 5th day it was about 8pm. The girls were in our room watching the bigger tv. This I cancelled, and they were sent to their beds amongst a lot of crying knowing what ever was coming next would not be good.
The next morning after the Moring Outing, I returned to the trailer knowing that both girls were going to get a spanking. I have never been big on spankings, and neither did I grow up in a household where they were common, or raise our w in a home where they were common. The truth is I was at time so frustrated with Hailey’s behavior that I was often at wits end. I told her the spankings were coming if her behavior did not get better, I also threatened to let Kim go live with our other grandkids who all missed her.
I have never given a spanking of over 3 whacks, and never on the bare butt. I made an exception for Hailey. 4 whacks with my belt, on her bare butt. As for Scarlett, she got 2 whacks on her butt over her pants. This caused both girls to cry of course, and then they were told to spend some time thinking about their behavior after they both received a very strong worded schooling down.
Three days have now passed, and in Kim’s words the corrections are having a lasting impression. Well that’s still to be seen.
Meanwhile back at Camp, it’s camp life as usual. Outings where all the dogs run free and hunt. Trips to the water where they get to run, swim and retrieve bumpers. Trips into Parks Az. to fill the tanks at 200 gallons at a time. Trash to be deliver to the dumpster at the same time as getting water. Friends and puppy people who come to camp to be visited with. The girls school work has started and this takes up a large part of Kim’s day. Dogs and puppies to be trained and worked with. A once a week big laundry trip to Flagstaff to catch up on laundry. An Evening Outing with the gang, and then bed time for the gang and pups.
The A team sleep inside the trailer with us. Some in a large group sleeping area, some in the living room, and some back with us. The teens and some B team dogs get the kennel trailer in their kennels. Guest dogs get the bottom inside 2nd group sleeping area or the kennel trailer. Ki’s pups are in the 2nd camp trailer, and Heather’s are in the main trailer living room whelping box. Tina’s, and the 4 pups left of Bella’s and Katie’s sleeping on the main trailer covered porch area in crates that are covered and open, so they can eat, drink, and go to the bathroom at will.
Kim tends to drive to cell service every other day or so. Propane in every few weeks, dog food is once a week, and groceries maybe once or twice a week. Showers for the girls is almost every night. Movies are getting less and less, one or two a week now. More reading and books for the girls, as well as Kim and I.
Mornings start at approx. 530 am, and no later than 6am. The dogs get their last walk before sundown, the dogs are put up, and dinner in there somewhere, the girls shower and go to bed, and Kim and I are in bed early, well before 9pm. The weather cools down fast after the sun goes down, and makes for nice sleeping with our windows open. No mosquitoes, what a blessing.
What is camp life like with two young granddaughters, and a large kennel of German Shorthairs? We are at approx. 12 A team dogs, 4 teenagers, and a couple of B team dogs, always a couple visiting, and a couple of dozen pups of various ages.
Camp life is broken down to various routines. If they are easy, then most of camp life is easy. The A team dogs make for an easy e. Twelve to 15 well behaved GSPs are a dream to work with. Far easier than you would believe. They come when called, never run off, get along great, load up when it’s time to go, go into their sleeping or resting area, at a single call. I mean the area in the trailer that is 5 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 3 and a half feet tall. There are two of these areas, one above the other. They hold 10 dogs each. The top one has thick artificial grass.
The A team dogs love this area, and are always happy to go there. This makes it super easy to handle the A team dogs. No catching each dog individually and putting them into a crate, and then letting them out individually. All that is required is to first open the door to the inside of the living area, then moving the chair over to the sleeping area door, or putting the couch into a bed. A simple whistle and call get all the A team dogs bounding into the living room and up into their sleeping area. This takes only a few minutes, often less than 1 minute will get all the A team dogs into the trailer, and into their sleeping areas. Lady and Dusty always stay in our room, and sometimes Sophie.
I can with a little more time, get most of the younger dogs into the bottom sleeping area. However, they mostly are put up on the chains or in the kennel trailer. That said, all dogs can and most often are just left in camp where they just hand out and play, or sleep. Most often they are content with the outings that we go on at least twice a day. Most dog clock in about 12 miles a day, so they feel no need to take off and hunt on their own.
Food and water are left for free feeding and drinking so the overall routine with the dogs takes time, but is an easy routine most of the time. Pups in the whelping box until 4 weeks old is very easy, and when the come out of the box they are allowed to run free in camp and they free feed and drink. The young pups become extremely socialized with camp life which is a huge plus.
The grandkids take up a lot of time, but they can and are often a big help. They love the dogs, and pups, and they are a huge part of the girl’s lives. The reality is that the girls know not a life without the dogs. The girls, handle the dogs with total confidence. They move them at will to where ever the dogs need to go. The love and kindness that they show all dogs from pups to seniors is remarkable to watch. The girls know every aspect of the kennel world, form mating, to whelping and everything in between. They are also excellent with our friends, and puppy families. The girls know each and every dog, and each of their puppies, and many of our extended dog families. I would say, that the dogs have done about as much for the girls, as the girls have I for the dogs.
Often camping is just as hard weather two weeks or two months. Often the same equipment and supplies are needed. For us it’s the routine of activities such as church for the girls and Kim, while I stay in camp. Laundry, water, tanks, power, cleaning, picking up poop, cooking and eating, and resting, thinking, and talking. These and others are what make up camp life. For us at this time it’s not a huge amount of sightseeing. Kim has the BearAzona passes, and for me it’s exploring the forest with the Gang.
Kim says she enjoys the pups, dogs, and girls playing, the many fun visitors. The cool weather, solitude to read and think, games on her phone, great sunsets, and having me close by.
For me it’s the dogs of course, I just love them, and spending time with them and watching them be dogs, and enjoying their life with us. It brings me much joy to watch them hunt on the many hundreds of hours that I am with them of outings. I am amazed at the love and respect that the dogs have for each other. How well the hunt, play, and just live together.
Huge enjoyment of the taking of photos, and then editing and posting them to the web site or Facebook. The writing, and studding about the dogs. Being with Kim, and working with her, and always being amazed by her loving and fun outlook on life. How well she takes care of the dogs, and girls, and friends, as well as me.
I get a big enjoyment and fulfillment in the study of the Bible, and Christianity. I have in my Bible marks all the passages that deal with how to live a Christian life, the what to dos as well as the what not to dos. I enjoy going back over that each year or too.
I enjoy the challenges of camp life and the dogs.
But what I miss most is my family, kids, and grandkids.
Aug. 22, 2019. Summer Camp keeps on moving on. The girls have started home school with Kim, which they call trailer school. Kim has put a lot of time and energy picking out just the right curriculum for the girls. I know it is very time consuming on Kim’s part. I was talking to her about making the school year around, and teaching every other day. That way on the day she is not teaching she could do the things she likes to do, as well as maybe getting the girls exploring the sights, and thus doing more learning. Also not having the big gaps for time off they would always be in the learning mode.
The desk top is once again in the shop at Best Buys. We have a service plan that allows us to take the computers in at any time and most everything is covered. I wanted to have them up grade the hard drive to something faster, and more memory. I asked them about getting another lap top that was in the same class as the desk top, and they told me that the starting cost would be around $1,400.00, so that is out.
Our son’s best friends who they do Cub Scouts with came to camp and spent a few days. What a wonderful visit. Luka, Aleksandra, and their two kids Bouyon and Moitsa. The family is from Slovenia the same county that Melaena Trump is from. They were here to pick up a puppy, as well as Bella.
The first trip with the Svetina family was to the Grand Canyon. Kim’s first visit, Luka stayed in camp with me, and Kim and Alek took the kids. Everyone was quite excited when they returned. The next visit was when Kim and Alek took the kids to Bearazona, and Luka once again stayed in camp with me. I must say we had a great visit.
In the morning both Luka and Alek accompanied the Gang and I on a Morning Outing. I remembered them remarking how much the dogs loved the outing. I have been told that often by people who have been on the outings.
One of the things that I learned was how hard it was for the Svetina family to get to America, and how expensive it was. They love America and spent some time explaining to me why America is so much better than Europe. One big problem is the low wages, and extremely high taxes.
One area that could be improved would be cell service, one of the cell boosters on the market may salve the problem, wish I would have attended to that before we left. Also, some kind of Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi tethering would be a big help at times. It’s a little hard to run a business from the road without them.
Our options at this time for the future are: To California, back to Wellton, Travel and hunt, leave some dogs at home in Wellton with someone to watch them and travel to hunt, or California, or travel for travel’s sake.
Aug. 25, 2019, Cows everywhere, OnX Premium Mapping Solutions, Puppies, and Camp Life. Last night the cows came into the field in front of camp. In the morning there were a hundred cows near camp. We have two sets of e-collars. One set is Garmin LC Delta, with 12 collars. The second one is the Garmin/Tri Tronics with 9 collars. The Delta is really for 3 collars, but I have it set up for all 12 collars that work off one button. If I push the tone, vibrate, or stimulate button, all 12 collars will work at the same time. The Tri Tronics is designed to control 9 different collars that correlate with either colors or numbers.
I new that there would be some of our dogs that wanted to either chase or bark at the cows or both. Before letting the dogs out for the morning, the girls, Kim and I placed the training collars on the dogs. The A team got the Delta collars, knowing that there would be no need to shock the A team dogs, that the tone and or vibrate would work. The B team dogs, and younger teens received the Tri Tronics collars. Ann got 1-1, Barock 1-2, Blue 1-3, Arlo 2-1, Dan 2-3, Rocket 3-2, Buddy 3-3, and Bajenks even though an A team dog received 2-2.
First, we let the A team out and they seen the cows, I told them no, and gave them both a tone, and then a vibrate. This was all that was needed. Then the B team and young dogs were let out. It was no surprised that Ann was the first one to go out to the cows. Remember when she was very young, she went after a big bull. I must confess that I should have already introduced her in a formal manner the training collar. This would have been by first teaching her the to re-call with a long line, then the long line and the training collar. But it goes to show, that the training collar without proper introduction will discourage behavior, weather snakes, or cows. Ann responded as expected when stimulation was applied via her collar. She decided that cows were not worth it and returned to camp.
Barock who is like Ann also needed some stimulation to encourage him to ignore cows, and return to camp. While all the dogs had their collars on, we went on our Morning Outing. We all walked by the cows, and all went as expected. All dogs left the cows to their business. Dogs tend to pose little danger to cattle, cattle don’t perceive the dogs as a danger, and thus don’t run from the dogs. Dogs don’t tend to chase things that don’t run.
One headache for both Kim and I is the need for both cell service, and Wi-Fi to conduct some aspects of the business. On one of these business outings, I incorporated a visit to Sportsmen’s Warehouse, and while there I picked up a Gun Dog Magazine that had the bird forecast, and an article about hunting in Az. with Shortairs. I also picked up the OnX hunting chip, and app for their mapping programs. Many of my friend have this program, and they just love it.
I put the chip in the Garmin hand held, but have not downloaded the program to the phone or computer. I have spent a few hours since then with the chip in the hand held. I have had a few of the hand held GPS systems, and I’m always amazed with them. I even hid items for the girls to find with it. Sportsmen’s even gave a 20 dollars gift card with the OnX.
Meanwhile back at Camp we have puppies. Bonnie has 3 new girls. Bred to Scout, she has one black and to liver. Ki has her 6 pups that are 3 weeks old, Heather has 7 solid black pups that are a couple of weeks old. One was born with no scalp. Either that or Heather licked it off just after he was born. I also think he will have a problem with one on his eyes.
We have kept back a couple of pups, a boy from Bella and Bajenks, and a boy from Jack and Katie. Both boys are liver roan. Bella’s boy we are calling BBson, with stands for Bella and Bajenks son. The boy from Jack and Katie, is about a week younger than BBson. Jack’s son is named Jackson, for Jack’s son.
Both of these pups are doing great. Both are extremely friendly and loving. BBson is going to be bigger, he is darker, and extremely handsome, and one of the most loving of pups. Both point well, and are retrieving. Jackson is the first male, and the first liver dog that we have kept back from him. Katie is Jack’s half-sister. She is a full brother to David, and is Bajenks aunt. Katie, David, and Jack have the best of mothers, and in Jackson we want to get a concentration of his grandmother Lacey. Jack is a black roan, and Katie is a solid liver. David a liver roan. The four daughters we have out of Jack are: Ms. Charlie a black ticked out of Lady, Heather a solid black out of Jackie B’s daughter, Bonnie a black ticked out of Lily a liver white, and Bella a black roan out of Jill a black roan.
Arlo out of Bella and Rob, and Tina out of Sophie and Bajenks have some very nice roan pups that are almost 8 weeks old. There is a tiny male runt that is a fire ball, and a girl a tad bit bigger. Kim called them Tiny Tim, and Tiny Tina. We are looking to maybe keep back on girl. There is a darker girl, and a very silver roan that reminds me so much of Dolly.
Sept. 1, 2019. First day of Dove, Grouse, and Chucker season. Meanwhile back at camp. Even the cows are in a routine. They come into the field in front of camp in the evening, and in the med morning they head south to Red Tank. The dogs are pretty well accustomed to the cows. Now they don’t even bark at them. There was however, one incident where we were out on an outing and the dogs surrounded a cow and were barking at her. I did not take time to take a picture or get a video. They were jumping in and out to beat the band. Chris and Lea were there as well.
I grabbed a stick and jumped in and yelled at the dogs and they all backed off. The cow was so worked up that she charged me and I had to poke her between the eyes, which had instant results causing her to stop immediately. Chris was right there with me getting the dogs away from the cow. That was the first and last problem we had with a cow. Now the dogs just walk right by the cows and don’t even give them another look.
The last couple of morning we have changed up the routine a bit. In the morning we all get going early, Kim the girls and I. We gave all the dogs and pups worm medicine, which has to be done 3 days in a row, and we also gave all the dogs and pups coccidia meds which had to be done only once. After that was the morning outing, and this morning Scarlett went with us. After the outing the girls helped with breakfast.
Breakfast has become somewhat of a big deal to both the girls and pups. Cheezie eggs cooked like a pancake is something we all like, this morning we added bacon. Just eggs, cooked bacon and cheese cooked like a pancake on the BBQ.
Most of the big dogs are put up, but the pups are left out. After we finish eating, I call all the pups to me by saying pup pup excitedly. This is one way I teach the pups to come with enthusiasm when call. I set back away from the table and hand feed all the pups, it’s very rewarding.
Camp life is very peaceful, it’s quiet, cool, and watching the dogs, and puppies is very joyful. The puppies are like a special magic, and we are blessed, and know that not everyone is privileged to such things. Puppies just have that magic, like turning men and women into little boys and girls.
The way puppies play, the way they run somewhat un-coordinated with their big ears flopping. They run and jump on you, always happy to see you. They grab your pant leg, and bit at your feet as you walk. They lick your face, and wag their tails. They dog file, fight and play with each other. It often looks like a puppy WWF match. We have them in camp at a week ole, two weeks old, 5 weeks old, and 8 and 9 weeks old. They live free in camp and have their own wonderful puppy routine that blesses us every day. As I set and watch the puppies in camp I see different things they like to do, and so much of it is cute. One may pick up an old flattened football that they can hardly carry as they try and run off with it. They love to pick up something and try and run off to have it all to themselves, and then it’s like a sister who see the other one with a toy, and now that’s the one they want to play with. So, another pup will see the other one with a top, and now it’s all about trying to get it from them, and if they can’t there might be a lot of barking at the one with the toy, like that will get them to give it up. And puppy barking in itself is always a funny thing, and the younger the puppy the funnier it is. Then there is also the sneak attack, where one pup stalks another and jumps on it, and then a big fight breaks out. The older pups and dogs have perfected the art of sparring. The jump, dodge, bit, counter, run away and charge back often until one knocks the other down, and then they are the winner until the one on the ground gets up, and all the time there is no real biting or being mean. This type of playing starts at just a few weeks, and I have seen dogs as old as 14 who still want to play fight from time to time. It’s always cute to see an older dog laying down trying to rest and a pup come up and climb all over them, often biting an ear or leg.
We can often see a put laying in one of the foldup chairs, and it’s not un-common to see two or three fighting in the chair, or playing king of the chair. If a box is left out, there is sure to be a king of the box, and puppies will be jumping in and out of the box like they lost their mind. Then there is always the open kennel crate, where one to all the pups like to pile in, and often you will see an older dog laying in the crate with a pup or two. I love puppies.
Then there are the special times when you set on the floor or ground with the pups and have them tackle you, climb on you, or just lay on you or next to you. Often you will have the whole little fall a sleep on your lap, legs and near you touching you as they sleep.
Then when they get 7 or 8 weeks old and want to go on morning outing with you, that is a wonderful time, a time when you get to see them develop right in front of your eyes. That’s a time for priceless pictures because they are so cute, doing cute things and they are always pretty close. There are always the ones when they are running to you with their big ears flopping every which way. Or maybe they are going on point, or retrieving something, or picking something up that is to big for them, or the dozens of ones where they just stand there looking at you.
To think it all starts when they are born, the mom starts nesting and you know time is getting close, and you check the calendar to see how close it is to their due day of the 63rd day. Then it’s time and mom pushes, and you are there to see that everything goes well. Then there is a puppy in a sack, and you help clean the pup, and may even cut the cord to release the pup from the prenatal life to start the new one under the care of you and mom, and later just you. The pup is wet, and you may help to dry the pup, and you check the temp and turn the heater up a bit or the air is set to a higher temp to ensure the pup and later the whole litter is kept warm.
Then you worry that the mom may lay on one of the pups while the pups are still to small to be safe completely form such things, so you sleep next to the pups so you might be there if the pup or mom should need you. You wake up at ever odd sound that either the pup or mom makes. You keep the bedding fresh and dry for mom and the pups.
Mom continues on her special diet, at first because she was making babies, not because she is nursing them. You make a note of colors, patches, the sex of each, pup and the weight at birth. You monitor the pups to make sure each is eating, and any small pups are constantly placed on a nipple every time you enter the room or wake up. You move pups that are on her backside, to her frontside so they can eat and remain safe.
You are looking to see who will be getting their roaning which will start in about a week of their birth. And then around 5 days you will be cutting their tails and dew clays so you check the tail cutting box for the two pair of scissors you will be using, and the super glue and bits of paper towel that will be clued on the wounds that are left after the tails and dew claws are removed. How long will their tails be left this time? Cut the tails at the tapper, the 40 percent mark, or maybe you will leave them at 50 percent.
Now the roaning in coming in, and their eyes will start of open and their tails will start healing well. You check them out often, and admire how beautifully they are developing. More pictures of the pups are being taken. You feel safer about nothing going wrong now and leave the heavy work for mom. You keep food, and water in front of her, and keep the bedding clean. She however is cleaning the pups, and there is little sign of pee or poop, and it’s pretty much on auto pilot for now.
It’s about time to start thinking of ordering shots, getting their puppy packets together, and other items that will go in their puppy bag when they go home. I will set down at the computer and maybe get a page for them on the website, work up their pedigree on the pedigree program, and start thinking about which pup I might keep myself. Kim will start contacting people on the list, or take call from inquiring soon to be friends who are looking for a pup.
Then three weeks have past and the puppies are walking around, and have all their coloring for the most part. They may have their first taste of a wet dog food of some kind. They will be pooping more, and most moms will be keeping up, because the mom take care of that. At time weeks the pups are moving well, pooping all over the place, and their whelping box is a huge mess and they need to be moved, before this you may have been moving them to a play area in the day, and back to their whelping box, or bigger inside whelping area, but now at five weeks, mother is getting tired of them, you have cut the pups nails, but they are still painful, and the pups teeth are razor sharp. Wanting the mom to regain her figure, and take pressure off her the pups are moved to a new area. They are moved to an are that allows for outside movement, and yet inside sleeping.
A kennel where they can sleep, and come outside to eat, play, drink and relieve themselves. They still can’t get up and down stairs or over obstacles well at 5 weeks, but very soon after this they will be able to be moved into a bigger outside/inside area. Now at five weeks we give their first shot of Vanguard plus 5 and place their microchip between their shoulder blades. Sometimes we wait until 6 weeks, but 5 weeks have worked so well for us that we are comfortable with that.
Five to seven weeks we let them explore their area, and always give them lots of toys. Now is also the time to really start playing with them. At seven weeks we give them their second shot, same one as the 5-week shot. Now we test them with a modified Volhund, and pointing dog test. We walk away from them and see if they follow or come when called, we bang a pan, toss a paper to see if they retrieve. The pup is placed on it’s back to see if it remains calm or fights to get up. We then work a sock on a fishing pole tied with a string to see if the pups chases, and or points. We often video this, and also write the results down. By now with the test, and our observations we can evaluate the temperaments of the puppies.
Now between 7 and 8 weeks we will introduce the pups to birds and cap gun fire. The new owners will come and pick up their new family member and I will have picked out the pup from the litter that I will be keeping. The pups that are not sold will then start training. Leash, field, crate, etc. The pup I kept back and often some of the other will start mini hunt type outings often with the older dogs. If the weather is good, we will start their water work, and introduction to launcher, more birds and gunfire.
That my friends are the life of Puppies at Desert Point Kennel. If the pup I keep backs makes the grade, and has a strong natural point and back, loves the water, has a natural retrieve, work with me on hunts and does not run over the landscape hunting on their own, and has a wonderful loving temperament than they will inter the kennel as a Gang member and help build the Totem.
Did I mention that I love Puppies?
I finished 33 pages or so on the German Shorthair, writing about their early development and explaining what the breed has become in America.
We have kept back 4 pups to look at while at summer camp. 2 are from Katie, and Jack, a boy and a girl. Both are liver roan, the girl Shea is dark liver roan, and Jackson is liver ticked and looks like his uncle David. The 3rd dark liver roan looks like Shea, and he is out of Bella and Bajenks and we are calling him BBson. He is a great looking pup. He is nice and big with a very nice head. Bella is out of Jack and Jill, Jill is David and Katie’s half-sister on the sire’s side, Jack is David and Katie’s half-brother on the dam’s side. The fourth pup is out of Tina and Arlo, she is a beautiful silver roan girl who reminds me of Dolly. We are calling her Sterling. Tina is out of Bajenks and Sophie, Sophie being the German girl, and Bajenks being out of David and Vera, and Vera out of Jack and Dolly. So far, these girls are looking very nice. The older 3 are going on almost every outing, and Sterling has been on a few.
Sept. 17, 2019. Just over the 3 months mark at Summer Camp.
Camp, Outings and hunting, gives a person a lot of time to think and reflect. To re-center, focus, and then move forward with the best life plan one can come up with. There is time to read books, spend time reflecting on the teachings of the Bible, think of things you did that were both good and not so good, set things straight by doing only good things in the future. You have time to think of friends and relationships of the past and present, often wishing for the old days.
The certain things that I have come up with are that your wife is your best friend, and is most often the only person who you can really rely on, and a one should spend more time on really trying to help your kids and grandkids navigate life. More time should be spent on being a better Christian, and many friends you think are good friends are only so if you are the one putting in the work.
Summing up Summer Camp. Beating the summer heat. Camp has been very rewarding. A few challenges, but nothing we have not been able to overcome. There was the water problem, but thanks to Glenn and the use of his trailer and a couple of water tanks, and a trip to Parks once a week, we got passed that one. The A team dogs have been a breeze to care for. The B team dogs which are younger have taken some working with but all in all they have been pretty easy as well.
Then there have been the small pups. We have had 3 litters born here at camp, and one litter that was brought up when they were 7 weeks old. A lot of dogs from pups to adults.
We have of course had a blast with the dogs. Everyday there have been outings, from one to four outings, and from 1 to 3 miles each. The land up here has been truly breathtaking. Beautiful meadows, high ridges, and pine forests to die for. Exploring new areas is always a most enjoyable part of outings. Porcupines were a big headache for a while until Sophie decided to leave them alone.
Sommer Camp outings are all about the pups and young dogs. The idea is to get them to love outings and hunting. They learn to handle the terrain, up and over logs and rocks, through and around brush, etc. The pups and young dogs learn to stay with me at first but also love to reach out with the older dogs. So, in doing they learn to keep track of me while hunting with the gang. The pups most often start out at around 8 weeks old going on outings. Each day a new outing, and each day more experience for the pups. As important as the experience is, the love of hunting coincides the experience.
All then that is needed is game. Just add game to the outings, to gain experience and then before long you have a hunting dog. But it’s progression of the pups wherein is the joy. It starts at about 3 weeks old; the pups start walking around the whelping box. They are so fricking cute, and there is most likely one or two that are looking pretty good to you. The joy of picking the pups up and holding them, and it’s the beginning of you getting to interact with the pups. After holding is making them food and putting milk on the food and then calling the pups as you place them around the food.
The calling of the pups to food is their first training, it goes on from their but the outing are where things start to really take place. If there is game, then little else needs to be done. Just hunt, and shoot game, let the young dogs retrieve and it will all come together. If know game at first you might want to add shooting, and some pen raised birds of some king.
Watching the young dogs turn into happy hunting dogs that love and respond to you is the real pleasure.
Summer Camp is more than dogs, and pups. There are the grandkids, the wife of course, friends that come up to spent time with us, the challenges of making camp work, and running both your life and business in the wilderness away from phone, and internet service.
There are the many blessings, such as having your best friend with you every day. The cool evenings, and nights where you are blessed to have the windows open and the wonderful fresh cool air coming in with the peace and quiet of the nights as you companion.
For us also is the challenge of taking care of two grandkids, both girls, one 7 and the other 8. The challenge of working and molding, loving and caring for two little girls who have know little during their lives but turmoil and strife.
We are living in an area that almost gets no other human visitors. Most days it’s Kim, the two girls, and the dogs and I. The last couple of weeks have been hundreds of cattle sharing the area as well. Since there is no service, one is not spending hours on the phone checking such things as facebook etc. No TV stations so it’s a movie now and then and the radio.
You tend to be a friend of the outside. The girls spend a lot of time playing outside, which is always a good idea. I like to set outside and watch the pups and dogs playing around camp when not busy with other duties.
Sept. 20, 2019. A road trip to Alpine Utah to pick up 2 pups. We had helped Gina Stark and her Aspin Kennel with two of our girls. Both Holly and Blaise were sent to her in whelp. Blaise had been bred to Ruger. Blaise being out of Bajenks and Tonya, and Ruger out of Tank and Mya, Tank being a Versatile Champion and Mya out of the No-Mars line. Holly is also out Tank, and a German DK. Holly had been bred to Arlo, who is out of Rob and Bella. Rob himself being out of Versatile Champion on his sire’s side, and a Shoot to Retrieve Champion on his Dam’s side.
Granddaughter Scarlett who had just turned 7 would be making the 8-hour road trip with me. She was excellent on the trip and she enjoyed herself. The landscape on Hwy 89 was stunning, and I did get a few pictures. The trip proved un-eventful until the return trip. 20 miles or so north of Kanab where a sign said Mt. Carmel at about 12:30 am two does ran out in front of me. I slowed and almost missed them, but one crashed into the front passenger’s side. Quite a bit of damage, but the car remained well enough to make the 3 hour drive home.
It was a quick trip, or as quick as trip as you can make when there is a least 16 hours of driving. Alpine Utah was a very nice town, as the base of a mountain range. I had a nice visit with Gina who I had never met. She had a very nice place, and Holly and Blaise were in excellent shape, and seemed very happy to see me. I had to hold back a tear as I was loving on them. Their pups also looked very nice, all being a very pretty dark roan.
We had given Gina both Holly and Blaise in whelp, and there had been no money exchanged at that time. She would pay for them after she sold some pups, and we would also take a pick puppy from both litters. We did this to help a young single mother, and Gina showed genuine appreciation for our help and trust.
We made it back to camp in time for me to sleep from 4am to 7am, where I got up to take the Gang on an Outing, then back to sleep until noon where we went on a second outing. I am thinking of naming the girls Lavern and Sherly.
Jackson the little boy out of Jack and Katie is winning my heart. He is a very happy and joyful boy. He is always happy to see me, and he runs up to me and I scoop him up in my arms, lift him to my chest where it licks my face. Jackson loves to point, and when we are out, he is often found on a beautiful point on a bird or grasshopper, or something. Jackson is also the best little retriever, anything I toss he runs to get it and retrieve it back to me; he just loves retrieving. Jackson is a handsome boy having the lighter ticking like Sophie or David. In fact Jackson looks very much like his uncle David.
One more thing about Jackson is he is always ready to go on the outings. He started at 7 weeks old, and now he is always ready to go with his sister, and BBson, they never have to be called, they are just ready when the older dogs head out. Jackson was born on 6-7-19, so he is about 14 weeks old.
Oct. 2, 2019 Grouse Hunt, Granddaughter Charlie is Here, Elk, Lava Cave, Grand Canyon, More BearAzona.
Camp life will be winding down soon, and we will be headed back to Welton Az. There have been sittings of Grouse on the mountain above us. It seems that they were planted there in the 40s. One of our friends Bill who has one of our dogs made a couple of hunts up there and found grouse so I invited Chris who has a few of our dogs to come up and make the hike with me, him being in good shape.
Bill had giving me the coordinates so it would be less hit and miss, because it’s a huge area. Our camp is at about 7500 feet, and the grouse were spotted at about 8500 feet.
I had been a little worried that the steep hike would prove miserable, and maybe even painful. Even though I had been walking and hiking up here the last four months. The hike, even though steep, and often very rugged walking on the side of steep hills, or over very ruff rocks, and often loose rocks, and often on very faint steep elk trails proved to be just a little demanding. The weather was cool, so there was no sweating. My legs, feet, and ankles, proved to be very much up to the task. I was never breathing hard, and in fact it just proved to be one of the most beautiful outing ever. My Danner Pronghorn boots proved to be outstanding. I have been blessed with powerful legs, ankles and feet and they have never let me down.
Chris went one way around to get to the area, and I another way. I soon found myself on a then game trail on the side of a steep hill. I had Jack and young Buddy with me. The side hill was pretty bare, but the two dogs were doing their best, to work up and down, and then back with me.
I soon was hearing a bull elk bugling. I was not sure at first if it really was a bull elk, or a hunter trying to call in a bull elk by bugling. I was thinking that if it was a hunter they were not sounding to good. I decided to see if I could get close enough to see if it really was a bull elk, so I headed up a rocky draw.
I called the dogs to walk with me and stay close, which they both did. The bull continued to call. I asked Chris via the hand held if he could hear the elk, and he said that it was so windy where he was that he could not hear anything because the wind was blowing so hard.
After a bit I spotted some cow elk where the bugling was coming from. Then there were more cows, and the bull was coming in and out of the cows I was viewing. He was a nice bull, not a giant but a bull the g his bugling. He had a nice and very white rack.
If I had been hunting elk, the approx. one hundred yard shot would have been easy one of the cows but would have proved extremely difficult on bull. He was very busy coming and going, keeping track of his harem. I was able to get some good pictures of the cows lightened by the sun, but I never did get a full body shot of the bull.
The small herd moved up the very thick covered ridge, and I was able to get ahead of them by moving up the draw, and I was able to catch them moving through a small opening. One again I could get a good view of some of the cows walking in front of a large pine that the sun was shining on, but the bull walked behind the pine. That was the last time I saw or heard the bull, and his herd.
I must say that was worth the outing, and was very exciting to me. I was about ¼ mile from Bill coordinates when Chris let me know that he was at the coordinates and was not seeing any grouse. I told him to hunt any likely areas, and that I would do the same.
I decided to continue climbing, and found some areas pretty challenging. Some big boulders were blocking where I wanted to go and I had to pick my way over them. Then there were game trails that at least left the rocks exposed enough to see where I would be stepping.
All along the landscape was fabulous. Picking out routes were challenging at times but it never seemed a chore because everything seemed so perfect. I was hunting, and exploring with my dogs. I was seeing Gods beauty in perfect windy weather. In a 4 mile hike I was able to see such versatile landscape.
The were areas of pine, rocky areas both in the draws, and on the ridges. Valley areas with beautiful ferns of various vibrant colors. There were aspen groves decorated in their white and grey. Areas of huge growths of wild rose, and some kind of willow looking brush, sometimes found in large acres of boulders. These being found on the edge of a large grassy field. All of this found around 8600 feet.
You are so high that you can see for hundreds of miles. You can see small ranches miles away, thick pine forests below you, as well as many large open meadows in the valley below your sky-high view. You are able to stop and watch a hawk gliding above you while you snap a few pictures of all you are seeing to share with others.
Taking time to stop admire, and reflect on how blessed you are. Watching the dogs exploring their surroundings as well. Knowing how much they enjoy what they doing.
There are other things that may just be special to you. For me there are these little sparrow type birds, that have white on both sides of their tail feathers. They have become special to me because they have become so much apart of the young dogs lives at camp. They love the open meadow, and hold well for the dogs, and flush just outside the dog’s reach. So here I am at 8700 feet in a grass meadow, and here are the same small birds. They have proven very hard to get a good photo of, in part because they are hard to focus on. Then while I am stopped, awing at my view, one of these birds lands on a burnt stump just feet in front of me. Then the bird sits still while I get him in focus and I snap a couple of perfect pictures.
Even though the hunt never resulted in even a siting of a grouse the hunt proved to be very satisfying.
When I got back to the truck, I was able to hear about Chris’ hunt. No grouse sited either. He had taken his 3 older dogs and his young pup and that was enjoyable. He did say at one point a rock gave way and he took about a four foot tumble. Nothing broken, but some pretty good cuts on his wrist, and a hurt hip, leg and finger. I had to remark: “You young guys”.
It’s hard not to slip and fall, often you are walking of very difficult terrain. A rock slips, you trip over something, the earth gives way, you catch your leg on something, you lose balance. Your dog steps in front of you. I was almost back to the truck walking on the side of a hill that was covered with small lava rocks. I was thinking about how well I was liking these Danner Pronghorn books, when Iike walking on marbles I fell flat. Jack and Buddy were there to see if I was ok. So you never know, one second you are on your feet and the next you are not.
Our granddaughter Charlie who is 16 has come to summer camp for a visit. Charlie and Gage often came with us for the summer. Then because their mother got made at us, they were no longer allowed to come. Charlie could write an interesting book. Both her mom and dad, and then both step parents were addicted to meth. She has been through quite a bit. Then recently her dad and step mom went through a divorce and she no longer see her step brother who she is close to. With the divorce we no longer are official grandparents, but we don’t play that. Step grandkids are real grandkids, and removed grandkids will always be grandparents.
After the divorce her mom and dad asked her if there was anything, they could do for her or if there was anything she wanted to do? She told them that she wanted to visit Grandma, and Grandpa. Kim and I are friends with mom, and dad and have always treated both of them well, so they were both on board with that. Kim and I have always loved Charlie, she has always been a kind and sweet girl.
We have been trying to make an adventurous visit for her. So a lot of time with Kim, a trip to the lava cave, the Grand Canyon, Bearazona, and whatever else we can think of. While here, her name sake Ms. Charlie has had pups and that has been special. We are going to hate to see her go.
Summer Camp came to an end on Oct. 10, 2019. That gave us a few days short of 4 months at Summer Camp. It would take a couple days to break down camp, and a two more trips to pick up the other two trailers. Even though it was October it was still 100 degrees in the valley and the trip home reminded me why we are summer camp. The truck over heated pulling the heavy toy hauler up the steep hills on Hwy 17. The f150 has the v6 ecco boost with the twin turbos. It produces a lot of torque, but the turbos have a tendency to overheat. So I had to slow down to a crawl, and turn on the heater to bring the heat down. The on Hwy 8 at 100 degrees we had a flat tire. Lots of fun changing a tire on the hot pavement at 100.
The great thing about Summer Camp was the development of the young dogs, now back home this will continue and we will be able to do more water work and get on some wild birds.
Kim is glad to be home, and back into a house.
If you have ever spent a summer in the Yuma Az. area you will understand the reason to get out. We have summered in a few places, such as northern California, Montana and Washington. The first was northern California to be closer to the kids. This however presented a few problems. First is that the summers in Amador County where we wanted to go are also very hot. Not uncommon to average around 90+, and be in the 100s, and hit around the 105s. Also, where we wanted to go was loaded with ticks, and had no electricity.
Our Toy hauler is set up for boon docking, or living off the grid. We have around 900 watts of solar, a 5000-watt generator as well as a choice 2000-watt generator. The real problem is keeping cool in the heat. Air conditioners are designed to drop the temp about 20 degrees, after that the air conditioners can't keep up. Running the generator all the time even if it did keep the trailer cool would make us slaves to the trailer and do nothing for the dogs and puppies, we would have with us. They would be stuck in the heat and really the morning would be the only time to do something with them.
We looked at parks where Kim and the girls could stay but could not really find anything that worked. Tried to find property with electric proved too much for the budget.
Flagstaff seemed the logical answer, but a part of me really wants to get to where the kids are but that just proved too much. So, Flagstaff it would be. We looked at 1 to 10-acre pieces of land and almost went that way. Some land was going for about 1000 dollars an acre.
The reason for Flagstaff area is of course the weather, which is approx. 75 degrees in the summer which is 30 to 40 degrees cooler than Wellton. Also, it is only 5 hours away from home, and being in Az. is a huge plus. I have checked the Flagstaff area out a few times and it is really a treasure in so many ways. The weather of course, lots to do and lots of open public land with free camping. The people are great, and the area is almost perfect for the dogs. Cool weather, both forest and open ground, and the forest and open ground is lacking of such things as underbrush such as in California, and Washington. California where we like to go in the mountains is full of mountain misery. The ferns that grow up and make getting around in it very difficult. Also, in Flagstaff, no ticks, fleas or mosquitos. Any idea how nice that is? In Washington the girls had bad reactions to mosquito bites. That being a big reason we did not go to Alaska. Also, no rattlesnakes, or cactus. The only thing I was thinking we would have to worry about are people and porcupines.
So, Flagstaff area it is. How to make it work. That area in the summer grounds of the pointing dog groups, the people who do trials and hunting tests, so that would be a plus in case we wanted to try it.
The National Shoot to Retrieve Association and maybe the Arizona Pointing Dog Club were the only two I was really interested in. While attending a NSTRA event around Parks Az. with my friend Rashawn Gordon I learned at the site of the event, in the past had also been a trainer who summered there with his dogs. This seems as good a place as any, and better than most so this is what I set my sights on. It also had the added advantage of a porta potty being left there from the trial.
Now to put it all together and make it work. This proved challenging in so many ways. It got to the point where we had so many vehicles, and so much equipment that I just had to say, let's do this. We had the bus not set up for traveling with the dogs. It was running great, and we had license and tags. I got a 1997 Ford F150 that I had $2000 in. A nice 2nd trailer that was ready to go if we needed it. The Toy Hauler was ready able and almost willing. We had friends that we willing to help us at the home front.
I must admit there was a little sense of being overwhelmed, which is unusual for me. There is, of course, the money I had spent on the extra trailer, bus, and pickup that kind of put us in a tight spot. There was making sure that Kim and the girls were taken care of. But the biggest challenge was the dogs. We were close to 37 counting the little puppies.
The dogs from about 12 weeks to adults would be handled in the following manner: An outdoor area comprised of chains and stakes, and an indoor sleeping area, of the Toy hauler, cargo trailer and the back of the pickup. So, I bought about 130 feet of chain and cut them into 6-foot lengths. Then put a swivel in them and a snap. The 2.0 chain was perfect to put a one-foot stake, which is just a one-foot nail in the end. This was almost perfect. The nail could be put through the end of the chain and driven into the ground. This in itself made an excellent swivel. And the fact that they were less than a dollar was also a big hit with me. I also made some complicated stakes that used an 18-inch cement stake, two large washers, 1 ¾ inch threaded coupling, and a ¾ inch leg flange. This needed welding, was a lot of work but proved an almost perfect stake. The cost of this stake was almost 12 dollars. The chain runs from around $1.18 to $1.60 a foot, the swivel a buck or two, and I was super lucky to find double snaps at Tractor Supply on clearance 6 for 3 dollars. So, I got 36 of them. They run about 2 to 3 dollars apiece most of the time. That makes a 6-foot chain set up with chain, swivel, snap, and 1-foot stake cost approx. $12.50.
So, to get ready for summer camp, including the things I did not need to do was the following. 2nd pick up, into shop for some front-end work, flush radiator, wheel alignment, both change and flush, and new filter for transmission, change oil in front and back axles, and transfer case. $1100.00, I would change the oil, after running sea foam in the oil, and also added sea foam to the gas. $50.00. Two new tires $175.00. I then made a metal shell to keep the dogs enclosed in bed of truck. Railing from friend Tony, and wire for $75.00. So, counting price of truck $2,025.
Bus $500, for tags. Bus cost me $4000.00 a few years ago.
Extra camp trailer, thanks to a fantastic price from our friend Tony, $800.00.
Tires for main pickup, $500.00 off Craigslist.
Tires for cargo trailer, $ 230.00.
There were a lot of extra money spent to get ready for summer camp, such as tools, food, clothes, and who all knows what Kim spent money on.
When it was time to go, we decided on Kim's Dodge van and not the pickup. If you know Kim, you know she does a lot of running around. We might get the pick up to summer camp later. We did not bring the extra trailer, maybe later. The main pick up would bring the toy hauler on first trip and then the cargo trailer with 13 crates, and two 55 gal barrels filled with dog food.
It took so many days to get ready, and so many hours to pack. But we finally did it. Everything was packed and ready to go. So, after packing until midnight, we were up at 3:30 am to load the dogs.
So into the cargo trailer, which I had set up with a great vent nan were loaded: Jack, Bajenks, Jill, Dusty, Lady, Rose, Ms. Charlie, Sophie, Buddy, Arlo, KC, KiRime, Dan, Little Ann, Frann, Heather, and her 3 pups Delta, Blue, and Angus, and Rose's 3 pups Lemmon, Little guy, and Big guy, and Sophies 3 pups Sasha, Brock, and Malia.
Left at home under the care and supervision of the Gordon's Melissa and Rashawn were Katie and her 7 puppies, Bonnie, and Tina, as well as Bella and her two pups.
The idea was like driving to the sun. When you go to the sun, you must drive at night. We left the Redneck Ranch at 0515, or 5:15 am. This should get us into cooler weather in 4 hours and into our camp at Parks in 5 hours. If, as my grandfather Pop would say, God willing and the creek don't rise.
The Toy Hauler was already there. Rashawn and I had already taken it up when we went up to the NSTRA trial. We left it at cowboy Joe's. That trip had us changing two tires, when it was hot.
The trip from Wellton Az. to Red Tank area 11 miles north of Parks General store was uneventful and stress free. The fan pulled plenty of cool fresh air into the cargo trailer where the dogs were, and we made it to camp in approx. 5 hours. All dogs were unloaded and staked out, and within an hour I was back with the toy hauler and camp was officially set up.
Camp was set up around noon on June 23, 2019. As I type this it is June 23rd. As of yet we have seen no one, we are almost at the end of our road, and there is no reason for anyone to drive by. The temp at noon the last two days has been about 68 degrees. The mornings are cool, the nights perfect, the air is fresh and cool. The sun has been out and the days lovely.
The second day, all the dogs and I except the 3 smallest pups of Rose's went out on a morning outing. And how nice it was. The pink collar girl of Sophies got separated from us twice. Causing her to howl and carry on. Arlo headed back to camp probably because he also got separated from us. Everyone else was fine. I, for reasons I do not know, left both my phone and camera at camp. When we got back everyone was fed, watered and chained up, with the exception of a few A team dogs and Rose's 3 small pups. Kim went into town and left me worried if she could find her way back. I told her if by chance she could not, I would meet her at the Parks store. She did find her was back and the girls and I were happy.
After a time the girls and I decided that we were going to work dogs. I have two remote control launchers. They hardly ever get any use because I don't do a lot of training. I do a lot of doing, which is getting the dogs out and letting them train themselves via their genetic make-up. But since summer camp is also training camp, we decided to do some training. First the girls did as they do every day. Walk the young dogs on the leash.
These girls for being so young, Hailey 8 and Scarlett 6 are very good with the dogs. First, I showed both of them how to shoot the revolver. We would be using blanks and I would need Hailey's help firing some blanks off.
I brought up 10 pigeons to train with, and they should last a while if I was careful. I needed some bobwhite quail but those could wait.
I want to evaluate each of the dogs, old and young, natural instinct to point, hold a point, and then to retrieve. In hunting I am looking for a dog that can find game, point, and then retrieve.
In our training I would place a pigeon in the remote launcher, meaning a launcher that I can activate remotely to launch the pigeon in this case up in the air. Because we do not have a lot of pigeons, I tied a string onto the pigeon, the pigeon would be tossed up in the air, fly some and then come down. I did not however want the dogs to catch the pigeon because I did not want it killed. Most have a soft mouth, but you never know.
I would have the camera for videoing the training and the remote. Hailey would have the revolver and when the pigeon was launched her job was to fire one blank round. Scarlett would bring me the dog I asked for and then after the bird was launched Hailey would set the revolver down and both her and Scarlett would try and get the pigeon from the dog. At least that was how it was supposed to work.
Ms. Charlie was the dog closest to being ready for Shoot to Retrieve composition. She holds her points very well, and has a very good nose. Ms. Charlie has found a lot of wild birds so planted birds should be no problem for her. She does not range big however.
So, the first dog Scarlett is sent for is Ms. Charlie. Scarlett turns her loose and she enters the training field, and goes toward Hailey holding the gun. Charlie goes on point, lefts her right front foot, she is a little over 20 yards from the launcher. She does well holding the point until the bird is launched.
The rock star of the day was probably Buddy. A Scout and Rose boy who is showing tons of talent, and loads of cooperation. He is put on a long line and goes on a picture perfect point, head, foot, and tail up. He is perfect and is about 20 yards away. The wind is blowing straight back at the dogs. Buddy is about 11 months or so. Buddy starts to walk in toward the bird as I walk past him. I tell him to whoa, and he freezes as if he has actually heard the word before, which he never has.
The bird is launched and Buddy really wants to get it, I however hold him just a foot or so away from getting the bird.
Frann, Sophie's young solid black pup out of Buck, did extremely good. She pointed well back from the launcher. Her foot was up in a nice point, which does not always happen with DK dogs. Her tail was out 9 o'clock and was all puffed out. She held her point very well and looked great.
Dan was just so so just kind of walked into the bird.
Frann did excellent the 2nd time too.
Little Ann was her very happy self. She came in happy and went to work, however like Dan she just kind of went to the launcher until the bird was released. The gunfire like with Dan, did not bother her at all. She went after the bird with a vengeance.
Arlo, the son of Bella and Rob, using his nose, he did not point the bird but wanted to get to it. Went after the bird once it was launched.
Bajenks ran into the field. Bajenks is a big runner and does cover a lot of ground. He ran up close to the launcher, and pointed close. The bird was released, and he went after it making a wonderful looking retrieve. However, he killed the pigeon.
Blue boy of Heather and Jack. The worst of the 3 boys. He found the feathers and did cover the bird when it was released.
White Boy of Jack and Heather. Went on point soon, and stood well. Went after bird when released, and good with gunfire.
Black boy, Heather and Jack. Did ok, looked at the launcher at about six feet, watched the bird go up and down and just kept watching it. He was at the end of check cord and he was trying to get to the bird.
Heather, ended it pointing very nicely, after the pigeon was released. She pointed where the launcher used to be. She however just slowly ran into the launch until the bird was launched and went into get the bird.
KiRime, she is pretty bird crazy. She was brought in with a check cord and preceded straight to the launcher where she had to be held back from the launcher, she really wanted it. After the bird was released, she really wanted it.
KC did just so so.
June 23, 2019. 3rd day. We are trying to get into a routine. Dusty woke me up at midnight, I thought she wanted outside, but she just wanted in Kim and the girls sleeping area. At 0500 hours my day started as it often does. At 530 the A team dogs who sleep in the toy hauler got the clue and let themselves out of their sleeping areas, and then outside. Next the pups in back of the pickup were let out, and then the pups, Rose, and Arlo were let out of the cargo trailer. I holstered up the 45 acp, grabbed the phone, and camera and we were off. T shirt and long sleeve light flannel were prefect. I would guess it was close to 45 degrees. We were going to be on a little longer morning outing. Rose's 3 pups once again stayed in camp. I had opened the back door and called for Dusty before we left but she looked comfy up on the bed, partly covered up. Lady jumped down, but I had my doubts about Dusty.
After about 100 yards away from camp I turn and find Dusty following. She is 12 or so, and is starting to look her age. She is moving at a little over a walk and it takes her a while to catch up and they glide on by. She picks up the pace a little as she goes by. This is a girl who I have never seen stop while hunting. Once in the sand hills of Nebraska after hunting, I watched to hunt 10 miles on both sides of the road while I snail paced it back out to the main road. Today would be no different. Once she got loosened up a bit, I would watch her for the next couple of hours eat up ground in that ground eating pace that all K9s have. I would see once more, as I so often have, her glance over to catch the direction we would be headed to stay on path. How many outings, how many hunts have this girl and I shared. A tear rolls down my face as the thought of one day her not being her with me.
Dusty, how the memories come back as I type. Two huge whitetail jacks in South Dakota, the pheasant that she retrieved out of water there as well. The many pheasants that she beautifully pointed. The cotton tail she was holding at point until I could get there, only to see it break cover and try but never succeed in rushing under her. The ducks, the grouse in Nebraska and Montana. How many rabbits, treed cats, fox? She is so smart. How many doves have I watched her find in a tree, and circle behind and then flush back to me with her following them? Dusty would watch me to see what I was going to do. If I lifted the gun, she would continue on in the hopes of a retrieve. If I would not lift the gun toward the dove in flight, she would turn and once more hunt in front of me. If I wanted her to walk behind me while rifle hunting or jumping a pond she would gladly do so. How many deer has this girl tracked down? Yes, my friend this is a true hunting dog, and when she is gone, she will be missed because she is loved so.
Back to the morning outing to the 23rd. Everyone looks great, Arlo is becoming one of the pack, the pups are paying better attention to the pack and me. This is their life, how much better for them compared to being back home. Yes, they would be free of crates and kennels, but also free of hunting, which is their life and their passion. They seem so happy, so content, and I'm running through my mind just how wonderful it is up here. No ticks, Mosquitoes, fleas, rattlesnakes, cactus, nasty undergrowth to hinder us, no hornet nests, no people, no restraints. Cool fresh air and woods and meadows. How blessed. Only worry might be a bear with cubs, unlikely this time of year. Maybe a skunk to think about, but the gang would quickly kill a skunk. My only real concern was a porcupine. I would not want another Montana where 13 dogs all at the same time got into a porcupine. What a nightmare that was and only one dog held calmly while I removed the quills. Fancy was the only one. All the other 12 had to have their collar wrapped in their mouth to hold their mouth open and fastened around the back of their head, and then they had to be strapped to the bumper of the truck and they fought me every step of the way while I removed the quills with a multi tool. Never leave without your multi tool.
These were some of my thoughts as I entered the blow down area. The dogs love this kind of area. It's good for moussing which they love to do. It gives me a good photo opportunity as they jump over downed logs. It is also good for the young dogs to learn how to get over and around such things.
Dawn has just broke and the sun was playing in some areas, but the shadows still ruled when I heard the barking. I then saw Ms. Charlie very focused and very loud barking at something just below her at a log. She was just starting to draw a crown of gang members. I thought it was a skunk because just a few years ago in Nor. California at just such a down fall they had killed a skunk. Bajenks was the main aggressor in that conflict.
It was happening fast and I was only about 20 yards away when I watched Bajenks dart in and come out with a mouth full of quills. The older dogs know when I yell, to get back. The younger dogs and pups for some reason just don't get it. That has caused more than one rattlesnake bite. As soon as I see Bajenks face full of quills I start yelling, there is no time for pictures or videos, it's just crazy man yelling. For the most part everyone backs away. The Montana crew, and the older dogs know, and they are out of there. Too many younger dogs are still too close. I move away, and call the gang, even the young gang members get it, and everyone moves away with me.
Bajenks by now has a pretty good understanding that his mouth really hurts. He is trying with both front feet to get them out, which of course is impossible. I get him to stop such craziness and grab him by the collar and move him even further away. Other gang members are visibly concerned about Bajenks. They know something is terribly wrong but don't know what it is. Everyone is coming over to check on him. Even Arlo who does not like Bajenks is concerned and looking close at his face. The young pups are all coming over and getting in his face, which is making it impossible to work on. I have to yell at them and swat them away so I can get the quills out of Bajenks.
Bajenks and I bonded well when he was a pup, and this proved that he has a lot of faith in me. He wants the quills out and he knows that is what I am doing, taking the quills out. This is not going to be easy, not because of Bajenks, who is being almost perfect, but because of me. Yesterday I placed the multi tool that I always carry on the dash of the pickup.
Porcupine quills are barbed at the end that they go into the dog and this makes it a little hard to get out. This I believe was a young porcupine and the quills were smaller. It was easier than I thought to get them out of his face. I could just pull them out. A few I had to use my teeth, but Bajenks was being great, and very cooperative, as far as one can be with quills in your face.
Getting quills out of the inside of the mouth isn’t very easy, but must be done. I have found that if I take their collar off and force it to the back of the mouth, and then fasten it, I can keep the mouth open and the collar will stay in place. I have to admit that Bajenks was not fond of this but did not fight it either. I was able to pull almost every single one out. The rest would have to wait until Kim and the girls could help me. I did get a video and a few snaps of the quills in poor old Jenker.
Bajenks was no worse for wear and was happy to have the quills out and be off to more hunting. So, we all moved off in a different direction, and hunted some more and then headed for camp. The gang was content. Everyone was ready for a drink, and some food.
I showed Kim and the girls the picture of Bajenks with the quill and of course they were very concerned. It became quite the group effort but we managed to get the remaining ones out and they were quite pleased with themselves.
Camping seems to always mean great food. I fired up the outside BBQ, and made eggs, potatoes, and bacon, and Kim makes hot coco and toast on one of the racks. The toast was for some reason a great hit.
A pigeon got out while I was tending to them, and later Bajenks brought it back unhurt, making up for the one he killed yesterday.
June 24, 2019, Day 4. We meet a bull, Girls swim at Red Tank, I get water, and we work with some young dogs.
Yesterday a huge black bull walks in front of camp. The dogs barked like crazy, and he just kept on walking.
We are off at 0530 on the morning outing. Pretty uneventful until we were almost back to camp. After making a wide loop and being straight across from camp two lead dogs started barking to beat the band. I yelled no to the rest of the gang and I was rewarded with every other gang member turning with me toward camp. I was able to see the big black bull off to the south east in a meadow. His travel from yesterday afternoon did not take him far. When the barking would stop, I would give a big yell. Once more within very short order I was rewarded with the sight of Sophie and Arlo catching up with us.
We were back at camp in a snap, being met part way out in the field by Kim. Everyone seems already in a routine back at camp. The food is out in two big containers, and the water is in 4 crock pots. Everyone including the pups eat and drink together. Even Arlo is no longer being grumpy.
After everyone eats and drinks they are place back on the chains. Kim and I make breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and toast and we ate with girls.
I decided to make a training log to keep track of their training and we started evaluating the young dogs first.
We worked through 13 pups. The girls played a big role. They would take turns getting a pup, training, and then putting the pup up. I would instruct, take notes, and video. Kim would help where she could.
Each pup would be tossed a ball, a stuffed toy, and a bumper. Then a rag on a fishing pole would be used to see if they wanted to point or just chase.
We started with Heather and Jack's 3 solid black boys that did not sell because they are solid black. Even though they are wonderful pups. Blue collar, white collar, and black collar. They were born on 1-3-19.
Blue collar had a great retrieve, retrieving the ball, the stuffed toy, and the bumper. Classic point with foot up. He looked bold and confident.
White boy really wanted the sock on the pole, but never stopped to point. He did retrieve the tennis ball and stuffed toy.
Black Collared boy. Same as White boy on the retrieving, tennis ball, and stuffed toy. He did have a good point, and was bold and confident.
Next we did Sophie and Bucks pups. Three girls and 1 boy. These pups are DK, German Shorthairs based on both mom and dad are German and not American Shorthairs. They have since been taken out of the German registry and re registered as American. All 4 are solid black and also have not been sold due to their color. Kim sold the liver roan girl I wanted to keep and so I keep Frann. These pups were born on:
The first pup that we tested was Frann, I have put more time into her. Frann was excellent on the sock. She had a classic point with foot up, which not all DK dogs I've seen have. She loves the sock on the pole game. She went after the bumper, ball, and stuffed toy, but did not retrieve them.
Barock is the only boy, excellent with sock, classic point with foot up. He, like Frann, did not retrieve.
Sasha retrieved ball half way back. She also had a classic point of the sock with a foot up.
Malia retrieved the ball, went after the stuffed toy but did not retrieve it.
She was good with the pole game and pointed well.
Buddy is about 10 months old and continues to act like a rock star. He retrieved the ball, toy, and bumper with gusto. He loved the pole game and has an excellent point.
Dan retrieved the ball 3 times and then went exploring. He loves the pole game, and has a very good point.
Little Ann, also has a great point and loves the pole game. She retrieved toy twice, ball none, and bumper none.
KC sucks on retrieving and just wanted to be loved on. He did well on the pole game and pointed.
Little Man of Rose's pointed sock, got tennis ball, no toy or bumper.
Big Man of Rose's retrieved ball, did not point.
I was lucky to find out a friend who has one of our dogs is building a place about 5 miles from camp and we can get water there. I have to take the generator and pump out of a big tank, but what a blessing. He even offered us the use of a 1200-gallon water tank, but that would mean we would have to take everything out of the cargo trailer or get another small trailer. It seems that most everyone gets water and brings it back to a storage tank. Water can be got in bulk for about 3 cents a gallon. I was able to get about forty gallons today. We and the dogs go through a lot of water.
There is a small pond which is called Red Tank about a half mile from camp. The water is red from the red soil, and thus the name. It will however be a great place to work the dogs. I will be looking for ducks soon.
I took the girls to the tank being that they love the water. They went swimming for about 45 minutes and loved it.
What else today? Kim got one of those plastic solar showers. The kind you put water in and let the sun warm it up. It worked well other than the fitting being loose. I had to seal the treads but we used it twice. We do also have a very good shower.
The dogs are doing absolutely wonderful. Their behavior is excellent and they are getting into a very good routine. The young ones spend most of the time off the chains, most of the A team dogs have never been on a chain, and the others are let off often. Because of the outing no one is inclined to run off. I will take them soon and introduce them to Red Tank.
The weather remains stellar, the girls happy, and Kim lovely and content.
June 25, 2019. We are up and out by 5:45 am, a short walk with the gang was in order, I needed to run into town and get a few things. We headed straight to the east end of the logs on the ground and continued to the next open meadow. Bajenks was left behind with Lady and Rose's 2 pups. Bajenks was limping a bit because of a sore leg.
We came to a partly fenced in young growth of pines. The fence was pretty much useless but some of the young dogs and Sophie had a hard time getting through it, even though some of the places the fence was down. We were about a mile from camp when I decided to make a right-hand loop and head back to camp. To my surprise I could see the banks of a water tank and a yellow warning sign.
When we got to the water tank, I could see a sign that named the water tank Elk Tank, and had the road as 171. The warning sign warned of falling rocks. The tank was pretty muddy, but the dogs got a drink anyway. Road 171 was a well maintain, and well used gravel road. The gravel being crushed volcanic road. I understood in my mind where the tank and the road were, and in what direction was needed to travel to get back to camp. I figured I was no more than a mile or so away from camp and decided to walk on the road thinking our camp road might run into it. I figured our camp road would be no more than a trail but thought it was probable because I had seen a two-track head that way from our camp.
I moved the dogs off the road not liking the volcanic gravel that would surely be hard on their feet. However, after about a half mile I knew that this direction was not going to work. I decided the smart move would be to back track and go back to camp from the direction we had come. This proved simple, but while walking back I decided it would be a good idea to bring the GPS, and mark some of these places I had found, and have the camp marked as well. With the GPS it would have been a simple matter to push the camp button and return directly to camp. The compass would be nice to have as well.
The GPS system I have is a Garmin / Tri Tronics Alpha 100 with 2, tt 15 dog tracking collars. I got this set up with the Purina points, or the cost would have been, in March of 2017, $1,099.98. Before this I had the older model, and before that the Garmin hand held only.
The system had only been used a few times. I had not hunted away from home the last few years, and the system was simply not needed.
The new system is truly remarkable. The hand held can be used as a stand alone system giving you a ton of information about the surrounding area such as tanks, road, maps of the area, towns, cities, food, gas, surrounding interests etc. You can plot routes, line of sight travel, way points. You can mark the truck, or camp to return to. Mark bird coveys, or any other thing you want to mark to return to.
The system is tied into your dog’s collar, even giving you the option of correcting your dog via a shock if you want too. You are about to keep track of where your dog is, how far away he is, and what direction via a compass, and arrow you will need to find your dog. You can later see you and your dog’s tracks. Shows how far, and fast both you and your dog have traveled.
Later in the evening Kim, the girls, some pups and I would take a walk and I put the tracking collar on Dan. It looks a little funny and big on Dan, but makes him look like a big dog. Dan went 2.34 miles on a one-mile hike. His average speed was 4.82 miles an hour. He did not look that fast.
I ended up going to town to return a 12-volt car battery for the cargo trailer, get 3 walkie talkies for camp, a battery charger, some more 5-gallon water jugs, and some odds and ends.
When I got back Kim showed me Jill was laying on the couch. Jill and some of the A team dogs have never seen any time on the chains. She was bleeding from two of her pads. Two very small places on her pad, one of each of her front feet. I snapped a photo of them for some reason, and wanted to close them up with super glue but we did not bring it. They were oozing blood, and Kim was a little worried. Jill was licking them and keeping them clean so I was not worried.
Jill had not really been her active self in some time. She was overweight, and was pretty slow to get around, kind of like Lady. Like Lady, she also had had a major operation. A huge tumor about the size of a volleyball had been removed a couple of years ago. She was enjoying the outing, often just walking beside me. I would talk to her as we went along and reach down and rub her ears. This would put her out of walking outing for a while.
Beautiful sunset, after a nice walk, and BBQ.
June 26, 2019. We lose Rose and Jill. Kim and I are up at 5am. Kim has to meet Andy at the truck stop to deliver Rose to Daniel in Missouri. We were not looking to have Rose leave, however because we are sometimes too nice, we helped someone who had a breeding and could not sell their pups. We helped sell them. We got 350 dollars a pup and the breeder got the other 450. They, for some reason, decided to breed too close, and the pups had a too high of a COI.
The breeding had a lot of our dogs in the pedigree and the pups seemed very nice and when a breeder wanted a black roan female for later breeding, he got one of these females. Well she ended up having an epileptic seizure. She went on meds and may live a long life. However, she cannot be used for breeding, and they of course love her and do not want to give her up. They also want to get going on their breeding program. They want to hunt test their dogs and a female of hunt test age would be a plus.
I know it might seem odd to guarantee a pup that we did not breed, and would not have bred in the manner the pup was. But never the less that's where I was. So off went Rose at no cost, and of course they could keep the pup. Rose had just produced Buddy, one of the best young dogs we have, so she should work good for them.
Kim and I decide to let the older dogs out before she leaves to deliver Rose. Kim is not feeling well, already kind of behind the 8 ball. She has a headache. I look down and can see Jill is not breathing. She is cool to the touch and I can tell she is no longer with us. She looks at peace, and there is no blood, poop, or fluid around her. It looks as if she had just gone to sleep and died peacefully in the night. I had slept only a couple of feet from her during the night, and I had not heard a sound.
It was very sad as Kim and I hugged each other and cried like babies. And poor Kim had to drive off to deliver Rose, who we also loved. Lord how was I going to tell the girls? This is not going to be an easy job. It's been only a few hours as I type this, and of course more tears.
At 6am I have a plan to bury Jill in the meadow where she had last hunted. I would wake the girls, and take them and Jill best buddy Jack and drive to the beautiful green meadow, surrounded by pines and place our beloved Jill to rest. This was not going to be easy, and it wasn't.
Jill had been placed in the bed of the truck, the girls woke up and started to get dressed. They wanted to know were grandma went, and wanted to know where we were driving to, and why I was crying. I was trying to be strong, but it was proving to be impossible.
After being told Jill had died, they had a dozen questions. Why? How old was she? Why Jill? Hailey said she was old; Scarlett had a harder time trying to understand why 9 was old to a dog. Hailey said she is my therapy dog, what was she to do now?
We got to the meadow, maybe a mile from camp. The girls picked out the place to lay her to rest. A beautiful place that was in the middle of a circle of 8 or so small green sage bushes.
Hailey watched me dig the hole while Scarlett stayed and petted Jill for the last time. Each girl did a little digging and then went off to pick wild flowers to place on the grave.
After the grave was finished, I took off my long sleeve shirt and told them to lay it out in the bottom of the grave. When I returned with Jill in my arms, I had seen that they both had taken off their shirts and placed them also in the bottom of the grave with mine. I laid Jill once more down and we all gave her one last kiss on the head, and I laid our beloved girl in the grave and folded her legs along her belly, and we filled in the grave.
The girls had removed the small rocks on top of the dirt, smoothed the rich soil, and gathered rocks to make a rock circle around the grave. A beautiful rock with moss on it was place on top of the grave, and the girls took the beautiful wild flowers and placed them spread out all around the rock. The girls got on their knees and said a prayer to God.
As Hailey and I moved from the grave I could see Scarlett taking a little more care and placing some small flowers on a rock, that would mark Jill's grave. And that is how we laid Desert Point's Jill, the most loving and kind dog that I have ever known to rest.
As we were driving away, Scarlett wanted to know what we were going to do with Jill's yellow collar? I said maybe put it on Frann, she already has a yellow collar. Scarlett said no, she wanted it to go on a dog that looked exactly like Jill. Maybe Jill's daughter Hailey said. Bella is Jill's daughter, and Hailey said she looks just like Jill. Scarlett said she gives kisses like Jill too, even more.
Hailey said out loud, “who I'm I going to get as a therapy dog now”? My dear blessed little girl, you are surrounded by therapy dogs.
I remember when Jill came to us. I had met the breeder in New Mexico, he and his family were from Kentucky, headed to Montana. I had picked her, and Jack, and Jack's brother up at the same time. Jill was just under 8 weeks and Jack and his brother a few weeks older. Jack's brother would live just a week or so, dying in a freak accident. Dad had placed a ceramic wagon wheel outside the garden and the puppy got his head stuck in it.
Jack and Jill would change our whole breeding program. I knew that blacks had more German lines in them and thinking them more versatile I was wanting to try them.
Most all German Shorthairs are kind and loving but these two dogs were over the top sweet. I have often said that if all GSPs were like Jill, Labradors would not be the #1 dog, Shorthairs would be. Jill may be the kindest most loving dog that I have ever seen. She has enough hours at the day care center to get a title, if such things were important.
Jill was also so beautiful. I remember taking her to a dog show in Yuma with Jack and Kim and I walking around. Being they are black they could never compete in an AKC dog show, but we did not care. Well Valerie Nunes Atkins the famous shorthair show lady came up to us. The same Valerie that won with CJ. She was excited to see our black GSPs, because she had a couple of European men with her that were asking about blacks being at the show.
Valerie never took a second look at Jack but said she had just the male to breed to Jill, to get a certain show champion. This is when she told me her dog Val's Smolt was a dog behind Hill Haven's Hustler. The breeding never took place, getting a hold of Val proved to be difficult.
When Jill came to us as a baby puppy, I put a bird out for her to find. That's when I found out Jill was special. Her nose was wonderful and she was the most careful of bird finders. She found the bird and went on point at a tremendous distance for a puppy. She was a cat walker. If she thought she was around birds she would be super careful. This proved valuable many times.
In Montana she proved to be the best grouse dog. She was always careful and just did the best job finding them and holding them.
She was a little slow in South Dakota on pheasants. She knew what they were, she just seemed to have a harder time at first finding and holding them. She did however figure it out and got the job done. I remember one she found buried deep in some cover and she was holding well when the pheasant decided to break cover. It was just ahead of her and she dove to try and catch it by the tail. She just missed it, and I brought it down with a single shot and she retrieved it. She had the most wonderful soft mouth retrieve.
There was the time when she was chasing a cotton tail rabbit back to me. As they both rounded the trail the rabbit decided to make a giant leap right at me. It hit me hard in the private area, and bounced off. I never missed a beat, and snapped some close ups of the rabbit, by then Jill was right on its butt. The rabbit did get away, as they most often do.
Jill was a good water dog, and retrieved great naturally from land or water. She had a good point and back and was a great versatile dog. She could point quail with the best of them and produced wonderful puppies.
One puppy we have out of her is Bella, from her and Jack. Bella maybe slightly prettier than Jill, and just as loving. Kind sweet dogs that never cause you one bit of trouble.
Jill did prove to have one problem she was a carrier of a urinary problem that was carried probably from her mom's side. This was passed down to Bella, who is also a carrier. This means that their pups can never be sold as breeders.
That said, Jill's influence on Desert Point Kennel's breeding program is substantial, because it has set the standard on the type of versatile hunting dog, and family dog that we think is close to the ideal. Good point, and back, good nose, a team player in the field wanting nothing more than to please you. Love of the water and good water work. Natural soft mouth retrieve, beautiful in every way, and the most loving kind dog in the world.
When we got custody and care of the girls, they were quite the mess, they had had it pretty rough. Jill became Hailey's therapy dog. She would love on Hailey and Hailey could love on her. Unconditional love. Jill would sleep with Hailey and thus the healing began.
Jack and Jill started my love of the black shorthair. They seemed so perfect of dogs. I would go on to research the blacks and their history. All blacks seem to come from Germany's oldest kennel the Pottmes Kennel. The blacks are in every modern German line that I can find. We breed them not because they are easy to sell, they are not, we breed them because their pups continue to come to the top in their performance.
So, it is with sad feelings that we say goodbye to Jill, and may you have many happy hunts in the happy hunting grounds. Jill will live on in the heart and soul of Desert Point Kennel, because she showed us what an almost perfect dog is. Rest in peace beautiful girl.
PS, at this time we have a 3 week old or so black roan granddaughter of Jill’s, Bella has one beautiful girl that we may just keep and name Jilly. Also, of note is that both David, and Katie are Jill's half-brother on their sire's side. Katie has a litter of 7 pups at this time. None black roan, but a beautiful solid liver and liver roan girl. Jill is Bajenks aunt, and so many of the gang are related to Jill, so in one form or another Jill will live on.
June 29, 2019. Water, friends, computer problems and thinking of Jill.
June 29th, at 7pm finds me sitting outside waiting for the sunset. All the dogs are off their chains laying all around me. The girls are playing in the hammock and Kim just out of a hot shower. Life is good, and it is very peaceful.
The day after Jill died found me in a funk. Losing her was heartbreaking. The thought that we have older dogs that will die was also very sobering and surreal. I know of one breeder who breeds his girls for a few years and then sells them or places them in home. This way he at least avoids the heartbreak of a death of his dogs.
The death of Jill left me so down that I was feeling that it was not really worth having a kennel if you have to go through this kind of pain. Then friends showed up in camp and I did not have time to dwell on the sadness.
First Chris and his wife Lea’ showed up with their two shorthairs, Copper and Wrigley. Wrigley is out of our Ms. Charlie and Bajenks. What a wonderful and fun couple they proved to be. They love their dogs more than most and ended up taking two more home with them. A Sophie and Buck solid black girl that they were thinking of naming Heide, or Adelaide. Also 6 month old KC who is a bit of a goof ball and was not really making the grade. KC is a Scout and Holly boy. A very nice-looking boy. Chris and Lea’ were extremely excited with their two new additions.
The 2nd couple were George and Carol Ann. They also have two German Shorthairs. An older girl named Bella, and one of our girls. A young girl named Leiba out of Bajenks and Sophie.
We went on hikes and outings with all the shorthairs. We did train with birds, and went to the water for huge group Shorthair swims and competitive retrieving. We would toss one or two bumpers in the water and watch a dozen shorthairs compete to get it. There were a few parts to this. The first was everyone going crazy when the thrower was getting ready for the toss. The next was when the bumper was in the air and everyone was headed to the water, then when they entered the water, and then the competition swimming event where they were racing to the bumper. Then the one who got there first, often was not the one who kept it and retrieved it to the thrower. Then there was the retrieve once on land where all the teenagers tried to get it away. There was a lot of barking, jumping, swimming, and just crazy fun. There was water and mud, and the dogs, girls, and us had a blast.
Lady at 11 was there to show them how it was done, and she is always competitive. Her daughter Ms. Charlie who was selective to what retrieves she was going to try for was always competitive when she jumped in. Young Buddy who is not yet a year old is proving to be a top swimmer with almost perfect form. His back is high in the water, and is tail is moving and seems to be a help. He is super-fast and very competitive. Sophie, the German dog, is always there, going to be in the top 4, most often 1st or 2nd. Jack at 9 is always a top performer. He is smart, has a huge leap, is very focused, and when he goes, he is determined to get there first. Jack however is not a brawler. He will make a few fancies moves to avoid the others from grabbing the bumper but will most likely release it to an aggressive dog.
The great thing about Jack is that he will watch to make sure the bumper is returned to the thrower. Copper, the white liver boy of Chris and Lea’, is always in the mix and is never happy to lose a race or a retrieve. He is a strong swimmer at 5, and can dive underwater with the bumper to keep a retrieve. He will fight to get the bumper away from whoever has it, on land or water. Our boy, Arlo 3, is very strong physically, in the water or on land, and he also is very competitive.
The 3 boys of Heather’s are also strong swimmers at around 5 months and gave it the old college try. They looked good and did not shy away from the water, but just did not have what the older dogs had. Same with Wrigley who was very good in the water.
The real young dogs at first, and when the bumpers were not way out in the water also were giving it a try.
One day when we were there, the big black bull we often see was also there. He was about 50 yards from the water and was for the most part out of site. Most of the gang payed him no never mind, but there was a few who checked him out. The worst was young Little Ann who is only 4 months old. Now 4 months might sound old, but try 16 weeks old.
This bull is huge, I mean a read giant. Little Ann however took it upon herself to do battle with him. Now one wrong move and she would be crushed. The bull was not really intimidated by the dogs, but was moving out of the area. This along with Chris going out to save her, I believe gave her confidence. Chris said she was dashing in there, yipping and snapping at the bull and his legs. The bull would try and spin around and Ann was just dodging like some kind of pro.
At one point the bull turned around and Chris thought he was making a move on him, and he was looking for a tree, but Ann was the bulls real worry now. At one-point Ann actually bit the bull on the back leg above the huff, because that’s about as high as she could reach. Then Ann turned and ran back to Chris, and only Ann can if you have seen her strut her stuff. I think she believe she not only saved Chris, but maybe the rest of her gang, which included us too. Chris as well as just about everyone who sees Ann was quite impressed by her boldness, confidence, and touch of independence.
The water proved to be a huge hit. As most of you know, we love a good water dog, and will not have one in our program who does not love the water.
The hikes with the whole gang are exciting for people to go on with their dogs. Just something about seeing their dogs run and hunt with the pack. Chris’ dog, Copper is not as bold and brave on most outings, loved the pack. He ran with them up hills, through the pine forest, and out into the meadows. I believed it brought great joy to both Chris and Lea’.
We BBQed, and stayed up late taking and overall just had a wonderful him.
We did some training with the birds. Everyone played a part, even the girls. We worked with Chris’ dog Copper who would make a nice hunting dog if it were not for the fact that he is gun shy. He proved to be bird crazy, and the flapping to the pigeon wings drove him, as the other dogs into a state of frenzy.
While Copper was after the pigeon, we shot a 22 blank about 20 yards away. This did not faze him. While he was after the pigeon and later while working with the launcher he did well.
We worked Dan, Little Ann, Frann, Ms. Charlie, Buddy, KC, Heidi, and Sasha. All the dogs did well.
We are going through a lot of water. The dogs are drinking about 20 gallons a day, and every other day or so we are going to pump almost 50 gallons. We are lucky to be able to go to a friend’s house and pump it out of his tank. There is so much rock, and I guess wells either don’t work or there is no water. It would be nice to have a 1200 gallon or so tank on a trailer. Then we could take the trailer into Parks 11 miles away, fill it up for 3 cents a gallon and then we would be set.
Today we went into Parks to dump the trash, and get fresh ranch meat, homemade bread, and a Dutch Apple Pie.
Life is good, and we continue to have fun, and consider ourselves blessed. As I type this after sunset, we have a young Turkish couple who have come from Venice California to look at puppies. Kim and the girls are helping them pitch a tent and I’m enjoying watching them. The girls Scarlett and Hailey are always so excited to see people. Both girls are very bold and confident and it makes me proud to see how they have matured.
June 30, 2019. Turkish friends, Knocked down tent, and Photo shoot.
The last day of June finds us up and out early on a slow, kicked back hike. Gokay, Naz, Hailey, I, and the gang start out on a slow hike just before 6 am. I put the tracking collar on Bajenks, and I grab the hand held. I need more time practicing with them, and it will be interesting to see how many miles Bajenks run. He is our biggest runners.
Gokay and I are talking about his family, his brother who was in New York on 9-11, and Gokay’s photography business and such. Then I find Naz picking at the pine trees. She is a herbologist of sorts, and she is finding pine sap deposits. I give both her and Hailey a knife and my hat so they can collect the pine sap, which I find out is good for healing and pain. We are going to try some on Sophie’s split toe nail later.
Gokay and Naz are here to look at one of Sophie’s pups, Sasha. Sasha spent the night with them in the tent and she did very well, and on one point on the outing Sasha came up to Naz and put her head on her knee. I snapped a picture it was pretty cute. Later a bird ran past Sasha and she went into a perfect point, flattened out with her tail up. Gokay was very impressed, even though they would not be hunting her.
Naz was very pleased with her stash of pine sap when we made it back to camp. We make a big breakfast of eggs and steak, warmed bread pockets, fresh salsa, toast with homemade strawberry/rhubarb jelly, and some strong cheese was graded. The girls were loving their visit with Naz and Gokay, as they do with everyone who comes to visit. On the walk, Hailey had been talking up a storm with Naz as the slowly walked along, and later picked pine sap with her.
I checked the info on Bajenk’s collar to find he had gone 6.76 miles at an average speed of 6.40 mph, on a one-hour walk. Then I saw some dogs around their tent and Dan and little Ann were inside. They had found a sheep skin rug and were going to town on it, and then they were trying to keep it away from Naz. The tent was zipped, so Dan climbed on top of it and collapsed the whole tent and then laid down on it.
Gokay and Naz wanted to do some sightseeing so they followed Kim into Parks. The girls and I stayed back. It was cloudy, and there was a cool breeze, and it was 74 degrees at 11am.
Later in the evening Gokay set up his 4 x 6 inch film camera and took two photos of Kim, the Kids, dogs and I. Looking forward to seeing the end results. Gokay, being a pro photographer, took a lot of pictures. He needed to have some for a photo show. He has to do so many a year to be able to stay in America.
The next two days I would be getting a pretty good lesson on Turkey, Turkish history, Food and culture. Gokay was a very happy and outgoing person. Both he and Naz were fun to be around for the next two days.
Gokay goes by his middle name, his full name is Ali Gokay Sarioz.
July 1, 2019. The Sarioz’s leave, Scarlett learns to ride a bike, Frann Leaves, Girls get bikes, Kim falls down, I get hit on head. Using lap top instead of tower computer for typing and photos.
I don’t seem able to get the tower computer to work on either the inverter, trailer generator, or Honda generator. So, there is no editing with light room. Instead the lap top will be used for all photos, and word processing.
Morning Outing starts before 6, and was enjoyed by all the dogs, the Sarioz’s and me. A one-mile outing to the rock area, then a big breakfast with Kim and the girls joining us. Pancakes was the #1 fare.
The Sarioz’s wanted to see the dogs at the water. So, after they broke camp, we took the girls and headed that way. The girls are always ready for a swim.
Not sure why but they wanted Frann and not Sasha. Sasha had been loveable, good in the tent with them, swam and pointed well, but it was Frann they wanted. To tell the truth, I could see little difference between the two sisters.
The solid blacks have proved difficult to sell, no matter how well-bred they were. I had decided that we would place Jack’s daughter Heather who is solid black, and no longer breed solid black dogs.
So, I felt that they would give Frann a good home even though I had originally decided to keep her. They were very excited to have her, and because they did not have kids and Naz worked from home, I figured Frann would be treated like their child.
We all had fun at the water, the girls swam, the dogs retrieved, Gokay took pictures and tossed the bumper, Naz videoed and tossed the bumper. We soon said our goodbye to Frann and the Sarioz’s and they were gone.
We had not brought the girls bikes up here, and Scarlett had never learned to ride. Kim took the girls to the Library and to Goodwill, while at Goodwill she found two girl’s bikes. One bigger almost new, very pretty one for Hailey, for 13 dollars, and one smaller one with flat tires for Scarlett.
While getting the air compressor from the truck the lid blew down on my head, broke my glasses I had on top of my head. It hurt like crazy and I had a cussing fit, that scared the dogs. This was not the first time the lid had fallen on my head. You think I would learn.
Kim was teaching Scarlett to ride after I got the tires aired up, and while helping, Kim tripped and fell cutting up her knees and foot. She showered and was right back at it.
In no time at all Scarlett was riding her bike, and we were cheering her on. Scarlett road for the next two hours, then the girls played Barbies in the large dog kennel area. Then we all watched “8 Below”.
After getting all the dogs put up, the huge black bull came into camp, driving the dogs crazy. We had fun watching the bull and it was still in camp when we came into camp for the night.
All the pictures have been updated and edited ready for either Facebook or the website.
July 2, 2019, Dusty does 5.62 miles on morning outing at 6 miles per hours. Girls ride their bikes.
The girls ride their bikes that Kim got them from Goodwill. I’m surprised that the bikes were so cheap, Hailey’s is a beautiful girl’s bike and it was only 13 dollars. Scarlett’s needed two new tubes, but at a price of only 5 dollars. 2 bikes at 18 dollars, Kim nailed it with those two.
The morning outing was in such a beautiful pine forest. After morning outing the girls and I did some training with the dogs. Little Ann, Dan, Sasha, Barock, Ms. Charlie, Blue, White, and Black. Gun fire and pigeons in the launcher.
I have decided to start Hailey’s photography career, with the Canon EOS T5i. I brought 3 batteries for it, but some reason no charger in the camera bag.
7-3-19, Girls and Kim to Wildlife Park. Things to consider.
One might ask, what is the easy as well as the hard part of boondocking? Preparation can only go so far. After all these years I have added to an already huge list of what is needed, or not needed, or what I think is needed. Then you add what Kim thinks is needed.
At some point you just have to say it’s time to go, knowing that you already have more than most people in the world could only dream of. It comes to mind that the American Indian had a tent and their belongs and when it was time to move, they packed up and moved. I have at least a thousand times more items than they, and a toy hauler and at some point, I have to say it’s enough and move.
My first boondocking trip was when I was 23 years old. And by boondocking I mean living in some kind of rig away from hookups and rv parks. My first boondocking trip lasted one year. A small Air Force van, the ones that look like a UPS truck. I had very little then, a few items, like a propane tank and two burner stove. I had no solar, no generator, no way to plug anything in.
Life was simple then; it was just me and my police dog Copper. We traveled to about a dozen states and Mexico. I had a dog and took pictures as I do now.
Boondocking: “The ability, or lack of ability to live off grid.” Unlike 30 plus years ago, I now have the best of everything to boondock. A newer truck, a toy hauler with every conceivable convenience. Propane and stove like the first trip, but that’s about where things end. Also, a propane BBQ that hangs on the side of the trailer. Hot water heater, water storage, toilet, black and brown tanks. Refrigerator, shower, sink, l.e.d. lights, battery bank, and inverter & converter for the 900 watts of solar power coming from the solar panels. 5000 watts built in generator with built in gas tank. A second 2000-watt Honda generator. Radios, computers, microwave, heaters, air conditioners, and the list goes on. A trailer for dogs and food, a van that Kim and the girls can run around in.
The biggest challenge to boondocking are: Power, shelter, and water. Power to run all the modern stuff we feel is necessary to live comfortably. Shelter to keep us comfortable, and to keep all our stuff in, and water because dogs and people have to have it, and use an unbelievable amount of it.
One person and a dog don’t use much water, and I don’t ever remember either having problems with finding or storing enough. In Montana, with the gang and a grandson, water was not as easy as you might think. It was not easy to run into a town and get some, most of our water was taken right out of streams or rivers.
At home we all take water for granted, we have water available everywhere, inside the house and out at the turn of a knob. Here at camp Flagstaff with a wife, two grandkids and 20 dogs we use about twenty gallons a day. This is mostly used by the dogs, but water makes the camp go around.
For power, solar makes the trailer run smooth. Want to watch tv, run the lap top or print something, turn on a light, run the water pump, run the heater fan, listen to the radio, run the 12 volt fans, charge the camera batteries, gps collars or controllers, walkie talkies, phones, took batteries, then it was the solar panels, battery bank, panel controller, and inverters, and 12 volt plugs with usb ports that do the job. Day in, and day out, and all thru the night a solar system makes many parts of living off the grid easy.
Generator power for the big things like air conditioning, I mean the big one on top of the trailer. I can run the evaporator cooler off the inverter or big or little generator. The generator is also used for short bursts with the microwave, air compressor, as well as the battery charger in case the solar panels did not get enough sun or we used too much 12-volt power. The generators run off gas, and since the generators are used very seldom, gas goes a long way.
The other power of sorts is propane. Propane for most boon dockers is a must, one can use a little or a lot. It is used to run the stove for cooking, the heater for heat, the hot water heater for of course hot water, the propane BBQ, and in some cases the generator.
So, gas and propane can last for weeks, or even a month, but water is every other day or so trip. If we had a trailer with a water tank on it, we could do as many other do here in the Flagstaff area and get a bulk water fill at about 3 cents a gallon. However, at this time we do not have that. How nice it would be, make the 11-mile trip into Parks, fill the trailer tank with water, and return and park it. Whenever water would be needed it would be a simple matter.
We came to camp with about 60 gallons in our fresh water tank, and 10 gallons in water jugs. At first this proved to be a disaster, Kim would make a trip and get some water for about 50 cents for 5 gallons or even more. There were not enough jugs and this first few days of this was not looking good. Then a friend of ours Rich Caristo who has one of our dogs offered us the use of a 1200-gallon tank for the camp, or the use of his tank at his property.
The tank at his property was the savior for now. I would have to bring the Honda generator, hose, and an extension cord. But this pumping of water, 5 miles from camp would prove a God send and save us hours of time and a good deal of money.
Now we tackle the second big task that we are not set up at camp to accomplish, and that my friend is the task we are all very familiar with, LAUNDRY! I, of course, with the limited attire of a hunting Redneck, could do in camp my own laundry. A 5-gallon bucket, a little soap, and a gallon of water twice could in fact for me do the task of laundry.
However, with a wife and two grandchildren, the three being lovely ladies, the amount of dirty laundry, or seemly not so dirty to me,
seemed mountainous. So, every few days a trip to the laundromat was in order. To make things easier for the third, I was volunteered to watch the two.
Now that we have simple boondocking out of the way there is the matter of both living and running a kennel from such a boondock. That being said, the boondock is not the boondock of yesteryear. With cell phones, quick vehicles, and close civilization boondocking is a matter of the mind.
The number one job, the most important task of the Kennel curator, or kennel master if you will, is twofold. First develop, and second evaluate the young stock. Every good kennel should be as a builder. Building on the accomplishments of the previous years.
As you can see, my job is not as complicated as one might think, and is not hindered in the least by boondocking. It might be helped in where you’re boondocking.
Kim’s job is far harder, she has the responsibility to place the wonderful young pups and a few older dogs who have not been selected to remain in our program. Everything in between can be accomplished as a team, Kim, the girls and I, with the help of a few friends.
The selection is made easier by the breeders who have went before me. They have done a wonderful job, an outstanding job really. That said, not every breeder is breeding for an end goal the same as mine. Some like a more English pointer type of dog. Twelve O’clock tail, white in color, maybe smaller and bigger run. Some don’t really care if a dog likes the water or has a natural retrieve.
Many thankfully for me, have kept the original intent of a complete versatile hunting dog, and have bred for such. This makes my job much easier. That being said, you just can’t pick out any two dogs and put them together and expect perfection down the road. I must continually pick out dogs who meet my standard.
My standard is imprinted in my mind like stone tablets. I know the look of the dog I want. I want a dog who is over the top loveable. A loving dog is a structural pleasing dog, meaning one that wants to please people. Then I want the following traits: healthy, a great love of water, a natural love of retrieving, a good hunting dog that is hunting with me, a dog that keeps track of me, not me them. I want to watch my dog hunting; I don’t want to have to hunt my dog. I want a dog that has a natural point, and back. That’s it, pretty simple!
I could go into how we got to where we are, but I’ll save that for another story.
I will however tell you about the Gang because they are here, I will also tell you about the pups I am considering, and the pups not yet 8 weeks old that I’m excited about.
There are a few main lines, American lines that have all started from German lines and now stretch the gambit from 100 percent German, to American English Pointer type. Others with their unique stamp are the UK type dogs. These are the ones we will deal with.
A simple statement would be, the German dogs should be perfect and the American Pointer Type not so much. And that is a generalization and a good starting point. It’s more than I wanted to type about, but in order to understand the “Gang Members” you must have an understanding of the type of dogs behind them, and what happens when they are blended. The problem is over generalization, because there are often exceptions to the rules.
If you have read the web site www.desertpointkennels.com or talked to me, you already have an understanding of what I think, but here it goes again.
The GSPs were all once 100 percent German and of course only to be found in Germany. They were designed to be a hunt everything that moves, in water or land, feathers or fur. And that’s just what they did. In 1924 they came to America. And that’s just what they did. However, in America we leaned toward more birds, and Germany in many areas lean more toward fur.
The real split came when we started focusing on running GSPs in field trials with English Pointers and Setters. The name of the game became run, the more run the better. We liked run so much that we jumped up on horses to better watch the run.
Both Pointer and Shorthair breeders were breeding for the biggest running dog possible. They started breeding for an over exaggeration of a trait, and that trait was RUN.
The great Pointer breeder Wehle, and his famous yet today Elhew lines won numerous field trial championships. But Elhew tried to get the Pointer breeders and those in charge of field trials to stop placing so much importance on big run. Our dogs are running too big. Wehle, according to himself, was a breeder of Pointers for the foot hunter. Wehle acknowledged that his pleas fell on deaf ears. As he said,” the young Turks”, as he called the young and upcoming breeders, had their way and big run would become the standard.
“What”, you might say, has that to do with German Shorthairs? Well it has everything to do with American field trial big running Shorthairs, because if the Pointer is running too big, and the Shorthair is running lock step with the Pointers, then how far out of step are many American Shorthairs to the original design? The answer is a world away, so much that the German breed club would say that the American Shorthair is no longer a shorthair at all.
Might have been one thing if the American Field Trialers would have spent some time on other traits such as fur, water or retrieve, but they so completely abandoned those. Thus, making the Shorthair into a specialist, as the Pointer itself is.
It was estimated that approx. 28 percent of all AKC registered Shorthairs were white field trialing dogs. It might be less now that more versatile old school shorthairs are being raised.
It should also be noted that in Germany only about one percent of dogs were white. And the pointer influence in Shorthairs were from black pointers not white pointers. It is believed, by many, that the big run and the white color has come about from white Pointer crosses, and thus another example of a breed change away from versatility. However, they do have big run, a great cardiovascular system, great stylish point, and a good back.
UK dogs are bird dogs for the foot hunter first and foremost, but all must be good in the water. Their hunt tests are designed to duplicate hunting situations.
Most other American lines are somewhere between the older German type, and the American Field type. That said, remember that a modern German dog can be registered in an American registry and become a 100 percent American Shorthair.
So, you can see that American German Shorthair breeders have great leeway.
With that in mind, and without further ado, let me introduce you to our Gang Members:
1. Dusty, liver roan, our oldest at 13. American and American Show, and Field lines. Great hunter, always healthy and on the move. Good nose, good point, very smart, always moving. Likes the water, not the best natural retriever. Somewhat cranky with kids and other dogs.
2. Lady, 11 years old, solid liver, the best of hunting dogs. 2nd to none. She will kill herself to make a retrieve on land or water. Her nose is outstanding, great point, back, water work, retrieve, great mover, super smart. High energy level, and very jumpy. Would be the most likely to bite someone. Will jump if you reach down to pet her and she did not see you. My dad’s favorite. Mother was a solid liver versatile hunting dog, and Dad was a white big running field trial dog. Lady does not get around as well, but still likes to go hunting. She has one of the very best noses. There was a time when I believed she could hunt better that anyone else’s dog. Hundreds of wild birds, ducks, fox, bobcats, wild cats, rabbits, a badger, pheasants, grouse, etc. She could simply do it all. Very few dogs could find a dead bird faster or better than her. She truly was an amazing hunting dog.
3. Jack, 9 years old, black roan, the best of everything shorthair. Most loving and kind dog ever. Great with pups, other dogs, and people. Good on fur, ducks, and upland. Never have to worry about this dog anywhere. Great Point, and back. Works with you, and keeps good track of you in the field. Natural soft mouth retrieve. Can be a little soft at times. Overall close to my ideal shorthairs. Well built, great legs and feet. Most of our dogs are this line, and from Jack, his half-brother David, and half-sister Katie. Jack is German lines like all blacks, which come from the Pottmes Kennel lines. Jack’s mother is UK lines, and sire from good hunting dog lines.
4. Jill, 9 years old, black roan, who we just lost on this summer camp. As Jack, the best of type. Super loving, with everyone, pups, dogs, and every person she has ever met. A great hunting dog, the best grouse dog, comes from great grouse lines, a great therapy dog. Loves the water, great natural retrieve, point, back, great nose, works with you, and the list goes on. A great dog in every way. She is gone but lives on with us, and our kennel. Jill’s mom’s side is black lines with American lines, her dad is the same dad of David and Katie, he is a solid liver, he himself have field trial lines.
5. Bella, black roan like her mom and dad Jack and Jill. Bella is 7 years old is a perfect combination of Jack and Jill. I always thought she was our prettiest girl. She is a little bigger than her mom Jill. Bella is also a therapy dog like mom and dad. She loves the water, natural soft mouth retrieve, good point and back. A very nice hunting and family dog. I always thought that if every shorthair were like Jack, Jill, and Bella then Labradors would not be number one, Shorthairs would.
6. Bonnie who is 7 years old, black and white, is a daughter of Jack and Lilly. Lilly is a white and liver, out of a field trial line and hunting dog line. Lilly’s father is our Pepper who was a white and liver out of almost 100 percent field trial lines. Pepper has the famous field trial dog Dixieland Rusty, the top producer of field trial champions 5 times in 5 generations. Pepper was a big powerful dog. Not very good in the water, and not a very good retriever. But good point, and a great hunter. Would tree fur with the best of them. I once saw him and Lady kill a bobcat. Bonnie is super loving, unlike her grandfather Pepper who was a little mean. Bonnie is very versatile, and you can always tell by her tail weather she was on a quail or not. Super loving like her dad, Jill, Bella, and her mom Lilly. Bonnie is a little high strung and nervous like Lady. In fact, she is related to Lady on Pepper’s side.
7. Ms. Charlie who is 6, and is a black and white. She is out of Jack and Lady. She has all the great qualities of Lady without the nervousness. She is also so loving. If any of the dogs get a cut or have sores on them, she will clean them up and take care of them. Ms. Charlie is an excellent quail finder and holds her point a long time naturally. Great in the water, great nose, super loving. Ms. Charlie is always a first go to girl on any hunt. Easy keeper with excellent manners. Whether sitting for dove, or hunting quail, or retrieving ducks, or tracking, or putting a fox up a tree, there is no need to go further than Ms. Charlie, she is a real credit to her mom Lady and her dad Jack, and just goes to show what can happen when two great hunting dogs are bred together.
8. Heather is Jack’s youngest girl at 2, she is out of Bailey who is out of Tom C Foolery and Jackie B. Heather is solid black and is so super loving too, like her 3 sisters Bella, Bonnie, and Ms. Charlie. She is excellent in the water, nice natural retrieve, very good nose, and nice point, and can find quail. She has everything that we want in our dogs. Her biggest drawback is her solid black color which produces a lot of solid black pups which are hard to sell. Not many people are looking for solid black German Shorthairs.
9. Sophie, a liver roan born in Germany. She has a nice build for hunting all day. She is not the best at pointing but does produce nice pointing dogs. She has a high fur pray drive, great in the water like all German dogs, loves to play retrieve like all our dogs. She loves to hunt, covers a lot of ground and is also very loving. She is not as patient with the younger dogs as our other Gang members. Sophie is a good representation of a German breeding. Her litters have been extremely good and people love them. One hunter of over 30 years said that his Bajenks and Sophie boy is the best he has ever had. The young 14-week-old pups out of her and Buck also a German dog are proving very nice, with a nice natural point.
10. Katie, 6 years old, and solid liver. Jack’s half-sister on their mom’s side, David’s full sister, Jill’s half-sister on dad’s side. Katie, Jack, and David come from UK lines on their mom’s side. These lines have worked for us extremely well. Katie at this time has 8 puppies almost 5 weeks old out of Jack, her half-brother. 4 solid livers like mom, and 4 liver roan like there UK grandmother. One liver roan girl, and 3 liver roan boys. One of these boys just may take over as the main stud from their sire Jack. Very exciting news for Desert Point Kennel. Katie is super sweet as well, a real love bug, she gets along with all other dogs and is very good with young puppies. A very nice versatile hunting dog that meets all our expectations.
11. David, a 6 year old liver roan full brother of Katie, and half-brother of Jack, out of the UK mom Lacey that we like so much. David is an outstanding dog, everything his black brother Jack is, only in liver. Very will built with a nice large head. Everything a versatile hunting dog should be. David now lives with my very good friend Richard Roscoe, and Katie will soon go and live there as well. David remains very much in our breeding program and one of our main stud dogs, Bajenks, is his son.
12. Bajenks is named after Berry Jenkins who has Bajenks mother, Vera, out of our Jack and Dolly. Dolly is a half-sister to Lady, Dolly being a lighter liver roan, and Vera a darker liver roan, and Bajenks being even a darker liver. Bajenks is a big powerful dog. He consistently produces nice pups, of course bred to our girls who are themselves very nice. Bajenks is a bigger runner than our other dogs. Bajenks does a pretty good job, and having David as a sire, Vera a wonderful girl as his mom, and Jack and Dolly as his grandparents helps his ability to produce good pups. Bajenks is a tireless hunter that covers a lot of ground. He loves the water and has a nice natural retrieve. He always wants to pick something up and bring it to you like his sire David likes to do. He is also extremely loveable and is one of Kim’s favorite dogs.
13. KiRime is named after Kim Rime who bred Georgie a sister to Bajenks, who is out of Vera and David. Georgie was bred to Pretty Boy Roy. Pretty boy is an excellent hunting dog out of Jack and our girl Fancy. Fancy was a white field trial dog, who’s entire lines are field trial dogs. Fancy’s sire is a field trial champion. Fancy was a white liver dog, who was a good hunter with a great point, and hunted well, but often way too far out. She also was not a good retriever, but sometimes she did come up with a good retrieve on birds. Pretty Boy Roy is a black and white shorthair, thus proving once again that a field trial dog bred to a versatile hunting dog often produced good versatile hunting dogs as Pretty Boy Roy, and his brother Ranger Roy both are. Fancy is a half-sister to Lady, and a niece to Dolly. KiRime is a beautiful liver roan girl. She is good in the water, sweet and loveable, good retriever and like Bajenks she is one of our biggest runners. She minds well and is an easy keeper, and is bird crazy. She still has a way to go to prove herself but remains very promising.
14. Buddy, is an extremely handsome black roan. At only 9 months or so, he has proven to be a most promising young dog with tons of natural ability. His swimming is outstanding, high in the water, tail working as a rudder, and as fast as any adult dog we have, and we have outstanding water dogs. His point is stunning, head high, tail high, and well off his rump. He holds a natural beautiful point and has even stopped and held with a whoa command that he had never heard before. He loves to hunt, has a nice nose, is good with other dogs, extremely loving with people, loads and kennels great, recalls nicely. Has a wonderful natural retrieve and is overall an outstanding prospect for a future A team dog, and stud dog. On a recent outing his natural ground cover was excellent, he was working rabbits well, and his dove hunting for collard dove was simply outstanding. He was watching the gun, and birds fall and retrieving like a pro. Buddy is out of Rose, who is out of Chuck and Bonnie, Chuck being out of Lady and Buck. Bonnie being out of Jack and Lilly, and Lilly being out of Pepper. Buddy is out of Scout who is out of frozen semen from Luger, who is out of Bodo who is the last German born dog to get his Dual Championship, and his grandfather is the famous Ybold the only American Dual Champion, and German KS Champion.
15.
July 4, 2019. Girls and Kim, watch Parks Parade, visit swim park, watch fireworks at Williams. Am is Morning Outing with Gang, family meeting to talk about behavior and make up rules. Visit from Bill from Kingman who has a Jager and Tina boy who looks just like Sophie, 2nd outing with Gang, and 3rd outing to water. Arlo runs to next camp ½ mile away for BBQ.
I put the tracking collar on our youngest boy Barock, 14 weeks or so. He does 3.54 miles at an average speed of 5.06 miles per hour. A fun morning outing for sure. The younger dogs including Buddy love chasing birds in the big field.
Ran into Parks to make a phone calls, get ice, bread, and some excellent homemade salsa.
I had a very nice visit with Bill, lots of hunting talk.
July 5, 2019. Morning Outing, Kite Flying, Too the water, Chris and Lea’ here for a visit, Dog Training.
At 6 am I head out in the meadow for the morning outing. I put the two tracking collars on Dan and Little Ann. This should be interesting, there is no doubt that Little Ann will go more miles than Dan. Little Ann, and Buddy are already in full tweedy bird mode, chasing and pointing.
We don’t get very far when Chris and his wife Lea’ pull up in the beautiful blue Dodge Power wagon. They have 4 German Shorthairs and are ready for the morning outing.
They have 3 dogs from us, KC, Heidi, and one they call Piggy. I get an update on how the dogs have been doing. Little Heidi who is a 14 week old Sophie and Buck girl, has turned into a great little swimmer who loves their pool. KC, who they call Ollie now, is bonded to Lea’, and all the dogs are getting along great, and they are part of a wonderful family.
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be a police officer in a big city now a days. People have gone insane. The gangs and violence are out of control. The lack of respect for police officers, the lack of respect for human life in general, much less the common human decency that allows us to live in peace. The police often are what holds the devil in people at bay, and protects the innocent.
I hear a story of a young child, 5 years old, on her birthday, still in her birthday dress, and her birthday cake still on the table. The mother has been shot in the back of the head, along with the 5 year old baby birthday girl. The baby girl has been placed in her bed and a blanket placed over her. Why? Because the step dad is furious because the real dad had shown up and gave the little girl a gift.
How would you like to be the police officer who shows up, and pulled the covers back to find this innocent birthday girl?
I love our military; you all know that. But you must keep in mind that many go into the military and never see death, or violence. They do a few years and go home. Every police officer spends many years as a patrolman and sees violence and death, and the worst that society has to offer. And for a while it seemed that the military was loved, and the police distained.
Anyway, Chris and Lea had brought gifts for the girls. A camp chair for each of the girls with their names on them, some Barbie toy, some cool bubbles, etc. The girls made bubbles for the dogs to chase, and the girls to run in. I snapped some fun pictures of girls and dogs in bubbles.
Then Chris helped the girls fly their kites for their first time. The girls loved that, and Chris seemed to as well.
Oh, by the way, on the morning outing Dan did 4.78 miles at an average speed of 4.93 miles per hour. Little Ann did 6.14 miles at an average speed of 5.54 miles per hour.
Next was working with the dogs, with pigeons in the bird launcher. We worked with Chris’ 3 dogs, and Dan, Little Ann, Buddy, and Sasha. First with the help of the girls we put the dogs we were working with on a chain gang, where all dogs could see what was going on.
I walked around to each dog and showed each dog a pigeon flapping his wings. This got all the dogs worked up well. We let Pig, also known as Wrigley, and Heidi off their leashes, and I let the pigeon loose. At first the pigeon flew only a few inches from the ground, just in front of the dogs. For almost 25 yards the pigeon flew just ahead of the chasing dogs. Then the pigeon gained altitude and flew away with the dogs chasing.
After returning from chasing the pigeon the two dogs were returned to the chain gang. Two remote launchers were set up with a pigeon in each. The pigeons were tied to the launchers, and when they were released, they could fly a bit and then come to the ground.
Pigeons are a good bird to train with. They are very tuff, fly well, have a strong scent, and when flying their wings hit together and make a loud flapping noise that drives the dogs crazy.
We had a real nice team setup going on. Hailey had a camera and was snapping some photos. Lea’ was firing the blanks as the launcher was released. I released the launcher, snapped some pictures, and made some videos, and reset the launchers. Chris worked the dogs.
The main instruction for Chris was to make sure the dogs did not think they were being punished for catching the pigeon after it was released. Sometimes in a hurry to save the pigeon, we would run in and pull the dog back, and grab the pigeon and forget to praise the dog for a job well done. This did not happen today; all dogs were well praised.
I have long held the opinion that German dogs do not point well. What I have seen of dozen or so I have been around is a strong pray drive that seems to override the urge to point. I remember having six or so on point and having Barbara come on scene, and never even pause for a back or a point, but bust right in the bush at full speed. I don’t remember ever seeing her or her brother Buck point. Sophie our German dog is not a pointer at heart. I have seen her point a bit, but it’s few and far between.
That said, these pups out of Buck and Sophie are pretty good pointers and love to point. They will point butterflies, and grasshoppers in the field. They will point tweedy birds in field, and will point, and hold point on pigeons in the launchers. They will point with a classic one foot up.
This is very encouraging to me. Both Heidi and her sister Sasha, who are both Sophie and Buck pups did an outstanding job, at 14 weeks on finding and pointing the pigeons.
Buddy was his wonderful self, he pointed and held well and looked like a million dollars doing so. When the pigeon was released Buddy was super focused, and a bolt of lightning getting after the pigeon.
Ollie proved his nose was working and looked better than I’ve seen him before. He did the classic run by and spin around and go on point. Then went after the pigeon and held it nicely. We were all very proud of him.
Wrigley did a wonderful job and we got some good photos of all the dog work.
Old Dan, and Little Ann were their wonderful selves. They pointed with foot, and tail high. They held the point well, and went after the released pigeon with gusto. None of the dogs were the least bit bothered by the blanks. I’m pretty sure they never even heard the firing.
After the pigeon work, we took those dogs and Bobo, Rose’s son, to the water. The girls swam and the dogs played and retrieved bumpers.
Chris and Lea’ had to head home early, so we said our goodbyes.
Later we would cook some ranch fresh hamburgers, and the girls, Kim and I would watch “Where the Red Fern Grows.” At the end of the movie, Scarlett asked if Kim and I wanted her to bring us a tissue?
And All Remains Well at Summer Camp.
June 6, 2019. Morning Outing, Dog Training, Watched Titanic with girls, while editing photos. Kim went to Flagstaff for the day to do laundry etc.
Heather’s 3 five month old boys, White, blue and black, Arlo and Buddy all had the tracking collars on.
Blue did 5.49 miles at 3.97 mph. White did 6.12 miles at 4.14 mph. Black did 6.86 miles at 4.55 mph. Arlo did 7.87 miles at 7.76 mph. Buddy did 9.12 miles at 7.73 mph.
The trip was un-eventful with the exception of when we went too close to a logging road. One logging truck went by and I wanted to move the dogs away from that area, which was working until Little Ann, the independent cuss she is, decided to go into someone’s camp on the other side of the road.
I did my best to get her to come back, whistling, yelling Pup Pup, etc. Finally, when she had explored the camp, and when she was good and ready headed back to the rest of us. She ran up to me and jump up and gave me a kiss like she was the best girl in the world. Maybe she is.
Training was releasing the pigeons from the launcher. Arlo ran in to the launcher and did a good retrieve, but not much of a point. Little Ann did an all-around great job. Good point, great chase after the pigeon, and finally a retrieve back to me when she was good and ready.
Dan just went to the launcher without pointing. Ms. Charlie did great a couple of times, but then had problems finding the bird. Buddy was a rock star and did great, right up to the point of bringing me back the bird, same with Barock, and Sasha.
Editing pictures, and typing this can be pretty time consuming.
July 7, 2019. Morning Outing, German Shorthair, Kim and Girls to Church, then to Bearizona.
Put the tracking collar on Dan and Little Ann, but Ann’s battery died. Evidently you cannot charge the collar while it is on. Dan however did 4.15 miles, at 5.04 miles per hour.
First time I grabbed the camera and an extra battery and they were both dead, had to do some charging when I got back.
It’s close to 6pm and Kim and the girls are not back yet, as always.
One of the reasons I came to summer camp was to think and get some studying in. I want to write about shorthairs, and also of my life, because I want the kids and grandkids to know about me and the things I did. I wish my parents and grandparents would have taken the time to write about their lives.
I have read every single book I could find on German Shorthairs, as well as living and breathing with them for so many years now. So, here are some thoughts.
In short, because long would take a book: The German Shorthair was developed to be a practical gundog, the words of Jack Shattuck the owner of Rusty the first American Dual Champion. Jack went on to say for retrieving on duck and capably handling upland game, this is what the breed is meant to do. It is not meant to be a wind splitter, but is as close to the ideal as a man can get with a pointing dog to follow on foot. It is not entered in the Big Trials for Pointing Dogs because it is not bred for that. It is a top shooting dog. That is why its trials are run with birds to be killed and retrieved.
Or how about this. In the 1970s Professor Alfons Lemper, wrote in the Klub Kurzhaar’s, about why the Wirehair is more popular in Germany then the Shorthair. The following, in summary, is in Maxwell’s book. What we know is the old-time breeders wanted quiet, cheerful, versatile retrieving utility dogs for all occasions, to serve one-dog owners. It was Dr. Kleeman’s insistence on elegance, dogs with great nose, the distance movers, that generated inbreed need for wide spaces to cover and professionals able to handle such fireballs. Kleeman having his way, the breed has developed a type from which the ordinary hunting-sport man turns from, buying instead a Draathaar.
Maxwell goes on to site Joe Stetson the respected journalist, writing in Field and Stream. “If the German Shorthair is to be used as an ordinary Bird Dog, pushed out further and further, faster and faster, why not get a Pointer or a Setter in the first place?”
So, as you can see the Shorthair has been continually bred since the 40s to go faster and faster, to range bigger and bigger.
In America not only has the Pointer continually been bred to run bigger and faster, but the German Shorthair has, by many, been bred in lock step to keep pace with the Pointer so in many cases there is not only little difference in run, but little difference in look, and type.
It was believed 40 years ago, and I believe today, that the versatile Gundog, perfect for the foot hunter still exists in the German Shorthair for any breeder with the interest to make such a dog for the hunter that has interest in such a dog.
In part that is what I have been trying to do. Because un-like many breeders of today, I was lucky enough to see the hunting shorthair of the early and mid-1960s and that type was imprinted onto my soul.
July 8, 9, 10, and 11, 2019. Trip back to Wellton, 2nd trailer comes to camp, 4 more A team dogs, and 19 puppies come to camp. Working on better discipline and manners for the girls.
I drove back to Wellton to pick up the parvo shots for the pups, also microchips, Bonnie, Katie and her and Jack’s 7 puppies, Tina and her and Arlos’s 10 puppies, and Bella and her two pups. Counting the pups that puts us at 38 at summer camp.
The short trip back home was a little hot. The temp was 106, and was moving into a heat wave so I needed to hurry. I needed the 125-gallon water tank and it’s stand and a big long list of other items, as well as the other camper trailer.
I worked steady from 6 pm to midnight getting everything ready to go. It seemed like I made a hundred trips putting things in the trailer. Cleaned the tank the best I could and strapped it and the stand on top of the truck. Looked a bit like the Beverly Hillbillies. Either the strap or the hollow leg made a very loud and annoying noise while driving. The whole trip back I was just hoping and praying that there were no flat tires or other troubles. I was rewarded with a trouble free 6 ½ hour trip back to summer camp. I did well up until 4 am where I had to stop and take a 40 minute nap.
I was excited about picking up our dogs and pups and getting them back to camp. The 7 pups of Katie’s and 2 pups of Bella’s made themselves right at home on the thick artificial grass that makes up the front door mat. I got in a short nap before Glynn and Diana showed up.
Glynn brought us up an old trailer to use to haul water. Diana was here to see the pups I promised to bring back. They not only brought us up a trailer but also a great lunch. These pups are going to be very well socialized.
I had to stop typing and move a blanket under the trailer and move the pups off the fake grass because it’s raining. Enough to settle the dust anyway. All the A team dogs are on the back bunk, and the B team Gang members on the bottom bunk so everyone is up and out of the rain.
Tina and her 10 pups have a wonderful place in the living room of the toy hauler. She has her whelping box set up, and all is well for the dogs and pups at summer camp, above Parks Az. USA.
The evening of the 10th, after getting some sleep, I was able to take the gang out for a nice long outing.
The morning of the 11th started out a little before 6 am with a morning outing. I put the tracking collar on Lady 11, and Dusty 13. After 30 minutes Lady had gone 2 miles at an average speed of 5.69 miles per hour. Dusty had gone 2.38 mile, and 6.39 mph. At the end of the 1 hour and 40 minute outing, Lady had gone 5.45 miles and 4.96 mph. Dusty had gone 6.18 miles at 5.55 mph.
One area that Kim and I have been trying to do is work on the girl’s behavior and manners. Kim is like a Cadillac of grandmothers and loving people but she has a low tire when it comes to discipline. We came up with a check system that gets the girls 5 minutes early bed time for each check. We want them to say ok when told to do something, as well as thank you and you’re welcome. Yes, ma’am and yes sir would also be great. So, every time they use yes ma’am or yes sir 5 times, they can get a check off.
This worked well for the first few days but when I got home their behavior was not too great, and Hailey was the worse. We are trying to keep it positive but sometimes it’s not easy. It got so bad I had to cancel their free ice-skating time, and send Kim into town for a meeting, and the girls could stay with me. There was a lot of crying over that one.
Water continues to be the biggest hassle. We need to try and stay clean, the red dirt gets everywhere on you, and clothes very seldom last longer than a day.
I was going to a friend’s house who has one of our dogs, 5 miles from camp to fill up our water jugs. I was told to use the submersible pump near one of the tanks, but I would need a generator. This I did until one day the pump was gone and his truck was blocking the tank. I sent a text asking if everything was ok? Then I went to the KOA to fill the water containers.
Evidently, I was not supposed to pump out of the tank because it was filled and had to sit for 30 days for a leak test. But there was a 1200-gallon portable tank that I could use to either put on a trailer, or take back to camp and have water delivered.
I decided to skip on the use of the tank to avoid further conflicts. Now I had a trailer and a 125-gallon water tank. If that was not a big enough tank, I can add a couple of 55-gallon barrels or get a bigger tank.
There is a water satiation in Parks. It has a drop hose that allows you to pull up and pump water into your water tank. I see so many people up here having either delivered by a big water truck or pulling their own water tank or having one in the back of their pickup.
You have to set up an account at the pump station, and water is 3 cents a gallon. I just hope there is not stipulation like residency to open an account.
July 12, 2019. Morning Outing, Chris and Lea come up for the day, Very nice lunch, rain, trip for water.
Morning outing short and sweet with the Gang of 19. The tracking collar was on Dan and Ann. Ann’s came off and Dan retrieved back to me. Ann was leading the mile race at this time.
Chris and Lea’ showed up early just after the morning outing. We had started breakfast. Kim had found a cast iron, double sided fry plate for the BBQ. It was the perfect fit with the exception of the side handles that stuck out, so I sawed them off. Now the pan fits in and the BBQ lid can close.
It worked well on eggs, pancakes, and hamburgers on the first day. The flip side has ridges and should work will for bacon and steaks. This was a very good find on Kim’s part and for only $10.00.
Chris is one of those guys that is always prepared. The forecast was for rain, so he brought up a 12-foot pop up, which worked out perfect when it did rain. They were glad to get out of the 112-degree valley heat and come up to the 75-degree cool fresh weather.
They also brought up a ton of food, from chips to hamburgers. The girls love them, and they are so good with them. Scarlett got in the back of their pick up and really wanted to go home with them. Needed water, and was thankful they brought up 10 gallons, but we needed more.
The silicone patch on the tank was not yet set up well enough for use, so we had to take the jugs in to get some. I did want to get the water account set up before I brought the big tank in. This should be easy, it’s an online registration where you make an account, and put money into the account. You get a pin number to use when you get water. I however kept getting kicked off the information page and never did get an account. The water through the water station is 1000 gallons for 30 dollars. At the KOA I payed 15 dollars for 60 gallons. That said, I was glad to get the water.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, or camp we had some puppy work to do. Bella and Katie’s puppies needed their first shots, and microchips. Tina’s pups need their tails and dew claws removed. We could not find the tail cutting kit, so the scissors were a bit big for the dew claws. It was nice get these out of the way.
Having the pup pups in camp is such a blessing. They are over the top cute, and are always doing something worth a smile, a photo and a “did you see that?” Tina’s are still in their whelping box and we are just watching them grow, and enjoying having puppies this small to look at.
The other 9 pups are just 5 weeks old, and are super cute. They like the fake grass door mat, and the blanket just under the trailer that allows them to get out of the few short rains we have had.
They are exploring everything, and loving their new freedom. They eat and drink with the big dogs, as well as having their own food and water. They try and play with dogs older than them, as well as try and find a place that has a milk outlet. You can often find them snuggled up with an older dog, which always seems cute to me. The older dogs have been extremely gentle with the pups and very seldom is there a cross word.
But the cutest part of puppies is just watching them be puppies. The running and tripping, the grabbing and shaking of everything, the coming up and fighting and playing with your shoes and pant legs. The awkward way they bound around, the jumping, the puppy breath, and the ability to scoop one up at any time, and hold them in your arms.
These pups are a bit more special, Katie and Jack’s, because I am looking to replace Jack as a main stud dog with one of his sons, a little Jackson. There is already a lighter ticked boy that is a real whipper snapper.
The girls continue to get checks, Hailey more than Scarlett. We keep chipping away. The girls are usually very good with the dogs and they really do love them, and the dogs and pups are so good for the girls. But sometimes I have to shake my head and give the girls a little talking to. I find Scarlett tossing one up in the air, and Hailey holding one from the skin of It’s back.
July 13, 2019. Morning Outing, new valley, and Lazy Saturday.
Arlo gets the tracking collar, as did Bajenks. Bajenks has one with a dead battery. I’m getting the feeling that the red collar is defective. Probably a bad battery, or one that needs more charging than the other one.
Arlo did 7.08 miles, at an average speed of 7.25 miles per hour. Arlo is doing very well with us at summer camp.
Kim headed to town and will be gone most of the day. The girls are with me, and are watching a movie. Kim has a lot of laundry, has to open a water account, have the oil, and front pads changed on her van.
Not much different on this morning outing, we did finely get to explore the meadow on the other side of the ridge from us.
The gang covered at least 90 miles of ground today, if every one of the 18 dogs that were out did 5 miles. I would guess that each dog will travel at least 150 miles a month while at summer camp, or 450 miles for the summer. This would add up to approx. 8,550 miles of ground covered by the Gang while at summer camp. That would put me walking about 360 miles.
July 16, 2019. As we nudge past the 30-day mark, we find that we have learned a thing or two. Kim and I make a good team because we roll with the flow extremely well. That does not however mean we do not have our days. The biggest challenge for me is the girls, and their lack of good behavior, minding, and manners. It becomes a real challenge at times. I need to think about where they came from, and all the progress they have made. Most days with them are enjoyable. They are very young and they do and say funny things.
The puppies in summer camp have also brought up the joy factor. They too are always doing something amusing. I spend most of my time outside with them and the Gang and always have the camera ready for photos, and the phone ready for videos. I will have many hundreds by the end of summer camp. The puppies sleep for long periods of time and then wake up at full charge ready and willing to get into everything. They do their best to jump on, and bite, and play with every older dog we have, and to the benefit of the older dogs they either take it or move away. Some of the older dogs really seem to enjoy having the puppies around. Often you will find the pups in one of the large food containers. There might be four pups inside eating and the older dogs just eating around them as if puppies in food happens every day.
As I type this one of the liver pups is biting Sophie on the nose, ear, and lips, and Sophie is just laying there. Some of the older mothers act as if this is old hat to them.
At times some of the things that seem to bring the pups enjoyment are: Exploring the camp, bugging the older dogs, tug of war, feeding on either Bella, Katie, or sometimes Tina. They also like picking up stuff and shaking it, or eating it. They seem to like tennis balls, water bottles, anything soft, or anything another pup has. The like to snuggle up with an older dog, but they love puppy piles and nap time. They like to be held and loved on by the girls or us. They really seem to enjoy being puppies. Their biggest enjoyment that will last many into their older years, is play fighting, jumping, dodging, play biting, knocking into each other, running after and trying to trip each other, stocking or waiting in ambush and then attacking each other.
There is a lot of jumping, and falling over. Tripping and falling or rolling. A lot of this behavior builds the puppy into a dog. It builds confidence and boldness, let’s them know they are part of a pack, and that there are pack rules, such as fair play, and kindness. That too rough a play and biting is not acceptable. That play is fun, and can be done often with others as long as you’re not a bully. This will serve the pup, and later the dog well when they go and live with humans, it’s the same rules. Be kind and don’t bite or hurt others. The lack of this socialization can cause the dog big problems later, and the lack of the new puppy owners not continuing these pro social dog skills is the number one cause of bad dog behavior.
Puppies are fun, and I could go on forever about them. Puppies are the purest form of K9 enjoyment. They are a small package of everything we love about dogs and life for that matter. They are happy, playful, super loving, extremely entertaining, they are both bold and vulnerable, week and strong, funny, clownish, and so extremely sweet. They will make you laugh with the funny things they do, and cry when they chew up your shoe, or other such item. They will lay or sleep in the oddest manners, on their backs, feet up or off something, head hanging over or on something, half off or on something, on or off of you or something, in a little ball or stretched way out. In or on a small chair or your whole bed.
Pups will run as fast as they can, and will most likely not be graceful. Often will look like their backs are trying to pass their fronts, or their fronts are going in a different direction then their backs. They will often as not, trip, fall, or even roll. They will hop and often jump while they run. They will lose balance and glide to one side or the other. They will try and jump over or go around something and not quite make it. They will jump in the oddest of manners.
Puppies love to bite, nibble, and lick your face. They like to untie your shoes, pull on your pant legs, and bite and pull your hair.
Puppies are so special that God gave then their own breath that everyone loves the smell of. Puppies are so magical that they turn grown men and women into little boys and girls with just one glance. Old people are transferred back to their childhood. One puppy snuggle can bring love and warmth to a person’s body and send peace and kindness both into the body and brain.
So, when I say we have puppies at Summer Camp, I mean we have Magic at Summer Camp.
WATER: We use a tremendous amount of water. Even with Kimberlee being very frugal, we use a lot of water. The many dog and pups drink a lot of water. They drink about 15 gallons a day. The girls get so dirty that they need a quick low water shower every day. I was not prepared for that amount of water.
Filling up water jugs with no river is very time consuming and costly. The KOA was charging 15 dollars for 60 gallons. In one respect we were lucky, and that is that everyone has to either have the water delivered to holding tank at their house, or haul water with tanks in their trailer to their house. Because of this, there are water stations, like gas stations where to pull in, and fill up.
First, which took a few days, was getting an account. You must do this on line, at least for the water station in Parks Az. that we were using. After the account is open you must put money in the account. Water at the pumping station is 30 dollars for 1000 gallons, Huge saving. One large tank in the back of the trailer, parked above the toy hauler would solve the whole water problem.
So, with the borrowed trailer, and our 125-gallon tank in the back, the girls and I went the 22 miles and filled up the tank. It was quick and easy and the girls loved holding and being in control of the big water hose that filled up our tank.
They also loved the ice cream and Parks store, and the ride back home to camp. My silicone patch work, did not work too well and we did lose a gallon or so of water on the ride back to camp. The trailer was parked higher than the top hauler and after the hose was hooked up it was just a matter of filling up first the holding tank on the toy hauler, then a 55-gallon drum, and then the smaller 5-gallon jugs. Then the tank patch work was redone. I’ll let you know how that works out.
The major components of boondocking should not be so big a problem that they make the boondocking experience regrettable. Electric power from solar, 12-volt batteries, with generators, and invertors, and converters. Cooking fuel from propane. Water from water station stored in tanks and jugs. Food stored in cabinets, ice chests, and propane refrigerator. There are some very good 12-volt refrigerators out there. Laundry for us is Kim going into the laundromat, where she can catch up on the texts, emails, puppy lists, etc.
The last concern of boondocking is the toilet. Composting toilets are getting popular with boon dockers, either in the non-complicated or complicated applications.
For us it’s the flush type toilet in the toy hauler with a holding tank called a black tank, and the outside porta potty that was left here from the last field trial. We are going on just over one month and have not had to dump our black water tank.
To dump the black water tank, one must go to a dumping station, either by pulling the trailer, or having yet another tank that is hauled to a dumping station after it is filled from the black tank. We don’t want to have a scene from Robin William’s movie RV, but a second portable tank can get a little complicated and messy. There is even a black water pump that pumps your black water up into a tank in your pickup to be dumped at the dump station.
All of this would explain why RV parks are so popular, and why boondocking is not so popular. Water, power, dumping, all in one place, with activities and of course 20 feet away.
Traveling in an RV can be pretty much like living at home. Many have all the connivances of home. Many even have a washer and dryer. Ours has almost everything. Four tanks, 1 for gas for the generator, 1 fresh water, 1 grey water and one black water tank. We have everything a modern RV has.
One good thing is that either for a weekend, a week, or a month or longer the same items are needed. I always felt that a week RV vacation with the kids was a lot of work, packing and unpacking everything, and then I needed to get home and back to work to get some rest.
Our situation is not hard, taken one task at a time, it’s all the tasks combined. Ours becomes much more complicated when you add 6 and 8-year-old granddaughters, 12 adult dogs, 7 teenage dogs, 9 five-week-old puppies, and 10 pups still in the whelping box one more due in a couple of weeks.
That being said, we seldom feel stressful, we usually feel blessed. What stresses me the most is that I’m not in California with my kids and other grandkids, but I know I’ll be there within a year, and I want to enjoy what I’m doing now.
Even with all that, Kim is able to get her and the girls into church, as well as many other outings.
June 24, 2019. Day 39 at Summer Camp. Ready for the rain, lots of visits, Flagstaff Dog Show, Shoot to Retrieve Judging class and test, the zoo, and camp life as usual.
It’s been a few days since I last typed so I will go in reverse order. This morning finds the outside very wet. The pups who now sleep outside seemed warm and quite comfy. At 6 weeks old they are quite busy little bees. Sleeping, eating, exploring, and overall just being cute little camp monsters. They don’t roam far but it is cute to watch them explore at the edge of camp and a little further.
It’s the night time sleeping arrangements that cause the most concern. At first it was a kennel crate in the trailer with a wire crate they could go into. The kennel had their blankets to sleep on and the wire crate to poop on. The mornings found both to be quite messy, and took some time to clean up, plus they were always up at 5 am crying to get out. I then moved them to a wired in pop up with their crate, food and water. This was better, but they still cried at 5 am to be let out.
The next try was a small table with a wire crate on one side, and a plastic crate on the other. Blankets on the ground under the table, and in the crates. The blankets that covered the crates, and then blankets that covered the table and crates, and then tarps to cover all 3. This made a nice fort and den area for the pups to snuggle up inside.
The crate fort worked well, and at 4 am when it was raining pretty good, the pups were fine and cozy. At 5 am there was no crying because they could get out and roam their familiar surroundings.
Because of the rain, the morning of the 24th was the first morning that we slept in until 6:40 am. The puppies who always have food are given extra food in the morning of canned dog food, powered milk, and eggs with shells on top of their dry dog food.
Saturday, we went to the dog show with Chris and Lea’ to watch Darcy Skinner and her daughter Christopher show their Shorthairs. There were quite a few shorthairs, and it was hurry up and wait. While waiting, Scarlett and Hailey, supervised by Kim were able to visit with each handler and pet all the Shorthairs plus a few more. I was told that the girls were very polite and quite cute. Lea’ spent most of the time talking with one of the supervisors about what the judge was doing, and what she was looking for. Both Chris and I were sure she would come away with a pretty good understanding of Judging, which she did.
One visitor we had for a few days was my friend and hunting partner Tony Roscoe. Tony has a large, solid liver boy out of Katie and Bajenks. He is an excellent boy who did quite well when we planted pigeons. He has a very nice point and looks great. Tony has spent a lot of time with Harley and it shows. Harley is a ball driven, retrieving machine. Because Tony was willing to stay and watch camp and the dogs, it allowed Kim and I, for the first time to leave camp together. So, we went to the dog show and Bearizona Wildlife Park.
Sunday after showing Darcy and Christopher came and camped for the night with us. These two ladies are something else. Kim and I met them at the Yuma dog show. We don’t show, but like to go and see the Shorthairs. We became instant friends with them and we are very supportive of each other.
The two day visit of course was too short. Darcy and Chris have been on the road for four months showing their excellent shorthairs in the mid-west. Always good to get your dogs in front of different judges. They finished a few of their dogs to Champions, and had a lifetime of adventures. Both ladies are bold, confident, and competent, but it’s what they do that sets them apart.
Darcy and her husband started their kennel some 25 years ago. Her husband Greg an avid world hunter of course having and wanting hunting dogs. Starting with Springers, and moving to Shorthairs. They both wanted beautiful and versatile hunting dogs and thus the Shorthairs which became a lifelong passion, love and devotion to the breed. The love and devotion to the breed is matched by very few breeders. They have simply made it a point to be involved with their Shorthairs in as many endeavors as possible. AllStar Gundogs or Kennel.
In short here is a quick and probably lacking history of their Kennel with an emphasis on the daughter Christopher.
Greg and Darcy, who make a wonderful team and are very supportive of each other involved their two daughters in hunting, shooting, and all areas of their dog work. Greg an accomplished dog trainer and under study of the Smith’s world-renowned dog trainers. The family team, hunted, showed, trained and tested their dogs. Darcy was learning the show ring from mom, and hunting and training with her dad at an early age.
Their dogs were old school, versatile Shorthairs with a darker look about them. This line of dogs they have stayed with all these years. Breeding little, and for quality New lines were added after Chris went to live in Germany, and became involved in learning and participating with the Germans. Chris was accepted by the Germans which is not always an easy task. She became friends with a German breeder and acquired a Shorthair, got her hunting license, learned, and participated in the German testing system.
Back in America AllStar Kennel marches on. Hunting, Hunt Testing, Doc Diving, Barn Rat Testing, Showing, etc. Christopher decided to up her game and apprentice with the same trainers as her father had. She finished the multi month, vigorous training program with flying colors, becoming the first woman to do so.
Christopher is young, beautiful, talented, and confident, as well as calm and very polite. For the first time the AllStar dogs will become available in a larger number. It will not be easy to get one of these fine pups, but they will be worth the effort. All dogs are health tested, hunt tested, and showed in the show ring.
One last note, Christopher has become one of the premiere Lady trainers. Her training is low stress. Many who are trying to get a hunt test title on their dog or need hunt training on their dog feel more comfortable with a lady trainer. AllStar Kennel is located in Southern California, you might want to check them out.
Tony, Chris, Lea’, the girls and I did get a chance to go watch for a bit the NSTRA trail. The girls had a blast looking at dogs and pups. I had to remind them that pups with tails were not allowed to come home with us. One setter pup sure was cute. Scarlett even got a ride on one of the horses. This was so exciting to her. The trial grounds did not allow for good viewing. I was told by Tina that back east many of the fields have towers for better viewing. Tina and her husband are from Colorado and Florida, and they travel all over the country competing. They had their 10-year-old grandson on this trip and he was having a blast. I invited them to camp and to Bearizona but they never showed.
Tina’s husband runs German Wired Hairs, and Tina a German Shorthair. Tina and her Shorthair Kookus Nikki won the 2017 Trial of Champions. So now if her husband gives her a hard time about something or tells her how to run the field, she reminds him of who has a National Championship.
Friday was the NSTRA judging class. One must take this class and pass a test among other things to be able to become a NSTRA Judge. Tony and I went to this class. Tony figured out that the trial grounds above Flagstaff was only 11 miles from camp if we took the Forest roads, or 70 miles if we went around and through Flagstaff.
The class was interesting and it is clear that the rules take on a common since approach in the judging with an attempt to judge a working bird dog. The goal is a working team of dog and handler, in an attempt that the dog finds and holds a point on a planted bird until the handler flushes the bird, at which time the dog can break point and go after the flushed bird. The handler then shoots the bird as it flies away. The dog then finds and retrieves the shot bird to the handler, and then the dog returns to hunting for more birds. There is also points given for one back, where a dog on point is backed or honored by the brace mate.
In Shoot to Retrieve, the dog who finds and retrieve the most birds is the dog that wins the day.
You might ask what I think of Shoot to Retrieve Trials? It is obvious that the people who participate in NSTRA love it, and feel that it’s either fun when they are not hunting, or for them replaces hunting altogether.
Because of the nature of who finds the most birds the dogs participating have become quite fast. It’s a race to find the birds in the field, so the dog with a good nose, covering the most ground in the best manner finds the most birds. In theory a slower dog can and sometimes does win the day, but most participants I talked to feel the faster dog covering the most ground finds the most birds.
As far as rain goes, we have been late as far as the Monsoons go. The forest has been very dry and there are 3 fires going in the area. If a fire gets close to us, or the danger gets to great they will make us move. Pop ups and tarp, I put up in place of the awning.
I had picked up a very small and cheap pop up at Goodwill before we headed up, it proved almost worthy. Our real savior was Chris and Lea’ who let us use two of theirs. An older 10 foot one, and a newer 13x13 Coleman with eves. The tarp in place of the awning also proved very helpful. I have a brand-new awning cover that I never got to put on. Wish I would have.
On July 24, 2019 at 3:30 the girls, dogs, and pups were playing outside. I was also outside watching everyone. Kim had the truck in town and it started to rain, and the rain turned into a down pore. Everything was ready for the most part because I knew the rain was coming. But the amount of rain was soon a little overwhelming.
The nine pups were under the big pop up on a blanket sleeping but the water was soon to be running over their blanket. The girls were playing in the same area. The awning was filling up with gallons of water, the dog trailer was open at both ends. The pigeons needed put up, I had silicone curing on the tank I was fixing, and windows and the back big door was open on the toy hauler.
The first thing I did was yell for all the dogs to come into the toy hauler, and send the girls into the other trailer. The dogs were very willing to get into the toy hauler, and within one minute all but Buddy, Dan and Barock were in and up into their sleeping area. It was quite impressive if I do say so myself.
The silicone tank was put on its side and pushed part way under a protected area. The pigeons were moved quickly into the dog trailer and front and back doors closed.
Thunder by then was pretty loud. I could see the girls watching me run around like a mad man, and I could not tell if they were frightened or not. The pups were quickly moved into their water tight, blanketed sleeping area, and none had gotten wet.
The girls were hustled from the trailer to the toy hauler because I did not want them to be afraid. The top bedroom vent was open as well as the two back windows. There were kids sleeping bags on the beds that saved the beds from getting wet. I got drenched closing the rear door.
I dropped one end of the awning, and the water poured off.
Dan did not want to get wet and had to be carried to the toy hauler. Buddy, timidly went from under the trailer to under the toy hauler and then into the toy hauler where the girls were ready to dry him off. The thunder had the girls yelling with a fake fear that caused me to yell at them to stop yelling.
Barock had made it to the front door and the girls saw him from under the window, and started yelling at me to save him. He was pretty dry, but that did not stop the girls from drying him anyway.
A movie was put on for the girls to keep them calm. Every one of the dogs and pups were safe, dry and sleeping within a few minutes.
The rain lasted for only about 30 minutes but in that time, there was a lot of water. My big worry was Kim, who was out in the truck and did not know how to put it into 4-wheel drive.
The sun came out and the pups who are 6 weeks old wanted out. The first thing 3 of them did was run to the water puddles in the road. Kim soon pulled up and said she was only worried in one spot.
Camp is on a pretty good slope, and the water ran off well and did not leave us any mud other than in the road.
When all the dogs were let out, they played in water like little kids as did the girls.
July 29, 2019. 1 ½ months at camp. Sophie another porcupine, more visitors.
Yes, Sophie got into her 4th porcupine. She is a little slow. This last one was not as bad, the quills were longer, but not as many; however, they went in deeper, and made her mouth bleed more. It seems that she knew the routine, and stood very calm while I removed the quills both inside and outside her mouth.
One great thing about summer camp, and outings with the dogs, is that you have plenty of time to think. Communing with nature and God. The ability to put things into perspective, like family, friends, faith, and business.
One area that I don’t talk often about, but is the core of our life is our Christian faith. One reason is that I often don’t feel that I’m very good at it. I have a feeling in the back of my mind that I just don’t do it right.
I was not brought up in church, I sought out the church and God. I’ve read the Bible as a whole and the New Testament many times. I’ve read a lot of books, went to many churches, even Bible college for a short time. I’ve been baptized in both the Catholic church, and a Pentecostal church.
I’ve taught Sunday school, and lead Bible studies, I’ve went door to door proclaiming the good news. I’ve been active, and a pew warmer. I’ve been both a good tither, and poor tither. There have been times when I’ve missed the mark as far as sin goes, and when I’ve been pretty good.
We have led a pretty good Christian life by American standards. We have run our business with open honesty. We have paid every tax owed by us or the business and treated everyone in a Christian manner.
We have programs to help the vets get our dogs for free. We have taken care of my mom, dad, grandmother, and grandfather and they never went into a care center and they passed in our loving care in our house. We have stepped up and taken care of our grandkids when their parents dropped the ball.
We have done many things that are Christian for sure, but something is still missing. I have never lost faith in my belief of God and Christianity. I feel the church is the best thing the world has going for it. A love-based religion for sure.
The problem I have in sharing may seem odd, but it’s because I don’t feel any better than the average person. I mean the average Christian in America is living the average American dream, and doing little if anything more for people than the average American, and that’s what I am ashamed of.
I wanted to go back to Bible college but never have. I wanted to travel and help people but never have. I wanted to travel to churches and give inspirational speeches that would help people, and kids especially, I wanted to travel to poor countries and help where I could and tell them about the love of God that I feel, but I never have.
I made a promise to God after my son Jeff was shot, that if he saved Jeff, I would do my part in telling others of the God I know, but never did. So, you see, that I’m not a very good Christian, and feel very hypocritical, and I don’t want anyone to Judge Christianity by me.
The Bible teaches that to everyone who is given much, much is expected of them. Not too many people have been given more than I, yet I’ve done very little in comparison to what I could have done.
There have been so many ordinary Christians who have done extra ordinary things just by following their leading by God, but not me.
We as Christians are told to seek out our calling and our gifts. We live our American dream just like the non-believers and waited to discover our calling. The problem is that we are rich, and we have been given a lot, approx. 99 percent more than almost everyone else in the world. And how do we live? We as Christians live exactly like everyone else in America. We live the American dream. We live to please ourselves and we give only out of our extra. Nothing is done by us that causes either a physical or financial hardship. We very seldom if ever step out of our comfort zone. That’s the American Christian Way.
Over 30 years ago, I heard some visiting Russian Christians say: “You American Christians are so willing to die for Christ, but so un-willing to live for him.”
The truth is we don’t need to search for our calling, the Bible already tells us what it is. Preach the Gospel to the world, and make disciples of all we can. Help the poor and down trodden. Care for the widows and orphans.
American Christians have done some remarkable things for sure. I mean some over the top, giving that is nothing short of remarkable, but that is just a drop in the bucket compared to what could be done if American Christians would reach down and really give of both their money and time.
I hope somewhere in this last part of my life I can become a Christian to be proud of. One that brings glory to God, not me. Doing things for others, where it is clear that God did that, not me. Where in the end, I will be met with, “well done, my proud and faithful servant.”
July 30, 2019. Morning Outing, Kim edits this story, portable black tank.
As I leave at 5:50 am for the morning outing, I find for the 3rd time that Jack and Katie’s boy wants to go with us. I have named him Jack’s son or Jackson. He looks like his uncle David. He has become my favorite with one of Bella and Bajenks boys. Little Jackson goes about 1 mile before I pick him up. He is a liver white ticked boy, and is super cute.
The girls and I head to Flagstaff, so I can do some downloading, paperwork, etc. We also get a portable black water tank so we don’t have to pull the toy hauler in to dump.
Aug. 3, 2019. Kim heads to Wellton, Kim breaks down, 2 long nights for her, Portable black tank, Propane tank leaks, Rocket get returns, Grandkids are not always easy. Heavy rain, and hail. Visit from a hippie.
We have been lucky to have a portapoddy at camp, so have not been using either toilet much in the trailers. The portapoddy is almost full and the toy hauler’s black tank has about 25 gallons.
Not wanting to have to break down, and pull the toy hauler to a dump station, the only option was to get a portable black tank. I found a 27 gallon one at a local RV dealer. Not cheap at just under 200 dollars. It proved easy to work with though a little heavy once filled with black water, at almost 8 pounds a gallon, and 25 gallons.
There is a hose on the portable tank that couples with the black tank on the toy hauler. A pull of the handle and the transfer is complete. Both tanks are closed, and it’s a matter of getting the heavy portable tank into the back of the truck. I thought I might pup the tank in the back of the truck, and then transfer the black water 5 gallons at a time, with some kind of huge funnel.
Getting the tank into the back of the pickup, meant first pulling it onto the back of the drop-down ramp on the toy hauler, then lifting the ramp high enough to drive the truck’s tail gate under the ramp, and then pulling the tank into the back of the pickup. Easy peesy.
Now finding a free dump station. This was in Flagstaff. Hailey wanted to go with me, and so off we went, right into heavy rain, and hail. The ground was covered with white, like snow in Parks. Very heavy rain for a few miles on Hwy 40, then clear the rest of the trip. The dump went smooth.
Kim went into Yuma to get the girls signed up for home schooling. It proved a long tiring couple of days for her. After the long trip to Wellton, she ended up driving another couple of hours to help a friend bring a tire and jack to her husband. It was pretty late when she got back to Wellton, then the next day headed home there was a problem with the trucks back lug nuts, and they needed to be replaced.
It took hours at a rest stop waiting for a mechanic with a portable work truck to finish the job. Four Hundred dollars later and she was back on the road. Kim pulled into camp late, and she was one tired and stressed lady. It would take a couple of days of extra sleep to get her back to normal.
The lines on both trailers were old and hard, and 3 out of four were leaking where they go onto the propane tank. The part that is hand tightened, onto the tank was leaking at the backside. I was able to take the good one line off the trailer, and move it over to the toy hauler, and then get a new line for the second tank on the toy hauler. Three new lines will give us all new lines on both the toy hauler and trailer.
The girls, Scarlett 6, and Hailey 8 for the most part are happy and well adjusted. Their life with us would make an interesting movie. There is a lot of joy and laughter around camp, but there are challenging times for sure. Proper discipline has proved challenging for sure. Not so much with Scarlett, but Hailey’s behavior ranges from very good to extremely selfish and self-centered, to even violent, and even defiant. Over the years she has made great gains, and she has become much more loving. However, she is not out of the woods yet.
We got a Ms. Charlie, and Bajenks boy back. He is 2 years old, and is black and white and looks a lot like Charlie. The owners drove from California to the Glendale area and dropped him off with Chris and Lea.
We had been contacted by the owners and told that Rocket had snapped at their son, and they were going to take him to the pound if we did not know of someone who would take him. Kim told them to return him, and we would refund their money.
Chris and Lea, had Rocket for a week before he was returned to us here at summer camp. The story that was given to Chris was that someone brought over some small yapping dogs and Rocket was having a hard time with them, the son grabbed Rocket’s collar, and Rocket turned and snapped at him, not breaking the skin.
Chris said the husband seemed very upset at having to return Rocket, the son was crying the whole time, and the mom was standing there with her arms folded. Chris said that Rocket did not appear to be aggressive to either his family, or his dogs.
Rocket has been with us for 3 days. He has gone on 4 outings, and has not been aggressive so far. He loves the girls, and Hailey has clicked with him, and she calls him, and he comes. Chris said Rocket loves his son, and that’s who he stayed with at his house. Rocket does not respond to me at all. He does not wag his tail when I call his name. He does not recall for me at all. He does stay with the gang, and seems to like being with the other dogs on the outing. But he does not play as yet with the other dogs.
I’m at a loss to really understand this dog, or figure out what kind of life he has led up to the point he has been returned to us. He does howl, and cry whenever he does not see people.
We have also got another call, form someone telling us the dog has proven to be more than they expected.
I’m not even sure of the definition of a hippie. Someone o has long hair and has done drugs. Free love movement etc.
Someone who looks like a hippie, was camping with his two sons just down from us. On Kim’s way out to Wellton, she stopped and told them that they should come down and visit the girls and puppies.
This they did early in the morning Greg, and his two sons, Greg Jr. and Wolfe Gong. Wolfe was 4 years old with very long and very blond hair. Greg Jr. 10 years old and short hair. They girls had a blast playing with these two. Greg Sr. was everything in looks and speech that one would identify as being a hippie.
People as a whole are very interesting to me, and Greg Sr. proved a very interesting person. Well educated, and well-traveled, both the U.S. and world. He and his wife Jessica love the woods and camping. She was home with their new born and he was getting away with the boys for a quick adventure.
Greg Sr. had a hand made cross so we talked of Christianity, then of traveling, hiking, the forest, relationships, kids, family, and then we got around to politics. I at first thought Greg Sr. was a hippie, vegetarian, and demarcate.
It seems that Greg Sr. was neither a Demarcate or Republican, and was not one to even vote, believing that both parties were equally corrupt. Then I find out that Greg Sr. believes in conspiracies. This causes him to look more deeply into things that are going on.
Greg Sr. is a huge fan of Trump, so much that he even considering cutting his long hair.
I also got some pictures of some huge antlered elk a mile or so from camp.
Sunday, August 4, 2019. Morning Outing, Rain, Church, Military Family, Movie, Visitors bearing gifts.
Kylie, and Ryan came up and picked out an Arlo and Tina girl, and spent the night. They brought so much wonderful food and gallons of water. We had a great visit with them.
We also had a visit from Carlos and his wife Marissa who both served many years in the military. Carlos is a Falconer whose last dog did not work out. We were able to give them Angus, a solid black boy out of Scout and Heather. Angus just turned 8 months, they wanted a started dog and I believe Angus will work out very nice for them.
A very nice, and cool morning outing.
Kim and the girls went to church while I tended the dogs and edited some pictures. Later while it was rainy and overcast, we watched Miracle Dogs, for the second time.
August 14, 2019. California to court, Kirime’s pups doing well, Heather has 10 pups today, Kim runs the show at camp and girls are jerks, Rocket a Ms. Charlie and Bajenks does well after being returned, Lot’s of birthdays, Chris and Lea at camp for a few days and pick up a Jack and Katie solid liver girl. Back at camp. A Tina pup dies.
As I begin to type this, one of Tina and Arlo’s beautiful girl pups died. She was just a few days from being 7 weeks. I have been giving a reduced vaccine of kennel cough at 5 weeks old when we do the parvo vaccine. Up until these last two litters we have never had a problem. But both Katie’s and Tina’s litters had some pups that came up coughing. I believe the live virus given to the pups at to early an age caused the problem. Katie’s litter a few weeks older than Tina’s pups overcame the virus, but for one of Tina’s pups it just proved to much.
Kim, Lea, and the girls gave the pup extra doctoring, antibiotics, prednisone, water, and rest. The young pup died in Scarlett’s arms, and the girls took it pretty hard.
Our second to oldest son Jason was going through an extremely tuff custody fight in California and needed either Kim or I at the court hearing. I decided to go, but I was apprehensive about leaving Kim in camp for so many days. She would be in the forest with no service, a lot of dogs, many puppies, plus 6 and 8-year-old granddaughters.
Kim proved to be a fierce leader, and rose to the cause. However, the girls took advantage of her. Hailey the 8-year-old granddaughter was by far the worse. She had wanted to go with me because she wanted the fun of Boden’s 5th birthday party. Hailey being resentful took it out on Kim. Kim as she may, could not get Hailey’s behavior under control. Scarlett seemed to be willing to join in with Hailey’s mis behavior and this compounded Kim’s frustration.
It was very heart braking to me knowing what Kim was enduring with the girls. Hailey had hit the tv and broke it for no apparent reason, she was being very disrespectful and not minding or helping.
I was gone for 5 days with Jack. When I got back to camp on the 5th day it was about 8pm. The girls were in our room watching the bigger tv. This I cancelled, and they were sent to their beds amongst a lot of crying knowing what ever was coming next would not be good.
The next morning after the Moring Outing, I returned to the trailer knowing that both girls were going to get a spanking. I have never been big on spankings, and neither did I grow up in a household where they were common, or raise our w in a home where they were common. The truth is I was at time so frustrated with Hailey’s behavior that I was often at wits end. I told her the spankings were coming if her behavior did not get better, I also threatened to let Kim go live with our other grandkids who all missed her.
I have never given a spanking of over 3 whacks, and never on the bare butt. I made an exception for Hailey. 4 whacks with my belt, on her bare butt. As for Scarlett, she got 2 whacks on her butt over her pants. This caused both girls to cry of course, and then they were told to spend some time thinking about their behavior after they both received a very strong worded schooling down.
Three days have now passed, and in Kim’s words the corrections are having a lasting impression. Well that’s still to be seen.
Meanwhile back at Camp, it’s camp life as usual. Outings where all the dogs run free and hunt. Trips to the water where they get to run, swim and retrieve bumpers. Trips into Parks Az. to fill the tanks at 200 gallons at a time. Trash to be deliver to the dumpster at the same time as getting water. Friends and puppy people who come to camp to be visited with. The girls school work has started and this takes up a large part of Kim’s day. Dogs and puppies to be trained and worked with. A once a week big laundry trip to Flagstaff to catch up on laundry. An Evening Outing with the gang, and then bed time for the gang and pups.
The A team sleep inside the trailer with us. Some in a large group sleeping area, some in the living room, and some back with us. The teens and some B team dogs get the kennel trailer in their kennels. Guest dogs get the bottom inside 2nd group sleeping area or the kennel trailer. Ki’s pups are in the 2nd camp trailer, and Heather’s are in the main trailer living room whelping box. Tina’s, and the 4 pups left of Bella’s and Katie’s sleeping on the main trailer covered porch area in crates that are covered and open, so they can eat, drink, and go to the bathroom at will.
Kim tends to drive to cell service every other day or so. Propane in every few weeks, dog food is once a week, and groceries maybe once or twice a week. Showers for the girls is almost every night. Movies are getting less and less, one or two a week now. More reading and books for the girls, as well as Kim and I.
Mornings start at approx. 530 am, and no later than 6am. The dogs get their last walk before sundown, the dogs are put up, and dinner in there somewhere, the girls shower and go to bed, and Kim and I are in bed early, well before 9pm. The weather cools down fast after the sun goes down, and makes for nice sleeping with our windows open. No mosquitoes, what a blessing.
What is camp life like with two young granddaughters, and a large kennel of German Shorthairs? We are at approx. 12 A team dogs, 4 teenagers, and a couple of B team dogs, always a couple visiting, and a couple of dozen pups of various ages.
Camp life is broken down to various routines. If they are easy, then most of camp life is easy. The A team dogs make for an easy e. Twelve to 15 well behaved GSPs are a dream to work with. Far easier than you would believe. They come when called, never run off, get along great, load up when it’s time to go, go into their sleeping or resting area, at a single call. I mean the area in the trailer that is 5 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 3 and a half feet tall. There are two of these areas, one above the other. They hold 10 dogs each. The top one has thick artificial grass.
The A team dogs love this area, and are always happy to go there. This makes it super easy to handle the A team dogs. No catching each dog individually and putting them into a crate, and then letting them out individually. All that is required is to first open the door to the inside of the living area, then moving the chair over to the sleeping area door, or putting the couch into a bed. A simple whistle and call get all the A team dogs bounding into the living room and up into their sleeping area. This takes only a few minutes, often less than 1 minute will get all the A team dogs into the trailer, and into their sleeping areas. Lady and Dusty always stay in our room, and sometimes Sophie.
I can with a little more time, get most of the younger dogs into the bottom sleeping area. However, they mostly are put up on the chains or in the kennel trailer. That said, all dogs can and most often are just left in camp where they just hand out and play, or sleep. Most often they are content with the outings that we go on at least twice a day. Most dog clock in about 12 miles a day, so they feel no need to take off and hunt on their own.
Food and water are left for free feeding and drinking so the overall routine with the dogs takes time, but is an easy routine most of the time. Pups in the whelping box until 4 weeks old is very easy, and when the come out of the box they are allowed to run free in camp and they free feed and drink. The young pups become extremely socialized with camp life which is a huge plus.
The grandkids take up a lot of time, but they can and are often a big help. They love the dogs, and pups, and they are a huge part of the girl’s lives. The reality is that the girls know not a life without the dogs. The girls, handle the dogs with total confidence. They move them at will to where ever the dogs need to go. The love and kindness that they show all dogs from pups to seniors is remarkable to watch. The girls know every aspect of the kennel world, form mating, to whelping and everything in between. They are also excellent with our friends, and puppy families. The girls know each and every dog, and each of their puppies, and many of our extended dog families. I would say, that the dogs have done about as much for the girls, as the girls have I for the dogs.
Often camping is just as hard weather two weeks or two months. Often the same equipment and supplies are needed. For us it’s the routine of activities such as church for the girls and Kim, while I stay in camp. Laundry, water, tanks, power, cleaning, picking up poop, cooking and eating, and resting, thinking, and talking. These and others are what make up camp life. For us at this time it’s not a huge amount of sightseeing. Kim has the BearAzona passes, and for me it’s exploring the forest with the Gang.
Kim says she enjoys the pups, dogs, and girls playing, the many fun visitors. The cool weather, solitude to read and think, games on her phone, great sunsets, and having me close by.
For me it’s the dogs of course, I just love them, and spending time with them and watching them be dogs, and enjoying their life with us. It brings me much joy to watch them hunt on the many hundreds of hours that I am with them of outings. I am amazed at the love and respect that the dogs have for each other. How well the hunt, play, and just live together.
Huge enjoyment of the taking of photos, and then editing and posting them to the web site or Facebook. The writing, and studding about the dogs. Being with Kim, and working with her, and always being amazed by her loving and fun outlook on life. How well she takes care of the dogs, and girls, and friends, as well as me.
I get a big enjoyment and fulfillment in the study of the Bible, and Christianity. I have in my Bible marks all the passages that deal with how to live a Christian life, the what to dos as well as the what not to dos. I enjoy going back over that each year or too.
I enjoy the challenges of camp life and the dogs.
But what I miss most is my family, kids, and grandkids.
Aug. 22, 2019. Summer Camp keeps on moving on. The girls have started home school with Kim, which they call trailer school. Kim has put a lot of time and energy picking out just the right curriculum for the girls. I know it is very time consuming on Kim’s part. I was talking to her about making the school year around, and teaching every other day. That way on the day she is not teaching she could do the things she likes to do, as well as maybe getting the girls exploring the sights, and thus doing more learning. Also not having the big gaps for time off they would always be in the learning mode.
The desk top is once again in the shop at Best Buys. We have a service plan that allows us to take the computers in at any time and most everything is covered. I wanted to have them up grade the hard drive to something faster, and more memory. I asked them about getting another lap top that was in the same class as the desk top, and they told me that the starting cost would be around $1,400.00, so that is out.
Our son’s best friends who they do Cub Scouts with came to camp and spent a few days. What a wonderful visit. Luka, Aleksandra, and their two kids Bouyon and Moitsa. The family is from Slovenia the same county that Melaena Trump is from. They were here to pick up a puppy, as well as Bella.
The first trip with the Svetina family was to the Grand Canyon. Kim’s first visit, Luka stayed in camp with me, and Kim and Alek took the kids. Everyone was quite excited when they returned. The next visit was when Kim and Alek took the kids to Bearazona, and Luka once again stayed in camp with me. I must say we had a great visit.
In the morning both Luka and Alek accompanied the Gang and I on a Morning Outing. I remembered them remarking how much the dogs loved the outing. I have been told that often by people who have been on the outings.
One of the things that I learned was how hard it was for the Svetina family to get to America, and how expensive it was. They love America and spent some time explaining to me why America is so much better than Europe. One big problem is the low wages, and extremely high taxes.
One area that could be improved would be cell service, one of the cell boosters on the market may salve the problem, wish I would have attended to that before we left. Also, some kind of Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi tethering would be a big help at times. It’s a little hard to run a business from the road without them.
Our options at this time for the future are: To California, back to Wellton, Travel and hunt, leave some dogs at home in Wellton with someone to watch them and travel to hunt, or California, or travel for travel’s sake.
Aug. 25, 2019, Cows everywhere, OnX Premium Mapping Solutions, Puppies, and Camp Life. Last night the cows came into the field in front of camp. In the morning there were a hundred cows near camp. We have two sets of e-collars. One set is Garmin LC Delta, with 12 collars. The second one is the Garmin/Tri Tronics with 9 collars. The Delta is really for 3 collars, but I have it set up for all 12 collars that work off one button. If I push the tone, vibrate, or stimulate button, all 12 collars will work at the same time. The Tri Tronics is designed to control 9 different collars that correlate with either colors or numbers.
I new that there would be some of our dogs that wanted to either chase or bark at the cows or both. Before letting the dogs out for the morning, the girls, Kim and I placed the training collars on the dogs. The A team got the Delta collars, knowing that there would be no need to shock the A team dogs, that the tone and or vibrate would work. The B team dogs, and younger teens received the Tri Tronics collars. Ann got 1-1, Barock 1-2, Blue 1-3, Arlo 2-1, Dan 2-3, Rocket 3-2, Buddy 3-3, and Bajenks even though an A team dog received 2-2.
First, we let the A team out and they seen the cows, I told them no, and gave them both a tone, and then a vibrate. This was all that was needed. Then the B team and young dogs were let out. It was no surprised that Ann was the first one to go out to the cows. Remember when she was very young, she went after a big bull. I must confess that I should have already introduced her in a formal manner the training collar. This would have been by first teaching her the to re-call with a long line, then the long line and the training collar. But it goes to show, that the training collar without proper introduction will discourage behavior, weather snakes, or cows. Ann responded as expected when stimulation was applied via her collar. She decided that cows were not worth it and returned to camp.
Barock who is like Ann also needed some stimulation to encourage him to ignore cows, and return to camp. While all the dogs had their collars on, we went on our Morning Outing. We all walked by the cows, and all went as expected. All dogs left the cows to their business. Dogs tend to pose little danger to cattle, cattle don’t perceive the dogs as a danger, and thus don’t run from the dogs. Dogs don’t tend to chase things that don’t run.
One headache for both Kim and I is the need for both cell service, and Wi-Fi to conduct some aspects of the business. On one of these business outings, I incorporated a visit to Sportsmen’s Warehouse, and while there I picked up a Gun Dog Magazine that had the bird forecast, and an article about hunting in Az. with Shortairs. I also picked up the OnX hunting chip, and app for their mapping programs. Many of my friend have this program, and they just love it.
I put the chip in the Garmin hand held, but have not downloaded the program to the phone or computer. I have spent a few hours since then with the chip in the hand held. I have had a few of the hand held GPS systems, and I’m always amazed with them. I even hid items for the girls to find with it. Sportsmen’s even gave a 20 dollars gift card with the OnX.
Meanwhile back at Camp we have puppies. Bonnie has 3 new girls. Bred to Scout, she has one black and to liver. Ki has her 6 pups that are 3 weeks old, Heather has 7 solid black pups that are a couple of weeks old. One was born with no scalp. Either that or Heather licked it off just after he was born. I also think he will have a problem with one on his eyes.
We have kept back a couple of pups, a boy from Bella and Bajenks, and a boy from Jack and Katie. Both boys are liver roan. Bella’s boy we are calling BBson, with stands for Bella and Bajenks son. The boy from Jack and Katie, is about a week younger than BBson. Jack’s son is named Jackson, for Jack’s son.
Both of these pups are doing great. Both are extremely friendly and loving. BBson is going to be bigger, he is darker, and extremely handsome, and one of the most loving of pups. Both point well, and are retrieving. Jackson is the first male, and the first liver dog that we have kept back from him. Katie is Jack’s half-sister. She is a full brother to David, and is Bajenks aunt. Katie, David, and Jack have the best of mothers, and in Jackson we want to get a concentration of his grandmother Lacey. Jack is a black roan, and Katie is a solid liver. David a liver roan. The four daughters we have out of Jack are: Ms. Charlie a black ticked out of Lady, Heather a solid black out of Jackie B’s daughter, Bonnie a black ticked out of Lily a liver white, and Bella a black roan out of Jill a black roan.
Arlo out of Bella and Rob, and Tina out of Sophie and Bajenks have some very nice roan pups that are almost 8 weeks old. There is a tiny male runt that is a fire ball, and a girl a tad bit bigger. Kim called them Tiny Tim, and Tiny Tina. We are looking to maybe keep back on girl. There is a darker girl, and a very silver roan that reminds me so much of Dolly.
Sept. 1, 2019. First day of Dove, Grouse, and Chucker season. Meanwhile back at camp. Even the cows are in a routine. They come into the field in front of camp in the evening, and in the med morning they head south to Red Tank. The dogs are pretty well accustomed to the cows. Now they don’t even bark at them. There was however, one incident where we were out on an outing and the dogs surrounded a cow and were barking at her. I did not take time to take a picture or get a video. They were jumping in and out to beat the band. Chris and Lea were there as well.
I grabbed a stick and jumped in and yelled at the dogs and they all backed off. The cow was so worked up that she charged me and I had to poke her between the eyes, which had instant results causing her to stop immediately. Chris was right there with me getting the dogs away from the cow. That was the first and last problem we had with a cow. Now the dogs just walk right by the cows and don’t even give them another look.
The last couple of morning we have changed up the routine a bit. In the morning we all get going early, Kim the girls and I. We gave all the dogs and pups worm medicine, which has to be done 3 days in a row, and we also gave all the dogs and pups coccidia meds which had to be done only once. After that was the morning outing, and this morning Scarlett went with us. After the outing the girls helped with breakfast.
Breakfast has become somewhat of a big deal to both the girls and pups. Cheezie eggs cooked like a pancake is something we all like, this morning we added bacon. Just eggs, cooked bacon and cheese cooked like a pancake on the BBQ.
Most of the big dogs are put up, but the pups are left out. After we finish eating, I call all the pups to me by saying pup pup excitedly. This is one way I teach the pups to come with enthusiasm when call. I set back away from the table and hand feed all the pups, it’s very rewarding.
Camp life is very peaceful, it’s quiet, cool, and watching the dogs, and puppies is very joyful. The puppies are like a special magic, and we are blessed, and know that not everyone is privileged to such things. Puppies just have that magic, like turning men and women into little boys and girls.
The way puppies play, the way they run somewhat un-coordinated with their big ears flopping. They run and jump on you, always happy to see you. They grab your pant leg, and bit at your feet as you walk. They lick your face, and wag their tails. They dog file, fight and play with each other. It often looks like a puppy WWF match. We have them in camp at a week ole, two weeks old, 5 weeks old, and 8 and 9 weeks old. They live free in camp and have their own wonderful puppy routine that blesses us every day. As I set and watch the puppies in camp I see different things they like to do, and so much of it is cute. One may pick up an old flattened football that they can hardly carry as they try and run off with it. They love to pick up something and try and run off to have it all to themselves, and then it’s like a sister who see the other one with a toy, and now that’s the one they want to play with. So, another pup will see the other one with a top, and now it’s all about trying to get it from them, and if they can’t there might be a lot of barking at the one with the toy, like that will get them to give it up. And puppy barking in itself is always a funny thing, and the younger the puppy the funnier it is. Then there is also the sneak attack, where one pup stalks another and jumps on it, and then a big fight breaks out. The older pups and dogs have perfected the art of sparring. The jump, dodge, bit, counter, run away and charge back often until one knocks the other down, and then they are the winner until the one on the ground gets up, and all the time there is no real biting or being mean. This type of playing starts at just a few weeks, and I have seen dogs as old as 14 who still want to play fight from time to time. It’s always cute to see an older dog laying down trying to rest and a pup come up and climb all over them, often biting an ear or leg.
We can often see a put laying in one of the foldup chairs, and it’s not un-common to see two or three fighting in the chair, or playing king of the chair. If a box is left out, there is sure to be a king of the box, and puppies will be jumping in and out of the box like they lost their mind. Then there is always the open kennel crate, where one to all the pups like to pile in, and often you will see an older dog laying in the crate with a pup or two. I love puppies.
Then there are the special times when you set on the floor or ground with the pups and have them tackle you, climb on you, or just lay on you or next to you. Often you will have the whole little fall a sleep on your lap, legs and near you touching you as they sleep.
Then when they get 7 or 8 weeks old and want to go on morning outing with you, that is a wonderful time, a time when you get to see them develop right in front of your eyes. That’s a time for priceless pictures because they are so cute, doing cute things and they are always pretty close. There are always the ones when they are running to you with their big ears flopping every which way. Or maybe they are going on point, or retrieving something, or picking something up that is to big for them, or the dozens of ones where they just stand there looking at you.
To think it all starts when they are born, the mom starts nesting and you know time is getting close, and you check the calendar to see how close it is to their due day of the 63rd day. Then it’s time and mom pushes, and you are there to see that everything goes well. Then there is a puppy in a sack, and you help clean the pup, and may even cut the cord to release the pup from the prenatal life to start the new one under the care of you and mom, and later just you. The pup is wet, and you may help to dry the pup, and you check the temp and turn the heater up a bit or the air is set to a higher temp to ensure the pup and later the whole litter is kept warm.
Then you worry that the mom may lay on one of the pups while the pups are still to small to be safe completely form such things, so you sleep next to the pups so you might be there if the pup or mom should need you. You wake up at ever odd sound that either the pup or mom makes. You keep the bedding fresh and dry for mom and the pups.
Mom continues on her special diet, at first because she was making babies, not because she is nursing them. You make a note of colors, patches, the sex of each, pup and the weight at birth. You monitor the pups to make sure each is eating, and any small pups are constantly placed on a nipple every time you enter the room or wake up. You move pups that are on her backside, to her frontside so they can eat and remain safe.
You are looking to see who will be getting their roaning which will start in about a week of their birth. And then around 5 days you will be cutting their tails and dew clays so you check the tail cutting box for the two pair of scissors you will be using, and the super glue and bits of paper towel that will be clued on the wounds that are left after the tails and dew claws are removed. How long will their tails be left this time? Cut the tails at the tapper, the 40 percent mark, or maybe you will leave them at 50 percent.
Now the roaning in coming in, and their eyes will start of open and their tails will start healing well. You check them out often, and admire how beautifully they are developing. More pictures of the pups are being taken. You feel safer about nothing going wrong now and leave the heavy work for mom. You keep food, and water in front of her, and keep the bedding clean. She however is cleaning the pups, and there is little sign of pee or poop, and it’s pretty much on auto pilot for now.
It’s about time to start thinking of ordering shots, getting their puppy packets together, and other items that will go in their puppy bag when they go home. I will set down at the computer and maybe get a page for them on the website, work up their pedigree on the pedigree program, and start thinking about which pup I might keep myself. Kim will start contacting people on the list, or take call from inquiring soon to be friends who are looking for a pup.
Then three weeks have past and the puppies are walking around, and have all their coloring for the most part. They may have their first taste of a wet dog food of some kind. They will be pooping more, and most moms will be keeping up, because the mom take care of that. At time weeks the pups are moving well, pooping all over the place, and their whelping box is a huge mess and they need to be moved, before this you may have been moving them to a play area in the day, and back to their whelping box, or bigger inside whelping area, but now at five weeks, mother is getting tired of them, you have cut the pups nails, but they are still painful, and the pups teeth are razor sharp. Wanting the mom to regain her figure, and take pressure off her the pups are moved to a new area. They are moved to an are that allows for outside movement, and yet inside sleeping.
A kennel where they can sleep, and come outside to eat, play, drink and relieve themselves. They still can’t get up and down stairs or over obstacles well at 5 weeks, but very soon after this they will be able to be moved into a bigger outside/inside area. Now at five weeks we give their first shot of Vanguard plus 5 and place their microchip between their shoulder blades. Sometimes we wait until 6 weeks, but 5 weeks have worked so well for us that we are comfortable with that.
Five to seven weeks we let them explore their area, and always give them lots of toys. Now is also the time to really start playing with them. At seven weeks we give them their second shot, same one as the 5-week shot. Now we test them with a modified Volhund, and pointing dog test. We walk away from them and see if they follow or come when called, we bang a pan, toss a paper to see if they retrieve. The pup is placed on it’s back to see if it remains calm or fights to get up. We then work a sock on a fishing pole tied with a string to see if the pups chases, and or points. We often video this, and also write the results down. By now with the test, and our observations we can evaluate the temperaments of the puppies.
Now between 7 and 8 weeks we will introduce the pups to birds and cap gun fire. The new owners will come and pick up their new family member and I will have picked out the pup from the litter that I will be keeping. The pups that are not sold will then start training. Leash, field, crate, etc. The pup I kept back and often some of the other will start mini hunt type outings often with the older dogs. If the weather is good, we will start their water work, and introduction to launcher, more birds and gunfire.
That my friends are the life of Puppies at Desert Point Kennel. If the pup I keep backs makes the grade, and has a strong natural point and back, loves the water, has a natural retrieve, work with me on hunts and does not run over the landscape hunting on their own, and has a wonderful loving temperament than they will inter the kennel as a Gang member and help build the Totem.
Did I mention that I love Puppies?
I finished 33 pages or so on the German Shorthair, writing about their early development and explaining what the breed has become in America.
We have kept back 4 pups to look at while at summer camp. 2 are from Katie, and Jack, a boy and a girl. Both are liver roan, the girl Shea is dark liver roan, and Jackson is liver ticked and looks like his uncle David. The 3rd dark liver roan looks like Shea, and he is out of Bella and Bajenks and we are calling him BBson. He is a great looking pup. He is nice and big with a very nice head. Bella is out of Jack and Jill, Jill is David and Katie’s half-sister on the sire’s side, Jack is David and Katie’s half-brother on the dam’s side. The fourth pup is out of Tina and Arlo, she is a beautiful silver roan girl who reminds me of Dolly. We are calling her Sterling. Tina is out of Bajenks and Sophie, Sophie being the German girl, and Bajenks being out of David and Vera, and Vera out of Jack and Dolly. So far, these girls are looking very nice. The older 3 are going on almost every outing, and Sterling has been on a few.
Sept. 17, 2019. Just over the 3 months mark at Summer Camp.
Camp, Outings and hunting, gives a person a lot of time to think and reflect. To re-center, focus, and then move forward with the best life plan one can come up with. There is time to read books, spend time reflecting on the teachings of the Bible, think of things you did that were both good and not so good, set things straight by doing only good things in the future. You have time to think of friends and relationships of the past and present, often wishing for the old days.
The certain things that I have come up with are that your wife is your best friend, and is most often the only person who you can really rely on, and a one should spend more time on really trying to help your kids and grandkids navigate life. More time should be spent on being a better Christian, and many friends you think are good friends are only so if you are the one putting in the work.
Summing up Summer Camp. Beating the summer heat. Camp has been very rewarding. A few challenges, but nothing we have not been able to overcome. There was the water problem, but thanks to Glenn and the use of his trailer and a couple of water tanks, and a trip to Parks once a week, we got passed that one. The A team dogs have been a breeze to care for. The B team dogs which are younger have taken some working with but all in all they have been pretty easy as well.
Then there have been the small pups. We have had 3 litters born here at camp, and one litter that was brought up when they were 7 weeks old. A lot of dogs from pups to adults.
We have of course had a blast with the dogs. Everyday there have been outings, from one to four outings, and from 1 to 3 miles each. The land up here has been truly breathtaking. Beautiful meadows, high ridges, and pine forests to die for. Exploring new areas is always a most enjoyable part of outings. Porcupines were a big headache for a while until Sophie decided to leave them alone.
Sommer Camp outings are all about the pups and young dogs. The idea is to get them to love outings and hunting. They learn to handle the terrain, up and over logs and rocks, through and around brush, etc. The pups and young dogs learn to stay with me at first but also love to reach out with the older dogs. So, in doing they learn to keep track of me while hunting with the gang. The pups most often start out at around 8 weeks old going on outings. Each day a new outing, and each day more experience for the pups. As important as the experience is, the love of hunting coincides the experience.
All then that is needed is game. Just add game to the outings, to gain experience and then before long you have a hunting dog. But it’s progression of the pups wherein is the joy. It starts at about 3 weeks old; the pups start walking around the whelping box. They are so fricking cute, and there is most likely one or two that are looking pretty good to you. The joy of picking the pups up and holding them, and it’s the beginning of you getting to interact with the pups. After holding is making them food and putting milk on the food and then calling the pups as you place them around the food.
The calling of the pups to food is their first training, it goes on from their but the outing are where things start to really take place. If there is game, then little else needs to be done. Just hunt, and shoot game, let the young dogs retrieve and it will all come together. If know game at first you might want to add shooting, and some pen raised birds of some king.
Watching the young dogs turn into happy hunting dogs that love and respond to you is the real pleasure.
Summer Camp is more than dogs, and pups. There are the grandkids, the wife of course, friends that come up to spent time with us, the challenges of making camp work, and running both your life and business in the wilderness away from phone, and internet service.
There are the many blessings, such as having your best friend with you every day. The cool evenings, and nights where you are blessed to have the windows open and the wonderful fresh cool air coming in with the peace and quiet of the nights as you companion.
For us also is the challenge of taking care of two grandkids, both girls, one 7 and the other 8. The challenge of working and molding, loving and caring for two little girls who have know little during their lives but turmoil and strife.
We are living in an area that almost gets no other human visitors. Most days it’s Kim, the two girls, and the dogs and I. The last couple of weeks have been hundreds of cattle sharing the area as well. Since there is no service, one is not spending hours on the phone checking such things as facebook etc. No TV stations so it’s a movie now and then and the radio.
You tend to be a friend of the outside. The girls spend a lot of time playing outside, which is always a good idea. I like to set outside and watch the pups and dogs playing around camp when not busy with other duties.
Sept. 20, 2019. A road trip to Alpine Utah to pick up 2 pups. We had helped Gina Stark and her Aspin Kennel with two of our girls. Both Holly and Blaise were sent to her in whelp. Blaise had been bred to Ruger. Blaise being out of Bajenks and Tonya, and Ruger out of Tank and Mya, Tank being a Versatile Champion and Mya out of the No-Mars line. Holly is also out Tank, and a German DK. Holly had been bred to Arlo, who is out of Rob and Bella. Rob himself being out of Versatile Champion on his sire’s side, and a Shoot to Retrieve Champion on his Dam’s side.
Granddaughter Scarlett who had just turned 7 would be making the 8-hour road trip with me. She was excellent on the trip and she enjoyed herself. The landscape on Hwy 89 was stunning, and I did get a few pictures. The trip proved un-eventful until the return trip. 20 miles or so north of Kanab where a sign said Mt. Carmel at about 12:30 am two does ran out in front of me. I slowed and almost missed them, but one crashed into the front passenger’s side. Quite a bit of damage, but the car remained well enough to make the 3 hour drive home.
It was a quick trip, or as quick as trip as you can make when there is a least 16 hours of driving. Alpine Utah was a very nice town, as the base of a mountain range. I had a nice visit with Gina who I had never met. She had a very nice place, and Holly and Blaise were in excellent shape, and seemed very happy to see me. I had to hold back a tear as I was loving on them. Their pups also looked very nice, all being a very pretty dark roan.
We had given Gina both Holly and Blaise in whelp, and there had been no money exchanged at that time. She would pay for them after she sold some pups, and we would also take a pick puppy from both litters. We did this to help a young single mother, and Gina showed genuine appreciation for our help and trust.
We made it back to camp in time for me to sleep from 4am to 7am, where I got up to take the Gang on an Outing, then back to sleep until noon where we went on a second outing. I am thinking of naming the girls Lavern and Sherly.
Jackson the little boy out of Jack and Katie is winning my heart. He is a very happy and joyful boy. He is always happy to see me, and he runs up to me and I scoop him up in my arms, lift him to my chest where it licks my face. Jackson loves to point, and when we are out, he is often found on a beautiful point on a bird or grasshopper, or something. Jackson is also the best little retriever, anything I toss he runs to get it and retrieve it back to me; he just loves retrieving. Jackson is a handsome boy having the lighter ticking like Sophie or David. In fact Jackson looks very much like his uncle David.
One more thing about Jackson is he is always ready to go on the outings. He started at 7 weeks old, and now he is always ready to go with his sister, and BBson, they never have to be called, they are just ready when the older dogs head out. Jackson was born on 6-7-19, so he is about 14 weeks old.
Oct. 2, 2019 Grouse Hunt, Granddaughter Charlie is Here, Elk, Lava Cave, Grand Canyon, More BearAzona.
Camp life will be winding down soon, and we will be headed back to Welton Az. There have been sittings of Grouse on the mountain above us. It seems that they were planted there in the 40s. One of our friends Bill who has one of our dogs made a couple of hunts up there and found grouse so I invited Chris who has a few of our dogs to come up and make the hike with me, him being in good shape.
Bill had giving me the coordinates so it would be less hit and miss, because it’s a huge area. Our camp is at about 7500 feet, and the grouse were spotted at about 8500 feet.
I had been a little worried that the steep hike would prove miserable, and maybe even painful. Even though I had been walking and hiking up here the last four months. The hike, even though steep, and often very rugged walking on the side of steep hills, or over very ruff rocks, and often loose rocks, and often on very faint steep elk trails proved to be just a little demanding. The weather was cool, so there was no sweating. My legs, feet, and ankles, proved to be very much up to the task. I was never breathing hard, and in fact it just proved to be one of the most beautiful outing ever. My Danner Pronghorn boots proved to be outstanding. I have been blessed with powerful legs, ankles and feet and they have never let me down.
Chris went one way around to get to the area, and I another way. I soon found myself on a then game trail on the side of a steep hill. I had Jack and young Buddy with me. The side hill was pretty bare, but the two dogs were doing their best, to work up and down, and then back with me.
I soon was hearing a bull elk bugling. I was not sure at first if it really was a bull elk, or a hunter trying to call in a bull elk by bugling. I was thinking that if it was a hunter they were not sounding to good. I decided to see if I could get close enough to see if it really was a bull elk, so I headed up a rocky draw.
I called the dogs to walk with me and stay close, which they both did. The bull continued to call. I asked Chris via the hand held if he could hear the elk, and he said that it was so windy where he was that he could not hear anything because the wind was blowing so hard.
After a bit I spotted some cow elk where the bugling was coming from. Then there were more cows, and the bull was coming in and out of the cows I was viewing. He was a nice bull, not a giant but a bull the g his bugling. He had a nice and very white rack.
If I had been hunting elk, the approx. one hundred yard shot would have been easy one of the cows but would have proved extremely difficult on bull. He was very busy coming and going, keeping track of his harem. I was able to get some good pictures of the cows lightened by the sun, but I never did get a full body shot of the bull.
The small herd moved up the very thick covered ridge, and I was able to get ahead of them by moving up the draw, and I was able to catch them moving through a small opening. One again I could get a good view of some of the cows walking in front of a large pine that the sun was shining on, but the bull walked behind the pine. That was the last time I saw or heard the bull, and his herd.
I must say that was worth the outing, and was very exciting to me. I was about ¼ mile from Bill coordinates when Chris let me know that he was at the coordinates and was not seeing any grouse. I told him to hunt any likely areas, and that I would do the same.
I decided to continue climbing, and found some areas pretty challenging. Some big boulders were blocking where I wanted to go and I had to pick my way over them. Then there were game trails that at least left the rocks exposed enough to see where I would be stepping.
All along the landscape was fabulous. Picking out routes were challenging at times but it never seemed a chore because everything seemed so perfect. I was hunting, and exploring with my dogs. I was seeing Gods beauty in perfect windy weather. In a 4 mile hike I was able to see such versatile landscape.
The were areas of pine, rocky areas both in the draws, and on the ridges. Valley areas with beautiful ferns of various vibrant colors. There were aspen groves decorated in their white and grey. Areas of huge growths of wild rose, and some kind of willow looking brush, sometimes found in large acres of boulders. These being found on the edge of a large grassy field. All of this found around 8600 feet.
You are so high that you can see for hundreds of miles. You can see small ranches miles away, thick pine forests below you, as well as many large open meadows in the valley below your sky-high view. You are able to stop and watch a hawk gliding above you while you snap a few pictures of all you are seeing to share with others.
Taking time to stop admire, and reflect on how blessed you are. Watching the dogs exploring their surroundings as well. Knowing how much they enjoy what they doing.
There are other things that may just be special to you. For me there are these little sparrow type birds, that have white on both sides of their tail feathers. They have become special to me because they have become so much apart of the young dogs lives at camp. They love the open meadow, and hold well for the dogs, and flush just outside the dog’s reach. So here I am at 8700 feet in a grass meadow, and here are the same small birds. They have proven very hard to get a good photo of, in part because they are hard to focus on. Then while I am stopped, awing at my view, one of these birds lands on a burnt stump just feet in front of me. Then the bird sits still while I get him in focus and I snap a couple of perfect pictures.
Even though the hunt never resulted in even a siting of a grouse the hunt proved to be very satisfying.
When I got back to the truck, I was able to hear about Chris’ hunt. No grouse sited either. He had taken his 3 older dogs and his young pup and that was enjoyable. He did say at one point a rock gave way and he took about a four foot tumble. Nothing broken, but some pretty good cuts on his wrist, and a hurt hip, leg and finger. I had to remark: “You young guys”.
It’s hard not to slip and fall, often you are walking of very difficult terrain. A rock slips, you trip over something, the earth gives way, you catch your leg on something, you lose balance. Your dog steps in front of you. I was almost back to the truck walking on the side of a hill that was covered with small lava rocks. I was thinking about how well I was liking these Danner Pronghorn books, when Iike walking on marbles I fell flat. Jack and Buddy were there to see if I was ok. So you never know, one second you are on your feet and the next you are not.
Our granddaughter Charlie who is 16 has come to summer camp for a visit. Charlie and Gage often came with us for the summer. Then because their mother got made at us, they were no longer allowed to come. Charlie could write an interesting book. Both her mom and dad, and then both step parents were addicted to meth. She has been through quite a bit. Then recently her dad and step mom went through a divorce and she no longer see her step brother who she is close to. With the divorce we no longer are official grandparents, but we don’t play that. Step grandkids are real grandkids, and removed grandkids will always be grandparents.
After the divorce her mom and dad asked her if there was anything, they could do for her or if there was anything she wanted to do? She told them that she wanted to visit Grandma, and Grandpa. Kim and I are friends with mom, and dad and have always treated both of them well, so they were both on board with that. Kim and I have always loved Charlie, she has always been a kind and sweet girl.
We have been trying to make an adventurous visit for her. So a lot of time with Kim, a trip to the lava cave, the Grand Canyon, Bearazona, and whatever else we can think of. While here, her name sake Ms. Charlie has had pups and that has been special. We are going to hate to see her go.
Summer Camp came to an end on Oct. 10, 2019. That gave us a few days short of 4 months at Summer Camp. It would take a couple days to break down camp, and a two more trips to pick up the other two trailers. Even though it was October it was still 100 degrees in the valley and the trip home reminded me why we are summer camp. The truck over heated pulling the heavy toy hauler up the steep hills on Hwy 17. The f150 has the v6 ecco boost with the twin turbos. It produces a lot of torque, but the turbos have a tendency to overheat. So I had to slow down to a crawl, and turn on the heater to bring the heat down. The on Hwy 8 at 100 degrees we had a flat tire. Lots of fun changing a tire on the hot pavement at 100.
The great thing about Summer Camp was the development of the young dogs, now back home this will continue and we will be able to do more water work and get on some wild birds.
Kim is glad to be home, and back into a house.