I don't know how everyone else feels about the sub-zero temperatures and mounds of snow we've experienced over the last few weeks or so, but I know that out here in Colorado we need it to thaw out--and the sooner the better.  Since the Christmas Blizzard, we've been pushing the white stuff this way and that; but to no avail.  Mother Nature seems to want it her way regardless of our desires.

And to make matters worse, our bird dogs have enough pent up energy that I'm afraid the next time I take them out for a little run they may just end up in Kansas.  Although it's not a bad place considering that's where we do most of our hunting; and it looked like it was going to be a very promising hunting season if Opening Day was any indication.  The corn and milo hadn't been harvested but we saw plenty of pheasants.  Opening Day in Colorado also offered us a look into what we thought was going to be a banner year (Colorado isn't well known for its pheasant crop but if you know where to go and know the right people you can have a good opportunity to limit out from time to time).

So we're left with what we know, and that's that the efforts we put into last summer's training sessions were lost for this hunting season.  But it did lay the ground work for what we'll do this spring--training for the spring Field Trial and Hunt Test season.

Last summer we had some young pointing dogs that were just entering their formal training sessions.  Gone were the fun days of puppyhood.  Light correction, discipline and lots of praise were given throughout the summer, and I must say the response was excellent.  The young dogs really responded well to the Tip-Up Bird Releaser.  Nothing high tech here; it's a device that allows you to control the situation with very little focus being taken off of your dog.  Perfect for the youngsters who will move on the bird the moment you take your eyes off them.

We worked the broke dogs too, anticipating the upcoming hunting season. They were in excellent form and we were looking at getting our fair share of birds behind stellar points.  And we weren't dissappointed in their performance during the little time we had on opening weekends.  It would have been nice to hunt more this season.

But as the Field Trial season approaches, and our hopes are high that our dogs will at least have a good foundation.  Once the snow starts to melt, we'll commence with some conditioning programs first and then throw in some bird work as a reward.  I find that roading from the ATV adds a bit of consistency to the conditioning.  You can keep a constant pace and the dogs seem to look forward to their time in the harness.  Start the engine and listen to the howling "Me first! Me first!" they all seem to say.  I use our Belgium Bridle Leather Roading Harness.  It's a great product that seems to last forever.  We've had ours outside next to the ATV in all kinds of weather for years, and it works as good today as when we used it for the first time.  Quality never seems to break down.

Soon the snow will melt and my friends and I will begin a new season of training. But for now it seems that I have to go shovel some more snow.  We need the moisture, but really, enough already!