Creekbend Kennels

04/19/2025

04/19/2025

He figured out real fast that he can’t catch them and came right back for the fun.

04/19/2025

Real nice day to train dogs today. Was awesome getting in the field with the dogs and the old crew. Parker tagged along and chased some homing pigeons and found a dead bird. He was very excited.

04/13/2025

Sometimes they just want to stretch their legs.

02/08/2025

Best kind of socialization for puppies AND the kids!

02/02/2025

On Friday the pups had their OFA eye exams at the University of Illinois. As usual the vet students thoroughly enjoyed the puppy time.

12/10/2024

It’s been busy around here this winter.

10/30/2024

One field trial I try not to miss is the Central States Field Trial held in Elizabeth, IL. It's held in the Northwest Corner in the Driftless Area. The scenery is always gorgeous and usually the weather is like it was this weekend, late Autumn sun, cloudless skies, and not too warm.
With my recent move my dog training has taken a step back but I have been making due. The National Amateur Championship is in Illinois and within two hours from me so I've been focused on qualifying. This weekend we got the job done.

Hawk had good series work, found the birds where they were supposed to be, in the second the plant was moving, he tracked it and produced it quickly. Made some difficult cross-course retrieves not being bothered by the other bird plants, transitions to cover, or thick cover. We made the third series, which would be held the next day.
The third series is where I have had some issues with him, he knows why he is there, gets worked up, and starts to get loose. His third series was the last bird on the outbound and then had to make the switch to the next course. That is not ideal because it takes the dog out of his rhythm. For the first bird he ran well, good find and solid retrieve. Then we waited, the bird cart goes by, people, dogs, buggies. Hawk was vibrating waiting to go. Had a crosswind from right to left. I sent him left, brought him back, but he was looking for the birds instead of working with me. I stopped whistling knowing what he was doing, he took off up course, made the find it flew to the right third shot brought it down, he crossed the other course, the border, a road and picked it up at the base of a small ditch. Nice retrieve and good enough work for 4th place and Q'ed for the NAC.

If he would have held it together a little more in the third I think we would have been higher, but I was happy with him and he showed me what I need to work on.

10/13/2024

Training a puppy has its ups and downs. During the downs, doubt creeps in if the pup can even do what’s being trained. Then you see progress and it changes everything. Dove has been a challenge on the table. Spent more than a week trying to get her to hold the dummy. She would take it then drop it, take and drop. I saw baby steps, holding it longer and looking at me. Then this morning she held ir without being corrected looked at me and presented. I asked a bit more of her. She took it, held it, I walked to the other end of the table, she walked to me sat and presented. Was wonderful to see.

09/09/2024

6 months old and all business. Bold but biddable. Loves the water and retrieving. He is available… for now

07/07/2024

Dove and Haze are out with big dogs today. Running, mudding, and learning.

06/28/2024

Zoe on her way to her new Michigan home.

06/28/2024

Zoe off to her new home in Michigan

06/28/2024