Central Michigan HRC

Member Chris Fountain took photos at our April Fun Hunt and they can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51261341@N06/sets/   Photos taken during 2010 training sessions can be viewed as well.

You can always go to the box labeled “Photos” on the right side of the homepage and click on the words “More Photos” to get view all of the photos.

We will be training every Saturday beginning January 28th.  Please be on time so that we can leave the meeting location no later than 9:15am and convoy to the training location.  We invite visitors to train with us and see if our club is right for you.  We hand throw ducks or Dokkens so the younger dogs can get help if needed.  Depending on the number of people and dogs we are normally done by 1pm or so.

There isn’t any structure to our training days. Those that attend should bring their equipment (wingers, holding blinds, bucket) and help set-up marks and blinds. The handler will decide how he wants to run the set-up when he gets to the line (including moving the line) depending on the level of his dog. In other words, the throwers and the blinds stay where they are, the dog moves up to a reasonable distance.

Everyone who runs a dog helps to set-up, tear-down, or throw a few birds.  Do what you can; it’s most appreciated!  If you run two dogs, do twice as much.

Jan. 28th Oak Grove Recreation Area

Feb. 4th Bald Mountain Recreation Area

Feb. 11th Lapeer State Game Area

Feb. 18th Highland Recreation Area

Feb. 25th Rose Lake Recreation Area

Mar. 3rd Oak Grove Recreation Area

Mar. 10th Bald Mountain Recreation Area

Mar. 17th Highland Recreation Area

Mar. 24th Lapeer State Game area

Mar. 31st Rose Lake Recreation Area

Apr. 7th Oak Grove Recreation Area

Apr. 14th Lapeer State Game area

Apr. 21st Omega Farms, Fun Hunt

Highland Recreation Area – M-59(Highland Rd.) to south Duck Lake Rd. Duck Lake Rd. to Livingston Rd., turn right onto Livingston Rd. Meet at parking area with pavilion (a little more than a mile on Livingston Rd.) at 9:00am.

Rose Lake Recreation Area – I-69 to Perry exit #105, meet at McDonald’s off exit at 9:00am.

Bald Mountain Recreation Area – Meet at Kmart parking lot at 1025 south Lapeer Rd., Lake Orion at 9:00am.

Lapeer State Game Area – Lapeer Rd. (M-24) to Daley Rd., Daley Rd. to Fish Lake Rd., turn left onto Fish Lake Rd., Fish Lake Rd. to Vernor Rd., turn right onto Vernor Rd., Vernor Rd. to Five Lakes Rd., turn right onto Five Lakes Rd., meet at parking area with pavilion on right side of road ( about half mile down Five Lakes Rd.) at 9:00am.

Oak Grove State Game Area – Meet at Venture Corners grocery store parking lot at the corner of Faussett and Argentine roads (6521 Argentine Rd, Howell, MI 48855) at 9:00am.

Training Group Etiquette Checklist

Published in BUILDING A RETRIEVER — Drills & More

Carol F. Cassity

Remember when working with your Training Group:

1. Stay positive. Every dog has an off day. So does every human.
2. Have a plan for what you would like to accomplish on the training day.
3. In general, work 1 or 2 dogs only. This does not apply if it is the landowner.
4. Be prepared to throw again and again for your training partners. They should be prepared to do the same for you.
5. Offer to chip in for poppers, birds, primers, etc., if you are unable to provide your own.
6. Be on time.
7. Ask questions but don’t argue. Nobody will deliberately give advice that will mess your dog up. If you are not comfortable with what the lead trainer is telling you, don’t do it. It’s your dog – just don’t argue with someone who is trying to help.
8. Don’t hog the line time. Work a couple of things and then move on.
9. Give directions to your gunners before you run. Use landmarks if possible and have them point out angle of the throw before they throw.
10. Know your dog and his limits. Just because your training group is doing a triple that doesn’t mean you can’t do singles. Train your dog at his level, not the groups.
11. Be ready to throw and not run if your training buddy has an upcoming test and you don’t.
12. Don’t get mad about poor throws. Everyone makes them and nobody does it on purpose.
13. Do your homework. Work on recalls at home and other basics alone. Save group training time for things you can’t do by yourself.
14. If you can’t stay and throw for everyone: don’t come. Running your dog and then leaving is the ultimate in rudeness.
15. Pick up after yourself. Leave the training grounds cleaner than you found them.

St. Clair Flats HRC has invited us to train with them at Omega on September 10th and 24th We will meet at 9:00am at the Sales Barn. The cost is $10 per dog, $25 for three or more dogs. You will have to sign a waiver if you haven’t already.

There isn’t any structure to this training day. Those that attend should bring their equipment (wingers, holding blinds, one or two thawed ducks, bucket, gun with poppers) and set-up a finished test on land and water. The handler will decide how he wants to run the test when he gets to the line (including moving the line) depending on the level of his dog. In other words, the throwers and the blind stays where they are, the dog moves up to a reasonable distance. This is just my idea, it’s not cast in stone. Feel free to change it as you see fit.

I would like to see everyone who runs a dog help set-up, teardown, and throw a few birds. If you run two dogs, work twice as much.

I hope to see you there.

Note that there is a change in locations from what was previously posted.  The new locations are:

The Central MI HRC spring hunt test will be on Saturday May 28, 2011 at Omega Farms in Williamston, MI. This test is a combined effort with St. Clair Flats HRC which has their test on Sunday May 29, 2011 at Omega. Both clubs work together to put on a fine hunt test weekend.

Click HERE for the premium.

Don’t forget our Saturday evening raffle. Gun Dog Supply has donated four $25 gift certificates.

We will be training every Saturday beginning January 22nd.  Please try to be on time so that we can leave the meeting location no later than 9:15am and convoy to the training location.  We invite visitors to train with us and see if our club is right for you.  We hand throw ducks or Dokkens so the younger dogs can get help if needed.  Depending on the number of people and dogs we are normally done by 1pm or so.

January 22, 2011              Highland Recreation Area
January 29, 2011              Rose Lake Recreation Area
February 5, 2011              Bald Mountain Recreation Area
February 12, 2011            Lapeer State Game Area
February 19, 2011           Oak Grove State Game Area
February 26, 2011           Highland Recreation Area
March 5, 2011                   Rose Lake Recreation Area
March 12, 2011                 Bald Mountain Recreation Area
March 19, 2011                 Lapeer State Game Area
March 26, 2011                Oak Grove State Game Area
April 2, 2011                      Highland Recreation Area
April 9, 2011                      Rose Lake Recreation Area

Highland Recreation Area – M-59(Highland Rd.) to south Duck Lake Rd. Duck Lake Rd. to Livingston Rd., turn right onto Livingston Rd. Meet at parking area with pavilion (a little more than a mile on Livingston Rd.) at 9:00am.

Rose Lake Recreation Area – I-69 to Perry exit #105, meet at McDonald’s off exit at 9:00am.

Bald Mountain Recreation Area – Meet at Kmart parking lot at 1025 south Lapeer Rd., Lake Orion at 9:00am.

Lapeer State Game Area – Lapeer Rd. (M-24) to Daley Rd., Daley Rd. to Fish Lake Rd., turn left onto Fish Lake Rd., Fish Lake Rd. to Vernor Rd., turn right onto Vernor Rd., Vernor Rd. to Five Lakes Rd., turn right onto Five Lakes Rd., meet at parking area with pavilion on right side of road ( about half mile down Five Lakes Rd.) at 9:00am.

Oak Grove State Game Area – Meet at Venture Corners grocery store parking lot at the corner of Faussett and Argentine roads (6521 Argentine Rd, Howell, MI 48855) at 9:00am.

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps to reach the top. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2010. If those were steps, it would have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa 4 times

In 2010, there were 2 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 9 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 3mb. That’s about a picture per month.

The busiest day of the year was August 1st with 68 views. The most popular post that day was Events.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were huntingretrieverclub.org, mail.yahoo.com, midha.org, lapeerart.wordpress.com, and farpointretrievers.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for central michigan hrc, michigan retriever clubs, omega farms michigan, central mi hrc, and michigan hrc.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Events June 2010
5 comments

Members July 2010

About June 2010

Officers June 2010

Training September 2010
1 comment

There will be a club meeting on Saturday, January 8th, 2011 at 10am.  The meeting will be held at Mike Rogers’ home located at 3838 Winegar Rd., Bancroft, MI. 48414.  All current club members and others interested in joining are invited to attend.