Since hunting dogs also seem to be a theme here I have a funny story to tell. I lived in Central Texas back in the early 70's. I was a California guy that had just left the Army and hunting anything wasn't top on my list at the time. A close friend Ike with lots of money and 200 acres with a good sized cattle tank invited me to go dove hunting with one of his friends. I had a pound rescue black lab that could retrieve anything I threw (frisbee, sticks, etc) and could probably swim the English Channel if needed. Ike had just got his 2 high dollar Champion Springer Spaniels back from a very expensive trainer and was ready to try them out. My lab, Uno, had never been around guns. We set up with lawn chairs, coolers, and a boom box (a Texas thing I guess?). The first covey flies over, 3 of us shoot and 3 doves are floating in the pond. Ike gives the command to his Springers to retrieve and they don't move; Uno took off for the brush at the 1st sound of gunfire. Uno finally came back, I held her collar, fired off a .410 to get her used to the noise. Another covey comes and we drop 3 more dove into the pond, Ike does the signal to his dogs and they look at him like WTF. I pretend a throwing motion to Uno, she gives me the same look but doesn't budge. There are now 6 birds floating on the pond, I pick up a rock throw into the pond, the rock sinks, Uno bolts into the water, retrieves all 6 birds, drops them softly at my feet with that "throw them again look". Ike is about to shoot his dogs. From that time on all I had to do was point at the pond and Uno would take off and bring back the birds. Ike borrowed Uno several times after that and everyone local wanted her pups. Sorry for the long story but I'm a big fan of rescue dogs and that dog was simply amazing.
