Sprig wrote:
Bama , I'll start by sayin this , a special thanks go out to our judges ( Bill Page and Bo Wrobleski ) for allowing me to help out a little at the line when need be . I had a pretty in depth talk with Bill at the line while spook was branging back birds and it wasn't about dogs , it was about people , the man was sincere with his words as well as his actions . And then there's Bo , what can you say about Bo except , if you don't have fun runnin under him then you got no bidness there .
Set the scene : I'm sick as a dog with a case of walking pneaumonia , my dog is jacked up worse than he's EVER been ( prolly cause we's comin off live flyers a couple weeks back ) and I think he somehow knew that I wasn't gonna be the one in charge at the line . I have never been this nervous before goin to the line , simply because I wasn't in charge .
So I get them to the line , get her set on the bucket and put her hand on spooks collar and tell her to hang on ......TIGHT . Bill explains how he wants her to do it , then she hits a note on her call . First bird comes out , pow , bird lands and she bellows his name like it was a 500 yd mark . He picks up the bird and she starts tryin to toot on her whistle ( which her mouth just ain't made to do ) but atleast spook knows he's supposed to come back to the line . He's mouthy as hell with the bird and all I can do is stand there and watch , we get the bird from him and repeat on the next bird , no big problems and we're through with land . Big applause from the gallery , she thanks the judges and we go put our dog up .
After lunch it's time for water , I'm sittin in the truck with the ac blowin wide open , sweatin bullets , feelin like pukin with every breath . If my buds wouldn't have been busy puttin on the upland I woulda had one of them take them to the line cause I swear I can't remember ever feelin as bad as I did when I got out of that truck and got spook outta the box .
Welp we get to the line and she gets set on the bucket and grabs spook's collar , I tell her to hang on TIIIIIGGGHHHHHHTTTTTT Laughing
First bird came out , she released him and he did his thing . Last bird of the day comes out , she released him and he picked it up and heads back . Comes back to her and she's a little slow about gettin the bird so the mofo turns and takes about five steps away from her and dropped the bird . I was ready to walk over there and do things to that mofo that would have surely gotten me banned for life from HRC Laughing
Turns out he had to crap , Bill tells Samantha just let him finish , then I'm sure he'll bring you your duck . Now spook had done figured out that he pretty much could do what he wanted to and daddy wasn't gonna do anything about it , but I can't help but believe that he also knew that this was the most important bird that he'd ever ( or prolly ever will ) put in his mouth . The mofo finshed up a big ole dump , turned around picked up the bird and returned to heel . I literally about passed out from relief .
She put a leash on him and told the judges thank you , we started to leave the line and Bill said " Samantha , could you pass your dog off to your dad for a moment " ? She hands me the lead and Bill then Bo give her a big hug right there on the line and told her great job . Right then I was SOOOO glad that nobody was there when I was lookin for someone to go to the line with them , cause for a moment my sickness went away and I was overcome with a feeling I can't put into words .
FF to the cerimony , Bill's callin out numbers and he gets to us . He starts with DEMANDING EVERYONE'S attention and gives a short speech about special judging assignments . I'm glad I had my shades on and I believe he coulda used some hisself . Anyway he calls her up and they get her a little wet for being a first time handler and then present her a ribbon and points receipt . You woulda thought lynard skynard just walked out on stage at the Alabama state fair grounds , the place erupted Wink
If that maniac of a dog I got never passes another test , or places in a trial , it don't matter cause he's responsible for one of the best days I've had in my 36 years . And I don't think mama Sprig is gonna refer to him as " that damn dog " anymore either Wink
Mama sprig shot video , but I think my bud T-bone got some stills , maybe he'll post some up for us later .
and a few pics to document....
THE SMILES SAY IT ALL!!!!
