Canoe Water

One of my favorite pictures of my wife.....rainy and cold and this lady embraces the outdoors and the natural environment..... yes there are many ladies that do.....but there are way way way more that don't!! When I reflect back through the many years of her time spent in the outdoors.... via, wilderness canoe tripping...... handling sporting dogs, enjoying a camp fire, and just crashing in a tent while 100's of miles from nowhere, this lady clearly shows, not many have her spirit for the outdoors! I am so blessed!!

RV / GSP life .....On our 4 plus week around trip to Eastern Canada and holidays, Liz is judging another NSTRA trial. NSTRA Central Canada.

Some play time on the Atlantic Ocean for the Nek and the Talli Wacker.....their first time in salt water on a beautiful beach with awesome surf!!

A very good illustration of the core interaction with your dog, and this just doesn't apply to retrieves, it applies to hounds and pointers.

DOGS LEARN IN PICTURES, NOT VIDEOS. 🐾

One of the biggest keys to successful dog training is timing.

Good timing and consistency go hand in hand. When feedback is delivered at the right moment and repeated consistently, dogs learn faster and with less confusion.

Think of each behavior as a snapshot. Dogs connect consequences to what they are doing in that exact moment, which is why clear, timely feedback is so important.

A question we hear often is:

“How long do you train dogs each day?”

It depends on the goal.

Dogs have a very short window about 1.3 seconds to connect praise or correction to a behavior. That’s why we say dogs learn in pictures, not videos.

A dog that sits and is praised immediately connects the reward to the sit. Wait too long, and they’re already focused on something else.

Because of this, many training sessions are only 5–15 minutes. The goal isn’t more training time..it’s better timing.

Timing matters.
Consistency matters.
Communication matters.

And every interaction is a chance to teach. 🐾

📍 Best Retrievers
194 Stockade Ranch Rd.
Paige, TX 78659

📞 512-409-8222
📧 [email protected]

SNAKE VACCINES: EDUCATION BEFORE DECISION 🐍

This is one of those topics where emotions can run high very quickly, and our goal is not to tell owners what decision they should make for their dogs.

Our goal is to encourage education, preparedness, and informed choices.

After years of working dogs in the field and following information shared by National Snakebite Support (NSS), we personally believe it’s important for owners to understand that snake vaccines are NOT a substitute for:
✔ awareness
✔ training
✔ preparation
✔ emergency veterinary care
✔ and fast action after a bite

Some of the concerns NSS discusses include:
• lack of proven real-world effectiveness
• vaccinated dogs still requiring emergency treatment and antivenin
• possible complications in diagnosis and treatment
• adverse reactions that have been reported
• and the false sense of security that can delay emergency care

One thing we found especially important:
If your dog is bitten, swelling can happen FAST, which is why many snakebite experts recommend removing collars immediately.

We also believe owners should learn about the snakes in their area, especially:
• rattlesnakes
• copperheads
• and water moccasins (cottonmouths)

At the end of the day, every owner has to make the decision they feel is best for their dog.

We simply encourage people to research, stay informed, and be prepared BEFORE an emergency happens.

A huge thank you to National Snakebite Support for the educational resources they provide to dog owners everywhere.

📍 Best Retrievers
194 Stockade Ranch Rd.
Paige, TX 78659

📞 Office: 512-409-8222
📱 Facebook & Instagram: Best Retrievers

Let's add two more placements..... a 3rd Open and a 2nd Amateur against a really good field. One step closer to her 1st Amateur Championship. She's a handful, a dog that goes and goes hard..... add style and intensity to this young lady..... she's a bird dog as her Pedigree would expect! She certainly puts a smile on my face!!

Liz judging another NSTRA trial in Central Canada Region just outside of Montreal. They put on a very good trial with very nice fields.

Getting ready to trial..... NSTRA - Southern Ontario Region NSTRA Central Canada NSTRA - Michigan Region.