Todd and Linda Zimmerling and Family

“Houston” (two years old) a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and
“Pepper” (6 months old) a Black Labrador Retriever

Why did you pick this breed? The kids picked the breeds (with a bit of help from Mom and Dad). Both kids spent a lot of time researching the characteristics of different dogs. We told them that we wanted a good family dog and a good hunting dog.  In the end, Tyler decided that he would like a Chesapeake Bay, because they are good on land and in the water; they tend to be a large dog and are known to be strong and loyal. Amanda decided on a black lab because labs make good hunting dogs, are great with families and easy to train.

What kinds of training has your dog had? We have only completed some basic training for the lab pup; “no,” “sit,” “down” and “come.” He is starting to learn to fetch. Houston has basic commands mastered and a few tricks like “shake-a-paw” and “play dead.” Amanda has been trying to teach him agility skills like running through a tunnel and between poles, but that still needs some work. In addition we have been working on his directions, such as “left,” “right” and “search” during his retrieval training.

What kinds of hunting do you like to do with your dog? We like to hunt pheasants, grouse, huns, ducks and geese.

Why do you prefer to hunt with a dog? Birds are rarely lost. Houston has demonstrated a fantastic nose, as well as keen eye to follow where the birds fall. He loves the water and we never lose birds; he always gets to them quickly. Hunting with dogs also adds excitement to the hunt. When you start to head across a field in search of that upland game or to sit in a blind for ducks, you can see him getting excited. When the gun goes off, that is his signal to spring into action. From that point on he acts like he is possessed; he will find that bird and bring it back, if it is the last thing he does. They just make the whole experience that much more fun.

How important is it to have a dog as part of the family? Our kids were born into a house with two labs. From the day they came home, dogs have been part of their lives, and I believe they are growing up to be better people because of it. They have learned to respect, but not fear dogs; they have learned responsibility by ensuring the dogs are always fed, watered and cleaned-up afterwards (although both kids admit they could have gone without this lesson). In our case, having dogs has also taught our children how to deal with loss. The first two dogs our children ever knew passed away when the kids were eight and nine years old. I still remember vividly that the most important thing on the minds of both kids was that they wanted to say goodbye, and they did.

Any other comments or word of wisdom about dogs, hunting and conservation? The kids love playing with both dogs (Houston has learned not to run them down anymore). Having the dogs gets the kids outside and away from the computer games. We all enjoy seeing the dogs doing their training and putting that training into practice in the field (we never lose a bird). The kids love working with the dogs, and now they love to hunt with them. Both kids feel great pride when they see “their dog” retrieve a bird, just as they have been trained. Having hunting dogs is a great way to get kids involved in hunting.