Growth

In nature, growth can be as slow as a snail moving across a leaf or as rapid as water rushing into a canyon during a flash flood after a thunderstorm. I often think about tree rings—small, incremental growth happening consistently over time. It’s the kind of growth that goes unnoticed each year, but after decades, it becomes awe-inspiring.

This is one of my favorite pictures: the stump of a felled tree I found while leading a “Nature Explorers” class at a summer camp. The tree had faced some sort of disease or wound that it managed to ward off for a time, but eventually, it succumbed. The crosscut is beautifully imperfect, with the two edges curled into one another.

Yet, the tree kept growing.

My journey with Pipp has mirrored that slow, steady growth, both for the dog and for me as her handler. I have a picture of her as a two-day-old puppy, visited her at six weeks old, and brought her home at 10 weeks. We started our first bird dog training the very next weekend when she was 11 weeks old.

At that training, I had my first lesson in learning to trust her—and in appreciating the trust she places in me. Prior to Pipp, I had two rescue dogs, and they taught me a lot about training and canine behavior, especially since much of my time with them was spent managing habits that had already been formed. This was the first time I was working with a young puppy, and I was both terrified of messing it up and excited by the potential. It felt like the world was our oyster.

I’d read books, listened to podcasts, and sought out information on gundog training for months before bringing Pipp home. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming, but the wisdom of Pipp’s breeder resonated deeply with me and helped put everything else into perspective: 

Enjoy your dog. Have fun with her. Your bond will allow you to accomplish great things together.

The first time in the field, she was supposed to find and point a tethered quail, but she veered way off track from where the orange paracord was tied to a cluster of cover. For a moment, I questioned what was happening, until the trainer pointed out that the quail had slipped its tether and Pipp was actually pointing it where it had wandered off to.

Twice this year, we’ve found ourselves in a similar situation—my inner monologue questioning her nose (both times, pointing at a tree only to flush a chukar and later an entire covey of grouse). But Pipp followed her instinct, and sure enough, she was right. Watching her gain that confidence made me realize just how important it is for us to trust each other. I’d never had an off-leash dog before, and that bond is foundational for her role as my hunting companion.

“Most importantly, she continues to teach me that our bond will be the foundation for all of our training, learning, and growth.”

“I’m a better person for having found this breed and for loving this wonderful girl. I’m excited to watch our growth and progress over time, knowing there will be challenges, failures, and successes. Each of these experiences will teach us something. But the most important lesson of all is to enjoy our time together. Life is brief, and even more so for our four-legged companions. The next day is never guaranteed, and my greatest goal is to remember this every day, cherishing our time both at home and afield.”