Brett Favre Isn’t the Only Arrival at Training Camp

My house seems quiet, a little too quiet… Earlier this summer, this sense of serenity was a red flag that my yellow Lab puppy, Beau, was 1) stalking the cat, 2) chewing on something valuable or 3) making a mess. Now, the local sparrow population rests at ease and I’ve grown entirely too accustomed to sleeping in due to the pup being away at “school.”

It was an extremely tough decision to send Beau away for a month, but in the end, I know it was the right thing to do. Even my ego couldn’t overshadow the fact that I lack the amount of expertise and resources to train her to where I want her to be. Don’t get me wrong, my dad and I successfully trained my wonder-mutt Lab/Sheppard mix to retrieve ducks and find roosters (part of me believes every flush was an accident), but Beau is different and deserves every opportunity to live up to her lineage.

I rest assured knowing she is in the good hands of Jim and Lisa Umphrey of Spring Creek Kennels in Gladbrook, Iowa. Without knowing it, they’ve actually helped me get over my post-puppy depression by sending me almost daily updates and pictures of her progress. Nonetheless, I still miss my little terror and am already planning a steak dinner on the date of her arrival back home (of which I’ll only eat half).

Some of the things we do to prepare for the fall – whether it’s shipping our dogs off to training camp or cleaning our shotguns with military-like precision – aren’t understood by those uninvolved in America’s true pastime. “Where’s your dog?” the neighbors ask.

At training camp, getting ready for the regular season.