Atlas made his first true cold blind today.
On the way out of our hunt area (2 ducks on the strap) dog is in the box, kennel cover zipped up. Typically a couple of ducks always flush as we drive out on the dyke. The dyke road area is not really huntable though as there are structures on the other side of the ditch, but I always watch the ditch. On this trip I look down and see what might be a duck in the grasses and duck weed on the far bank. Curious, bust the dog out of his crate. Atlas jumps down starts his usual; "where am I, what should I pee on routine. I call "dead bird"- his command together ready for a blind. He comes strait to heel all business. I line him up and give him "back". He takes off strait down a 75 degree slope and into the ditch swims 10 or so feet and the duck takes about two or three flaps and tries to dive in the 8 inch deep water. Dog chases it down and brings it to heel. Turns out to be a wounded golden eye hen. Good times.