Alli joined our family on May 18, 2003.  One of the first things we noticed about Alli was how extremely well socialized she was.  She quickly earned the nickname "wiggle butt" and seemed completely unphased by her airplane trip from Snowy Oaks Kennel in Minnesota to Lansing, Michigan.

Training began early with basic obedience and yard work for tracking, pointing and retrieving.  She is highly intelligent and learned quickly.  Alli, like Gus, is a very strong swimmer.  As a pup, there was never any problem getting her in the water.  However, getting her out was another story! 

Alli has an incredibly soft mouth.  During an early training session, she caught a pheasant on the ground that refused to fly.  She actually brought the bird back alive!

At home she loves to carry things around in her mouth.  Her favorites are shoes, Dick's slippers and she has a special knack for pulling dish towels off the counter.  If the ceramic water dish is empty she'll actually try to pick it up and bring it to us for a refill!

In June, 2004 Alli passed her NAVHDA Natural Ability test with a 100/112 Prize III.  In 2005, Dick began hunting Gus and Alli together.  To his delight, both dogs are natural backers.

She has matured into an excellent bird finder and is steady to wing, shot and fall.  Dick is now working with her on advanced water work.