"Just wanted to let you know how great I did when I was in Iowa. My mom did just as you suggested and eased me back into the swing of things slowly after my long ride out there. It was kind of warm the first week we were there, so we took it slow. Those wild birds don't stay put, which it took me a while to learn. I was smelling them from a long ways off and then going on point, but I learned that they kept moving. So, I learned to keep moving with them until I got them locked down. I was very staunch on point. My brother Tucker and I hunted together some of the time and I was very good at backing - better than my brother actually, he's so competitive. And the gun never bothered me a bit. There are too many birds to find to worry about the sound of a silly old gun. And one of the most amazing things was that I hunted hard enough that by the end of the trip I was actually in shape. Imagine that!! Anyw ay, I just wanted to let you know that my parents say I'm really a bird dog now - in fact, my mom has tears in her eyes right now just thinking back on how cool it was to watch me learn and progress. Thanks again for all your help." Grady (as told to Tom and Julie)