Published: March 9, 2016
A man’s best friend
Local dog honored
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News
TOWN OF POLK — Mark Scholz admits he’s biased. But he has
proof to back up his claim. After all, his 13-year-old golden retriever is the
“Jack” of all trades.
Scholz’s dog, Jack, was recently honored by the Pheasants
Forever Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter for a portrait Scholz had drawn of his
dog by Scott Zoellick.
Each year, the organization celebrates a standout portrait
of wildlife, scenery, etc. This year, Jack was chosen for the honor — Portrait
of the Year.
“It truly is a great honor, well deserved by Jack,” Scholz
said. “He is that good of a dog. When he was in his prime, he was one of the
best around.”
Jack has been slowed by age and injuries to his hind legs,
so he doesn’t hunt like he used to. However, Scholz said the memories they have
don’t have a price tag.
“He’s just been that one special thing in my life for the
last 13 years that means the world to me,” Scholz said.
Scholz, 66, likes to hunt ducks and pheasants. He’s had two
other golden retrievers before Jack and he loved each of them. But with Jack —
this dog was special, something Scholz never experienced.
In addition to hunting, Scholz also guides trips with his
longhaired golden retriever at his side.
That’s when he’s in awe of Jack.
Thirteen years ago, Scholz picked out Jack from a litter at
Wind River Kennel in Campbellsport. There, the trainers work with dogs to be
hunting dogs.
With his first dog, Scholz read books on how to train dogs.
With his second dog, he had training help.
“They never had the training Jack had,” Scholz said.
And the training makes a difference.
A dog not properly trained has a tougher time finding a
bird, especially in a blind retrieve. In addition, some dogs wander aimlessly,
not knowing where he or she is going, which can take away from the experience
of a trip.
Scholz said he no longer has to carry a pocket full of rocks
on duck hunts in the marsh. The rocks are used to help a dog retrieve a downed
bird, especially if the dog didn’t see the bird come down — a blind retrieve.
If the dog is not trained to handle a blind retrieve,
throwing a rock can help finds the bird.
That’s not the case with Jack.
Scholz can line up Jack in the direction of where the bird
went down. He gives a simple command and Jack takes off, even if he didn’t see
where it landed.
Moments later, he arrives with the bird in his mouth.
The people on his guide trips were often amazed at Jack’s
talent.
“A good relationship with a dog depends on mutual
understanding and intelligence,” Scholz said. “To me, the real secret in
training is to not let him make mistakes at all. Of course, the dog will make
mistakes in the learning process, but you always want to finish the training
drill based on success and confidence.”
Scholz, a trainer and Jack worked together for two years
before it was time to get in the wilderness.
“After two years of training Jack and myself — and believe
me, it was harder training me — we set out for 11 years of hunting and guiding
many hunts in the Dakotas, Canada and southeastern Wisconsin hunt clubs,”
Scholz said, adding he could write a book about their experiences side-byside.
“You’re going to see more birds with a guide and a
well-trained dog,” he said. “There’s nothing more pleasing for me than going
out and having him do a great hunt for a group of guys that are very
appreciative of the work that’s been put into him and they can appreciate good
dog work,” Scholz said.
Because of his good work, Jack built a reputation.
As a joke, Scholz said, people will call The Highlands, a
club near Cascade for recreational shooting enthusiasts and upland bird
hunters, and ask for Jack, not Scholz.
“Can we get that Jack dog?” Scholz joked about requests
people have made to the club.
They may also be serious. Jack changed Scholz’s hunting
experiences and Scholz consistently fielded requests for Jack’s ability.
“I really enjoy the outdoors and showing off a good hunting
dog,” Scholz said. “I get a lot of satisfaction watching him do the job he was
trained to do.”
There is also great satisfaction for Scholz when Jack lays
his head on Scholz’s lap and looks up at him with his black eyes.
“After a hunt, when we’re relaxing at home, he jumps on the
couch, lays next to me, puts his paws across my legs and lays his head on my
thighs, he looks up with eyes and looking at my saying, ‘How’d I do today, Dad?
Did I make you proud?’” Scholz said. “It’s really cool.”
Scholz also loves the way Jack thumps his tail or lays on
his hunting clothes or carries his socks around his home.
“The bond between man and dog is an ancient and honored
one,” Scholz said. “You may not have known Jack, but you will have known dogs
like him and you will recall those unforgettable experiences that are so
special between man and his best friend.”
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