I hunt my two wirehairs from September to February, work them on released birds and yard training March to May, and take them fishing with me or hiking in the mountains June, July. In August the dogs go away for a month of training. I have a good rapport with their trainer, and she knows the dogs as well as I do. By the opening of blue grouse season, the dogs are very sharp. The summer months are too hot to train and I need a break from my dogs once in a while. If you know wirehairs, you know what I mean. It works for me and my dogs.