Five rings of Brittanys. Over three hundred dogs entered. All got judged and an appraisal of each is given to the handler at the time. The dogs deemed 'excellent' had a chance to be judged and placed No 1, 2 or 3. however this is arrived at it seems by attrition, one dog after another is dropped. There were four UK dogs entered. 2 open dogs, open bitch and veteran bitch. Mick Young's bitch was the last bitch to be put out of the ring before the line up was finally decided from an initial class of 46. Britt, was placed 3rd in her class of Veteran Females. We had not entered Topaz – another year should see him body up a bit more.
Something that was especially good to see was David Campbell from Canada and Kathy Gorman (BCGB) assisting in the ring. Not just as box ticking record keepers but judging by the arm movements very much involved in the assessment of each dog.
The high point for the Sunday for me was to meet Catja again and have her to ourselves for several hours. She is – he says with blinkered eyes – a magic little dog. Hermann has done some impressive work with her. For instance she went off to play with another dog and his answer was to call her and throw a dummy - she forsook her new friend and ran to the dummy. Perhaps she is not a real Brittany?? Running around (chasing her own shadow as much as anything) wore her out. Not much beats having a puppy go to sleep on ones lap.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
lunch
It is now lunch time; three vast covered eating areas had been set up and ten large cast iron wood fired boilers had been preparing the meal all morning. Each person had half a front leg of pork with carrots potatoes and a quarter of savoy cabbage – that is if you could eat that much. This was preceded by melon and ham and followed by an apple tart and coffee. All for 10 euro. The only extra to pay for was the wine. The link between hunting dog and food is very strong. Those who attended the 'foreigners welcome dinner' on Thursday night spoke of boundless food and wine of very high quality. Having heard so much about that particular meal I was disappointed by the evening meal on Friday, overcooked curried chicken was not my idea of French cuisine which coupled with an unimpressive red wine and a carafe of water straight from the tap tasting strongly of chlorine made a memorable experience. Saturday nights gala dinner was however spectacular. The 40 euro ticket (about £25) brought with it an array of hot and cold canapés all as delightful to look at as eat; served with champagne. The first course a lightly poached scallop with asparagus and a piece of Rouget served on fine diced tomato. Main course was a boned guinea fowl thigh served with a slice of foie gras marinated in Calvados and then pan fried plus seasonal vegetables. The guinea fowl was flavoursome and the foie gras smooth and rich. The cheese course was a set plate of two fermier cheeses with young salad leaves and dressing. Pudding was an individual strawberry tart held together with an almond flavoured set custard. Coffee and chocolate to end. All helped down with two different reds, a white and a Sauternes with the pudding. Whilst we did not stay for lunch on the show day it is sufficient to say there was as much space allocated to tables and eating as there was for the dog cages.
loudiac TAN day
The Anniversary Weekend of the French Club Epagneul Breton was held at Loudeac on 18th and 19th August; with extra events – museum visit, kennel visits etc the two previous days.
We arrived on the Friday afternoon, staying with friends in their caravan locally so as to be in time for the Test d'Apptitude Naturel – TAN and the Raport d'Eau Profond REP (deep water retrieve.)
Arriving on time we spent an age negotiating our way into a field already populated by hundreds, literally hundreds of cars and vans. We parked – we thought cleverly so as not to have far to walk to where the action seemed to be taking place. People milled around and the Tannoy blared – instructions on forming convoys and group lists were being read out. We register and receive our pack with the complete running order, map of the TAN sites a dog lead, bottle of cider and an apple. (note the bottle of cider :-)). The only real problem we found was that the map, although it showed where we had to go did not mark where we were at present and a visit to the Secretaries tent did not help as they did not know either. However someone said all we had to do was leave town, cross the river and follow the signs TAN that were out. All that careful parking was to nought – with five TAN fields and nine FT fields nearly all the parked vehicles now wanted to get back out of the field and on to the road, ideally at the same time. Despite convoys of vehicles forming we decided to go it alone and try following the signs, after about ten minutes of driving we caught up with a string of cars – which turned into the field marked TAN 3 – ours. Pierre Willems was our judge along with an assistant and a man who was placing the dizzied grey partridge. An initial welcome few words from Pierre explained what he was looking for. A dog that worked the wind and did not just run around, a solid point and no sign of gun shyness with ideally a steadiness at flush. We were drawn second. The first dog ran around well, just that ran around, failed to find a bird and finally ran up towards us and went on point. No TAN given.
The wind was quite strong and the birds were not staying put particularly long, getting up and strutting warily up across the field. Topaz had already showed that today was going to be a fast day when I took him out earlier, and with the wind under his tail not much would stop him. Not much did. He ran the field from boundary to boundary with rather large bights. We were called back from working to far ahead by which time our bird had popped its head above the stubble. I cast him off again downwind and away from the now visible bird, turned him, but he did not turn sharply and I feared he would bump the now walking bird. My luck was in, he caught the scent as he ran past and spun on point. I reinforced this by whistle and voice as the bird was now walking away and i did not want him to run in. i did not hear any instruction to run him in to flush and the assistant walked past us to flush the bird and fire the shot. Topaz just sat up more alert and watched the bird away. We were done.
We watched the next half dozen participants and judged that Topaz's performance was far from bad; marred however by the need for quite a lot of whistle and the big bights.
We left the field in search of the REP which was being held back at the main site. Another trip to the Secretary's tent was needed to find out where it was being held exactly. Not much use. Asking a few bystanders did not help either – they thought it had not started yet. Ho hum – it turned out it was the man who looked like he was set up as a 'fisherman' so by the time we got to have a go there was quite a crowd watching. A steady off lead wait and a pretty spectacular water entry raised my hopes of a high quality retrieve. But no he picked the soggy duck up by its wing and when he got to the waters edge put it down.- not happy with the wall of humans. Walking backwards and calling him in made him do just that, sans bird, send him 'back' and he went into the water and started swimming out for another. The judge said he had done enough, 'sufficient'. If I could give him the dog's papers he would sign it off. Sadly in the UK we have no papers to record such achievement! We stayed and watched more. Topaz intent on every bird thrown – much to the amusement of the onlookers. So when any dog failed to retrieve we were asked to do so, even having to put on a demonstration for 'the dignitaries' who came by.
Anyway two certificates was the haul for the day.
We arrived on the Friday afternoon, staying with friends in their caravan locally so as to be in time for the Test d'Apptitude Naturel – TAN and the Raport d'Eau Profond REP (deep water retrieve.)
Arriving on time we spent an age negotiating our way into a field already populated by hundreds, literally hundreds of cars and vans. We parked – we thought cleverly so as not to have far to walk to where the action seemed to be taking place. People milled around and the Tannoy blared – instructions on forming convoys and group lists were being read out. We register and receive our pack with the complete running order, map of the TAN sites a dog lead, bottle of cider and an apple. (note the bottle of cider :-)). The only real problem we found was that the map, although it showed where we had to go did not mark where we were at present and a visit to the Secretaries tent did not help as they did not know either. However someone said all we had to do was leave town, cross the river and follow the signs TAN that were out. All that careful parking was to nought – with five TAN fields and nine FT fields nearly all the parked vehicles now wanted to get back out of the field and on to the road, ideally at the same time. Despite convoys of vehicles forming we decided to go it alone and try following the signs, after about ten minutes of driving we caught up with a string of cars – which turned into the field marked TAN 3 – ours. Pierre Willems was our judge along with an assistant and a man who was placing the dizzied grey partridge. An initial welcome few words from Pierre explained what he was looking for. A dog that worked the wind and did not just run around, a solid point and no sign of gun shyness with ideally a steadiness at flush. We were drawn second. The first dog ran around well, just that ran around, failed to find a bird and finally ran up towards us and went on point. No TAN given.
The wind was quite strong and the birds were not staying put particularly long, getting up and strutting warily up across the field. Topaz had already showed that today was going to be a fast day when I took him out earlier, and with the wind under his tail not much would stop him. Not much did. He ran the field from boundary to boundary with rather large bights. We were called back from working to far ahead by which time our bird had popped its head above the stubble. I cast him off again downwind and away from the now visible bird, turned him, but he did not turn sharply and I feared he would bump the now walking bird. My luck was in, he caught the scent as he ran past and spun on point. I reinforced this by whistle and voice as the bird was now walking away and i did not want him to run in. i did not hear any instruction to run him in to flush and the assistant walked past us to flush the bird and fire the shot. Topaz just sat up more alert and watched the bird away. We were done.
We watched the next half dozen participants and judged that Topaz's performance was far from bad; marred however by the need for quite a lot of whistle and the big bights.
We left the field in search of the REP which was being held back at the main site. Another trip to the Secretary's tent was needed to find out where it was being held exactly. Not much use. Asking a few bystanders did not help either – they thought it had not started yet. Ho hum – it turned out it was the man who looked like he was set up as a 'fisherman' so by the time we got to have a go there was quite a crowd watching. A steady off lead wait and a pretty spectacular water entry raised my hopes of a high quality retrieve. But no he picked the soggy duck up by its wing and when he got to the waters edge put it down.- not happy with the wall of humans. Walking backwards and calling him in made him do just that, sans bird, send him 'back' and he went into the water and started swimming out for another. The judge said he had done enough, 'sufficient'. If I could give him the dog's papers he would sign it off. Sadly in the UK we have no papers to record such achievement! We stayed and watched more. Topaz intent on every bird thrown – much to the amusement of the onlookers. So when any dog failed to retrieve we were asked to do so, even having to put on a demonstration for 'the dignitaries' who came by.
Anyway two certificates was the haul for the day.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday
I am trying about 100mtr memory s along a right angled path - as in he has to run back and turn left; so i go out of sight to him, (but i can see the retrieve from where I am standing). Not always successful without a bit of 'driving' so maybe will shorten these up a bit.
Also doing circular arrays of three - but still having difficulty getting him to focus on me for the 'mark'
Short - as in dummy throw length 'seens' are done near a rabbit infested hedge to try and help him understand that a retrieve is a retrieve and not a chance to go on point :-) not sure if he has got the message as this lunch time the last retrieve was interrupted by a phone call ( I am using the field next to the workshop) he returned with the dummy but stopped short - i had to go and take the call and when i got back he had not moved and the dummy was still in his mouth.
Maximum of five / six per session with a bit of hunting as the reward at the end.
Just need to dream up some method of increasing his 'focus' on me at the sit out
Evening run - very good lines; once he had been convinced he was to do my bidding worked with a will - amazing strong retrieves overe 100+mtres - a real joy to watch. If only it was predictable.
Also doing circular arrays of three - but still having difficulty getting him to focus on me for the 'mark'
Short - as in dummy throw length 'seens' are done near a rabbit infested hedge to try and help him understand that a retrieve is a retrieve and not a chance to go on point :-) not sure if he has got the message as this lunch time the last retrieve was interrupted by a phone call ( I am using the field next to the workshop) he returned with the dummy but stopped short - i had to go and take the call and when i got back he had not moved and the dummy was still in his mouth.
Maximum of five / six per session with a bit of hunting as the reward at the end.
Just need to dream up some method of increasing his 'focus' on me at the sit out
Evening run - very good lines; once he had been convinced he was to do my bidding worked with a will - amazing strong retrieves overe 100+mtres - a real joy to watch. If only it was predictable.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
walk
Within 20 yards of the start T went on point, now usually there have been rabbits there but this time I spotted a partridge moving away from us. He then moved forward and pounced on a day old chick. Not good but gave it up on command. The chick was not to be seen on our return later.
did a 150mtr memory around a corner - had to be 'driven' past the 40mtr barrier he seems ot have. Another 100metre seen out of a field and down a track - all out of sight of me proved successful. One day imay just learn to trust him.
Quartered a recently harvested field. Quartering across about four windrows. Went on solid point at the edge and on walking up to him he flushed a cock pheasant. Sat on flush. Carried on hunting the field and ignored the deer that got up from the edge and ran off. Did not spot the two hares who broke half a field away.
Worked up to where teh hares had been and put down a 40mtr seen. Hoping to make capital from teh recent hares scent as a distraction. Sent him back for the retrieve, success not distracted by scent. carried on quartering teh field and another strong point followed by a hare breaking from about a metre away. He ran after it but at least sat when told.
Tiring a bit now as laboured jumps over the straw on the uphill run - when compared with the initial runs
did a 150mtr memory around a corner - had to be 'driven' past the 40mtr barrier he seems ot have. Another 100metre seen out of a field and down a track - all out of sight of me proved successful. One day imay just learn to trust him.
Quartered a recently harvested field. Quartering across about four windrows. Went on solid point at the edge and on walking up to him he flushed a cock pheasant. Sat on flush. Carried on hunting the field and ignored the deer that got up from the edge and ran off. Did not spot the two hares who broke half a field away.
Worked up to where teh hares had been and put down a 40mtr seen. Hoping to make capital from teh recent hares scent as a distraction. Sent him back for the retrieve, success not distracted by scent. carried on quartering teh field and another strong point followed by a hare breaking from about a metre away. He ran after it but at least sat when told.
Tiring a bit now as laboured jumps over the straw on the uphill run - when compared with the initial runs
Saturday, July 21, 2007
River Arle
took them both for a walk along the banks of the Arle (in Arlesford) A 'millenium' footpath so lots of dog distractions. Did a couple of 150 mtr go backs - working on getting T past the 'thrown dummy barrier. Also a seen across the shallows with a pair of duck within 3 mtr. He had to be kept on task for that one.
walk
short training walk up through the maize and into the wood. Long memory retrieves and a couple of seen. The dog was demonicly fast - possessed. This training stuff must be paying off.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Retriever Class
Retriever class tonight showed a lot of improvement. Everyone commented on this. T's run outs were pretty enthusiastic and his hunting the ground for the dummy better than usual. He even sat and looked back when unsure - how about that. Having missed finding one dummy he was called back and a lab sent - who also failed to find it; a second lab succeeded. The next retrieve T was not going to allow that to happen! and ran like his tail was on fire.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Triangle
We had a trip to East Kilbride for work today. a 4.30 start and a seven hour drive. An hour and half meeting and that was it. A pre booked phone call to Bill Thayne and a meeting in Band Q outside Livingstone then gave us several hours walking talking and dog work. What a pleasure. A little hunting in deep grass; after a short spell of the two dogs having done a spot of self hunting. Maybe my fault as they had only had two wee stops in 10 hours in the vehicle.
Really good to work a fresh bit of ground, were able to throw for Buck and Bil threw for us. Topaz 's water was very enthusiastic. A great afternoon.
Had a rainbow end on the car bonnet on the way home - must buy a lottery ticket this weekend :-)
Really good to work a fresh bit of ground, were able to throw for Buck and Bil threw for us. Topaz 's water was very enthusiastic. A great afternoon.
Had a rainbow end on the car bonnet on the way home - must buy a lottery ticket this weekend :-)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Retriever Club
Our first proper meeting with the retrievers. five in all. Had a rolling conversation with a nice young lady who insisted she knew me - nice but also slightly unnerving. (me of a certain age and she young) Anyway problem was resolved - we had me on the shoot at Moundsmere. Topaz did well - relative to his usual - but was spending most of his time with his nose in the air and not concentrating on the job in hand. Need to spend time on 'memory retrieves'
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Retreiver trainer
Saw a poster in the local hire shop for lessons by a FT Ch Flat coat retriever breeder /trainer. If anyone knows how to teach a dog to retrieve then he must. Phoned up and went to a one to one assessment evening. He like T and offered us a place in the class. Home work was to make a list of all the commands i was using and edit it down to one command for one action. Found i had about 35 words or signals for 12 responses.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Mid Wales Gundog Soc'y GWT
Hmm, not worth the drive. lovely spot but we were made to run with a tail wind - after great show had been made of checking the wind with a handkerchief. Topaz only had a short hunt over short grass on top of a knoll. Wind from the right cheek over gorse and obviously carrying scent as he was more interested in working towards that than where the judge wished him to go. Water retrieve not good as although i thought he saw the drop he swam out about 5 yards before returning to shore and investigating the path intently.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
basic day
took Topaz for a bit of hunting. Patterns not good but he did point a pair of pheasant. we have a GWT at the weekend. Hmm not sure it will be worth the drive.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
general run
Worked topaz across teh field at home. Came on a hare from upwind - he had been takeing to large bites ! but that is another matter. He sat and watched it move away - slowly as it was obviously rather stiff or cold.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
BCGB Open Show
both dogs behaved quite well - let down as usual by the handler fussing. Pleased with Ellie - she had never been in the ring before, was really quite steady by the third time and stood still.
Brittany Club Training day
Really nce weather. topaz was on form. training sessions run by Fiona Wensley and Rory Major. it was really heartening to see Topaz do retrieves - albeit simple with some considerable vigour. With an audience. He must at last be maturing a bit.
Water retrieves - he loves those and ended up being the sweeper for all the other dogs who failed. i think he rather liked playing to the audiene.
Ellie did her usual run out to a dummy - all paws and enthusiasm, followed by her usual return - fast until she reaches about 4ft from home when she spits it and starts doing her own thing. Not to worried about this as she is still only 14months. got her into the water and she swam and she picked a dummy up of the surface. very pleasing day.
Water retrieves - he loves those and ended up being the sweeper for all the other dogs who failed. i think he rather liked playing to the audiene.
Ellie did her usual run out to a dummy - all paws and enthusiasm, followed by her usual return - fast until she reaches about 4ft from home when she spits it and starts doing her own thing. Not to worried about this as she is still only 14months. got her into the water and she swam and she picked a dummy up of the surface. very pleasing day.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The story so far..
This blog is prompted by the need for a record of progress of Topaz an orange and white Brittany dog, nad ellie a Black and white one
Monday, April 16, 2007
Spring pointing
A good turnout of Brittanys. 5 out of a card of 9.
only one grading was given of 'very good' to Adrian (sorry misplaced my running order with his Weim - will edit this post later)
i will leave it for others to comment on their own individual runs.
From my perspective Rory and Susie really made every effort to allow every dog to show it's colours and gain a grading.
I have to admit i came away disappointed.
Topaz had unbeknown to me packed his Biggles Helmet into his overnight bag (we stayed at my sister in laws). As soon as he was cast off he flew at top speed down the ditch we were to work and then down the wheeling of the adjacent field of rape. This completely wrong footed me as a i did not expect it and secondly i felt no trust. when he finally returned - which seemed an age - but i believe to the spectators was quite presentably i cast him off in the other direction and this time managed to turn him on the whistle, we worked a few beats before he once again flew off up a wheeling in the wheat field we were in. Ear muffs firmly down. Anyway he came back, turning of his own volition - as no amount of stop or turn seemed to be heard by him.
He ran hard and fast - and sometimes very flat, sometimes in rather large bites. The last beat of the field took him to a hedge, missing ground as he did - a partridge flew up behind him. At the hedge he went on an 'unproductive point' - i walked up to him and commanded him on knowing there was nothing. stopped him and put the lead back on and walked back to the judges. Thinking my number was up.
However - Susie asked why i had done that? and asked me to cast the dog off and work on - they were really enjoying watching him work. The bird was from unworked ground and not a missed bird.
Through the hedge we went and cast him off up hill, only to turn him as early as possible - desperately trying to - as i thought keep him in control- by my way of thinking. we did a few more quarters, another hammer off up the hill side before being told to 'lead your dog'. On his final return to me he ignored me and ran past back to the hedge - about 10 yards up from where i had turned him on our second part of the run. The day was very warm and little breeze so he was onto a pair of partridge before he could stop - they were up as he stopped but more bumped than pointed.
Lessons to learn.
1. preparation - i had not done large fields without hedges - except in France where i had trouble stopping him. I had worked him on several pieces of new ground the previous couple of days, but mainly small stretches of set aside and grass.
2. Stop whistle. Will have to go back to basics with this one. He is at teh moment - as they say in the metal polishing trade 'highly polished, deeply scratched' a condition where one has gone to final and finest grit for polishing before working through the lower grades properly.
3. I have worked enough hedgerows in my life to know my best chance for a result was there - it was a heaven sent opportunity and i blew it, and let the dog down. Another ten yards on an earlier cast and we would have had a strong point one side of a hedge, with a flush from the other I have no doubt.
Rory and Susie were very generous in their feedback. They thought he had everything going for him, style, speed and they could see he had a fantastic nose. more work was needed on getting him to listen to his handler, who in turn needed more experience.
only one grading was given of 'very good' to Adrian (sorry misplaced my running order with his Weim - will edit this post later)
i will leave it for others to comment on their own individual runs.
From my perspective Rory and Susie really made every effort to allow every dog to show it's colours and gain a grading.
I have to admit i came away disappointed.
Topaz had unbeknown to me packed his Biggles Helmet into his overnight bag (we stayed at my sister in laws). As soon as he was cast off he flew at top speed down the ditch we were to work and then down the wheeling of the adjacent field of rape. This completely wrong footed me as a i did not expect it and secondly i felt no trust. when he finally returned - which seemed an age - but i believe to the spectators was quite presentably i cast him off in the other direction and this time managed to turn him on the whistle, we worked a few beats before he once again flew off up a wheeling in the wheat field we were in. Ear muffs firmly down. Anyway he came back, turning of his own volition - as no amount of stop or turn seemed to be heard by him.
He ran hard and fast - and sometimes very flat, sometimes in rather large bites. The last beat of the field took him to a hedge, missing ground as he did - a partridge flew up behind him. At the hedge he went on an 'unproductive point' - i walked up to him and commanded him on knowing there was nothing. stopped him and put the lead back on and walked back to the judges. Thinking my number was up.
However - Susie asked why i had done that? and asked me to cast the dog off and work on - they were really enjoying watching him work. The bird was from unworked ground and not a missed bird.
Through the hedge we went and cast him off up hill, only to turn him as early as possible - desperately trying to - as i thought keep him in control- by my way of thinking. we did a few more quarters, another hammer off up the hill side before being told to 'lead your dog'. On his final return to me he ignored me and ran past back to the hedge - about 10 yards up from where i had turned him on our second part of the run. The day was very warm and little breeze so he was onto a pair of partridge before he could stop - they were up as he stopped but more bumped than pointed.
Lessons to learn.
1. preparation - i had not done large fields without hedges - except in France where i had trouble stopping him. I had worked him on several pieces of new ground the previous couple of days, but mainly small stretches of set aside and grass.
2. Stop whistle. Will have to go back to basics with this one. He is at teh moment - as they say in the metal polishing trade 'highly polished, deeply scratched' a condition where one has gone to final and finest grit for polishing before working through the lower grades properly.
3. I have worked enough hedgerows in my life to know my best chance for a result was there - it was a heaven sent opportunity and i blew it, and let the dog down. Another ten yards on an earlier cast and we would have had a strong point one side of a hedge, with a flush from the other I have no doubt.
Rory and Susie were very generous in their feedback. They thought he had everything going for him, style, speed and they could see he had a fantastic nose. more work was needed on getting him to listen to his handler, who in turn needed more experience.
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