The weather has not been that nice so i took the plunge and had the ATV out to do the birds. Topaz loved it and rode pillion - must get a photo. Fresco was not at all sure and would not stay on it if it moved - so he had to run alongside. A Brittany moves at 20 kph before breaking into a double suspension gallop. With this ease of movement around the farm I took the opportunity to visit the copse in Dean Pond - to check the feeder. Quite often one can find a single bird but tonight assuming things would be as normal I sent them both ahead - to be greeted by a dozen birds flying out. Hmm - just shows one must never make assumptions.
Monday saw another meet up with Steve and Sam - this time I wanted to check out a boundary hedge or two with another visit to the Dean Pond copse; I also wanted to do some considered work on Fresco's pointing. - On the way into the copse Fresco gave a lovely indication and point - as I moved forward with him a large dog fox shot out of the undergrowth and away down the far hedge - Fresco managed to find a single pheasant at teh other end - but if he pointed it I will never know, at least he didn't chase it.
Steve and I and the dogs then moved back up hill to the home wood, rape with a back wind. Both dogs found birds, immediately after I had said I thought we were to far out to find anything. Laughing Fresco got into a really nice pattern - he would drop down wind and then do a left and right cross back to me then drop down wind again. No intervention from me as I had a phone call at the time. Another timely reminder to 'trust the dog', mind I think some of the reason for the pattern is the uniformity of the field so no distractions to alter the wind or his attention.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
What a week for Fresco
What a week this has been for little Fresco. Tuesday he was rushed to the vet after being hit by a car, in the event he was suffering from gravel rash - such that I threatened to call him Tetley. (for non UK readers this is a reference to a tea bag advert - the quality of the bag being linked to the number of perforations in it). Despite lying on the vets table very sorry for himself he was perky by the evening and back to full speed the following morning. Friday saw him up at sparrow fart to go to a dog show - he won his class - but then he was the only entrant. Catja came along as well and despite being feisty and alert outside the ring failed to appeal to the judge once in it. She hates being in the ring and makes it show. We had been looking for an 'easy win' as there were only three bitches in the class. Mind you such a result allowed me to get away and back home with most of the afternoon spare. This was used to good effect by meeting Steve and his pup Sam at the farm. I had a particular bit of work I wanted to do - we have one particular field of stubble turnips that is attracting about twenty birds regularly, i now have a feeder and water there but I wanted to know if they were mine or immigrants from the adjacent ground. My intention was to work up the boundary edge and push them back to our pens. The wind was not in our favour and Steve who was working the field had quite a few bumped birds - but it did allow him to make sure Sam's stop was up to snuff. The birds all flew out of our ground and Sam had a couple of tentative points and some messy ground work. But no worries you could see he was trying to work out what was going on. The next field proved an eyeopener to Sam who had several nice points and some good sits to flush. Fresco worked teh middle of the field and missed a covey of partridge - partly because of my poor positioning and partly because of teh size of the bights he was taking. By the third field Sam proved he had got the idea and indicated well. A very good evening for both dogs.
Saturday saw the first picking up day for us. A boys only day - leaving Catja at home. Topaz consistently performed well - mostly runners. The only one he failed on was a bird that fell next to a beater who said 'I'll get that' followed half a minute later by 'You've got a runner' we never found it. I noticed that he often 'aimed off' and ran deep when working to a downwind bird. this allowed him to then work across the wind to find the bird. As he did this several times I read it as a conscious decision on his part.
Fresco was allowed a short blind for his first retrieve of a 'hot bird' - he ended up with a mouth full of breast feathers and a perplexed look on his face, he left the bird and came back to me. Sent out for it again this time he picked it up by its rump and struggled back with it - it was a very large bird. He had three further retrieves during the day and performed nicely on all I was very pleased. Otherwise he had to sit off lead and watch. He even wanted to retrieve a bird that was in its death throes with wings flapping.
One particularly memorable moment was when a shot bird landed between me and the dogs - neither moved, even when the dog from the next peg came in (complete with lead on it) to collect. I wonder how long that sort of steadiness will last?
Saturday saw the first picking up day for us. A boys only day - leaving Catja at home. Topaz consistently performed well - mostly runners. The only one he failed on was a bird that fell next to a beater who said 'I'll get that' followed half a minute later by 'You've got a runner' we never found it. I noticed that he often 'aimed off' and ran deep when working to a downwind bird. this allowed him to then work across the wind to find the bird. As he did this several times I read it as a conscious decision on his part.
Fresco was allowed a short blind for his first retrieve of a 'hot bird' - he ended up with a mouth full of breast feathers and a perplexed look on his face, he left the bird and came back to me. Sent out for it again this time he picked it up by its rump and struggled back with it - it was a very large bird. He had three further retrieves during the day and performed nicely on all I was very pleased. Otherwise he had to sit off lead and watch. He even wanted to retrieve a bird that was in its death throes with wings flapping.
One particularly memorable moment was when a shot bird landed between me and the dogs - neither moved, even when the dog from the next peg came in (complete with lead on it) to collect. I wonder how long that sort of steadiness will last?
Thursday, October 27, 2011
What we don't know we don't know
What we know in relation to what we might know.
An interesting little diagram that I liberated and modified from the terrierman blog ( http://terriermandotcom.blogspot....f-blind-one-eyed-dog-is-king.html
) I wonder how much the sum of human knowledge could be increased if we all got to grips with the things we know and deny? I think one example for me might be Fresco slipping his whistle - again last night he did not turn when he should have and I put it down to my indecisive use of it, the fact he had just gone over the brow of a hillock and around a corner and that I was carrying half a bag of wheat (mind you with the state of my knees at the moment the fact i was carrying anything makes little difference to my ability to run). Once I had got to the corner of course there was no sight of him. I thought the best policy was to return to the car - a wise choice as that is where he was. So - perhaps I have now gone from self deception about this dog and his recall and am creeping into 'I don't know what I don't know' of his behaviour?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Devils Jumps
Sunday I took Fresco for a session in Devils' Jumps a 36Ha field currently stubble. There was a back wind and it is a long way to the end of the field before I could turn into the wind for him. When well away from the boundaries (so no geographic distractions) I took a gamble and let him off to hunt; my prediction was he would run around like a loon with not particular pattern. i was so wrong he ran down wind and then broke and quartered back to me. I write this not to say 'how good is my dog' but in the realisation that if he can do a text book pattern of his own making with no whistle in a large open space then whilst he could do that in more confined areas the fact that he doesn't does not mean he his hunting badly, just differently. It made me think how often i might have tried to 'correct' his pattern when in fact his underlying trend was 'on message' It was again a fine example of me the handler mis-reading my dog!
Steve T joined us with Tilley who had a good blast before we moved on to the area around one of the pens. A good chance for some points and some steadiness. We finished with the dogs sitting in the pen as the birds started to go up to roost for the night. A very useful couple of hours.
Steve T joined us with Tilley who had a good blast before we moved on to the area around one of the pens. A good chance for some points and some steadiness. We finished with the dogs sitting in the pen as the birds started to go up to roost for the night. A very useful couple of hours.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Guest Trainer
I was invited yesterday to be the guest trainer for the Asburnham Gundog Group down in Battle. A most interesting experience - four half hour sessions one each of puppy, novice, intermediate and advanced. About 8 to ten dogs in each class. so it was a bit difficult to 'do' things that they could each have a go at - particularly as part of each session was introducing them to the Brittany which very few had ever seen before. Fresco spent a bored two hours thethered to a game bag watching other dogs. I thought it would be, and think it was good for him.
In the end I talked them all through my ideas about body language, praise, calming and did the focus exercise of walking around the dog slowly. With the advanced group I managed to run over by half an hour as we did use of the wind and how and when to blow the whistle - much amusement was generated when I explained about catching them with the ear leather up to reduce the incidence of selective hearing. I had been invited by Tania Stapley a retriever breeder and trainer of many years and a KCAI(WG Ad) (Kennel Club Accredited Instructor Working Gundogs, Advanced) so I was pleased to get positive feedback.
I had taken the boys with me - partly to ease the pressure at home and partly to have 'demonstration dogs' in the end I did not use either as demos as I felt the audience did not really want to know what i could do with mine they wanted to do stuff with theirs also I was half concerned Fresco would zoom off to play with any likely candidates as he is not used to having many dogs around. After the sessions i let him off and to my surprise he did not zoom off like a loon having been on a leash for two hours but worked the ground and wind quite nicely shoeing no intention of going after any other dog. My biggest problem was to keep him out of a rather green looking pond on our way back to the car!
The afternoon was spent putting feed out for the birds and some more watering points. In the last wood Fresco either got spooked or decided to go off for a bit of self hunting whilst I took a phone call- it was very much at dusk and the birds were going up to roost very noisily, however he did not recall to his whistle so I began to suspect he had gone off in search of his new 'friend' who lives just below the wood. As i had a small trailer on the back of the car and was parked in a deep dip the only way out was out through a very tortuous woodland path. My sense of humour was further affected when on finally getting out into the open the car got stuck in soft mud and without its four wheel drive (recently removed for engineering reasons). However whilst on the phone to my son seeking a tow who should turn up from behind me, hardly out of breath ??
In the end I talked them all through my ideas about body language, praise, calming and did the focus exercise of walking around the dog slowly. With the advanced group I managed to run over by half an hour as we did use of the wind and how and when to blow the whistle - much amusement was generated when I explained about catching them with the ear leather up to reduce the incidence of selective hearing. I had been invited by Tania Stapley a retriever breeder and trainer of many years and a KCAI(WG Ad) (Kennel Club Accredited Instructor Working Gundogs, Advanced) so I was pleased to get positive feedback.
I had taken the boys with me - partly to ease the pressure at home and partly to have 'demonstration dogs' in the end I did not use either as demos as I felt the audience did not really want to know what i could do with mine they wanted to do stuff with theirs also I was half concerned Fresco would zoom off to play with any likely candidates as he is not used to having many dogs around. After the sessions i let him off and to my surprise he did not zoom off like a loon having been on a leash for two hours but worked the ground and wind quite nicely shoeing no intention of going after any other dog. My biggest problem was to keep him out of a rather green looking pond on our way back to the car!
The afternoon was spent putting feed out for the birds and some more watering points. In the last wood Fresco either got spooked or decided to go off for a bit of self hunting whilst I took a phone call- it was very much at dusk and the birds were going up to roost very noisily, however he did not recall to his whistle so I began to suspect he had gone off in search of his new 'friend' who lives just below the wood. As i had a small trailer on the back of the car and was parked in a deep dip the only way out was out through a very tortuous woodland path. My sense of humour was further affected when on finally getting out into the open the car got stuck in soft mud and without its four wheel drive (recently removed for engineering reasons). However whilst on the phone to my son seeking a tow who should turn up from behind me, hardly out of breath ??
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Finished in time - just
The staircase was fitted just in time - by half 6 on the last day! Will go back next year to colour and polish it - probably after a run at Vimpelles.
The last week Julia came over and we spent time digging drains, building stone walls and walking the dogs in Giverset Forest. A bit formulaic for them- but the dogs love these woods and it is easy walking for us.
On my return a visit to 'my birds' -- they are looking good now, feathering up nicely and beginning to fly well. however a bit too friendly as they seem to have no fear of dogs or humans. Fresco has adopted a bit of a laconic attitude towards them - he ignores them if he can see them and only shows interest on the hidden ones, however I still don't feel he has truly got the idea of pointing and holding the birds yet - hopefully this will come with a bit more experience and a scarcer population of birds. He does sit nicely to flush though so that is a bonus. They are holding well around the two pens - which is good - just hope they are still around next month when we host a novice field trial. Talking of Field Trials I had Topaz entered in the BCGB one which has just been cancelled through lack of entries. Crying or Very sad The HWHV trial was similarly suffering before its close and sent a round robin email - we only made the reserve list on that! Perhaps third time lucky with the Bristol and West's trial??
Training of Fresco is coming along - I discovered a 'hole' the other day. Whilst he is now pretty good on his stop whistle on a run out to a blind retrieve he just ignores it - which makes redirecting him before he looks for redirection a bit difficult. Will have to do some work on that; however i recall a similar problem with Catja and she ended up sticky for a while - running out a bit and then stopping in expectation of the whistle.
The last week Julia came over and we spent time digging drains, building stone walls and walking the dogs in Giverset Forest. A bit formulaic for them- but the dogs love these woods and it is easy walking for us.
On my return a visit to 'my birds' -- they are looking good now, feathering up nicely and beginning to fly well. however a bit too friendly as they seem to have no fear of dogs or humans. Fresco has adopted a bit of a laconic attitude towards them - he ignores them if he can see them and only shows interest on the hidden ones, however I still don't feel he has truly got the idea of pointing and holding the birds yet - hopefully this will come with a bit more experience and a scarcer population of birds. He does sit nicely to flush though so that is a bonus. They are holding well around the two pens - which is good - just hope they are still around next month when we host a novice field trial. Talking of Field Trials I had Topaz entered in the BCGB one which has just been cancelled through lack of entries. Crying or Very sad The HWHV trial was similarly suffering before its close and sent a round robin email - we only made the reserve list on that! Perhaps third time lucky with the Bristol and West's trial??
Training of Fresco is coming along - I discovered a 'hole' the other day. Whilst he is now pretty good on his stop whistle on a run out to a blind retrieve he just ignores it - which makes redirecting him before he looks for redirection a bit difficult. Will have to do some work on that; however i recall a similar problem with Catja and she ended up sticky for a while - running out a bit and then stopping in expectation of the whistle.
Monday, October 10, 2011
water jump
I am not getting the time I thought with the dogs. The job is on the verge of going off schedule (for reasons well out of my control) so the days are long to keep things close on track. With the temperature in the sun in the high 20's and sometimes low 30's the evenings tend to be a trip to the local reservoir. We operate from the earth dam at the end of the lake, the boys sit below the 'horizon' created by this and I walk to the waters edge and throw dummies in, returning to send them for blinds over the brow and about forty paces to the water and a good throw out. Fresco loves it and has really got an enthusiastic entry going - even when we are being circled (as we were last night )by a military helicopter who came around four times.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Off to the Pyrenees
Tresallier have split into 'boy team and 'girl team' - The boy team have gone off to the Pyreneean foothills for a three week jolly to build a 19th century copy of a French staircase (as you do). The girl team stayed in the UK and are doing things like attend the BCGB weekend.
Last weekend we actually made it to the Pyrenees for real.
Lunch was by a stream - where the water gets in your ears!
Evenings are spent doing water retrieves as the days are so hot Laughing
Whilst back at the workshop there are rather too many chickens that roost in the wisteria -
Last weekend we actually made it to the Pyrenees for real.
Lunch was by a stream - where the water gets in your ears!
Evenings are spent doing water retrieves as the days are so hot Laughing
Whilst back at the workshop there are rather too many chickens that roost in the wisteria -
Thursday, September 15, 2011
relief keeper
mixed emotions today.
My little tricolour friend ate the back out of my best shoes, mind they are / were still just wearable. However I come home this evening and all I have is the sole - cannot be pesky fresky as he had been with me.
Went to the pens this evening and guided Mark around - he is going to relief keeper for me for the next few weeks as I swan off to work in France. In one pen Fresco come trotting along with a pheasant in his mouth. As the deed was done I was more worried i did not pressure him and make him hold it too hard. When it came to hand it was cold and stiff and very emaciated - so a casualty of something. A quick inspection of it's larynx did not reveal any worm infestation but it was very thin and would I think have died of starvation. Odd and not something in an ideal world I would have liked to have left for another to sort out.
Took them all out mid afternoon for a small run. Catja was on the button, Topaz had his self hunting head on and although he came back everytime on the whistle it was by a slightly scenic route. Ellie was Ellie and Fresco ran like a loon. I don't know what got into him - it just looked as if he was running for the sheer joy of running and doing everything in an approximate manner. Sat late, wandered off line badly, didn't turn when asked -stuff like that. Maybe he was suffering from cabinitus and just needed to let his hair down. Hmm.
My little tricolour friend ate the back out of my best shoes, mind they are / were still just wearable. However I come home this evening and all I have is the sole - cannot be pesky fresky as he had been with me.
Went to the pens this evening and guided Mark around - he is going to relief keeper for me for the next few weeks as I swan off to work in France. In one pen Fresco come trotting along with a pheasant in his mouth. As the deed was done I was more worried i did not pressure him and make him hold it too hard. When it came to hand it was cold and stiff and very emaciated - so a casualty of something. A quick inspection of it's larynx did not reveal any worm infestation but it was very thin and would I think have died of starvation. Odd and not something in an ideal world I would have liked to have left for another to sort out.
Took them all out mid afternoon for a small run. Catja was on the button, Topaz had his self hunting head on and although he came back everytime on the whistle it was by a slightly scenic route. Ellie was Ellie and Fresco ran like a loon. I don't know what got into him - it just looked as if he was running for the sheer joy of running and doing everything in an approximate manner. Sat late, wandered off line badly, didn't turn when asked -stuff like that. Maybe he was suffering from cabinitus and just needed to let his hair down. Hmm.
Monday, September 12, 2011
HGS working test
HGS working test - went well. The weather held for me with only one shower mid afternoon, when most competitors were in the shelter of the woods.
A bit of a prickly start - a few errors in my transcriptions of dogs' names into the running order and an earlier computer crash that had misplaced a couple of entrants - so they did not appear on the lists. Crying or Very sad As the whole of the event was managed out of a database this proved a bit of a problem - the lists were alphabetical by handler so any new one changed the numbering system and many numbers had already been issued. - I will have to revise that for next time also a better method of handling competitors living at the same address. The up side of using technology - and a village hall as the venue - was the ability to crunch the results in ten minutes and give ordered results sheets to all.
So what of the day? We had 39 runners in three classes in the end. A very pleasing turn out allowing a good test of the ground without the pressure of numbers. Much appreciated was the availability of fresh ground for each dog and also the chance to run in open fields.
The open dogs had a split retrieve of a seen and blind near one of the release pens to add interest followed by a blind retrieve of a cold pigeon. The novice dogs a split on a woodland ride requiring the dog to be stopped and directed and a seen down into a dell and over/under a fallen tree. Whilst the puppies had a seen and a memory placed by the handler. All dogs had a water retrieve. The pond was quite thick with elodea so the tests reflected this added difficulty. However as the pond is a flight pond for duck no one could really complain that their gundog shouldn't use it.
Julia provided catering all day - hot home made soup, sandwiches, tea coffee and cakes (60 plus cupcakes of many varieties). The sponsors provided over £150 worth of prize vouchers for the competitors and judges and the club gave certificates and rosettes to sixth place. I will be able to report back to the committee with a profit that will pay for all my field trial licenses this winter.
A bit of a prickly start - a few errors in my transcriptions of dogs' names into the running order and an earlier computer crash that had misplaced a couple of entrants - so they did not appear on the lists. Crying or Very sad As the whole of the event was managed out of a database this proved a bit of a problem - the lists were alphabetical by handler so any new one changed the numbering system and many numbers had already been issued. - I will have to revise that for next time also a better method of handling competitors living at the same address. The up side of using technology - and a village hall as the venue - was the ability to crunch the results in ten minutes and give ordered results sheets to all.
So what of the day? We had 39 runners in three classes in the end. A very pleasing turn out allowing a good test of the ground without the pressure of numbers. Much appreciated was the availability of fresh ground for each dog and also the chance to run in open fields.
The open dogs had a split retrieve of a seen and blind near one of the release pens to add interest followed by a blind retrieve of a cold pigeon. The novice dogs a split on a woodland ride requiring the dog to be stopped and directed and a seen down into a dell and over/under a fallen tree. Whilst the puppies had a seen and a memory placed by the handler. All dogs had a water retrieve. The pond was quite thick with elodea so the tests reflected this added difficulty. However as the pond is a flight pond for duck no one could really complain that their gundog shouldn't use it.
Julia provided catering all day - hot home made soup, sandwiches, tea coffee and cakes (60 plus cupcakes of many varieties). The sponsors provided over £150 worth of prize vouchers for the competitors and judges and the club gave certificates and rosettes to sixth place. I will be able to report back to the committee with a profit that will pay for all my field trial licenses this winter.
Friday, September 9, 2011
cool weather
I keep checking the weather forecast - willing it to be dry tomorrow for Hampshire Gundog Society's Gundog Working Test. The best forecast still tells me there will be half a millimeter of rain in the afternoon. I am now at the stage where I think I have done all in preparation; safe in the knowledge I don't know what I don't know!
The birds seem to have put on a spurt of growing, they certainly are consuming more, about 1/3 of a bag a day more. Had to refill one of the water tanks as a small and I mean small leak - no more than a dripping tap - had drained it to nigh on empty.
As the weather is starting to cool the dogs seem to revving up; their toilet trip in the morning is now done in 'super hyper drive' there seems a desire to get as much ground under their paws as possible - or is it that they have a series of 'haunts' that they wish to check. ? I have started to use this time to refresh the idea of 'stop' particularly with Fresco as his running I think he is getting into a bit of a habit - he is running to his next objective oblivious to the world around him. I don't want this to become the thin end of a wedge so to speak.
The birds seem to have put on a spurt of growing, they certainly are consuming more, about 1/3 of a bag a day more. Had to refill one of the water tanks as a small and I mean small leak - no more than a dripping tap - had drained it to nigh on empty.
As the weather is starting to cool the dogs seem to revving up; their toilet trip in the morning is now done in 'super hyper drive' there seems a desire to get as much ground under their paws as possible - or is it that they have a series of 'haunts' that they wish to check. ? I have started to use this time to refresh the idea of 'stop' particularly with Fresco as his running I think he is getting into a bit of a habit - he is running to his next objective oblivious to the world around him. I don't want this to become the thin end of a wedge so to speak.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
birds
The birds are growing very nicely and the severe weather the other night did not affect them. What was interesting however was both radios had lost tune with their stations and were silent - so silent I thought the batteries had died. I think it must have just been the vibration from the wind that had moved the tuning dial a bit (these are only after all cheap £6 analogue radios)
The electric fence survived but both needed much debris removed to make them in any way effective again.
My car has gone to the repairers after being run into by a youth driving too fast. The replacement 'thing' is not meant to have dogs in it 'in case a future client has an allergy' - this has proved very inconvenient on one hand and on the other it has highlighted just how much I rely on the dogs to do my job. I tried dogging in a boundary hedge tonight by myself and just watched the birds trot away in front of me and not go in the direction they would when the dogs were behind them. I have gone from the dogs doing it for 'training' to the dogs having to do it because the job won't get done properly if they don't !
The electric fence survived but both needed much debris removed to make them in any way effective again.
My car has gone to the repairers after being run into by a youth driving too fast. The replacement 'thing' is not meant to have dogs in it 'in case a future client has an allergy' - this has proved very inconvenient on one hand and on the other it has highlighted just how much I rely on the dogs to do my job. I tried dogging in a boundary hedge tonight by myself and just watched the birds trot away in front of me and not go in the direction they would when the dogs were behind them. I have gone from the dogs doing it for 'training' to the dogs having to do it because the job won't get done properly if they don't !
Saturday, September 3, 2011
has he started pointing ?
A most interesting spell for Tresallier dogs. Our time at the drier has finished, but before it did I had a great opportunity to run Fresco at a cock pheasant. I had spotted it strutting its stuff across the short grass and took him down wind of it, by this time the bird had tucked itself down and out of sight. He was intent on having a pee and generally bimbling about when all of a sudden he spun into a point with his mouth working to stimulate his vomeronasal gland. A great breakthrough.
The birds have settled in well. We now have a good supply of grower pellets, something of a saga getting them here!. They have an aniseed additive as well as medication so with luck we should have a relatively easy time. the real problem at the moment is the number of people who walk their dogs and when it is pointed out to them their dog is in the wrong place only reply they will 'try' to keep it under control. Have these people never hear of a lead?
We have volunteered to 'dog in' for the Longwood keeper and have been given a stretch of boundary to cover. Our first outing there were clouds of partridge an pheasant on this boundary - so a very necessary job. Catja slipped into her old ways and chased a bird across the field - see our exploits at Vimpelles earlier in the year. We had another trip out in the evening when on going home the road was littered with partridge sitting on the hot tarmac. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when taking her around my pens this evening she worked diligently and flushed birds out of the shrubbery in small batches sitting and not chasing Laughing . Maybe there is hope for her yet. Fresco also had a small run and went on point to some poults that I had seen running into the hedge. The other day I had left him sitting at the pen gate, but he had decided to get up and explore got 'hit' by the electric fence, this sent him back to the car and also made him wary of being near the fence. I had to take time to take him back to near the wire and make him sit a while. He was not happy and I hope this does not affect his attitude to birds in the future.
Entries for the HGS working test have trickled in steadily and we have quite a good card a good result considering a test has been cancelled this weekend for lack of entrants. Disappointing that there is not one Brittany. (I do not feel it right to enter under judges I have chosen and on my own ground)
The birds have settled in well. We now have a good supply of grower pellets, something of a saga getting them here!. They have an aniseed additive as well as medication so with luck we should have a relatively easy time. the real problem at the moment is the number of people who walk their dogs and when it is pointed out to them their dog is in the wrong place only reply they will 'try' to keep it under control. Have these people never hear of a lead?
We have volunteered to 'dog in' for the Longwood keeper and have been given a stretch of boundary to cover. Our first outing there were clouds of partridge an pheasant on this boundary - so a very necessary job. Catja slipped into her old ways and chased a bird across the field - see our exploits at Vimpelles earlier in the year. We had another trip out in the evening when on going home the road was littered with partridge sitting on the hot tarmac. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when taking her around my pens this evening she worked diligently and flushed birds out of the shrubbery in small batches sitting and not chasing Laughing . Maybe there is hope for her yet. Fresco also had a small run and went on point to some poults that I had seen running into the hedge. The other day I had left him sitting at the pen gate, but he had decided to get up and explore got 'hit' by the electric fence, this sent him back to the car and also made him wary of being near the fence. I had to take time to take him back to near the wire and make him sit a while. He was not happy and I hope this does not affect his attitude to birds in the future.
Entries for the HGS working test have trickled in steadily and we have quite a good card a good result considering a test has been cancelled this weekend for lack of entrants. Disappointing that there is not one Brittany. (I do not feel it right to enter under judges I have chosen and on my own ground)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
French Nationale 2011 Clairmarais
Back from France - to a day of torrential rain; whilst Julia stayed behind and is in the sun. Laughing
TAN and REP day.
The site for the TAN and REP were at some distance from the venue for the show and therefore some distance from our campsite. For some reason we never get sent 'joining instructions' or even simple information like a postcode or an address. In the days of GPS this would be handy and the old standby that has proved its worth for many years - a map would also solve the problem. The problem being many fold - firstly our satnav did not recognise the name of the village given to us and we had to refer to a map to help it out. The second was it in it's infinite wisdom decided to take us across country along roads that ran into gravel pit lakes. We were not alone in this.
Arrival at the venue and we along with all others tried to register, not a particular problem - but life would have been easier if the secretary's table had not been close to the door as was the coffee bar and anyone and everyone who wished to talk with each other.
We were entered in the TAN and the REP the natural aptitude test and the water retrieve). participants for the REP were asked to go to this venue first; and to leave the hall last. We did, even making sure we had some idea the colour of car being driven by the judge - so we had something to follow. Off went the cavalcade one quarter of an hour earlier than advertised - something that put pressure on those struggling with their navigation systems and relying on the almost historic late start of events. Off went the confident cavalcade turning this way and that coming to a stop in a small cul de sac, the wrong cul de sac requiring much reversing and turning to get out of. Half the party then turned one way and half the other. We turned wrongly and again had to do a U turn.
The REP pond was approached across an open field with a small horse and pony, a very friendly and inquisitive horse and pony - I am sure in teh UK we would have at least put up an electric fence to keep people and dogs at a safe distance. The pond had several duck swimming on it - well until the judge fired his pistol - which made them start and most of the onlookers as well. This was no namby pamby .22 but at least a 9mm loaded I suspect with black powder such was the cannon like effect - or maybe it was just that the judge to spare the dog's ears pointed it behind himself.
We were second to go, the duck were still circling with a view to landing again and those birds on the far bank were being most 'attractive'. The test was for the dog to be 'offlead' and to retrieve as the bird was thrown, which was after the cannon had spoken. Fresco was minded to get in teh water as soon as his lead was removed - but I think this was as much my body language - trying to get him to look forward as it was his innate desire to get wet. Straight in on command and a nice swim out. Nosed the duck and turned back. REcalled him to my side and sent him again, picked teh duck up by teh neck swam a few strokes and let go. REcalled and resent. Refused. Eliminated. Now i thought this was going to be a given. But on consideration whilst he has had various feathered game on land he has had nothing but canvas in the water; so I suspect a lack of training was the culprit in this case.
We watched quite a few of the others. A surprising number did not like the ducks. Some were eliminated for not swimming out, some for refusing. Some for throwing their dog in - in desperation I think. Congratulations to all those who did achieve the test, particular mention perhaps to Berry (Topaz's brother who is not known for his retrieving who swam out well beyond his obvious comfort zone to get the duck - only the second time in his life he has ever retrieved from water.
Returning to the village and off to the TAN fields. A single track approach road with cars parked on one side and locals wishing to use it in the other direction at the same time. We arrived and watched. To stop the dogs barking we had the boot open - much to the amazement of the onlookers.
We watched several runs - dogs with much speed and vigour, but no apparent sense of wind direction or any interest in their owner's wishes, they just wanted to get on with the job. The job in this case was to find a grey partridge loose in a stubble field. Whilst some TAN fields were dizzying their birds ours had the feathers on one wing clipped, making them fly short and weakly, several were pegged as we watched. One dog managed to work its way out of our field across another and across the next competitors ground, who in turn ran back across to ours to check ours out.
Fresco - when his go came worked really well for me, was very attentive and turned on his whistle like a dream, he found the bird and worked up along the foot scent straight to the flush, his performance was such that we were give the opportunity of another go, with immediately or after a break. I chose the break. His second run was not so nice to watch ( I thought) as he bore straight into the wind to where he had found the bird previously, which quite sensibly was not there so he had to hunt a bit. Again he winded it, worked up to it and flushed it, sat to flush and whistle nicely despite having a mouth full of feathers Rolling Eyes However we were eliminated for not pointing.
We were by then the last to run - I am disappointed I did not think of getting Topaz out so that Fiona his breeder who was standing with us could have seen how he works.
Saturday night is Gala Dinner night. A nice reception and a good chance to catch up with many and meet a few more. Dinner was a protracted affair, starting at about 9 with pudding served after midnight; I thought I was at a wedding reception. The meal spoiled for me by having a bread based component in every course and to add insult to injury the mineral water bottles were at the end of the evening just refilled with tap water that tasted of chlorine and polythene in about equal portions.
The advantage of having a tent nearby was manifest as we only had to stroll - or was that stagger a fw hundred yards to bed.
A long night - the raindrops that fell incessantly sounding just like the grain in the drier back home; so much so that in the morning I woke with a start, sat up in bed and shouted 'the drier's stopped' - much to my wifes amusement.
We had Catja entered in open Orange and White Female - a large class where we were graded 'excellent'. I thought we were in with a chance of a place but I think after two hours her interest and patience had worn thin. I noticed she was walking carefully over the grass - seemingly avoiding bits with little hops, something not conducive to a nice gait. Whilst waiting she strained at her lead to go and sit on the stone path rather than stay on the damp grass. The bitch that one went on to win CACS and then best bitch in show.
Fresco - was entered in 'jeunes' a class not competing for a title. Moved very nicely and was measured at 50, I was asked if I was happy with that, which I wasn't and when he was remeasured on a flatter bit of ground he was the 49 he usually comes out at. A nice enough critique but as he lack 'substance' at the moment meant he only received a Tres Bon. Whilst it is nice to get excellent I think this one will be a slow cooker, his father was.
Catja was part of the 'lot d'elevage' and the kennel 'vom Junkenhof' came a very creditable fourth beating some very renowned names - Kerenlouan amongst them. (meaning that the dogs displayed were of a much more homogeneous nature)
Waiting for judging to start
Fresco
Team'vom Junkenhof'
TAN and REP day.
The site for the TAN and REP were at some distance from the venue for the show and therefore some distance from our campsite. For some reason we never get sent 'joining instructions' or even simple information like a postcode or an address. In the days of GPS this would be handy and the old standby that has proved its worth for many years - a map would also solve the problem. The problem being many fold - firstly our satnav did not recognise the name of the village given to us and we had to refer to a map to help it out. The second was it in it's infinite wisdom decided to take us across country along roads that ran into gravel pit lakes. We were not alone in this.
Arrival at the venue and we along with all others tried to register, not a particular problem - but life would have been easier if the secretary's table had not been close to the door as was the coffee bar and anyone and everyone who wished to talk with each other.
We were entered in the TAN and the REP the natural aptitude test and the water retrieve). participants for the REP were asked to go to this venue first; and to leave the hall last. We did, even making sure we had some idea the colour of car being driven by the judge - so we had something to follow. Off went the cavalcade one quarter of an hour earlier than advertised - something that put pressure on those struggling with their navigation systems and relying on the almost historic late start of events. Off went the confident cavalcade turning this way and that coming to a stop in a small cul de sac, the wrong cul de sac requiring much reversing and turning to get out of. Half the party then turned one way and half the other. We turned wrongly and again had to do a U turn.
The REP pond was approached across an open field with a small horse and pony, a very friendly and inquisitive horse and pony - I am sure in teh UK we would have at least put up an electric fence to keep people and dogs at a safe distance. The pond had several duck swimming on it - well until the judge fired his pistol - which made them start and most of the onlookers as well. This was no namby pamby .22 but at least a 9mm loaded I suspect with black powder such was the cannon like effect - or maybe it was just that the judge to spare the dog's ears pointed it behind himself.
We were second to go, the duck were still circling with a view to landing again and those birds on the far bank were being most 'attractive'. The test was for the dog to be 'offlead' and to retrieve as the bird was thrown, which was after the cannon had spoken. Fresco was minded to get in teh water as soon as his lead was removed - but I think this was as much my body language - trying to get him to look forward as it was his innate desire to get wet. Straight in on command and a nice swim out. Nosed the duck and turned back. REcalled him to my side and sent him again, picked teh duck up by teh neck swam a few strokes and let go. REcalled and resent. Refused. Eliminated. Now i thought this was going to be a given. But on consideration whilst he has had various feathered game on land he has had nothing but canvas in the water; so I suspect a lack of training was the culprit in this case.
We watched quite a few of the others. A surprising number did not like the ducks. Some were eliminated for not swimming out, some for refusing. Some for throwing their dog in - in desperation I think. Congratulations to all those who did achieve the test, particular mention perhaps to Berry (Topaz's brother who is not known for his retrieving who swam out well beyond his obvious comfort zone to get the duck - only the second time in his life he has ever retrieved from water.
Returning to the village and off to the TAN fields. A single track approach road with cars parked on one side and locals wishing to use it in the other direction at the same time. We arrived and watched. To stop the dogs barking we had the boot open - much to the amazement of the onlookers.
We watched several runs - dogs with much speed and vigour, but no apparent sense of wind direction or any interest in their owner's wishes, they just wanted to get on with the job. The job in this case was to find a grey partridge loose in a stubble field. Whilst some TAN fields were dizzying their birds ours had the feathers on one wing clipped, making them fly short and weakly, several were pegged as we watched. One dog managed to work its way out of our field across another and across the next competitors ground, who in turn ran back across to ours to check ours out.
Fresco - when his go came worked really well for me, was very attentive and turned on his whistle like a dream, he found the bird and worked up along the foot scent straight to the flush, his performance was such that we were give the opportunity of another go, with immediately or after a break. I chose the break. His second run was not so nice to watch ( I thought) as he bore straight into the wind to where he had found the bird previously, which quite sensibly was not there so he had to hunt a bit. Again he winded it, worked up to it and flushed it, sat to flush and whistle nicely despite having a mouth full of feathers Rolling Eyes However we were eliminated for not pointing.
We were by then the last to run - I am disappointed I did not think of getting Topaz out so that Fiona his breeder who was standing with us could have seen how he works.
Saturday night is Gala Dinner night. A nice reception and a good chance to catch up with many and meet a few more. Dinner was a protracted affair, starting at about 9 with pudding served after midnight; I thought I was at a wedding reception. The meal spoiled for me by having a bread based component in every course and to add insult to injury the mineral water bottles were at the end of the evening just refilled with tap water that tasted of chlorine and polythene in about equal portions.
The advantage of having a tent nearby was manifest as we only had to stroll - or was that stagger a fw hundred yards to bed.
A long night - the raindrops that fell incessantly sounding just like the grain in the drier back home; so much so that in the morning I woke with a start, sat up in bed and shouted 'the drier's stopped' - much to my wifes amusement.
We had Catja entered in open Orange and White Female - a large class where we were graded 'excellent'. I thought we were in with a chance of a place but I think after two hours her interest and patience had worn thin. I noticed she was walking carefully over the grass - seemingly avoiding bits with little hops, something not conducive to a nice gait. Whilst waiting she strained at her lead to go and sit on the stone path rather than stay on the damp grass. The bitch that one went on to win CACS and then best bitch in show.
Fresco - was entered in 'jeunes' a class not competing for a title. Moved very nicely and was measured at 50, I was asked if I was happy with that, which I wasn't and when he was remeasured on a flatter bit of ground he was the 49 he usually comes out at. A nice enough critique but as he lack 'substance' at the moment meant he only received a Tres Bon. Whilst it is nice to get excellent I think this one will be a slow cooker, his father was.
Catja was part of the 'lot d'elevage' and the kennel 'vom Junkenhof' came a very creditable fourth beating some very renowned names - Kerenlouan amongst them. (meaning that the dogs displayed were of a much more homogeneous nature)
Waiting for judging to start
Fresco
Team'vom Junkenhof'
Monday, August 8, 2011
young Brit
The drier work is getting easier - the control faults I think have now all been ironed out; I even managed a whole day without a stoppage (despite three breakdowns in part of the system) Laughing Funny how little things like that seem to become important.
We had a good day at Hampshire Gundog Club's Open show - a grand entry of 13 brittanys - not bad for an open show when two days later there were only 20 at a champ show. I have to admit I put it down to the hard work done by my wife who went and personally talked to prospective participants some weeks ago. Certainly a record to HGS to have so many britts. Catja was up to her usual tricks of being a vache normande, Ellie showed her socks off and took her class whilst Fresco seemed to steal the judges heart and took the BoB slot. Unlike his mother he has 'attitude'.
Training wise I am still working on his sit to fall and sit to shot. The problem I am finding however is if Fresco sees the dummy or the pistol he becomes a bit sticky as he awaits / anticipates a retrieve. I felt with a trip to France imminent I should give him a go in an open field on his own. I am pleased with the result - he was running nice and fast and flat to a good distance. A spell in the woods changed his pattern to much closer work. He is a pleasure to take out; however as there is so little game on our ground this year I have yet to see him point anything from being on the run, he has found the odd bird and sat at the flush, but always from the other side of the bush to me! Not a good way to approach a TAN but the best I can do at the moment - I would like to have seen at least a few just for my personal peace of mind.
Took a young Britt and his handler out the other day - they were suffering from the age old problem of the dog doing its own thing. As always one can never reproduce the circumstances when you want to - but when the dog was hunting it was obvious there was no rapport between him and his owner. So we did some work on that. By the end of the morning the owner was amazed not only at what the dog could actually do - but also that I was able to demonstrate the dog really wanted to be with him. A very satisfactory outcome.
We had a good day at Hampshire Gundog Club's Open show - a grand entry of 13 brittanys - not bad for an open show when two days later there were only 20 at a champ show. I have to admit I put it down to the hard work done by my wife who went and personally talked to prospective participants some weeks ago. Certainly a record to HGS to have so many britts. Catja was up to her usual tricks of being a vache normande, Ellie showed her socks off and took her class whilst Fresco seemed to steal the judges heart and took the BoB slot. Unlike his mother he has 'attitude'.
Training wise I am still working on his sit to fall and sit to shot. The problem I am finding however is if Fresco sees the dummy or the pistol he becomes a bit sticky as he awaits / anticipates a retrieve. I felt with a trip to France imminent I should give him a go in an open field on his own. I am pleased with the result - he was running nice and fast and flat to a good distance. A spell in the woods changed his pattern to much closer work. He is a pleasure to take out; however as there is so little game on our ground this year I have yet to see him point anything from being on the run, he has found the odd bird and sat at the flush, but always from the other side of the bush to me! Not a good way to approach a TAN but the best I can do at the moment - I would like to have seen at least a few just for my personal peace of mind.
Took a young Britt and his handler out the other day - they were suffering from the age old problem of the dog doing its own thing. As always one can never reproduce the circumstances when you want to - but when the dog was hunting it was obvious there was no rapport between him and his owner. So we did some work on that. By the end of the morning the owner was amazed not only at what the dog could actually do - but also that I was able to demonstrate the dog really wanted to be with him. A very satisfactory outcome.
Friday, July 29, 2011
These last few days have seen little dog training whilst my new 'job' has taken hold. I am running a grain drier for my son's boss. Quite an eye opener and a very steep learning curve. The drier itself holds over 100 tons and takes two hours to fill or empty. However once it is up and running it can easily process 25 tons an hour. The first days were hard work - as, whilst the drier is quite modern, the overall system is of some vintage - little is automated and relies on hand adjusted vanes - there are several sensors to tell stop things if something goes wrong - but if this happens the elevators need emptying (by going down several ladders - some start about the height of a house down) and take the side panel off to allow the grain to spill around your feet - knowing you will have to shovel it up. So the trick is to stop things in the right order and not by turning off the last moving part - as i did or allowing it to block and stop itself Laughing
left hand panel is the drier control showing all four burners running, both exhaust fans and a warning that the hopper is not properly full. The right hand panels control the levators and conveyors.
Topaz keeping an eye on things - they have proved very useful as they will bark when the girls come to take seed samples - which is handy as when down a pit with ear defenders and the vacuum running not much is heard.
The dogs have taken it in turn to come along as being a large shooting estate there are quite a nice number of pheasant who visit through the day and who are not that worried by machines or people.
left hand panel is the drier control showing all four burners running, both exhaust fans and a warning that the hopper is not properly full. The right hand panels control the levators and conveyors.
Topaz keeping an eye on things - they have proved very useful as they will bark when the girls come to take seed samples - which is handy as when down a pit with ear defenders and the vacuum running not much is heard.
The dogs have taken it in turn to come along as being a large shooting estate there are quite a nice number of pheasant who visit through the day and who are not that worried by machines or people.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Calshot and the Queen
Friday - Took Ellie to Calshot - she succeeded where the others had failed - she got up onto ans stayed on the sofa alongside the client. She wanted to play with the next door cocker but it was far to hot so she spent her day mostly in the shade under the table. Her biggest worry was the kite surfers - I think the canopies look like large birds at which she woofed and then ran inside and up the very steep staircase to sit next to me! As we left she was allowed some free running on the sand exposed by low tide.
This is Fudge - he is a Maesydderwen
Ellie shade worshipper
Seagull hunter.
Today took Fresco when I went ot help at HGS 'Retriever Water Picnic' a day of water tests. I managed to have a couple of goes at the novice tests with him - in the first a seen with shot down a bank, across a ditch and up the other side. Nice run out, pick, and return all without any more than a release - but he stopped to give the dummy a bit of a 'seeing to' just the wrong side of the line. He also started to run for the retrieve before it had even been thrown. On the return another was thrown into the same place as a blind. Exemplary retrieve this time, release on name and return to hand at high speed. The judge admitteed he was one of the best performers she had see so far and was astounded at the speed he could change direction.
The next test was a seen thrown into water; handler to then walk away and call the dog in for a blind after which the seen was asked for. He ran in on the first placing of the seen. Came to the recall perfectly but on sending on the blind shot off around the corner I suspect intent on returning to the seen. Stopped and recalled and sent again to the blind. That to hand he went with speed for the first dummy and by the sound of the water entry was quite a dramatic one.
Certainly a lot more drive than any of the dogs I saw operating. I was pleased with his performance. I think more than a few were surprised that a HPR could do it like that and then such a young dog. There are still a lot of preconceived ideas about
This is Fudge - he is a Maesydderwen
Ellie shade worshipper
Seagull hunter.
Today took Fresco when I went ot help at HGS 'Retriever Water Picnic' a day of water tests. I managed to have a couple of goes at the novice tests with him - in the first a seen with shot down a bank, across a ditch and up the other side. Nice run out, pick, and return all without any more than a release - but he stopped to give the dummy a bit of a 'seeing to' just the wrong side of the line. He also started to run for the retrieve before it had even been thrown. On the return another was thrown into the same place as a blind. Exemplary retrieve this time, release on name and return to hand at high speed. The judge admitteed he was one of the best performers she had see so far and was astounded at the speed he could change direction.
The next test was a seen thrown into water; handler to then walk away and call the dog in for a blind after which the seen was asked for. He ran in on the first placing of the seen. Came to the recall perfectly but on sending on the blind shot off around the corner I suspect intent on returning to the seen. Stopped and recalled and sent again to the blind. That to hand he went with speed for the first dummy and by the sound of the water entry was quite a dramatic one.
Certainly a lot more drive than any of the dogs I saw operating. I was pleased with his performance. I think more than a few were surprised that a HPR could do it like that and then such a young dog. There are still a lot of preconceived ideas about
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
I like my vet
I do like my vets - I admire their honesty. The conclusion about his hot ears was 'my best guess is ...... ' The best guess was an allergy of some sort, but as he had no other hot spots nor anything about his paws then the problem could be extremely difficult to trace. Before going to the vets I had tried a variety of ointments and unctions, 'cornucresin', 'canaural', another dog skin ointment whose name is unknown because 'he' had 'retrieved' the bottle at one time and the label was obliterated and aloe vera gel. Of them all the aloe Vera seemed the best but not as good as the salt water. It could however be that the change of environment was the reason for the improvement rather than the salt.
Training wise I am starting again in the sit to fall of dummy. I had left off this for a while as he was running in more often than I expected. This time he rapidly got the idea but became very 'sticky' whenever he saw I was carrying a dummy. I have to be very careful to keep it hidden until the last minute. I did manage a throw late last week where his bottom came to the deck before I hit the stop whistle - a most pleasing result, but one that was not repeated on our next outing Mad
The next problem I can see developing is his speed - I fear he is outpacing his nose. On dummies his nose is quite startling - he winded a three inch long canvas dummy on choppy waves from about 20 paces yet he can literally run over a dummy in his determination to get to it before it runs off.
I saw a partridge get up from the roadside ahead of us the other day and land in the adjacent field. There was a back wind but I was very pleased to work him out and back behind it on hand signals alone however the bird got up as he worked back up wind - about a yard in front of him; to his surprise. He did sit to his whistle rather than chase it so some good came from the exercise and with luck he got such a good whiff of the fleeing bird he will know for next time (I don't think he has seen a partridge before).
Monday night was HGS night - we did sit to fall with the dogs there, I think i will have to look on that exercise as a 'this is the way to introduce a new command' exercise rather than getting a result as most dogs were still really poor on their sit to whistle - so hard to progress; also hard to encourage the handlers to work on the basic problem. The highlight of the evening was the GSP bogging off - a side of the dog I had never seen before, it lives with three labradors and behaves very much as a sedate labrador so to see it run with some speed was great. Her retrieves have also improved markedly since the handler has been encouraging her to run in for them.
A problem I encounter with my own dogs was also highlighted that evening - the dogs marked well the dummies thrown from alongside but varied widely in the ability to mark those that were thrown from a distance away, mis marking range and also not relating the throw to a retrieve.
Training wise I am starting again in the sit to fall of dummy. I had left off this for a while as he was running in more often than I expected. This time he rapidly got the idea but became very 'sticky' whenever he saw I was carrying a dummy. I have to be very careful to keep it hidden until the last minute. I did manage a throw late last week where his bottom came to the deck before I hit the stop whistle - a most pleasing result, but one that was not repeated on our next outing Mad
The next problem I can see developing is his speed - I fear he is outpacing his nose. On dummies his nose is quite startling - he winded a three inch long canvas dummy on choppy waves from about 20 paces yet he can literally run over a dummy in his determination to get to it before it runs off.
I saw a partridge get up from the roadside ahead of us the other day and land in the adjacent field. There was a back wind but I was very pleased to work him out and back behind it on hand signals alone however the bird got up as he worked back up wind - about a yard in front of him; to his surprise. He did sit to his whistle rather than chase it so some good came from the exercise and with luck he got such a good whiff of the fleeing bird he will know for next time (I don't think he has seen a partridge before).
Monday night was HGS night - we did sit to fall with the dogs there, I think i will have to look on that exercise as a 'this is the way to introduce a new command' exercise rather than getting a result as most dogs were still really poor on their sit to whistle - so hard to progress; also hard to encourage the handlers to work on the basic problem. The highlight of the evening was the GSP bogging off - a side of the dog I had never seen before, it lives with three labradors and behaves very much as a sedate labrador so to see it run with some speed was great. Her retrieves have also improved markedly since the handler has been encouraging her to run in for them.
A problem I encounter with my own dogs was also highlighted that evening - the dogs marked well the dummies thrown from alongside but varied widely in the ability to mark those that were thrown from a distance away, mis marking range and also not relating the throw to a retrieve.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
building desire
I don't know how you do it but this is basically the system I am now using.
Build recall - my puppies had the recall whistle from the very first plate of slop that I gave them; the bowl is held down and the whistle blown - the pups are already coming to hand. This is a very important element - the come tohand bit on every recall and something I insist on 95% of the time even on an older dog (sometimes I recast before they are back) - after all a retrieve is just a recall with a mouthfull.
Build the desire to retrieve - i start by forgetting all about steadiness and let the dog run in for every dummy. Every thing that is ever picked up and brought to me gets effusive praise (quite hard when it is you socks or shoes or glasses for the umpteenth time). The dog is never ever wrong to bring me something. Also much praise and chest rubbing and firm stroking before ever taking the item.
I introduce the stop whistle and throw a dummy as a reward. Because the dog wants the dummy so much - because of the job in the step above it will stop and spin around to look at me. One can increase the length of time it has stopped before throwing, adding a hand signal to be able to hold the dog as the dummy is thrown and release it on command.
Taking a line. Choose a path through low vegetation - dogs tend to run defined paths rather than crash through undergrowth. Drop a dummy so the dog sees it and walk on - turn and set the dog up for a blind retrieve and use your body and arms and hand to create a guide, send it back; increase the distance. Once you think the dog has got the idea you can drop a dummy unseen and send it for that (same path idea, same path even) Just make sure you reduce the distance to the 'beginner level' however. Always always use the same build up and hand signal and language. It is a ritual. The outcome is the same - always for the dog; at the end of the run in the direction you have pointed is a retrieve. If the dog goes wrong ie veers off have an 'I don't like that ' noise (I use 'ah ah ah' If you use the stop whistle you will find the dog will quickly anticipate this and become sticky.
Next step is to walk a dog leg so the dog is now not going back along the path it has just taken. Then on to 'seen retrieves' that have been thrown. Whilst there is an argument the dog should mark it and not need any guidance in the early days i like to go through the same ritual. It helps the dog understand it is in retrieving mode and not in hunting mode. If it miss marks don't let it hunt but pick the dummy yourself and try again. When throwing 'marked retrieves' make sure the dog actually has something to mark against - a tree something otherwise your are wanting it to measure trajectory not mark a fall relative to a fixed point, something it can navigate to and around. Teaching trajectory appreciation is easy - throw a dummy and let the dog run to it as it falls - I have yet to see a dog end up in the wrong place.
apologies about swapping between first and third person - not time now to modify it :-) off to the vet with a dog with hot ears.
Build recall - my puppies had the recall whistle from the very first plate of slop that I gave them; the bowl is held down and the whistle blown - the pups are already coming to hand. This is a very important element - the come tohand bit on every recall and something I insist on 95% of the time even on an older dog (sometimes I recast before they are back) - after all a retrieve is just a recall with a mouthfull.
Build the desire to retrieve - i start by forgetting all about steadiness and let the dog run in for every dummy. Every thing that is ever picked up and brought to me gets effusive praise (quite hard when it is you socks or shoes or glasses for the umpteenth time). The dog is never ever wrong to bring me something. Also much praise and chest rubbing and firm stroking before ever taking the item.
I introduce the stop whistle and throw a dummy as a reward. Because the dog wants the dummy so much - because of the job in the step above it will stop and spin around to look at me. One can increase the length of time it has stopped before throwing, adding a hand signal to be able to hold the dog as the dummy is thrown and release it on command.
Taking a line. Choose a path through low vegetation - dogs tend to run defined paths rather than crash through undergrowth. Drop a dummy so the dog sees it and walk on - turn and set the dog up for a blind retrieve and use your body and arms and hand to create a guide, send it back; increase the distance. Once you think the dog has got the idea you can drop a dummy unseen and send it for that (same path idea, same path even) Just make sure you reduce the distance to the 'beginner level' however. Always always use the same build up and hand signal and language. It is a ritual. The outcome is the same - always for the dog; at the end of the run in the direction you have pointed is a retrieve. If the dog goes wrong ie veers off have an 'I don't like that ' noise (I use 'ah ah ah' If you use the stop whistle you will find the dog will quickly anticipate this and become sticky.
Next step is to walk a dog leg so the dog is now not going back along the path it has just taken. Then on to 'seen retrieves' that have been thrown. Whilst there is an argument the dog should mark it and not need any guidance in the early days i like to go through the same ritual. It helps the dog understand it is in retrieving mode and not in hunting mode. If it miss marks don't let it hunt but pick the dummy yourself and try again. When throwing 'marked retrieves' make sure the dog actually has something to mark against - a tree something otherwise your are wanting it to measure trajectory not mark a fall relative to a fixed point, something it can navigate to and around. Teaching trajectory appreciation is easy - throw a dummy and let the dog run to it as it falls - I have yet to see a dog end up in the wrong place.
apologies about swapping between first and third person - not time now to modify it :-) off to the vet with a dog with hot ears.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
sticky retrieve
Took Fresco out on his own twice yesterday - once in the morning - he was very sticky - I think because he knew I was carrying a dummy and as he did not want to miss out on a retrieve he was constantly stopping. Things improved when I put it in my pocket. I was hoping to make a start on his sit to fall.
Again in the evening in the adjacent field of short grass. He ran very well from fence to fence, flat and crossing at a nice close distance in front of me. A few sit to fall exercises and then home and swapped for Catja - a noticable difference in the speed of a male pup and a female matron ! She really fell into the galop. She is carrying a little bit to much weight for my liking and as she probably wont be in the ring again this summer I can make a start on working towards the winter. Topaz's turn was cut short by the return of the cows to the field Crying or Very sad - but he will need some work to improve his stamina I feel.
Again in the evening in the adjacent field of short grass. He ran very well from fence to fence, flat and crossing at a nice close distance in front of me. A few sit to fall exercises and then home and swapped for Catja - a noticable difference in the speed of a male pup and a female matron ! She really fell into the galop. She is carrying a little bit to much weight for my liking and as she probably wont be in the ring again this summer I can make a start on working towards the winter. Topaz's turn was cut short by the return of the cows to the field Crying or Very sad - but he will need some work to improve his stamina I feel.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
exploring cues
Having had those problems exposed last weekend I set about exploring them and the cues that were needed to resolve the issues.
The not turning on the whistle was obviously an 'I know best' or 'I am going to do my own thing' problem as when we went out into a clear grass field and himself decided that he was going to inspect and eat cow poop rather than respond to the whistle. A little bit of leg work on my part disabused him of this idea.
The running in to a dummy rather than coming to hand (quite why one would need to do this at a shoot I am not quite sure) - here I set up a situation where the dog was one side of a length of stock fence and the dummy was thrown over to the other - i was therefore able to interrupt his desire to retrieve as his path was frustrated. He came to hand but was beside himself with frustration and was off like a shot to the pop hole he knew existed in the fence once released. When repeating this in open paddock he came in to hand - but only after a few reminders on the whistle - at least we are going in the right direction.
Another area of practice we are indulging in out in the open is taking a line back to a 'memory' he is running quite nice lines - albeit along natural pathways but is easily distracted by a smell; performing better when his out run is reinforced with regular 'back' commands. It is a trick they can and will learn - Topaz takes a very nice line now and will run it despite the cover in his path - but he is after all seven times older than Fresco.
The not turning on the whistle was obviously an 'I know best' or 'I am going to do my own thing' problem as when we went out into a clear grass field and himself decided that he was going to inspect and eat cow poop rather than respond to the whistle. A little bit of leg work on my part disabused him of this idea.
The running in to a dummy rather than coming to hand (quite why one would need to do this at a shoot I am not quite sure) - here I set up a situation where the dog was one side of a length of stock fence and the dummy was thrown over to the other - i was therefore able to interrupt his desire to retrieve as his path was frustrated. He came to hand but was beside himself with frustration and was off like a shot to the pop hole he knew existed in the fence once released. When repeating this in open paddock he came in to hand - but only after a few reminders on the whistle - at least we are going in the right direction.
Another area of practice we are indulging in out in the open is taking a line back to a 'memory' he is running quite nice lines - albeit along natural pathways but is easily distracted by a smell; performing better when his out run is reinforced with regular 'back' commands. It is a trick they can and will learn - Topaz takes a very nice line now and will run it despite the cover in his path - but he is after all seven times older than Fresco.
Monday, June 27, 2011
working test
Golly - how remiss - no postings for a fortnight!
The weather here has swung between very hot and very wet. Usually being one or the other at dog work times Sad
Tresallier has been approached by two further owners, this time with Weimararners. One who quartered like a train and took no notice of his owner and one who quartered close and was passionalty attentive of the owner. The ranger took so little notice of his handler that the handler failed to notice the fleeting glances; by walking behind and saying when the dog looked and having the handler reinforce with a visula cue the dog's moves this flash glance built up quite quickly to a more attentive 'look' still not a lot but a good start. The dog's next problem was it constantly back cast - something it had obviously been taught to do. Once it was pointed out that a dog or even a human will turn towards the direction of a sound the handler could see how the timing of the whistle and ensuring it went into the correct ear had such a profound effect on the pattern the dog ran. In the space of a session we had the dog going from 'bog off' to ttentive quartering and turning into the wind on the whistle. The hard part will be to maintain this.
The problem with the other dog was the reverse - she paid a lot of attention to the owner - always anticipating a fresh command; it was noticable that at no time did the handler encourage or praise the dog as it was doing right. Repeatedly telling the dog it was 'good' in a happy bright voice changed it from a plodder to a nice pacy enthusiastic runner. Then of course the double whammy of a positive feed back loop kicked in. The better the dog did the happier was the handler which made the dog do better still.
When it came to retrieving the 'ranger' had a fantastic nose and used this to make up for its marking. The attentive one could mark to a sixpence and was out and back in a manner that would make many retrievers stare.
I don't usually enter 'working tests' but I came home last week to find my wife had entered Fresco and I into the Spinone test at Elstead; puppy. He as about the second or third youngest in the field and this was his first ever working test. I was looking forward to seeing how he performed when there were other dogs around. Four retrieving exercises and a hunting exercise.
Retrieve one - a simple memory - walk the dog out at heel (offlead) throw a dummy (seen) and return to start - send dog. Although he went to the spot he had a bit of difficulty finding it; he could smell it but not see it (note to self take yellow dummies not white ones next time) but diligently worked the spot.
Retrieve two - on a triangular path - walk dog out off lead, throw dummy, walk on, sit dog, wlak back towards start. recall dog. send dog for dummy. Handler error here - instead of recalling on the whistle I was going for the silent silent handling approach and used only raised arms - then my mistake I called 'Fresco' at which point he broke back for the dummy. Mu mistake I say because when out training I will sit him on the whistle and then throw a dummy as a reward for the sit - releasing him - yes you guessed by his name.
Retrieve three - a seen - but with a block of bracken between the dog and the thrower so only the trajectory as a guide. et us say a GSP or Munsterlander has a height advantage here. He marked it a tad short, which was not good as what wind was a back wind; however without any further commands he opened up his area of work intelligently until he winded it - but this is not the way to get top marks for a seen.
Hunting - this was in a tree surrounded field with a cheek wind to start with and a head wind at the end. Another error I made was to let him watch a few of the earlier dogs run amok. He ran like a wasp with good pace, slipped his whistle several times and stopped to 'park a dung'. Mind his sit was good.
Water - a short paddle to a dummy. Released on his name. job done. praise.
The winning puppy also won novice, owned and handled by one of the top people - in fact the top few places were taken by trainers of reputation. (and rightly so) I was however very pleased to take the sixth place rosette.
So a useful check on our progress. Points to address..
Turning on whistle when hunting needs to sharpen up.
Recall with a dummy distraction rather than a dummy reward. - I think this will make a good step towards a flying dummy as the cue to sit.
Off lead heel work used to be very good but lacked crispness ( because we haven't practiced it recently? )
HGS training tonight - should be interesting as I expect some new members and also we have access to a 4x dummy launcher.
The weather here has swung between very hot and very wet. Usually being one or the other at dog work times Sad
Tresallier has been approached by two further owners, this time with Weimararners. One who quartered like a train and took no notice of his owner and one who quartered close and was passionalty attentive of the owner. The ranger took so little notice of his handler that the handler failed to notice the fleeting glances; by walking behind and saying when the dog looked and having the handler reinforce with a visula cue the dog's moves this flash glance built up quite quickly to a more attentive 'look' still not a lot but a good start. The dog's next problem was it constantly back cast - something it had obviously been taught to do. Once it was pointed out that a dog or even a human will turn towards the direction of a sound the handler could see how the timing of the whistle and ensuring it went into the correct ear had such a profound effect on the pattern the dog ran. In the space of a session we had the dog going from 'bog off' to ttentive quartering and turning into the wind on the whistle. The hard part will be to maintain this.
The problem with the other dog was the reverse - she paid a lot of attention to the owner - always anticipating a fresh command; it was noticable that at no time did the handler encourage or praise the dog as it was doing right. Repeatedly telling the dog it was 'good' in a happy bright voice changed it from a plodder to a nice pacy enthusiastic runner. Then of course the double whammy of a positive feed back loop kicked in. The better the dog did the happier was the handler which made the dog do better still.
When it came to retrieving the 'ranger' had a fantastic nose and used this to make up for its marking. The attentive one could mark to a sixpence and was out and back in a manner that would make many retrievers stare.
I don't usually enter 'working tests' but I came home last week to find my wife had entered Fresco and I into the Spinone test at Elstead; puppy. He as about the second or third youngest in the field and this was his first ever working test. I was looking forward to seeing how he performed when there were other dogs around. Four retrieving exercises and a hunting exercise.
Retrieve one - a simple memory - walk the dog out at heel (offlead) throw a dummy (seen) and return to start - send dog. Although he went to the spot he had a bit of difficulty finding it; he could smell it but not see it (note to self take yellow dummies not white ones next time) but diligently worked the spot.
Retrieve two - on a triangular path - walk dog out off lead, throw dummy, walk on, sit dog, wlak back towards start. recall dog. send dog for dummy. Handler error here - instead of recalling on the whistle I was going for the silent silent handling approach and used only raised arms - then my mistake I called 'Fresco' at which point he broke back for the dummy. Mu mistake I say because when out training I will sit him on the whistle and then throw a dummy as a reward for the sit - releasing him - yes you guessed by his name.
Retrieve three - a seen - but with a block of bracken between the dog and the thrower so only the trajectory as a guide. et us say a GSP or Munsterlander has a height advantage here. He marked it a tad short, which was not good as what wind was a back wind; however without any further commands he opened up his area of work intelligently until he winded it - but this is not the way to get top marks for a seen.
Hunting - this was in a tree surrounded field with a cheek wind to start with and a head wind at the end. Another error I made was to let him watch a few of the earlier dogs run amok. He ran like a wasp with good pace, slipped his whistle several times and stopped to 'park a dung'. Mind his sit was good.
Water - a short paddle to a dummy. Released on his name. job done. praise.
The winning puppy also won novice, owned and handled by one of the top people - in fact the top few places were taken by trainers of reputation. (and rightly so) I was however very pleased to take the sixth place rosette.
So a useful check on our progress. Points to address..
Turning on whistle when hunting needs to sharpen up.
Recall with a dummy distraction rather than a dummy reward. - I think this will make a good step towards a flying dummy as the cue to sit.
Off lead heel work used to be very good but lacked crispness ( because we haven't practiced it recently? )
HGS training tonight - should be interesting as I expect some new members and also we have access to a 4x dummy launcher.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
beach hut
I have three 'jobs' on the go at the moment - one is in a beach hut at Calshot with a view over to the Isle of Wight. Fresco seems to love it there and spends a lot of time (if allowed) in the water. Here he is resigned to just watching the seagulls.
Friday saw an early start to attend the show in the Malverns - under Pat Rush. Despite being on site in plenty of time - somehow I nearly missed my class with Fresco - so thanks to those who found me! A good thing, with Fresco winning Best Puppy. Pleased with that as this will be his last outing for some while I think and to get an appraisal from such a breed specialist is very useful. I was then asked could I run a friend's bitch ? - a lovely biddable girl she was (the dog that is) who moved nicely , stood well and spat out the treat she was offered in disdain. Laughing a great delight for her owner when we won the bitch ticket and then went on to be judge Best of Breed. I have to admit for the first time I really saw how competitive dog showing could become addictive - I was in that ring to beat the opposition. I didn't know I was that competitive. Unfortunately I had to leave immediately to drive to a job near Southampton, finishing there just after 7pm - a long day.
Saturday met up again with Barney and his handler and a friend of hers with a GSP. A bit of ground I had recc'ed a few weeks before. My how Barney had come on - he was not spitting his dummy, he was moving freely away from his handler and was attentive to her - it was a real pleasure to watch. She had worked on responding to him any time he looked at her and also having him always come to her hand whenever called in.
Sunday - what is this ? rain all day! took all up to Burkham and worked them across the large field several times - Fresco worked the wind well and also had a nice range and speed; something he has not really displayed before, mind you I have not previously encouraged him to. Might this be because the weather was cooler or is it just his age? He sat well on his whistle when stopped from thinking about chasing tweety birds. Will soon have to consider introducing him to some proper game.
Friday saw an early start to attend the show in the Malverns - under Pat Rush. Despite being on site in plenty of time - somehow I nearly missed my class with Fresco - so thanks to those who found me! A good thing, with Fresco winning Best Puppy. Pleased with that as this will be his last outing for some while I think and to get an appraisal from such a breed specialist is very useful. I was then asked could I run a friend's bitch ? - a lovely biddable girl she was (the dog that is) who moved nicely , stood well and spat out the treat she was offered in disdain. Laughing a great delight for her owner when we won the bitch ticket and then went on to be judge Best of Breed. I have to admit for the first time I really saw how competitive dog showing could become addictive - I was in that ring to beat the opposition. I didn't know I was that competitive. Unfortunately I had to leave immediately to drive to a job near Southampton, finishing there just after 7pm - a long day.
Saturday met up again with Barney and his handler and a friend of hers with a GSP. A bit of ground I had recc'ed a few weeks before. My how Barney had come on - he was not spitting his dummy, he was moving freely away from his handler and was attentive to her - it was a real pleasure to watch. She had worked on responding to him any time he looked at her and also having him always come to her hand whenever called in.
Sunday - what is this ? rain all day! took all up to Burkham and worked them across the large field several times - Fresco worked the wind well and also had a nice range and speed; something he has not really displayed before, mind you I have not previously encouraged him to. Might this be because the weather was cooler or is it just his age? He sat well on his whistle when stopped from thinking about chasing tweety birds. Will soon have to consider introducing him to some proper game.
Monday, June 6, 2011
seeing the light
An 'interesting' week - Tuesday a recent tick bite flared up into the classic Lyme's disease bullseye rash so half a morning at the doctors for antibiotics and a blood test. Wednesday - a phone call to tell me my son had been missing for 12 hours in the Cuillins (a jagged mountain range on the Isle of Skye ) he was walking the ridge on his own after splitting with his girlfriend. All however ended well; looking back it was interesting to see how one copes with that sort of news - you hear what the person says to you but you don't comprehend the content beyond the basic statement. Thursday the garage's initial diagnosis of the engine noise is - needs a new gearbox. Friday saw me carrying five sheets of plywood up a windy beach - most amusing to the spectators my spins and turns. Made me feel my age!
Saturday had a long delayed outing with a young Viszla and his owner, a sort of 'exploratory' outing to see where if anywhere I could help. The dog had done well at some working tests - retrieving - but had always been marked badly on hunting. After an hours walk I felt it was a combination of a young dog who did not really know the 'game' who was looking rather than hunting, it was a dog that had often gone out with two spaniels run by a handler who would not let them out of his sight and an owner who was unsure of what she should or the dog actually do. i had Catja with me - the Viszla initially ran around after her like a wasp however soon settled into doing its own thing - it quartered nicely, flat and not to wide, kept checking back with the owner, came to its whistle well - a nice dog without experience, time is on their side.
When we did some retrieving exercises the dog ( called Barney) was very keen on the dummy, but spat it at his owners feet - she was doing the classic 'lunge' to catch it before it hit the floor. The dog had no 'hold' command and also would reject anything put to its mouth even if it had only just retrieved it. Whilst explaining the idea about not taking the dummy immediately I threw another for it and on the dogs return caught it by the collar and stroked its chest and talked to it - it held the dummy without chewing and gave it on request. I tried something different - sat the dog out and held it on a hand signal (arm up like a policeman), threw a dummy and then released it on its name. Nicely to hand.
This was quite a moment for finally seeing the obvious for me. It would seem handling dogs is not about 'training' them to do as you want but it is about 'understanding the cues we have to give to get the behaviour we want'
Sunday - the Brittany Club Open show. Catja is looking very good at the moment so I had high hopes, once in the ring she had other ideas - so put on her best beagle ears would not stand still - until after the placings when she stood magnificently, elongated her neck and put up her ears - something not lost on the audience judging by the roar of laughter.
Fresco managed First in puppy dog - but then he had no competition and His sister first in puppy bitch, Fresco taking Best Puppy in Show. He has a long way to go body wise but it was reassuring to talk to those more experienced than me and hear their words of advice, he seems very popular.
Saturday had a long delayed outing with a young Viszla and his owner, a sort of 'exploratory' outing to see where if anywhere I could help. The dog had done well at some working tests - retrieving - but had always been marked badly on hunting. After an hours walk I felt it was a combination of a young dog who did not really know the 'game' who was looking rather than hunting, it was a dog that had often gone out with two spaniels run by a handler who would not let them out of his sight and an owner who was unsure of what she should or the dog actually do. i had Catja with me - the Viszla initially ran around after her like a wasp however soon settled into doing its own thing - it quartered nicely, flat and not to wide, kept checking back with the owner, came to its whistle well - a nice dog without experience, time is on their side.
When we did some retrieving exercises the dog ( called Barney) was very keen on the dummy, but spat it at his owners feet - she was doing the classic 'lunge' to catch it before it hit the floor. The dog had no 'hold' command and also would reject anything put to its mouth even if it had only just retrieved it. Whilst explaining the idea about not taking the dummy immediately I threw another for it and on the dogs return caught it by the collar and stroked its chest and talked to it - it held the dummy without chewing and gave it on request. I tried something different - sat the dog out and held it on a hand signal (arm up like a policeman), threw a dummy and then released it on its name. Nicely to hand.
This was quite a moment for finally seeing the obvious for me. It would seem handling dogs is not about 'training' them to do as you want but it is about 'understanding the cues we have to give to get the behaviour we want'
Sunday - the Brittany Club Open show. Catja is looking very good at the moment so I had high hopes, once in the ring she had other ideas - so put on her best beagle ears would not stand still - until after the placings when she stood magnificently, elongated her neck and put up her ears - something not lost on the audience judging by the roar of laughter.
Fresco managed First in puppy dog - but then he had no competition and His sister first in puppy bitch, Fresco taking Best Puppy in Show. He has a long way to go body wise but it was reassuring to talk to those more experienced than me and hear their words of advice, he seems very popular.
Monday, May 30, 2011
feeding regime
Catja has been looking as if she were holding on to her weight a bit to much and Ellie has been a bit under the weather - i think more attention needs to be taken by me at feeding times, I suspect some are eating the food of others! About mid week all had to skip a meal and had an extra exercise run in the morning (save Fresco who had his usual rations). i think he has little kangaroo pouches in his real legs as the muscle volume on these outrageous yet he always looks as if he needs a feed. Even after a feed, save when he has had rice pudding. Laughing
Anyway the feeding regime seems to have worked for Catja who was looking good yesterday - she won BoB at South of England Gundog. RBoB Mabeleine. Fresco won best puppy - not hard as he was the only one and Topaz won best AV Field Trial dog or bitch, he also looked really good.
Finally got my new website up and running this week.
www.guybagshaw.co.uk
some of you will recognise some of the work.
Anyway the feeding regime seems to have worked for Catja who was looking good yesterday - she won BoB at South of England Gundog. RBoB Mabeleine. Fresco won best puppy - not hard as he was the only one and Topaz won best AV Field Trial dog or bitch, he also looked really good.
Finally got my new website up and running this week.
www.guybagshaw.co.uk
some of you will recognise some of the work.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
HGS training
Monday was HGS training night - or so I thought; I was not alone with this thought so a few of us moved to a new venue and had an interesting evening doing blind retrieves through thick cover, marking by sound alone and some 'walked up' seen retrieves into standing crop. (walked up - the dogs and handlers walk with dogs off lead, dummy thrower fires shot and throws dummy and then selects a dog to retrieve. To help reinforce sit to shot and marking. We used a field of rape throwing the dummy into the edge of the footpath that runs across it)
What was most interesting to me was how well the dogs can mark by the sound of the fall alone - it was done so thy could not see the dummy at any stage).
On the blind retrieves in thick cover I was very pleased with Fresco as he eyewiped the other dogs on two occasions. Purely by holding his ground better. I was out of my comfort zone with regard these retrieves for him but he seemed to step up a gear (if that is possible); might have been the fact there were other dogs getting to have a go all the time.?
What was most interesting to me was how well the dogs can mark by the sound of the fall alone - it was done so thy could not see the dummy at any stage).
On the blind retrieves in thick cover I was very pleased with Fresco as he eyewiped the other dogs on two occasions. Purely by holding his ground better. I was out of my comfort zone with regard these retrieves for him but he seemed to step up a gear (if that is possible); might have been the fact there were other dogs getting to have a go all the time.?
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