First Shoot of our Season!

[kirstyhen]

Had the most wonderful day out today, could not have asked for a better start!

Due to actually having a proper job this year, I haven't been out yet this season, so today was mine and Otto's first day! Given the weather at the start of this week, we weren't banking on the weather forecast of sunshine for today being too accurate, so imagine our joy when the sun lastest all day! I did the last two drives in a thin jumper!!

Otto knew exactly what the day was about this year, yet stayed silent all day Second drive of the day was fab, they had planted up a load of kale this year and despite a fox going through right at the start of the drive the birds were flying thick and high! Had a brill view of the guns too.

Last drive before lunch Otto and I got to go looking for a couple of birds and Otto was brill Off the lead and working well, listening fairly well and even following a couple of directions

Second to last drive of the day and Otto got off the lead 10ft Artichokes and a lead don't mix well so I had to let him off. He did go a bit far off, but flushed a few birds and stayed working rather than chasing them

Last drive of the day was another good one, loads of birds! My lack of co-ordination struck yet again and I fell over twice We swept through after the drive and Otto found a Cock bird, started to retrieve it but dropped it half way, it was only pricked so I think it must have caught him with it's spurs. He went back for it though, so I let him off!
He worked through the rest of the brash in a fashion that could almost be mistaken for a working gundog I was very pleased as there were a lot of people about meaning he couldn't rely on keeping an eye on me and actually had to listen.

I now have a VERY tired dog! He's had his dinner and taken himself off to bed! I've never known him so shattered, it's lovely

A few pictures...

How Otto prepares the night before...

Yes, he is on MY bed Stinking little creature sneaks up there when I'm getting ready for bed!

Second drive

Elevenses

And at the end of the last drive before lunch (note - no lead attached and dog still in same county )

And looking a little shell shocked at how tired he is!

 

[Spudlet]

Clever Otto!

 

[kirstyhen]

He really was! In fact, he got the fat off my steak for being so clever! Luckily there wasn't many people in the pub to witness me wrapping it in my napkin and putting it in my pocket

 

[Spudlet]

He really was! In fact, he got the fat off my steak for being so clever! Luckily there wasn't many people in the pub to witness me wrapping it in my napkin and putting it in my pocket

lol You're lucky they didn't call the men in white coats

 

[Tinkerbee]

Well done Otto!

That last photo just says "blergfhshzzzzzz"

 

[Spudlet]

How's he getting on with his tail at the moment?

 

[kirstyhen]

It split on the first drive, but didn't get any worse through the rest of the day. It's not been bad so far this year, that will change as it gets wetter though

 

[Spudlet]

It split on the first drive, but didn't get any worse through the rest of the day. It's not been bad so far this year, that will change as it gets wetter though

Was hoping you wouldn't say that!

 

[kirstyhen]

Well done Otto!

That last photo just says "blergfhshzzzzzz"

He has been flat out since we got home! I went upstairs to have a bath, switched my bedroom light on and got the flithiest look for disturbing him!! It is beyond satisfying having tired him out!

 

[numptynoelle]

Has he started huffing at you yet to go to bed? Dog needs his beauty sleep y'know!

Sounds like a fab day was had by all (apart from his tail ) and the last photo does look like he's had a night out on the razz!

 

[kirstyhen]

Was hoping you wouldn't say that!

Maybe it won't! Fingers crossed, for both of them!

 

[Spudlet]

Maybe it won't! Fingers crossed, for both of them!

Here's hoping his tail stays relatively split-free! As for Henry's - who knows? I'll have to let go of the lead for him to do much damage, and that isn't going to happen for a while anyway

 

[kirstyhen]

Has he started huffing at you yet to go to bed? Dog needs his beauty sleep y'know!

Sounds like a fab day was had by all (apart from his tail ) and the last photo does look like he's had a night out on the razz!

They literally just started!! He was doing the Springer groans on the way home (No idea if all Springers do them, but our old one did too, so I've decided they are a breed trait!)

His tail wasn't too bad, it bled a little and then didn't seem to bother him for the rest of the day. It's the wet eczma type stuff he gets on it that really drives him insane!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Well done Otto

 

[kirstyhen]

I have found a bonus to a full tail! You have to knock your stick off things to make enough noise to push the birds forwards, with Otto's tail I have a hands-free noisemaker It 'thwacks' off my leg all day long!

I'll have to let go of the lead for him to do much damage, and that isn't going to happen for a while anyway

You wait!! Otto third day out (first of the season) and he has now done part of a drive off the lead!! Ok, so not in control and in a place where he couldn't cause any damage, but still!
Henry will surpass that quicker than you can say 'LEAVE IT!!!'

 

[GinaB]

He's turning out really nicely! Good boy Otto He looks like he won't move forever now

Poor Midget hasn't been so successful. Well, she is working well but so far got a thorn in her eye and tangled up in barbed wire

 

[kirstyhen]

Oh dear, poor Midget!! Otto nearly had several run-ins with barbed wire today I shredded my jumper stopping him, although it'll cost less to sticth back up than he would!
He nearly staked himself too, silly sod, it slowed him down for all of five seconds!

 

[Puppy]

Oh wow! Well done Otto That last pic of him looking exhausted is one that I know so well from Pops on shooting days (not helped that she gets too excited to eat for 36 hours ) and she too then takes herself to (my) bed in the evenings after (don't tell my Grannie, who I stay with for shooting weekends ) I completely relate to how satisfying it is to get them that worn out!

Fraggle has been practicing fetching her squeaky pheasant this evening - it's in her blood!! We are looking forward to next season

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Well done Snotbag!

A tired puppy is a good puppy

Poor Midget - that sounds ouchie hope she is ok

 

[Puppy]

He really was! In fact, he got the fat off my steak for being so clever! Luckily there wasn't many people in the pub to witness me wrapping it in my napkin and putting it in my pocket

LOL! I actually did that too recently, whilst out for a meal with the new bf

I think he was quite relieved that I didn't do the same when we then went somewhere posh, and had lamb shanks... It was mighty tempting though

 

[Puppy]

It split on the first drive, but didn't get any worse through the rest of the day. It's not been bad so far this year, that will change as it gets wetter though

We have two Cocker x Labs (full brothers) with our shoot, who look about 80%+ Lab in appearance, and yet they still get sore/bleeding tails

Popple has a huge "spaniel" tail, but it's never been troubled when working

 

[kirstyhen]

Haha Pups! I'm glad I'm not the only one that spoils my puppydog rotten!! He certainly doesn't do being too excited to eat though, nothing would stop him eating his sardines!!

Nothing beats a tired Spangle Slinks!!

 

[Puppy]

The only things Popple has eaten for the last two shooting weekends in Lincs (and she wasn't even working last weekend, just there visiting family with my mother) has been from the professional caterers who do the lunch!! She's had hog roast, and roast beef! She's too excited to even consider tuna or home cooked liver - which are normally her weaknesses.

Despite which, although the other beaters talk about their dogs maybe getting tired later in the day, Pops will even want to go for a walk afterwards!!

 

[k9h]

What a clever Otto & you!

Sadly I have not been out this season yet :-(
Was suppose to be out last Fri but had to work & my girl came into season the Tue before so spoilt that. Dogs eh!

So next couple of weeks when I get to go will be dogless & premoted to beating again!!

 

[noodle_]

had to giggle at the picture with him looking out (Sat on the rock thing??) the blur of the tail hahaha!!.....

we have one.... their tales never stop do they??!!

and my spangle does the same... sleeps on my bed/follows me and jumps on when im getting dressed etc.....

strange but lovely little creatures they are!!


well done otto! enjoy your sleep!!

 

[Puppy]

we have one.... their tales never stop do they??!!

and my spangle does the same... sleeps on my bed/follows me and jumps on when im getting dressed etc.....

strange but lovely little creatures they are!!

LOL! Such a perfect spaniel description Perhaps the word 'special' ought to be in there too!

 

[mollichop]

What a star he was! sounds like a brilliant day and worth waiting for Am very impressed he was free range as have yet to risk it with my two in the maize (yes it's 10ft high too) have nearly gone ski-ing a few times when they go for different birds

Great pics of him on the big bales, but I wish I could get over them as fast as the dogs do

 

[kirstyhen]

It's not something I'd risk with him at any other point (he's not that good yet!), just that there was little chance of him getting in trouble at that point! He gets rather carried away in the artichokes, I think he likes the noise they make! You can see some of the Artichokes behind me in the picture where he is off the lead, that's not even the tallest stuff!! It's horrid too, shredded my hands up! Plus by the end of the day, my coat pockets are full of the stuff!!

I was I could get over them full stop! I had a few days at my Friends the other day and she put me through some kind off horrific pony boot camp, coupled with riding horses bareback the day before meant I was certainly in no shape to be leaping about!!



Forgot to mention one of the most impressive parts of the whole day!! Otto has major issues with being possesive, he doesn't want something unless another dog has it and then he goes after it all guns blazing, so one of the worries about having him off the lead was that he would start a fight over a bird. Yesterday he was working alongside two dogs (one he has had a fight with in the past!) and completely ignored them finding game!