Gundog people

[Clodagh]

Well, the agility people have their own thread. .
I thought it might be nice to follow people’s training and competitions and work if wanted.
I had a one to one with Steve Kimberley this morning. He won the HPR championship this year, those who have not heard of him. Thankfully he trains all sorts. He also trains real life stuff, not all trialling, and is very nice to the dogs, without thinking they are going to melt if you bellow at them.
I took Scout and Ffee. Mainly because Scout is so disinterested in retrieving dummies if there’s not another dog there he doesn’t bother at all. .
It was basic stuff, I have got into bad habits over the season as much as the dogs have. I need to change my verbal command (there, there) to a hunt whistle and when sweeping need to use the turn whistle as well as my body. And instead of just saying their name for a seen or a blind (KISS being my motto) I need to differentiate.
He really improved throughout and when I left at the end I stopped and took notes so I don’t slide back into sloppy handling.
Feeling inspired and enthusiastic.
Scout is an easy dog to put blinds out for as he lies down for a nap while you do it.

 

[Morwenna]

Not sure I qualify for this as, though I go to weekly gundog training classes, we’re only doing very basic stuff (and struggling with that ) but I love reading about what other people are doing!

 

[Clodagh]

Not sure I qualify for this as, though I go to weekly gundog training classes, we’re only doing very basic stuff (and struggling with that ) but I love reading about what other people are doing!

Of course you are. This being social media I will not point out everything my dogs do wrong (and tbh it’s usually me) but Scout can be like an unguided missile on a shoot day.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Bert picked up a pheasant! *at a shoot, he didn't just give me a random dead bird....

 

[BallyJ]

Can't really join in as our newest gundog is away at boarding school, my husband trained the first one but her niece is just too much alongside a promotion at work. So we opted to outsource her training to our trainer!

But I'm looking forward to reading what you're all up to!

 

[poiuytrewq]

In all seriousness a gun dog trainer (apparently a very good one) that I know has offered to give me a hand with him and now we have a nice new GK i did quite enjoy taking him this winter. Its never appealed to me but I decided this year Its quite a good day so may be something I do a little more of, not in a serious way but I plan to give up weekend work this coming winter so will be around more to take him along more often.

 

[Clodagh]

Can't really join in as our newest gundog is away at boarding school, my husband trained the first one but her niece is just too much alongside a promotion at work. So we opted to outsource her training to our trainer!

But I'm looking forward to reading what you're all up to!

I think that would be interesting to follow. Do you get any input or training with her or is she returned as the finished article? Do you visit? How long is she away for? Grandpa used to send his away but as he sent them to the most horrible man and then spoiled them rotten when they came back it never was much of a long term investment.

 

[Clodagh]

In all seriousness a gun dog trainer (apparently a very good one) that I know has offered to give me a hand with him and now we have a nice new GK i did quite enjoy taking him this winter. Its never appealed to me but I decided this year Its quite a good day so may be something I do a little more of, not in a serious way but I plan to give up weekend work this coming winter so will be around more to take him along more often.

If nothing else you should end up with a well rounded, obedient and responsive dog. Mine love training. (Well, except Scout but that’s because of his previous baggage).

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I had my two out together yesterday for the first time in a ‘formal’ environment (training class with friends), my youngest is so keen I wanted to work on his steadiness. Older dog did most of what I asked of him as usual, just needs stop whistle work, you have about 3 good ones in him before he thinks ‘you’ve not got a clue’ and stops listening

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

In all seriousness a gun dog trainer (apparently a very good one) that I know has offered to give me a hand with him and now we have a nice new GK i did quite enjoy taking him this winter. Its never appealed to me but I decided this year Its quite a good day so may be something I do a little more of, not in a serious way but I plan to give up weekend work this coming winter so will be around more to take him along more often.

Shoot days are my favourite days

 

[Clodagh]

I had my two out together yesterday for the first time in a ‘formal’ environment (training class with friends), my youngest is so keen I wanted to work on his steadiness. Older dog did most of what I asked of him as usual, just needs stop whistle work, you have about 3 good ones in him before he thinks ‘you’ve not got a clue’ and stops listening

That’s my trouble. As mine get older they realise I’m useless. So when young and pliable they are obedient then the penny drops that I don’t have a clue. Poor things.

 

[poiuytrewq]

If nothing else you should end up with a well rounded, obedient and responsive dog. Mine love training. (Well, except Scout but that’s because of his previous baggage).

Yes hopefully.

Shoot days are my favourite days

I really disliked the old Game keeper so never got involved before, but your right, everyone is really nice and its a good day. I'd not be interested in joining in without a dog but love them having fun

 

[BallyJ]

I think that would be interesting to follow. Do you get any input or training with her or is she returned as the finished article? Do you visit? How long is she away for? Grandpa used to send his away but as he sent them to the most horrible man and then spoiled them rotten when they came back it never was much of a long term investment.

We trust him completely, and have decided not to visit. She's a very needy pup so us turning up every weekend to train would've been too much to handle.
So she's there 8 weeks now, then we will go over for a lesson with them and bring her home. have her home for the summer then she will go back for 2-4 weeks before the season starts to fine tune her. We are hoping to send the older one at the same time, as she's got into the habit of retrieving to about 3 foot away and mouthing the birds. So we'd like some help ironing that out of her.

Our youngest is from a Welsh field trial champion so has alot more drive than the older one, we've always joked she's got some spaniel in her as she does everything at 100 miles per hour!

 

[BallyJ]

Shoot days are my favourite days

And mine! Theres nothing like seeing the dogs work, and getting out into the country! I'm thinking of getting into some more beating this year.

 

[Clodagh]

We trust him completely, and have decided not to visit. She's a very needy pup so us turning up every weekend to train would've been too much to handle.
So she's there 8 weeks now, then we will go over for a lesson with them and bring her home. have her home for the summer then she will go back for 2-4 weeks before the season starts to fine tune her. We are hoping to send the older one at the same time, as she's got into the habit of retrieving to about 3 foot away and mouthing the birds. So we'd like some help ironing that out of her.

Our youngest is from a Welsh field trial champion so has alot more drive than the older one, we've always joked she's got some spaniel in her as she does everything at 100 miles per hour!

How old is she? I found when I first got into FT bred dogs I was just too slow. It’s a shock after a proper solid gamekeeper working bred dog. Love them though.

 

[BallyJ]

How old is she? I found when I first got into FT bred dogs I was just too slow. It’s a shock after a proper solid gamekeeper working bred dog. Love them though.

She's 14months, so still plenty of maturing to do (we hope) she's tiny though, at about 20kg.

 

[Clodagh]

She's 14months, so still plenty of maturing to do (we hope) she's tiny though, at about 20kg.

Lovely. My little Pen is 21 kg now, and was 19 as a youngster. They eat less! And can sit on your lap better.

 

[druid]

I've got 4 in work now the old man retired (his hearing is too poor to work him safely now, although he is convinced he should still do all the work!)

Today's training was crammed between appointments. Teaching back to the 6 month old pups using placeboards and sending to a food bowl, which allows them to learn the handling commands without the extra pressure/steps of a retrieve and delivery. I videoed a training session recently, bang on 3 mins and we got in lead/heel walking, steadiness on placeboard, stop whistle, hunt whistle, recall whistle and one handling command (Out/left hand cast that day)....quality not quantity.

FT bitch, sharpening the stop whistle by putting 2 blinds about 80 yards apart on a fence line, then giving her a memory on the same fence line at the mid point where the casting line forms a T with the fence. Send for memory and pick. Send on same line, stop at memory's position (now midway between the blinds) and cast left or right. Repeat for second blind. I'm careful not to repeat this in the same area or they anticipate very quickly.

Myrka went on the water treadmill at physio centre while I saw an appointment.

 

[Morwenna]

Of course you are. This being social media I will not point out everything my dogs do wrong (and tbh it’s usually me) but Scout can be like an unguided missile on a shoot day.

Mine is more like a feral spaniel than a labrador. And that’s just at training. She does enjoy it though which is why we do it (well, she enjoys the retrieving. Not so much the obedience / heelwork).

 

[Morwenna]

She's 14months, so still plenty of maturing to do (we hope) she's tiny though, at about 20kg.

Mine is almost 2 and weighed in at just under 20kg at the vets the other week.

 

[Clodagh]

FT bitch, sharpening the stop whistle by putting 2 blinds about 80 yards apart on a fence line, then giving her a memory on the same fence line at the mid point where the casting line forms a T with the fence. Send for memory and pick. Send on same line, stop at memory's position (now midway between the blinds) and cast left or right. Repeat for second blind. I'm careful not to repeat this in the same area or they anticipate very quickly.
.

That’s great. I used to do that but haven’t for ages, I’ll do that tomorrow.

 

[SpottyTB]

Oh how lovely to see this! We’ve got 6 spaniels - 5 of which work. They’ve done about 20 days rough shooting this season and picked up on an estate for two days. Rightfully or wrongfully they’re having a bit of down time just being dogs and will pick the training back up soon to sharpen up.

Sadly think we’ll be down to 3 working ones by next season as two ought to be retired now. The 13 year old did a couple of days this year but it’s hard on him now and Bailey did two thirds of the season but has a reoccurring shoulder injury so I think he’ll retire too (not bad at 12).

 

[Clodagh]

Oh how lovely to see this! We’ve got 6 spaniels - 5 of which work. They’ve done about 20 days rough shooting this season and picked up on an estate for two days. Rightfully or wrongfully they’re having a bit of down time just being dogs and will pick the training back up soon to sharpen up.

Sadly think we’ll be down to 3 working ones by next season as two ought to be retired now. The 13 year old did a couple of days this year but it’s hard on him now and Bailey did two thirds of the season but has a reoccurring shoulder injury so I think he’ll retire too (not bad at 12).

I did 62 days last season. Which was the most I’ll ever do I think unless I get a lot more partridge dates this year. It was too much some weeks, doing 4 or 5 days. I’m not as young as I was.
I’d say still working at 12 and 13 you are doing something right!

 

[SpottyTB]

I did 62 days last season. Which was the most I’ll ever do I think unless I get a lot more partridge dates this year. It was too much some weeks, doing 4 or 5 days. I’m not as young as I was.
I’d say still working at 12 and 13 you are doing something right!

It’s small country shooting, little Cornish syndicates which is nice. One woodcock shoot and one pheasant shoot which alternate, the cover is thick and its hard work for them but they do enjoy it. The 13yo started at 4 and the 12yo started at 2... we've always tried to look after them... coats on at lunch, hot wash and coat on in the evening etc. Yumove before they needed it etc.. wish they could go on forever, the 13yo howls every time he's left behind. Annoyingly he's physically very able still but he's deaf and keeping him close these days is proving difficult shame as he's such an incredible dog. The estate shoot we go to is a little fun holiday for us, we go off on a helicopter and stay away... the days aren't hugely busy 60-80 bird days (often with only 3/4 picking up dogs) but its like Christmas for them and such great training.

 

[Spotherisk]

Clodagh would love to do more in Cornwall @SpottyTB

 

[Clodagh]

It’s small country shooting, little Cornish syndicates which is nice. One woodcock shoot and one pheasant shoot which alternate, the cover is thick and its hard work for them but they do enjoy it. The 13yo started at 4 and the 12yo started at 2... we've always tried to look after them... coats on at lunch, hot wash and coat on in the evening etc. Yumove before they needed it etc.. wish they could go on forever, the 13yo howls every time he's left behind. Annoyingly he's physically very able still but he's deaf and keeping him close these days is proving difficult shame as he's such an incredible dog. The estate shoot we go to is a little fun holiday for us, we go off on a helicopter and stay away... the days aren't hugely busy 60-80 bird days (often with only 3/4 picking up dogs) but its like Christmas for them and such great training.

Sounds wonderful. I do think people now are much more aware of dog care, I hate seeing them lying on concrete floors, wet and cold while people have lunch.

 

[Clodagh]

Clodagh would love to do more in Cornwall @SpottyTB

No! I crossed the border once.. (Pentillie) it’s scary over there.

 

[Splash2310]

Opportune timing! We have our gundog class on Saturday morning. Would like to get to a point where we can go out on a shoot (hopefully next year!) and starting to manage excitement around birds but it’s been a long journey.

 

[druid]

Myrka did about 80ish days last year because he's also the back up dogging in dog. It's probably too much now but try tell him that. Deaf old lad still does all my dogging in at home because I dont need recall etc. Open the gate on to the back field and he completes the circuit of the boundary checking in as required - he's done it for years so knows the score. FT lady did about 15 days on shoots towards the end of the season and only on carefully selected beats/ground. Mostly she was rough shooting/training and 8 FTs last season, coming home with an award in all but one of them. Pups won't see a commercial shoot until 2 or 3.

 

[druid]

Sounds wonderful. I do think people now are much more aware of dog care, I hate seeing them lying on concrete floors, wet and cold while people have lunch.

Absolutely. We have a warm water dog wahs station on the estate. Mine all get rugged in equafleeces at lunch and then a dry second set on after a washdown at end of day. I trialled using maltodextrin preloading this year and felt it did help on long cold days (or those warm early season days).