Gundog people

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Few of us met up to do some training tonight in a woodlands, we did a 'mark' down a bank and up the other side on tough ground thick with cover. Then a memory to same spot. Then send a long the same line, stop and hunt for a blind, then send back to original area for a memory.

Rafi was really good, hes starting to hunt much better now on the whistle. Club training tomorrow with Zazu.

 

[Thistle]

Thanks for the idea Druid

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Novice walk up test day today!

Zazu was such a good boy I'm so proud of him. Round 1 was two marked retrieves(one at a time and others in line going in between), both of ours happened to be behind the line. Picked both lovely I didn't even touch my whistle. Round 2 was one retrieve each, a long mark across the valley, had to handle but picked. Round 3 was two blinds, one behind the line that he picked lovely but I blew my stop just as he'd winded it so handler error. One across the valley, he took a wrong line so I handled him back onto the line then he took it lovely and picked.

Lots of people put out for heel work, and a few were eye wiped. We didn't get any award but completed and were in the last 10 dogs, against some really experienced trialling folk.

Rafi got put out straight away for running in , he was last dog to go and he was just too excited. He kept it together at heel in line, but he heard the shot and saw the mark and he was off! Shame as hed marked it lovely and picked it nicely.

I knew it would be too much for Rafi but wasn't sure if the retrieves would be too much or if he'd boil over. But I thought I'm going anyway so I'll run him, and they needed entries so not taking a run away from anyone.I know what I need to work on now when I'm out in a group, he never runs in when it's just me out with both dogs but it's not as exciting.

All in all a great day out and id deffo do another walk up!

 

[Clodagh]

Novice walk up test day today!

Zazu was such a good boy I'm so proud of him. Round 1 was two marked retrieves(one at a time and others in line going in between), both of ours happened to be behind the line. Picked both lovely I didn't even touch my whistle. Round 2 was one retrieve each, a long mark across the valley, had to handle but picked. Round 3 was two blinds, one behind the line that he picked lovely but I blew my stop just as he'd winded it so handler error. One across the valley, he took a wrong line so I handled him back onto the line then he took it lovely and picked.

Lots of people put out for heel work, and a few were eye wiped. We didn't get any award but completed and were in the last 10 dogs, against some really experienced trialling folk.

Rafi got put out straight away for running in , he was last dog to go and he was just too excited. He kept it together at heel in line, but he heard the shot and saw the mark and he was off! Shame as hed marked it lovely and picked it nicely.

I knew it would be too much for Rafi but wasn't sure if the retrieves would be too much or if he'd boil over. But I thought I'm going anyway so I'll run him, and they needed entries so not taking a run away from anyone.I know what I need to work on now when I'm out in a group, he never runs in when it's just me out with both dogs but it's not as exciting.

All in all a great day out and id deffo do another walk up!

That sounds brilliant, huge well done!

 

[Thistle]

BRB that sounds like a great experience!

One of the working tests that I've entered next weekend has been cancelled, not enough entries!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

BRB that sounds like a great experience!

One of the working tests that I've entered next weekend has been cancelled, not enough entries!

It was such a good experience!

Oh no that's a shame

 

[druid]

Having a bit of mind games with Saz currently. She's reverted to freezing sometimes when being sent for retrieves (never marks or replacements, occasionally memories and blinds are 50/50). Unclear why or what the difference is between when she does and doesn't.

I can get her to go by moving a few steps forward to reset and casting again.

So lots of marks with delayed replacements and delayed memories and loop memories to try build her confidence back up.

 

[Thistle]

Up early this morning to do the Suffolk Gundog Club working test at the fabulous Shadwell estate, what lovely ground.

Freya was entered in the Novice dog novice handler. I couldn't fault her, I made a few handling errors but didn't feel nearly as stressy as the last test we did. I was just aiming for no 0's.

Absolutely delighted to be awarded 2nd place (148), just 1 mark off first, (149) third was on 129.

Another test next week, novice as no NDNH on the schedule.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Up early this morning to do the Suffolk Gundog Club working test at the fabulous Shadwell estate, what lovely ground.

Freya was entered in the Novice dog novice handler. I couldn't fault her, I made a few handling errors but didn't feel nearly as stressy as the last test we did. I was just aiming for no 0's.

Absolutely delighted to be awarded 2nd place (148), just 1 mark off first, (149) third was on 129.

Another test next week, novice as no NDNH on the schedule.

Brilliant well done!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Both dogs ran in a novice working test today. Rafis first novice (if we don't count last weekend! ).

First test was a cold blind with dummy placer about 50 yards to right. Rafi ran to dummy placer and wouldn't handle off, so went closer to help him but obviously 0. Zazu did similar but handled onto the dummy for 15.

Second test was a blind to shot on right, then a mark to shot on left. Pick blind first. Rafi went out but veered off to left, so tried to stop and direct but every time I said 'away' he ran back towards mark. So another 0 as picked in wrong order. Zazu took a similar line but handled back onto line for blind, faffed about a bit hunting to pick for a 10.

Third test was a mark to shot, then a replacement, both into long grass and wait for judge to send you for both. Rafi did this lovely for a 20, and so did Zazu for 20.

Fourth test was a blind with a shot behind. Rafi took a really nice line and it was about 150 yards, little bit of handling to pick for 18. Zazu didn't take as nice a line but handled and picked for 17.

Best part of the day was Rafi not running in his good bits were really good and I know what I need to improve on. Zazu got a score on everything which I'm pleased with, just needs polishing.

Next test isn't for 5/7 weeks depending which one I enter, so plenty of training coming up

 

[druid]

First test was a cold blind with dummy placer about 50 yards to right. Rafi ran to dummy placer and wouldn't handle off, so went closer to help him but obviously 0. Zazu did similar but handled onto the dummy for 15.

Ah, a good thing to practice at group training this week, thanks!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Ah, a good thing to practice at group training this week, thanks!

I'm hoping to practice this Tuesday when I meet up with friends for training!

 

[druid]

We train on Wednesday mornings every week...a very mixed group of ESS, Cockers, Chessies, Curly Coats, a token Lab, Weims and Vizslas! Makes for interesting sessions

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

We train on Wednesday mornings every week...a very mixed group of ESS, Cockers, Chessies, Curly Coats, a token Lab, Weims and Vizslas! Makes for interesting sessions

Oh I bet that is a very interesting session to watch!

 

[Thistle]

First Gundog club summer training tonight, I'm very lucky, the ground is 12 mins from home, some people travel over an hour, Suffolk is a very large county with no fast roads.

 

[Clodagh]

And how did it go?

 

[druid]

A little sad that some of my training ground sold today and will likely be built on eventually

Played about a little with precision handling and trust today.
First picked a blind along a fence line for confidence.
Then when I turned 180 degrees along the fence about 60y out there was another blind of white stood up dummy so the dog would sight it when it got close. There was also a blind in the field, about 20y into the field away from the fence line and about 20y short of the white dummy blind.
The aim was to send down the fence, stop when the dog has sight the dummy on the fence and handle the dog out into the field to pick the field dummy. Then pick the white dummy blind.

It went well with all 3 dogs which I was happy about.

We worked through the blind with a thrower stood 25y away at group training - interestingly the more novice dogs nailed it and went straight out while the international team test dog pulled to the decoy thrower!

 

[Thistle]

And how did it go?

Great, really enjoyable, catching up with old friends, making new ones, missing the next one as we're having a few days in Madeira, then 3 more, F will probably be in season by then so Toast will go back to school.

 

[Thistle]

A little sad that some of my training ground sold today and will likely be built on eventually

Played about a little with precision handling and trust today.
First picked a blind along a fence line for confidence.
Then when I turned 180 degrees along the fence about 60y out there was another blind of white stood up dummy so the dog would sight it when it got close. There was also a blind in the field, about 20y into the field away from the fence line and about 20y short of the white dummy blind.
The aim was to send down the fence, stop when the dog has sight the dummy on the fence and handle the dog out into the field to pick the field dummy. Then pick the white dummy blind.

It went well with all 3 dogs which I was happy about.

We worked through the blind with a thrower stood 25y away at group training - interestingly the more novice dogs nailed it and went straight out while the international team test dog pulled to the decoy thrower!

It's such a shame seeing our countryside carved up. Where we were training at gundog club is a large farming estate, the development for Sizewell C has cut the farm in half, 300yr old oak trees felled, just chipped or burnt, they haven't even used the prime timber! Hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land laid to waste. The keeper will have to make a 10 mile detour every time he goes out to feed.

Training idea is good, I'll have a go at that.

 

[Thistle]

Off to another working test today, Novice this time rather than NDNH, lots of IGL handlers on the draw list, still, it'll be a nice afternoon out!

 

[Clodagh]

Off to another working test today, Novice this time rather than NDNH, lots of IGL handlers on the draw list, still, it'll be a nice afternoon out!

Good luck.

 

[Thistle]

Much harder tests yesterday, apparently they had been set to be challenging as some decent dogs were entered, bit hard for those of us just stepping up though.
It was very hot with quite a breeze blowing the scent around. Tests were near woodland so we were able to wait in the shade mostly. Water was a wet ditch/bog as there's been so little rain in East Anglia. We got one 0 due to a handling mistake from me but managed to retrieve all the dummies nicely to hand and learnt lots. Lovely to catch up with some old friends too.
A very annoying dog in my group (more the handler really) that squeaked the whole time we were waiting, he constantly allowed his dog to sniff F who was sitting quietly with me, every time he was asked to keep his dog on a short lead he replied 'i hope that she tells him off' I eventually grabbed his dog and dragged it away, then he got the message.
When he'd finished he got a young dog out of his vehicle and proceeded to throw a tennis ball behind me when I was under the judge, who was understandably furious. I had to go away whilst it was sorted out. He got 4 zeros and was still trying to advise us how we should do the tests.

 

[Clodagh]

What a dick! Well done Freya.

 

[druid]

What an ignorant muppet

Sounds like you did well

 

[druid]

It was hot, I didn't have a lot of time so kept it to a nice simple exercise today

Heel dog to your chosen area. Throw out 4-5 retrieves in an area, about 10-15y square. This is now the centre of your clock face. Heel out on a different line and at whatever distance you are comfortable sit the dog up and move yourself away before casting to the pile. Repeat this moving around the area in a large circle. So the same area can be used for left, right, back casts or send from heel on a new angle each time. Smaller dummies/disc dummies for advanced dogs, big visible ones for the novices.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

A group of us had a session with an Irish retriever chap on Friday who is based local ish to me, I've not trained with him before but a few in the group had. A lovely farmer let's us use his land which is just brilliant training ground.

I took Zazu out first for a while in the morning, started off with a mark into bracken, then moved on to a bit of a walk up with marks and memories. I was interested to get his opinion on Zazu as he can sometimes look a bit like he cba. Going to do lots of memories with him to try and gee him firing out a bit more.

Second part of the morning and afternoon I took Rafi out. We did another bit of a walk up with the dogs running the line, which was great practice for Rafi to sit and watch other dogs run past him. Then onto some water work with a memory about 100 yards back from the pond. Finished on a cold blind. Really pleased with rafi and he impressed the trainer who is a lab man through and through

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

It was hot, I didn't have a lot of time so kept it to a nice simple exercise today

Heel dog to your chosen area. Throw out 4-5 retrieves in an area, about 10-15y square. This is now the centre of your clock face. Heel out on a different line and at whatever distance you are comfortable sit the dog up and move yourself away before casting to the pile. Repeat this moving around the area in a large circle. So the same area can be used for left, right, back casts or send from heel on a new angle each time. Smaller dummies/disc dummies for advanced dogs, big visible ones for the novices.

I'm going to try this one, hopefully be good to get Zazu powering out to an area and can practice left right and backs with Rafi

 

[druid]

I'm going to try this one, hopefully be good to get Zazu powering out to an area and can practice left right and backs with Rafi

Yes, it's on my rotation for Sassy who is not so confident in casts because she doesn't like to get it wrong and over thinks. It definitely helps her take lines confidently!

 

[Clodagh]

Just to bring a bit of reality into this thread. Today I’ve been training the dogs that I have no idea what I’m doing, the dummy is not where I thought I put it and ignoring my instructions will be far more fruitful than actually hunting where I tell you to.

 

[druid]

Oh I've done that one, right down to walking out to find the dummy and then realisation dawning....