My boys did a working test (pics)

T

Thistle

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 September 2005
Messages
17,499
Location
North East Suffolk
Visit site
photo.php


photo.php



Yesterday I put my brave pants on and entered my boys in a working gundog test.

It took all day and we moved as a group around different stations, they had to jump, be very steady to shot, retrieve from water, walk to heel off lead and do a walked up test where you have 2 dogs walking off lead at heel through rough ground, shot fired and dummy thrown out in front of one dog, both dogs have to stop dead still and then the other dog (away from the dummy) is sent whilst the dog who is in line stays still. then repeat and reverse.

Beans the Springer did the whole day, I am so proud of him, he didn't put a foot wrong, he has been a hot headed lunatic so far but eventually I think we're getting somewhere.

Toast the lab is only 15 months so he was non competitive and we just did the bits I though he could do, pleased with him to as he learnt alot.

The day was organised to raise money for Herts Air Ambulance, a good friend, my gundog trainer had a massive brain bleed back in March and they saved her life. She's still in hospital recovering but is nearly ready to go home.


It seems I can't share the pics, I have bought them so will share when I receive them!
 
Last edited:
Brillaint, and well done. You really will have to stop being rude about Beans now! You have done amazingly well with him.
 
Clodagh said:
Brillaint, and well done. You really will have to stop being rude about Beans now! You have done amazingly well with him.
Click to expand...

I'm so proud of him, he was awesome, can I come and pick up at yours one day please? He is still the ADHD dog but it shows just what hyperactive creatures can do when they're focussed and have a job.
 
How brilliant. Well done. Sounds like a great experience for both dogs and also for handler nerves. Look forward to photos.
 
The best bit was the tombola and the raffle though. I spent £10 on each, won a bottle of Lanson Champagne and a Bisley slip lead on the tombola and a spa day and lunch for two at Hanbury Manor, just down the road and a litre bottle of Plymouth gin in the raffle!
 
Well done!! We are off to a Gundog mini fun working test next week, I'm sure I will manage to show myself up in some way or another!!! Looking forward to it though...I'm really enjoying the training so far, we've come from not even being able to walk at heel to being steady to game, doing memory retrieves, walking to heel off lead...so pleased with the little WCS!! and like you say these workers need a focus, or in my case the owner does!!
 
maisie06 said:
Well done!! We are off to a Gundog mini fun working test next week, I'm sure I will manage to show myself up in some way or another!!! Looking forward to it though...I'm really enjoying the training so far, we've come from not even being able to walk at heel to being steady to game, doing memory retrieves, walking to heel off lead...so pleased with the little WCS!! and like you say these workers need a focus, or in my case the owner does!!
Click to expand...

It was good fun, although slightly terrifing. The judges were lovely and very helpful. Just tell them you don't have a clue and ask for feedback
 
That sounds fabulous, where was it? I'd have come along if I'd known, Bear could do with a few tests. I'd be worried bout the walking to heel, both of the younger boys think that means half pass!
 
cinnamontoast said:
That sounds fabulous, where was it? I'd have come along if I'd known, Bear could do with a few tests. I'd be worried bout the walking to heel, both of the younger boys think that means half pass!
Click to expand...

It wasn't far, near Hertford, there will hopefully be another one next year, add me on FB and I'll point you to the page.
 
Well done, the first one is always daunting. They're rather addictive :)

I've just been marking out just how far 100m retrieves are having been goaded into entering some spaniels into an inter breed retrieving challenge :O
 
Well done Thistle and dogs. Glad your trainer is recovering. Look forward to pictures.

I remember simply years ago , our first dog was a whippet. We took her to a club show, we were ignorant about showing and she came no where but we won two super prizes in the raffle!!
 
Our local keeper brought a casualty round this morning for my dogs to train with. This is the first time Toast has retrieved game.

photo.php


can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong (again) I'm opening the FB photo and inserting between
 
Last edited:
Oh my it worked! I hope that is the one you meant, I just had a go at doing it.
I clicked on your pic on FB to open it and then copied link location. Then did the img thing. I think!

BTW he looks lovely and very pleased with himself!
 
Alec Swan said:
A huge Well Done Thistle and woofers too! At such times, it's the handlers with the nerves, as we all know! :D

That lab of yours has style.

Alec.
Click to expand...

Local keeper said this morning 'everyone has one superb dog in their lifetime, I think Toast may be yours' Toast is much admired, I'm going to get his eyes tested and if they're good will get hips and elbows scored. I've already had enquiries about using him. He is a stunning looking dog with a fabulous head and good colour. He also has the easiest most laid back temperament and is extremely biddable. He has drive and also switches off when not needed. I have great hopes for him.

What really made my weekend was the Springer though, at last all the training seems to be working. Oh and I took the ASBO rehomed , dog reactive cocker to the local country fair, kill or cure, so many dogs he stopped barking and walked round nicely at heel and was allowed to meet certain nice dogs with friends as a reward.
 
Thistle said:
Local keeper said this morning 'everyone has one superb dog in their lifetime, I think Toast may be yours' …….. .
Click to expand...

Your 'keeper friend may well be right. The curious thing though is that we often fail to appreciate what we have until we're 20 years further down the road. What would I give now for the first proper Collie that I ever owned, the first Lurcher bitch, and the first Spaniel too? :) There are many years between them, but the memories remain.

Alec.
 
I am totally in awe of what these dogs can do. My main ambition with Stanley, apart from him having good manners around peple and other dogs, is that he has reliable recall. Perhaps I shouldn't have got another terrier?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top