Our Shooting Season so far *with pics*

[Scranny_Ann]

Having a great Season so far

Dogs are going really well!

Kensa - lab is her usual mad self, nevertheless still very well behaved (99.9% of the time that is) although has really got to grips this season and has 'run in' a few times

naughty Kens! But im not too bothered tbh as she's been a very slow starter, late maturing in ever respect and was terribly clingly. I'm glad she's now thinking for herself.

Jake, the rescue spangle is really coming along nicely. Training has been put on hold as he is still way too nervy, so he's spending this season running wild (literally) having fun, getting used to people/dogs/guns etc. He's retrieved the odd pheasant/partridge which im really pleased with.

Ellie - Well she's just Ellie, my little star! Never fails to astonish me and others on the shoot with her intelligence

she's just 110% natural! Love her!

Dad's very pleased with all the drives, made a few changes this year with the hope to improve some of the newer drives, so far so good

Anyway Wine and cheesecake if you got this far .. let the pictures commence!!!

Me & OH on the way to the first shoot!

Kensa & Ellie on Barn Drive

Kensa watching & waiting...

Barn Drive

Kens

Now onto Trevenna Cross

Kensa on River duty...

Trevenna River crossing

Lunch time .. Kensa stays guard on the Gaitor!!

OH & Kensa - Note her face *hurry up Mum i hate sitting with him!!*

Me, Kensa & Ellie

My Dad and his Cocker Spangle - Willow

Me and Mum

Dad on his way for food!!

Now, especially for Hen .. your other dog...Jake!!

Ellie & Jake in the back of the Gaitor, we were on the game kart that day

Another drive ... Front Belts

The Deer in the Park

Kensa

Ellie paying attention and Jake sporting the *i don't really know what im doing so i'll just look pretty for the camera* look!

Helping Dad and the other Keepers at the end of the day load up the chiller

Sorry there are so many ... and so much of the season left to go ... plenty more pics to come!!

Thanks for looking

 

[Horseyscot]

Fantastic pics

Glad to hear season has got off to a good start, your dogs are all looking gorgeous

 

[Spudlet]

I laughed out loud at that picture of Kensa and your OH - what a face

Lovely, lovely pics

I am considering posting Henry to one of you shooting bods, you can send him back when he's all well behaved-like

 

[Scranny_Ann]

HS - Thanks

It's defo been a great start, it's the best part of the year IMO ... Oct-Feb!

Han - Kensa does pull some weird and wonderful faces! She hates pics with others, much rather it was just her in the pic .. cos she's that important you understand!

 

[Scranny_Ann]

[ QUOTE ]
I am considering posting Henry to one of you shooting bods, you can send him back when he's all well behaved-like

[/ QUOTE ]



Send him over, dear of him! He'll have a whale of a time

I'll swap Henry for Jake, you can carry on with building Jake's social skills (although Don't tell Hen you've got him or she may try and pinch him!)

 

[Spudlet]

It can be a spaniel exchange!

 

[kirstyhen]

Yaaaaay Jakey boy

He is just Otto's twin!! It's amazing how similar they are, that last pic of Jake in the box, I could swear it was Otto!

I am so jealous! I'm going out on the 11th for the first time in years, to get into the swing of it and then Otto gets to come out and play at being a gundog

Loving the socks

 

[Scranny_Ann]

[ QUOTE ]
It can be a spaniel exchange!

[/ QUOTE ]


Well you've got several mad spangles to choose from ... there's Daisy, Jay, Ellie, Jake, Fern, Willow or Lucy!!

 

[Scranny_Ann]

[ QUOTE ]
Yaaaaay Jakey boy

He is just Otto's twin!! It's amazing how similar they are, that last pic of Jake in the box, I could swear it was Otto!

I am so jealous! I'm going out on the 11th for the first time in years, to get into the swing of it and then Otto gets to come out and play at being a gundog

Loving the socks

[/ QUOTE ]


They are so alike - Twins separated at birth maybe

I just love being out on the shoot, its so much fun. Working the dogs is amazing and so rewarding to watch them work, knowing all the hundreds of hours training have finally paid off!!

Thanks I am slightly obsessed with shooting socks ...

you should check out www.shootingsocks.co.uk AMAZING site!!

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]


They are so alike - Twins separated at birth maybe

I just love being out on the shoot, its so much fun. Working the dogs is amazing and so rewarding to watch them work, knowing all the hundreds of hours training have finally paid off!!

Thanks I am slightly obsessed with shooting socks ...

you should check out www.shootingsocks.co.uk AMAZING site!!

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a bit freaky how much they look alike, they both have long tails and I thin kif Otto hadn't ended up with me he would have seen a few homes as he is a difficult sod!

Definately seperated at birth!

I love watching Otto work, my Daddy has this quote on his email sig and I think it is so true - [ QUOTE ]
"The rapport between dog and human is at its strongest and most profound when the dog is fulfilling its working instincts under human guidance" ~ Jackie Drakeford

[/ QUOTE ]

I need to get some trousers for out beating, I have a shiny new coat and boots to wear, I'm very excited

 

[Scranny_Ann]

New shoes hey?! Me too ... not got them in these pics tho

i seem to spend a small fortune on shooting gear every single year oops!

I love that quote - so true!

This has been the case with Jake, pushed from pillar to post as nobody has taken the time or made the effort to understand him

until now

 

[Ravenwood]

Brilliant pictures SA - I loved them all!

So glad your season is going well

I am so jealous of your shooting socks - I lost mine in the fire! Am now having to wear long trousers instead of breeks

We are all out tomorrow, daughter picking up with me and son beating - you just can't beat it can you?!!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Lovely pics, Kensa has the most gorgeous expression, and I love your Dads little black spaniel.

I like your socks too, shop I work in sells shooting gear but not seen socks like that before.

 

[Scranny_Ann]

Thank you

My OH beats (quite nice to exchange stories of banter from the two 'areas' of the shoot for the day! Although most of the banter goes on over the radio throughout the day!!

*whispers* see web address i recommended to Hen above for shooting socks ... thats where mine are from, well there and John Norris

 

[CorvusCorax]

GORGEOUS pics, thanks so much for sharing, a bit of my old life that I miss!

Loving the socks

 

[Scranny_Ann]

[ QUOTE ]
Lovely pics, Kensa has the most gorgeous expression, and I love your Dads little black spaniel.

I like your socks too, shop I work in sells shooting gear but not seen socks like that before.

[/ QUOTE ]


I'll post some mor of Kensa's expressions tomorrow, she's not right in the head i'm sure of it!!

Ah .. Little Willow, she's Dad's fav *but don't tell the rest* lol mad little thing, way too much energy, never ever still!!!!

 

[Scranny_Ann]

[ QUOTE ]
GORGEOUS pics, thanks so much for sharing, a bit of my old life that I miss!

Loving the socks

[/ QUOTE ]


I can't imagine being without shooting, but then with dad being Headkeeper for donkeys years i know no different!

Why don't you shoot anymore? If you don't mind me being nosey

feel free to tell me to shut it!

Seems everyone loves the socks!! hehe

 

[CorvusCorax]

Haha, no worries, my ex was an underkeeper and my cousin's husband used to be the underkeeper of a big estate in Scotland.

Ex is gone, obviously and my cousin and her hubbie have moved on.
Sold my gun to my dad when I got a job in a city, so it isn't too far away!
Used to do a lot of ferreting too

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]
New shoes hey?! Me too ... not got them in these pics tho

i seem to spend a small fortune on shooting gear every single year oops!

I love that quote - so true!

This has been the case with Jake, pushed from pillar to post as nobody has taken the time or made the effort to understand him

until now

[/ QUOTE ]

My Oh bought them for me, I wear them everyday, soooo comfy! Now my Mum wants a pair

I've been trying to get a picture of Otto that looks like that one of Jake, however he says it's late and he is too tired to pose. I think he has a slightly heavier head/build than Jake, is more roaned and bigger ears, and that's it!

This is the only one I have with his gob shut!

 

[posie_honey]

great piccies

we've got a rescue lab (beaten & v timid

was mega gun shy - now fabulous working dog but not the most intelligent lol! bless him)

retitred springer spangle (resuce case again - neglect - was in v bad state when we got him 4 yrs ago

he still does the odd drive to keep him happy - but genuinly deaf and runs a'muck lol!)

new rescue cocker - aggressive case - was due to be PTS but was just in wrong situation (owrking dog in town - no walks - allowed to do what he wanted - yada yada yada you know the sort

)

had him about 3 months now and he's a cracker

wouldn't touch a dummy so assumed he'd jsut be a beating dog... but no - out on a walk he suddenly bought me a pheasant! turns out he's got a great nose and picked up a pidgeon out shooting the other day - so pleased with him - just shows that these dogs need a job eh?

 

[Scranny_Ann]

I used to have ferrets

Lovely creatures

You should come to Cornwall, come down on the Estate and re-live the dream!!!

My dad was in Scotland last month Grouse Shooting, i've got the pictures on my laptop. Beautiful place

It's my dream to spend a entire Christmas/New Year up there

 

[Spudlet]

I've never shot anything in my life, and know no one who does in RL, but watching Henry on walks I think I'd love to see him working! I think he could be a good beater, he loves getting into the undergrowth, and he already flushes birds then stops as soon as they fly, which is what he'd be supposed to do, right?

I have not the faintest idea where you would start though!

 

[Scranny_Ann]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
New shoes hey?! Me too ... not got them in these pics tho

i seem to spend a small fortune on shooting gear every single year oops!

I love that quote - so true!

This has been the case with Jake, pushed from pillar to post as nobody has taken the time or made the effort to understand him

until now

[/ QUOTE ]

My Oh bought them for me, I wear them everyday, soooo comfy! Now my Mum wants a pair

I've been trying to get a picture of Otto that looks like that one of Jake, however he says it's late and he is too tired to pose. I think he has a slightly heavier head/build than Jake, is more roaned and bigger ears, and that's it!

This is the only one I have with his gob shut!

[/ QUOTE ]


Oh look at him perched up there, i love him! (Kensa thinks he's rather dishy, she wishes she was a spangle!)

I can never get pics with Kensa's gob shut ... she's got a heart murmur so matter how fit/lean she is kept she still gets tired quickly

bless her!

I agree there's not much between them, Jake's nick name is Jake Jake the Racing Snake!! Cos he's soooo thin! Can't get any weight on him, he looks better now as he's muscled up rather a lot

nut his ribs are still there

 

[Scranny_Ann]

Come to Cornwall!!

I think in January we should do a HHO Cornish Shooting Trip!!

fun fun fun!!

Trainging your dog for beating is mainly keeping your dog steady! Obviously there is more to it but in general terms ...

As long as you keep them close, they're on the recall (like you say he stops when the bird is flushed and doesn't proceed to chase said bird for next 10 mins!

- it's happened to me, i have got that t-shirt hundreds of times over!!)

Then with experience and training you get your other commands, 'go back'/'go left'/'go right' etc.

Kensa is my first lab i've trained for picking up, that was difficult, although i'm looking forward to my next lab

 

[GinaB]

I love Kensa's grumpy face int he one of ehr with your OH

And Willow is sooooo cute! I love wee Cockers but likes to stick with labs as they're soooo easy to work with

Incredibly jealous, we usually do one driven shoot a year, we're going to Greyabbey Estate in Januray. I'm scared as I'll be 'properly' working Midget for the first time as rough shooting is really our thing

Not that I've been out in a while

 

[Scranny_Ann]

hehe i had growled 'waaaait' at her just before i took the pic cos she kept wanting to sit with me and not OH!! Silly girlie she is! Loves her mummy

Ah good luck with Midget, bet she'll be good as gold

I love rough shooting, we do a lof over christmas, i usually have Ellie out for that. It's too 'down market' for Kensa, she likes to mix with the 'what what dahling' guns on sold days!! hehe snob

 

[Spudlet]

Sounds like fun to me

I have the boots and everything (no trousers though, will have to be a pleb in jeans

)

If it flies Henry stops, if it's a bunny he's off, but he doesn't go so far anymore. Sometimes, he even stops mid chase and comes back

 

[Scranny_Ann]

I really think every dog in some way or another enjoys it!

It's so lovely you rescue and give them a lovely life. I think a lot of dogs end up in the wrong hands/situations. Very sad

Our dogs Daisy/Lucy/Jake are all rescue in a sense. Daisy and Lucy were both about 18 months when we got them. Both from marriages that had broken down/no time/money/accommodation for them, both pets too. Not that you would think it, amazing working dogs. Lucy is now 11/12 and is still dads old faithful! Getting abit stiff now bless her. Jake is mine, he was bought to be a working dog and proved to be rather difficult, owner thought the answer to it was to beat him senseless ... not the answer! Don't get me wrong i'm all for strict discipline but there's a difference!! I just wish they could see him now

 

[Spudlet]

[ QUOTE ]


new rescue cocker - aggressive case - was due to be PTS but was just in wrong situation (owrking dog in town - no walks - allowed to do what he wanted - yada yada yada you know the sort

)

[/ QUOTE ]

Honestly, why do people like that get these kind of dogs...

Henry is a love, but God help us if he doesn't get his full quota of walks, he gets the Devil in him then! It's no wonder they end up needing new homes

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]


Oh look at him perched up there, i love him! (Kensa thinks he's rather dishy, she wishes she was a spangle!)

I can never get pics with Kensa's gob shut ... she's got a heart murmur so matter how fit/lean she is kept she still gets tired quickly

bless her!

I agree there's not much between them, Jake's nick name is Jake Jake the Racing Snake!! Cos he's soooo thin! Can't get any weight on him, he looks better now as he's muscled up rather a lot

nut his ribs are still there

[/ QUOTE ]

Bless Kensa, she is a lovely girly, Otto isn't fussy about breeding

Otto always has his tongue open, cue a cut tongue whenever he runs through bracken, stupid dog! He certainly doesn't tire quickly though

Otto is a ribby dog too!! He is the perfect weight at the moment, but it is sooo hard to keep it on him, he stresses it off at the drop of a hat! The Vet loves him though, says it's fantastic to see such a lean dog for a change

He is preparing himself for this season, was a little star this morning, flushed a squirrel but stopped when told (squirrels are far too tempting!), stayed close and kept checking back with me, I think he might be coming down with something!