Live game training day

[David]

Robert, are you bringing your video camera to the event?

[Polmaise]

Robert, are you bringing your video camera to the event?

Only if you want?

[David]

I'd be quite happy for you to bring it. I'd quite like to see my handling error's etc so I can make improvements. I'll also welcome your comments and suggestions if you've time to do any!

I realise organising and keeping the day flowing is first and foremost so videos might not be possible.

[Polmaise]

I'll get the 'OH', to do that

[Polmaise]

All places,are filled thankyou for all those that replied
Robert

[David]

I think I saw Noah's Ark on the horizon today

I thought it was the Titanic amongst all that water and ice

I don't think anyone who wasn't there would realise just how much snow must have come down on the estate. Robert could have easily called they day off and no one could have complained, however I think he judged it right other than preying for rain

I was first Spaniel in on Wullies left and was happy with the way she hunted the fir trees and with her response to the whistle, it would have been easy to loose her in there. The first bird shot wasn't marked by my dog so a Lab was sent. It was a hard bird to pick for a novice dog, It would have needed pin point lining and total trust in your dog. My Cocker found this clapped tight under the low branches of a fir tree which had a foot of snow around its base.

I got a retrieve further up the drive, again the dog didn't mark it due to the height of the tree's. I did and knew that I'd be on a looser if I sent my dog from where she was. I walked her towards the area where I could get a better view of what she was up to. She done well and came back with the bird, The one bird that had its rib's gone on one side . As said it didn't look like the damage was from the dog.

I was hoping for a good contact flush during the day but conditions didn't help me out with this one. I did benifit from the periods of waiting. Its quite surprising at a trail just how long your dog needs to sit patiently while lots goes on around it. I wouldn't normally sit my dog at a drive, so it was a good training exercise for me and to then continue the sit while the Labs were sent for birds added to it.

Wullie dropped a bird behind while the line hunted forwards for about 30 - 40 yards. A shot was fired and he asked me to send my Cocker. Getting my dog out on a blind has been a bit of a problem as I've probably practiced to much on a certain distance and she now doesn't like to get out past it. I had to handler once to put her back on line, but in general she managed OK. Wullie said he'd mark me 8 out of 10 if it was a test so I was happy with that.

A good day, well planed. Well done Robert and Wullie.

I think it was Terry who fell on the ice, does anyone know how his hand is ?

It was good to meet the other forum members who went along

[scotsgent]

Now , onto the spaniels. They didn't have it easy today. In the fir plantations they only had to go 10-20 feet and they had vanished , but no spaniel I had in front of me went out of control , they did respond to whistle very well , most of the time anyway.

Great to hear Bill!! Thanks, Terry

[Polmaise]

Two days after the event', and the clothes are just dry!!!...It must have been the wettest day ever.
I know 'Wullie', has already 'commented', on the day , in Charlies chatter',but I thought I would keep his thread clear and add my own slant.

There was only 1 'no show', considering the weather forecast', and the 12 handlers and four guns , coming from as far away as Northern England,and the Isles of Scotland,It showed the 'enthusiasm', for the sport.It would have been 'easy to postpone', but then "what is a normal shooting day"?,this aint an 'indoor sport'!
The 'theme', was a ''live game training day"!..and yes we got ''live game''. The final bag ,was 52, ..1 rabbit,2 pigeons ,1 partridge 24 duck,24 pheasant, and some sort of carcass', that resembled 'game'?, Shamy's dog 'Laika', decided to bring back

At the start, with the rain 'persistantly' (pissing it down), the walk up in a line with four dogs and four guns', quickly became a 'nightmare' ,as 'Wullie', doesn't know how to work a radio', and even if he did!..it wouldn't matter, as I couldn't hear him, because the radios got full of water!..this made it difficult, because I now lost control,with the keeper'and his helpers,who were acting as 'stops', at strategic points,to hold the birds,in front of the 'walking guns ,and handlers'!
Combined with the fact,that most handlers were now 'protecting themselves', from the 'wild weather', with hoods up', and earflaps on ..could now not hear the 'now verbal instruction'!and increased the 'now insuing', situation of 'game moving further and further away', from the line!

There was game found ,and shot however', and after a few 'tries', we did retrive the shot game.
All the dogs were of 'novice', standard!..including the 'Spaniel', handled by 'Barbara' who had come to me for training in the summer', and has already won a novice field trial!....

It was 'quickly', clear that ''all'' of the dogs and handlers, had control of thier dogs , however', when it came to 'cover,that they could not ''see'' ?, thier dogs, confidence from the handler and dog was missing'?..
Almost all of the dogs ,I had not seen before ,or the handlers?, but I imagine??,many of the 'preparetary', training had been done on 'dummy work', in open landscape,for dog and handler', and any 'close work', had been in a controlled envoirenment?..this is 'good for puppy'?,(imo), but there must come a time for ''graduation''?
Which was the intention of the day!

Yes ,it could have been better', if the weather was better?, but 'hey', do you only take your dog out on 'sunny days'?..to ride,on another thread', where discussed "Is a trial a real test of the best dog"?...Yes, if it can perform the same, in any place at any time against any dog?

I hope the handlers that attended gained something from the day? to practice and train for such a day again?, because if you and your dog worked through that day?, it will work through any?!!!

It was very good to see some faces to names especially on this forum ,and I must say', you all look totally different to what 'I imagined'

Final word goes to 'Gary Heron' (Butcherboy) (the one that had two cockers that looked the same ) who was awarded 'by the guns', 'dog that they would most like to see again'!
well done.

[Muirdubh]

Two days after the event', and the clothes are just dry!!!...

My boots are still drying on the radiator, tracey is covered in bruises and my 'gear' cupboard stinks of something damp (not sure what it is)

Bonnie's limp is gone but she still looks a bit stiff so she's on toilet walks only and that'll be an end to her season me thinks...
If I'd taken my GSP this forum would be full of comments like 'saw that dog go so fast and so far'.... but the bird only fell 30 yards away

It was good to meet you all...

[WGD]

Sounds like a good day Robert, well done.