Our first shoot

[SpanielGirl]

Bailey and me were on our first ever shoot today. We've been waiting for this for a long time, all the training, the KC working gundog cert a few test to date but now the real thing.

So were put at the end of the line on the first drive and I'm told to keep him on the lead as were going through cover crop, sounds fine by me (all the stories I've heard of dogs running through the line putting all the Pheasants up at once). Near the end of the drive I'm told to let him off the lead if I can keep him close, sure no problem. Well he works well staying close turning sharply to the whistle and stops instantly (on the whistle) when he flushes his first pheasant. A few more go up all around us and he sits there, steady as a rock. So I cast him off again and straight away a bird runs past his nose which he chases straight into a wire fence, the bird gets stuck between the fence and a tree. Feathers flying up all over the dog with me on me knees trying to get in there to finally drag him off

After a few laughs were off again with lots more flushes and a few pick ups, all in all I'd say it was a good introduction to a shoot.

Hi Ian

Lovely to hear all about your exciting first shoot day with Bailey. Bet you are 'over the moon' with all you have done with him in the past few weeks. You are destined for a draw in a Field Trial I am sure!!

[Redian]

Hi Ian

Lovely to hear all about your exciting first shoot day with Bailey. Bet you are 'over the moon' with all you have done with him in the past few weeks. You are destined for a draw in a Field Trial I am sure!! [/quote]


Thanks Sarah, were beating close to the training ground this Saturday and then steward for the MSWSC open cocker on Monday so looking forward to all that . What about you are you going to work tilly? She's a cracking little bitch.

[SpanielGirl]

Thanks Sarah, were beating close to the training ground this Saturday and then steward for the MSWSC open cocker on Monday so looking forward to all that . What about you are you going to work tilly? She's a cracking little bitch.

Thanks Ian, I might do some beating with her as my neighbour is involved with a small shoot and has asked me to go along, but I am a bit unsure as never done anything like that before and feel like I might be jumping in at the deep end for me and Tilly!! I was very encouraged by the judge after the Working Gundog Certificate the other week, he came over to talk to me and was very complimentary about Tilly and made me think that we could try and do a Working Test in the spring - so look out we might be competing against each other!!! However, fitting the kids, work and dog training in is a trial at the best of times and now the clocks have gone back - help!!!

Sounds like you have a busy few days ahead, hope you enjoy yourselves and look forward to hearing all about what you and Bailey get up to!!

Sarah

[Redian]

Our Second Shoot.

Second shoot of the season was in thick cover of bracken, pine and larch. Very difficult cover at times for me to keep him close especially when he picked up the scents of Pheasants running forward. However again it was a useful opportunity for training and by the afternoon (as he tired) he worked in a closer pattern and the last two flushes I could see the birds sitting tight before he found them. Again he got a retrieve, this time a pricked bird had cross a ride and was sitting under cover so he followed its trail and picked up for his first runner .

[hornet]

nice one Ian, great report, looks like Bailey is fast settling into his new job, a runner eh! top dog.

[Redian]

Well its all but over except for a few clean up days on Monday & Tuesday. Just as well its coming to an end, Bailey is getting a little too hot now and it might be best for him to give it a rest.

Its been a great first season lots of highs and many training lows of "how the hell am I going to achieve that"! But its all come good in the end including my first trial, all 15 minutes of it! I've really enjoyed the socialising and; Me, a fully bred towny getting out into the country, not the man made country (parks and nature trails} but what I think is the real country side which, without the dog I would never have been.

One of the best successes for me is my youngest son going to the shoots with me. He's promoted himself from the beating line to loading the game care (only because he gets to ride in it between drives ). He's made a real name for himself with many of the guns and beaters. My oldest son has joined us late and realised what he's been missing, but a success he's out of the house off the xbox and he'll be there from the start next season. Saturday was beaters day and a couple of small shotguns were brought along for them to shoot which they absolutely loved and are now hooked (more expense for me ). Harvey aged 11 shot his first pheasant which pleasantly surprised all and was the talk of the day and a proud moment for me.

All this from getting my first dog!

Ian

[T for Terence]

Well done Ian and fantastic that the boys are getting so much out of it. Misty has a litter about to drop, shall I book you a couple of pups for your lads???

[beltabout]

Well its all but over except for a few clean up days on Monday & Tuesday.
Ian

Oh no it's not!!!

Well done, I am glad you have the bug and that this is being passed on to your lads.

Both my kids have been fortunate and grown up with this way of life, but even so it gives a real buzz when they do something new. My 12 year old has progress to feeding on the Quad bike on his own, (well so he thinks) I just take the dogs for a walk at the same time he does the feeding.

Both of mine have very good morals from these experiences and they are very respectful of the people animals and the environment. hey also have a passion the sport and pest control. Ratting with terriers is very popular. Both of the children work their own dog which causes some raised eye brows at first but people soon realise that they are competent and we are often told how well behaved their dog is. I am glad they have the dog bug and not the shooting bug as this is expensive.

The end of the shooting season is not it for me summer is my favourite time as I love the dog training, deer stalking game fairs and the pigeon shooting. You wait the bug has only just started and let my wife confirm the end of the shooting season is not necessarily the end, it's just the

beginning.

Nick

[hornet]

Fantastic news Ian, i think next years Christmas list for the boys will be a little different ......it's encouragement for me to follow in your footsteps,from town to park to Ockham common, and into the country, theres nothing like that first days' beating to make you feel like, this is what life's all about!

[Redian]

Your so right Beltabout, I created a picture of us stewing for the next 9 months No, we're already looking forward to the game fairs and I plan to enter a few tests, continue training at Mid Sussex and hopefully another BBQ scurry .

Not ready yet for another dog I'm afraid Terry but I know one of yours would be a good buy. Highly recommended

Thanks for the kind words Hornet, it would be good to see you in some tests this year and the dates for the Mid Sussex training course were published today well worth the money