Gundog Training Forum

Today's shift has been cancelled, the weather is drizzle rather than gale-driven sleet and for the first time in a couple of weeks I'm not feeling like death warmed up so.....

Got the 'bolting rabbit' out from where its been festering in the back corner of a cupboard since I got it Once I'd finally managed to figure out how it worked I went and got Bryn out of the house, walked him over the road and kept him tight with a bit of close hunting and a short marked retrieve and threw a memory before putting his lead back on and sitting him up just short of the 'rabbit'. Released the rabbit, 'STAY' and simultaneous sharp check on lead, to be fair he stayed sat but was desperate to go after the 'rabbit' brought him to heel and sent him for the memory which he brought back but dropped at my feet on his way past to find the 'rabbit' which he tried to retrieve but the check cord wouldn't let him, called him up while I reset the 'rabbit'.

Second time was better as he was much steadier and retrieved the memory to hand. Next we walked to the far end of the ground where I sat him up and sent him for a blind, this wasn't as good as usual as he still had the rabbit on his mind so overshot the blind, recalled him and I stopped him level with the dummy then sent him left where he picked it.

On the way back down the hill I dropped a blind inside some tree netting just to the side of the path before walking as far forward as I could while still seeing where the dummy was before calling him to heel, sent him on and stopped him level with the dummy and gave him the 'there' whistle, from there it was a straight forward retrieve so we called it a day and I let him have a mooch around while I gathered up the bolting rabbit.

At the moment I'm using a plain canvas 'rabbit' but will, in time, change to a rabbit skin dummy to up the challenge.

The date of the first Galloway Gundog test has been set for 20th April at Auchenbrack. So something to work towards, Auchenbrack was the first test we attended but only as spectators.

Well the our test season has started and it was with some trepidation I took Bryn out for the day as we've done next to nothing for most of this year. The weather was beautiful as was the setting up in the hills above Tynron.

Test 1. a simple walk up, sit/stay & recall followed by a short marked retrieve over a stream, it was meat and drink to Bryn 3 points dropped for overshooting the dummy and having to hunt back

Test 2. hunt up, stop to shot and retrieve when told, then a hunt recall and steady to a thrown dummy and retrieve from water. Flushed with his earlier success Bryn had other ideas and although he stopped to shot he took off as soon as the dummy was in the air, and again as the second dummy hit the water.

Lunch time with 40 points in the bag I was feeling ok with the day's work.

Test 3. hunt up stop on the whistle then walk up and sit/stay while a distraction and then a marked retrieve was thrown. Bryn decided he knew best and after brief pause he collected the distraction before the retrieve was thrown.

Test 4. hunt up then stop to heel and a semi blind over a dry stone wall. Bryn went out over the wall like a rocket, soared over the dummies and down a long steep bank towards the stream at the bottom, fortunately he recalled well and retrieved the dummy on the way back.

Finished the day with 73 points our highest yet but still well down the field and it could have been so much better. Given how little I've been able to do with him recently he did very well, his retrieves and presentation were spot on. His run in the scurry was his best yet though not quick enough to be in the running, could maybe have been a bit quicker on the out-run.

A some work on steadiness is needed but on the day I think he was just a wee bit over eager and keen to please and I can't fault him for that.

It was great to meet so many folk again and talk gundogs and shooting, the Galloway Gundogs Tests seem to be attracting ever larger entries so the judges and organisers were very busy and did a brilliant job.

Great to see Canis Major in the prizes again

Scores from the last test have been published and in spite of a PB Bryn and I came = last

Oh well onwards and upwards, hopefully I've got our main issue sorted.

Never mind Bryn, the only way is up now First test I did, I came bottom but one, the next one I came first.

Most of your marks seem to have been lost due to run-ins Bryn. Get that sorted out and watch your marks improve.

Wullie

Jelinga thanks for the encouragement looking at the scores it was quite a strong field even in novice.

Wullie I know, it's down to my not having had enough time to do much with him recently. I was quite shocked when he ran in not once but 3 times, it's sorted in our usual places now - can even get him to leave his favourite treat (small bit of chorizo) in the house but who knows how he'll respond in a test. Next test is Corsock House on the 18th, that's the one you took Dax to. He's just coming 18 months so still a daft pup in many ways.

I'd come down to the test myself Bryn but it would cost me about £70 in fuel and Libby would take in the ground intended for every spaniel there !

Wullie

Bragging again?

South West Gundog test is on Saturday May 10th at Douglas, South Lanarkshire

I'm going for a laugh. I'll be the guy with the wild big red dog!