Rabbit Masterclass

[Smokey]

Shooting rabbits over Cocker Spaniels on the North Yorkshire Moors, does it get any better ?
When Maesydderwen Cockers Peter Jones is handling the dogs and Darren Skidmore of MoelFamau Cockers is at one with the wand, I don't think it does.









I had a amazing day and learnt a great deal, without even getting one of mine out for a run (saving myself from embarrassment)


Smokey

[Hepe]

Whhhhaaaa i'm not jealous at all, nohoooo! *blatant lie* A day to remember for a very long time i think?

Helene

[big mac]

Guys excuse my concern and or possibly ignorance but in the four pic down I see whats seems to be a shooter with gun raised and what seems to be a cocker on a lead that is then fixed to the game bag over his shoulder,is this normal practice??

Mac

[dave p]

Great pics mate

[lee-kinsman]

Guys excuse my concern and or possibly ignorance but in the four pic down I see whats seems to be a shooter with gun raised and what seems to be a cocker on a lead that is then fixed to the game bag over his shoulder,is this normal practice??

Mac

What's your point?

[Strathcraig]

Yes it is normal practice, provided the dog walks at heel and is steady there's no problem. Saves triallers who have several dogs to shoot over going back several times to change dogs.

[Judy]

Great photos! Love the black and white ones, very evocative.

Have to say though whenever I see a man holding a gun whilst a dog is attached to him I tend to be beating a retreat for the nearest big tree, sod taking photos! Don't you have enough to do keeping in line, walking through rashes, watching dogs and staying in a position to shoot, without having a dog round your feet?

If the dog is steady and at heel it doesn't need the lead, Craig.

[big mac]

Great photos! Love the black and white ones, very evocative.

Have to say though whenever I see a man holding a gun whilst a dog is attached to him I tend to be beating a retreat for the nearest big tree, sod taking photos! Don't you have enough to do keeping in line, walking through rashes, watching dogs and staying in a position to shoot, without having a dog round your feet?

If the dog is steady and at heel it doesn't need the lead, Craig.

My point exactly Thank you
I seen a gamekeeper absolutely tear strips from a gun who tried the same several year ago. Not only is the dog round his feet its attached to a lead that is attached to the game bag the strap of which is over the guns right shoulder,his shooting shoulder no doubt,whats not to be concerned about???

[Smokey]

Great photos! Love the black and white ones, very evocative.

Have to say though whenever I see a man holding a gun whilst a dog is attached to him I tend to be beating a retreat for the nearest big tree, sod taking photos! Don't you have enough to do keeping in line, walking through rashes, watching dogs and staying in a position to shoot, without having a dog round your feet?

If the dog is steady and at heel it doesn't need the lead, Craig.

My point exactly Thank you
I seen a gamekeeper absolutely tear strips from a gun who tried the same several year ago. Not only is the dog round his feet its attached to a lead that is attached to the game bag the strap of which is over the guns right shoulder,his shooting shoulder no doubt,whats not to be concerned about???

Peter won his first trial in 1985. He has currently made up 24 Field Trial Champions (23 Cockers,1 Springer). He has been an A' Panel Kennel Club Judge since 1992 and won the British Championship in 1994. Since then he has had 3 seconds 2 thirds and 2 fourth places. Peter has trained and shot over Cockers since 1970

Darren has been a shooting man for over 30 years and started training his own dogs in the late eighties. He is a B panel Kennel Club Judge and runs monthly training sessions on his ground as well as spending time in Sweden and Finland training spaniels.

Darren pulled up on one shot Saturday, Peter asked "what's up Da", he replied "it's a leveret Peter"

I always say a good shot is a safe shot. I never felt the need to run for a tree or duck for cover, Margret whom is Peter's wife walked along side me (occasionally telling me what Peter was doing wrong ) we where behind Darren as he watched Peter's dog's work the ground. You would think that with 65 odd years experience between them, what they have achieved and how they both have influenced the modern cocker, they must be doing something right. Like the title say's Master Class

Smokey

[Judy]

Long enough to get lax in their habits then!

Smokey, nobody doubt their abilities to breed and train good Cockers and I would have happily gone out of my way to watch them training any time, I am quite envious. I freely admit I don't shoot but I have been around guns and people who do shoot most of my life and seen enough accidents and near misses to know what's safe and what isn't, that practise, to me, doesn't look safe. If he had been swinging right to left to take a shot I presume he would have moved his left leg forward, precisely where the dog is. If you have people with you give them the lead, far safer.

And, yes, I too would have been embarrassed to get my mutts out of the car in that kind of company!