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Changes made 05/09/10
 
 
 
 
PARTRIDGE TRAINING DAY
 
Pepper went on his first Partridge Training Day on the 4th September.  Six and a half hours of tramping through Sugar Beet has certainly taken its toll on me and was probably a bit too much for Pepper too. If Darcy hadn't been in pup I would have taken her along for half the day. Fantastic day, really well organised and I only fell over once, when we were turning the line . Then struggled to get up because I was laughing so much when the shout went up "Stop the line an old bird is down"!!! 
 
 
There were good points and bad points as far as Pepper is concerned. He was steady in the line all day long - even when a partridge got up from between his front legs which made a very relaxing day for me. There is nothing quite like being on tenterhooks all day because you are unsure whether your dog will run in or not. He had five very good retrieves where he went straight to the area hunted well and picked nicely. It was surprising for me to see dogs going out and handling well but then just standing there and not actually hunting for the bird. However it was a baking hot day and I guess scenting was not ideal.
 
 
The day did confirm to me though that Pepper is not quite ready for Field Trials yet. When he could not find the bird (and these were birds that must have been pricked and legged it) he has a tendency to get rather carried away with following the scent of the live birds that are running ahead through the sugar beet. Always a bit of a problem this early in the season. So lots more work is required in that area as Mr Steady Eddy went deaf and forgot the meaning of the stop whistle, then after a reminder, he went a bit sticky on me.
 
 
So Pepper has another Partridge Training Day in September and then he will be Picking Up this season, and I will be stepping up the difficulty of the retrieves that he is allowed, when out with the shoot, especially on pricked birds, which he was not allowed anywhere near last season.
 
 
 
URC LINCS NOVICE COLD GAME TEST 22/08/10
 
I am pleased to say that Pepper ran in the above test yesterday and achieved a Certificate of Merit. His first award in a Novice Test.
 
 
 
Fantastic day but very very hot. Thrilled with Pepper and most of the places were actually taken by people I train with so the excitement levels were high. I also realised when we gathered for the photo that I was the only lady in the awards!
 
 
 
First time in line two mark retrieves in front one directly in front and the other thrown out to the side. We scored 18 and 19.
Second time in line a longer mark in front and a blind behind the line. We scored 19 and 19.

There was a cut at lunchtime with about 12 dogs going through I think (I didn't actually count them) but they included one of Pepper's brothers as well which was nice for me to see, oh and Pepper .

After lunch all 12 dogs went in line together (which was a very long line) with the first dog (ME) at the far righthand end of the line. We were told there would be a long mark in front then a shot would be fired right off the end of the line out of the sugar beet across a track and half way across a big stubble field. They wanted the blind first and as first dog I knew that I was going to have problems with this one. Pepper loves the sugar beet and I knew it would be tough to get him out and across the stubble for a blind. It was and thank goodness the judges gave me a little longer as first dog, but we finally picked the rabbit (all the other retrieves were pigeons). We then picked the mark with no problems at all. Our mark was 13 and I have no doubt it was 3 for the blind and 10 for the mark, but we got it!

We then had to go to the other end of the line and have the other 11 dogs shoot past our nose for there blind keeping everyone on tenterhooks for the rest of the test .
 
 
 
Second mating for Darcy and Butler today, so now its just the waiting game to see if she is in pup. If she is, the pups will be due around the middle of October and ready for their new homes at the beginning of December 2010. I was fortunate enough to be shown a litter of pups from a black working bitch and Butler while at the kennels today so here are a couple of photographs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
I took the decision with the co-operation of the stud dog owners (thank you Sara and Mike) to swop stud dogs and I am pleased to say we had a successful mating between Darcy and FTW Brindlebay Butler. He has a fantastic pedigree, links in nicely with Darcy through FTCH Lafayette Tolley, and throws dark yellow pups . I will be going for a second mating on Wednesday 18th August.  http://www.brindlebaygundogs.co.uk/stud.html 
 
 
 
At long last Darcy has decided to come in season today 6th August. Watch this space for details of smear tests, matings, scans etc. etc.  Exciting times again .
 
 
 
Stunning New Group Photo - courtesy of Michael Gray
 
 
 
 

 

Rabbit Training In Yorkshire

We are back and did I have an eventful weekend Very Happy . The weather up on the moor was horrendous and I may well have to look into changing some of my wet weather gear before another trip.

I won't bore you with all the details but suffice to say Pepper went well!! I still can't believe the length (nor the height Shocked ) of some of the retrieves, and I understand my face went very pale on the second day when given some really difficult retrieves to try.

I have a few photos that will give you a feel of the weather and the terrain, although none of Pepper retrieving as it was all serious stuff and not the time to be getting a camera out!

A photo of Darcy next to one of the walls - it really felt like we had gone to Ettinsmoor (the land of the giants in Narnia)!




And one of Pepper while we were just waiting to start:


And one of Darcy retrieving a shot rabbit:

And the rest are of the line and the terrain:








It was definitely one of those things that should be on any gundog handlers list of things to do before I die and it now has a large tick next to it Wink . I just wish that I had started all of this at a younger age as it was physically challenging especially after being a Fenlander for 7 years now. Will I go again - you bet I will Very Happy .

 
 
 

 

 
 
Ettinsmoor Labradors is a small kennel of Fox Red Working Labradors owned by Jill Parsons and based near Kings Lynn in Norfolk.


All of the dogs are worked regularly through the shooting season as picking up dogs. The younger dogs run in tests through the summer and compete in Field Trials from the 2009/10 season onwards.


Fox Red Working Labradors are my passion but I fully intend to do my best by selective breeding to improve the quality of my dogs. The dogs are my hobby and not a commercial venture. I have only been involved with labradors for eleven years but before that spent 15 years showing and working Weimaraners.
 
 
 

Jill Parsons has asserted her right under the © Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, to be identified as the owner of all media on this web site. All rights reserved. No part of this publication or supplied images may be produced, stored on a retrieval system, or be transmitted in any other form or by any means, without the prior permission of Jill Parsons.