Dog Blog
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August 2010 I have been very lucky this year to have attended two different Ricky Maloney training days with Pepper and here are some of the photos taken by David Harris of Finchingford Gundogs. The copyright of these photos belongs to David. Thank you for letting me use them David.
       ETTINSMOOR PEPPERPOT
PEPPERS FIRST GOOSE RETRIEVE
PEPPER'S FIRST HARE RETRIEVE
 July 2010 URC Lincs Have A Go Day
Well what a day!
The concept was conceived by the Chairman Jim Cochrane and it was a fantastic idea. Jim and his merry helpers gave us all a fantastic day and worked there little socks off for which I thank you. There were 5 Levels. Level 1 being the very basic level with no retrieve (just a pick up by handler) going up to Level 5 which included a mark and a blind and a retrieve over a fence into water which was novice level. I loved the concept as it took me back to my Working Trials days when you qualify out of each level by gaining a certain number of points and move up to the next level. You could have as many tries at each level as you wished. You could also miss out the basic level 1 and start the day on level 2. There was also a Conformation Test at the start by a Show Judge which was fascinating for me as a breeder. Having a few pups that I bred there on the day getting some positive feedback was a joy and made me feel that some of my late night struggling over pedigrees etc. is starting to pay off  . Probably the feedback on Pepper was the most surprising for me. She loved my boy . Both Pepper and Spice had an identical conformation mark!Now down to my dogs - I took three (I wish I'd had the energy to take all six  ) and they all achieved the top Advanced Level Five Certificate and red rosette at the end of the day. Pepper and Darcy just got on with the job. Spice was a delight and I just wish we had a photo of the judges faces when I press the green for go button at the start of a test and we have launch  . She had to have two tries at two of the tests but once shown what to do she got full marks on the second try. I did go round checking on the conformation scores on all the "Ettinsmoor" pups that attended and I'm still smiling at the scores on conformation. Who'd have thought that would mean so much  .
Photo Courtesy of Michael Gray - Darcy
Photo courtesy of Michael Gray - Pepper
Photo Courtesy of Michael Gray - Spice
Water Training June 2010
Pepper Waiting For Instructions!
 Pepper Just Before Launch
 Pepper Launch
.jpg) Pepper Returning
 Darcy Waiting Instructions
 Is it a bird? (Darcy)
 Darcy Returning
 Darcy Returning
 May 2010
Saturday 22nd May Coventry & District Gundog Club Puppy Test - Spice obtained a 4th place in her first Puppy Test. Really pleased with her first outing, although lots more work still to do, and then she decided to come into season so I've had to change all the entries over to Pepper in Novice. No more Puppy Tests for Spice
 .Saturday 8th May 2010 - URC Lincs Training and Match
I had decided to go to the URC Lincs training today as it included water training and Spice, who is entered in a Puppy Test in a couple of weeks, has been swimming but not actually retrieved from water. But when I woke up this morning the weather was horrible and it was very tempting to snuggle back down under the duvet. I didn't though up I got and we packed the car and went off towards Lincoln.
It was a wet, windy, cold day and I was grateful for my winter picking up gear  . Not ideal conditions for water training but hey ho!! We trained in the morning (it was so windy there were waves on the reservoir ) and the club then run a match in the afternoon for puppies, novice and open. The weather was so bad that Jim the Chairman decided we would only do 3 tests for each class instead of the usual 4 tests. The results for the Puppy Test were............................... 1st Spice - Jill Parsons So at Spice's first competition of any sort, and only second group training session, she scored 60 out of 60 I am thrilled with my little showgirl . Good news from Finland - Ettinsmoor Sika (Nazu) has had her 6 month prelim hip and elbow xrays and the vets have confirmed both are excellent
 . April 2010 In many ways Spice is proving to be the spitting image of Grandpa Rocky. She is more sensitive, but has all his fire and enthusiasm for the job which is just what I wanted. I am thrilled to see it coming through in bucketloads in the second generation and with good looks too
 The second video is of her jumping and retrieving. I must admit I haven't actually done much jumping with her as I am fairly sure it will not be too much of an issue with her, but it means she has not yet moved onto the bigger fence.  I have just sent off her first puppy test entry for next month. Ps. Sorry if its a bit shakey working the camera, whistling and hand signals take a bit of juggling!! |
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FEBRUARY 2010
I took the decision to have my dogs EIC tested after hearing lots of rumours and chit chat, and I am pleased to say that Ettinsmoor Pepperpot (Pepper) and Ettinsmoor Shiraz (Darcy) are both EIC Clear.
Ettinsmoor Treasure has come back an EIC Carrier which means that when I decide to breed from her, probably in 2011, I will need to put her to an EIC Clear stud dog.
ETTINSMOOR SIKA (NAZU) IN FINLAND
JANUARY 2010
Brilliant news for the kennel received in January 2010 - Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) has a hip score of 2:0 and
elbow scores of 0:0. Way to go Spigsy!!!!
NEW PHOTO OF THE WHOLE GANG
Darcy's First Field Trial - Yellow Labrador Club Novice Trial 12/09/09
It was quite difficult having a late number (13) and having to watch many other experienced handlers and some very nice dogs go out of the trial at a very early stage. The cover really was very very thick and the dogs just were not finding the birds.
I finally went in line to be really lucky and get a nice straightforward retrieve in front of the line which she picked nicely. A really great retrieve to start for Darcy.
I finally went in line to be really lucky and get a nice straightforward retrieve in front of the line which she picked nicely. A really great retrieve to start for Darcy.
I was then taken to the other end of the line for a blind retrieve out on the plough. Which again she picked nicely.
I stayed in again because they were short of dogs and my next retrieve was a mark in front which just went into the (very thick) cover, but again she went in hunted for a while and reappeared with the bird.
At this point we all went back in to stand in the shade and for the judges and helpers to have a coffee. On asking who was left in. It was me, Derek Capel, and Ricky Maloney.
After the break the three of us went back out. I had the chance of an eye wipe on RM but she would not take a left direction through the hedge, then the judges failed to find the bird phew. DC meanwhile had gone, leaving little old me and RM.
My next retrieve was a bird down the other side of some deep cover and back through a hedge. Try as I might (and even though I was allowed to go quite a long way forward cos I couldn't see anything) I couldn't push Darcy back through the hedge. She hunted the fall but I guess the bird had run back through the hedge. I couldn't actually see. So RM went and eye wiped me and Darcy. RM was out next retrieve a mark shot in front in cover.
I stayed in again because they were short of dogs and my next retrieve was a mark in front which just went into the (very thick) cover, but again she went in hunted for a while and reappeared with the bird.
At this point we all went back in to stand in the shade and for the judges and helpers to have a coffee. On asking who was left in. It was me, Derek Capel, and Ricky Maloney.
After the break the three of us went back out. I had the chance of an eye wipe on RM but she would not take a left direction through the hedge, then the judges failed to find the bird phew. DC meanwhile had gone, leaving little old me and RM.
My next retrieve was a bird down the other side of some deep cover and back through a hedge. Try as I might (and even though I was allowed to go quite a long way forward cos I couldn't see anything) I couldn't push Darcy back through the hedge. She hunted the fall but I guess the bird had run back through the hedge. I couldn't actually see. So RM went and eye wiped me and Darcy. RM was out next retrieve a mark shot in front in cover.
So no awards given at this trial but a creditable performance for Darcy in her first trial.