PARTRIDGE TRAINING DAY 04/09/10

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 suprising 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 difficult 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.

RABBIT TRAINING IN YORKSHIRE

We are back and did I have an eventful weekend. 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 the details but suffice to say Pepper went well! I still can't believe the length (nor the height) or 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 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)!



Pepper waiting to start



Darcy retrieving a shot rabbit



The rest are of the line and terrain







It was definately one of those things that should be on any Gundog Handler's list of things to do before they die and it now has a large tick next to it on mine! I just wish 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!

RICKY MALONEY TRAINING DAYS AUGUST 2010

I have been very lucky this year to have attended two different Ricky Maloney Training Days with Pepper, both were fantastic.

Here are some photos taken by David Harris of Finchingford Gundogs. The copyright of these photos belongs to David - thank you for letting me use them.















WATER TRAINING JUNE 2010

Pepper waiting for instructions



Pepper just before launch



Pepper launch



Pepper returning



Darcy waiting for instructions



Is it a bird?! (Darcy)



Darcy returning