Things are really moving on with Folly's training now and I think this time is probably the most exciting time to be training a pup. She is 8 months old and soaking everything up like a sponge.


We are now at a stage where we do a circuit of the field on the mown track mixing and matching all the exercises that I have taught her so far. Heelwork on lead, stays, heelwork off lead, recall, steadiness, retrieves so she just never knows what is coming next. Remembering to use the stop whistle and recall whistle in all the appropriate places. She loves every minute of it.


I can also now throw dummies all around her and over her head with her sitting still in the middle while I go around and collect all the dummies back up and put them in the game bag.


We can also do a back - where we walk out 100 yards with Folly at heel and drop a dummy, then I heel Folly back 60 yards and sit her up facing away from the dummy. I continue to walk another 40 yards then turn and blow the stop whistle with my hand straight up in the air to tell Folly to Sit then give her the Back command throwing my arm even higher up in the air to help to push her back to retrieve the dummy and bring it in to me. She loves it.


We have also started on left and right retrieves (one at a time initially). So I sit her up against the fence, facing into the field and throw a dummy out to her left, walk back about 20 yards away from her. Initially give her a blast of the stop whistle with a hand signal to remind her to sit steady, then move my arm out at right angles to the left with a Get On command. Remember to praise the instant the pup lifts its bum to go in the correct direction, because this exercise is all about taking the correct direction on command and nothing to do with the actual retrieve. I normally do this twice stretching the distance I throw the dummy gradually, then I do the same with a dummy thrown to the right. When they are going out correctly and to quite a distance you need to start stretching the actual distance that you are from the dog, but we are not quite at that stage yet.


I'm really pleased with Folly at the moment, and there really isn't anything that is worrying me with her training. Long may that continue!!!

This week I went along to Shouldam Warren to do some training in the trees with Skip and Morse and took Folly along with me. At the end of the session Craig still had his old dog Grouse to work so we had an impromptu training session with Folly and Grouse..


A bit of heelwork off lead (until her concentration went and I had to pop her back on the lead), some steadiness training and Folly remaining steady while Craig recalled Grouse past her. She was actually quite good, although completely fascinated by Grouse. So much so that when Craig chucked a retrieve for her she actually took it straight to Grouse. I just popped another retrieve out myself which she brought in to me and then she just sat on the lead quietly and watched Grouse do his retrieves. Really pleased that when we did a little walk up with Craig throwing dummies out in front she remained steady. We haven't actually progressed to that yet!!

Here they are:

Today we moved onto heelwork off lead with Folly remembering to still keep up the sits with the stop whistle. All was fine with this until a dummy comes out of the bag and she feels a retrieve may be imminent.

I have also moved onto throwing three dummies out when doing the steadiness exercise. So I have Folly sitting in front of me facing me and I throw a dummy over my shoulder behind me, a dummy to the left in line with me and a dummy to my right. Each time as I throw the dummy I blow the stop whistle and put my hand up in the air to signal the stop command. She is coping fairly well with this now and the next step will be to start throwing the dummy over her head. I don't think she is quite ready for this yet though.

We did an exercise today which is the beginnings of the back command (ie go back in a straight line until I tell you to do something else). For this we marched to the end of the paddock, about 100 yards, I sat her up and threw the dummy a few paces in front of us. We then marched back down the paddock to around 80 yards and I sounded the stop whistle for Folly to stop and stay (so Folly is facing away from the dummy). I then took another 10 paces forward and turned to face Folly. She was itching to go for the retrieve but remained steady facing me. I gave her the back command, which is hand straight up in the air as far as it will go with a verbal back, and she shot off like a scalded rabbit to go and pick the retrieve. As soon as she picks the retrieve I toot the recall command as I want her to pick and return immediately and not think about sniffing around. This is the very basics of the back command which ultimately will be done with a longer distance between Folly and I. We start nice and close and gradually increase the distance that I stand from the dog. So ultimately I will be able to stop her at 100 yards, send her right, then send her back again. I actually managed to do this whole exercise with Folly off lead.


I've noticed a few issues with Folly tending to do one circle round me before coming in with the retrieve, and I don't want this to get any worse so we did a little bit of work on the recall in close to me. So I put the lead on her and told her to sit, then recalled her in to me the length of the lead, praising her loads for coming straight in to me. This really paid dividends today and she was coming right in to me with the retrieve again. I did notice that she likes me to stand with a gap between my legs (as well as my arms outstretched) to funnel her into the correct position.


After the retrieving I always go back to some heelwork to put all the controls back in before we finish the session.

FROM THIS:

TO THIS IN A MILLESECOND:

This week I have started to stretch Folly a little more, while continuing to go over what I have already taught her.


I have started to put her retrieves out in the longer grass in the paddock so that she cannot look down the mown part of the paddock and see the retrieve. So she is still being sent in a long straight line, but she has to cross from the short mown grass into the long grass to actually pick the dummy. She has found this very easy as she so loves her retrieves.


I have also moved on a little from dropping a tennis ball over my shoulder. I know have Folly in a sit stay facing me, with about ten paces between us and I am throwing a dummy out over my shoulder so it lands about 20 or 30 yards behind me and I am still between her and the dummy. This is raising the anti as the swinging motion of the dummy being flung really does tempt her to lift her bum and leg it after the dummy. As I throw the dummy I immediately blow the stop whistle and raise my arm in the air with the flat of my hand facing Folly, so telling her that I want her to STOP exactly where she is. I can see her weighing up in her mind whether she dares leg it past me to grab the dummy, but at the moment I have her thinking that I am faster than her and can stop her or get the dummy before her (lets hope she doesn't work out she is faster than me any time soon lol).  I will continue with this exercise until I see her relax back into her sit and not even think about going after the dummy. When the time is right I will start to close the angle that I throw the dummy in until I am able to throw a dummy to the left and a dummy to the right without her moving (or thinking about moving) at all.


It won't be long now until I decide that she is ready to attend a training class. Although we will probably start out with just one other dog rather than a group.

I decided yesterday that Folly is ready to move onto a new exercise, so here goes:

Firstly I am really pleased to say that Folly is quite happy to walk at heel off lead down to the training paddock. As soon as she sees me put on the game bag and shut the other dogs out of the yard she knows its her turn and puts herself too heel ready for action.


I started the session with a little heelwork on lead and just checked that she is still sitting on the stop whistle when I halt.


I then walked a straight line with Folly on lead and at heel, stopping and blowing the stop whistle to ensure she sits and then placing a dummy on the ground beside us both at intervals of around 10 yards. This was all done very carefully and under control (which is the point of the exercise) with no swinging about on the lead trying to grab the dummy by Folly. She actually really had to concentrate hard to achieve this as the sight of a dummy really does mean woohoo we are going to retrieve and she had to contain that desire. So just placing the dummies out to do the exercise was actually "training" in itself and that's before we even start!!

Here is the line of four dummies placed out:

Here is Folly sitting looking down the line of dummies before we start. Notice that I've returned to the lead wrapped round her neck to hold the stay. The lure of the retrieves would be too much for her at this stage and I do not want her to become unsteady and get the reward of the dummy so I bring the lead as an anchor back in to the exercise.

We then proceeded to do heelwork in and out of the dummies, with the occasional stop and sit thrown in. I am looking for her to look at and acknowledge the dummies as she goes past them but no more than that. No trying to grab them on the way past! All the time retaining her heelwork position. She actually coped with the exercise really well and after going really close to the dummies as we did this several times she just glanced at them and continued to heel.

To finish the exercise I walked with her at heel and picked up three of the dummies popping them back in my bag all the time with Folly at heel and sitting as I bent down to pick up the dummy. Leaving the dummy that was the furthest away down so I could utilise it as a retrieve for Folly.. This is Folly by the final dummy. Notice how she is looking away. That's because she would really like to pick it, but knows that its not allowed.

And finally Folly gets what she has been waiting for all lesson. I walk away about 75 yards from the final dummy and send her for the retrieve. Her first time on a full size and weight dummy and she is carrying it really nicely in the middle not on the end, or by the tab. If she had shown any signs of NOT carrying the dummy in the middle I would change to using smaller puppy dummies, but I don't think I am going to have to do that with her.

I can't photograph her presenting the dummy but I get down low with my arms out wide and she comes into me. I make a point of not taking the dummy straight away, but praising her with the dummy in her mouth for a while before giving her the dead command and taking the dummy. (No dropping of the dummy as yet phew!!).

I just thought I would do a little update on Folly's training to show you how quickly she is progressing. She is soaking up her short lessons like a sponge.


The slow sit has been sorted and she now, more of less, has it sussed that everytime I stop she sits at my side, waiting to see what comes next. In fact, I have already stopped using my voice to tell her to sit and I'm using the stop whistle only.

She has now started to do short pieces of heelwork off lead and is doing really well with that.


Her stay has come along in leaps and bounds and I can now walk around her while she stays still in the middle of the circle.

I have also started on her steadiness training, so while she is sitting in a stay I stand about 10 yards in front of her with my hand up in the air reinforcing the stay command, while dropping a tennis ball over my shoulder while she remains in the sit. It is done this way so that should she choose to move and try to retrieve the ball as it bounces around behind me I am in the middle and can get to the ball before her and pick it up. You must not set your dog up to fail and allow it to get the retrieve. I have to admit as she is so quick I thought this exercise would be a problem, but she already understands that stay means stay whatever is happening around her. I then, while keeping a close eye on Folly, step back and pick up the ball myself.


Her recall is spot on and I have started to get her to recall to me and actually place her nose into my cradled arms in preparation for when she brings a dummy or bird into me.


We are really only doing one retrieve at the moment at the end of the session. Its not important. I know she retrieves. Its basic obedience that is important at this stage.


I am, quietly, thrilled with her progress so far.

Three pups from the Darcy x Butler litter have now been hip scored and two elbow tested which is fantastic for me as a breeder as I am able to see how my pups are doing score wise. There is a possibility that another dog and bitch will be scored, in the future from this litter which would mean that the whole litter (except one) would be scored.

Scores so far are:

I hope everyone is coming along to Crufts on the 9th March to see Spice and Darcy in the Gamekeepers Ring at around 10 a.m.. I look forward to seeing you all there and please make sure you come over and say hello. Anyone there with a camera taking photos would be wonderful too!!

Well the final two bitch pups, Darcy and Magic went merrily on there way to Sweden yesterday. A long road trip for such young pups. Hopefully they will take it in there stride as Pluto did on his journey to Finland. I must admit to being relieved to see them go as the longer they stayed (the delay was down to Christmas and New Year being in the way) the more attached I became to them.

My next litter should be a year away as I need a rest from pups and this year I have a lot of young dogs here that I shall be pushing on with there training and competing. I also plan to try to get away for some training weekends which I cannot do when I have a litter here. However, I have today updated my Upcoming Litters page as rather surprisingly I already have two names down for my next very vaguely planned litter between Spice and Skip lol.

I probably should add that with Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor (Skip) and Ettinsmoor Morse(Morse) standing at stud this year I am hopeful that there will be some pups available from these two lads and I will add these litters to my website as and when they happen.

2012 is definitely a have dogs will travel year!!!

I don't seem to have time to update my blog recently what with the puppies, picking up duties and training the young dogs.

Both Skip and Morse have been out on the shoot. Skip to sit quietly through several drives and has now progressed to a couple of pheasant retrieves. Morse has been out to sit quietly through several drives and to work through a wood with Spice and Gem looking for a lost bird. He is yet to have a retrieve out on the shoot.  Folly has been along to trundle round meeting everyone before and after the shoot. Wowing everyone in the barn with her colour and her temperament. She takes everything in her stride this girlie.

Training is continuing for Skip and Morse. Mainly cold game training and Skip has progressed to blinds with pheasant and ducks.

I keep forgetting to get the camera out of the car, but I promise to take some photos of them both cold game training and out on the shoot soon ..........................................
 

The pups are here the first bitch pup arriving at 5.20 a.m. Darcy had 10 pups in all 5 bitches and 5 dogs but sadly one of the dog pups and one bitch pup died, so the final tally is 4 bitches and 4 dogs. Quite a handful for Darcy who is a 6 or 7 pup girl normally.

Here they are:

Ettinsmoor Shiraz and Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor have been mated and a fox red litter is due on 23rd October 2011. See all the health tests listed together with pedigrees on Darcy and Skip's own page. This litter will be PRA Clear, CNM Clear and EIC Clear by parentage.

I have added several new photos to Darcy, Spice, Folly, Skip and Morse's page today, taken by John when up here doing some Sugar Beet Training.

I have added a new Stud Dog page to the website. As from 2012 both Garicmoor Grenadier Of Ettinsmoor and Ettinsmoor Morse will stand at stud to approved bitches.


I've also added some stunning new photos of the boys!

Ok so the pups have all gone to there new homes and I just have my pick of bitch pup left here.


So just to introduce Ettinsmoor Firefly (Folly) daughter of Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) x Jobeshill Magnus, the latest addition to the Ettinsmoor Gang. I am thrilled with her: (See Folly's own page for her pedigree). Born 14th June, 2011. Optigen Clear by Parentage, CNM Clear by Parentage and EIC Clear.

I have added a new Group Photo to my HOME page, taken for me by Michael Gray.


Although there is, of course, one more to go in there very soon when Folly (Ettinsmoor Firefly) is finally chosen. It should be very soon..................................


Could it be this one I wonder?

I have added lots of new photos to the TESTS page, all of which were taken by Michael Gray at the URC Lincs Special Puppy Test on 17th July 2011. Morse and Skip doing what they love best!

I have one Fox Red Bitch pup from the Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) x Jobeshill Magnus litter available due to a timewaster letting me down. I am looking for a working and/or competition home for this pup.

This bitch is now sold.

I thought it was about time I updated my blog so here goes:


Training

Despite being busy with the puppies training goes on. Skip and Morse are being kept busy in preparation for the URC Lincs Special Puppy Test on the 17th July, and I will need to get them out to some water fairly soon to progress their water training a little prior to the test.


Darcy has been busily training in the Advanced Classes in preparation for another season of Field Trials and we will be starting on sugar beet training this coming Monday. I did hope to get both Darcy and Pepper entered in some Novice Cold Game Tests but time is my enemy this year and I'm not sure whether it will happen. Perhaps I will just enter one with Darcy, although she has a season to squeeze in too before the field trial season begins.

I will have Spice to get back into training again too after the pups.


Puppies


The puppies are growing at an amazing rate and, no doubt will be keeping me very busy over the coming weeks. They have just started to lap a dish of goats milk (or more often fall in it) which will help Spice a little in keeping nine tummies full. Next week I will begin introducing them to "proper food" and weaning will begin.

The Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) x Jobeshill Magnus pups arrived in the early hours of Tuesday 14th June. Spice took the whole thing in her stride, although was getting a little tired by the time she got to the last pup.


So we have four yellow boys, one yellow girl and four fox red girls, making nine in all. Quite a handful for a first litter. Although the pick of fox red girl will be staying here, there are still some pups available from this litter. Working/Competition homes preferred.

I took some photographs last night after puppy class of three pups from Ettinsmoor Shiraz's (Darcy) last litter. Here they are Ettinsmoor Midsomer (Somer) a bitch and two dogs Ettinsmoor Monk (Lenny) and Ettinsmoor Morse (from left to right).

All three are making really good progress.

I have added a Facebook Page for Spice's litter which I will keep up to date with all the latest news and photos of Spice and her litter. The link is:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ettinsmoor-Labradors-Spice-Litter/101651186596202

I have just heard the news today that Ettinsmoor Sika (Nazu) has also qualified for the field in Finland. I am thrilled for Eija and Nazu.

These two lads are growing up quickly. Morse is now 7 months and Skip 9 months. Their training is progressing really well. Both have now been taught the hold  and I am starting to introduce a few different retrieve items. These photos were there very first attempt at the rabbit skin dummy. They have also both been introduced to water. Morse was very enthusiastic just like his grandsire Rocky, and even did some diving! Skip was a little more cautious but ended up thoroughly enjoying the whole swimming experience. They are both progressing well with left, right and backs.

Oh and the entry form has just been sent off for Skip's first Special Puppy Test (up to 12 months) next month.

Ettinsmoor Morse (Morse)

Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) has been scanned today and confirmed in pup to Jobeshill Magnus. For more details and pedigrees please look at the Puppies page and Spice's own page.

Exciting times for Spice this year first of all her second place in the Gamekeepers Ring at Crufts and now a litter of puppies.

I thought I probably ought to update my blog with some recent news as I have been a bit quiet lately:

Spice


Spice is booked in for her pregnancy scan on Thursday 12th May, so I will know whether she is in pup or not. I have a training session booked with Laura at Stauntonvale Gundogs on the13th so if she isn't in pup she will be back to her training schedule.

Morse and Lenny  (Littermates)

Morse has just started going along to some Puppy Training sessions and here is a photo of  Ettinsmoor Morse and Ettinsmoor Monk (Lenny) watching the action:

We had a successful mating between Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) and Jobeshill Magnus on Thursday 14th April. I will be having Spice scanned at 28 days to confirm whether she is in pup. If all goes to plan the pups will be due on the 16th June 2011. Please see the puppies page for more details.

Good news again today - I have heard that Delfleet Nugget of Ettinsmoor (Boots) and Morag Ritchie (Mo) have gained a 2nd place at the Golden Retriever Club Of Scotland Novice Test (10/4/11).

Boots was not actually bred by me but he spent the first 14 months of his life here at Ettinsmoor and so will always be one of the gang. Morag took Boots on at that time and the partnership has gone from strength to strength.

Well done Boots and Mo.

I heard at the weekend that Ettinsmoor Sika (Nazu) competed in her first gundog competition in Finland on the 2nd April 2011. I am thrilled to say that Nazu took First Place with 78 points out of 80. There was 31 dogs competing in the Test.

I am really pleased to have received some DNA test results through for both Ettinsmoor Morse (Morse) and Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor (Skip):

Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor is CNM Clear and EIC Clear

Ettinsmoor Morse is EIC Clear

Well what a day phew! What could be a lot of breeders dream day, in fact, and it certainly makes all the hours studying pedigrees, stud dogs, health tests etc. worthwhile. My homebred bitch[puffs chest out proudly (smile)] Ettinsmoor Treasure (Spice) did us proud in the Gamekeepers Ring at Crufts 2011.

LABRADOR (WORKING GUNDOGS) - Bitch Entries: 25 Abs: 8

1st KASPAIR AMIENNE (MR P & MRS E I COLLINS) 2nd ETTINSMOOR TREASURE (RETRIEVER (LABRADOR)) (MS J PARSONS) 3rd CAVANDIA OUT OF AFRICA TO WYLANBRIAR (MRS D & MR A STEVENS & SCUTCHER) Res BALCRIST SECRETARY OF STATE AT BALDEVS (RETRIEVER (LAB)) (MISS D LONG) VHC KASPAIR PLAY MISTY FOR ME (MR P & MRS E I COLLINS)

I have been trying to find the time to write a little about a training issue that I have had with Skip in the hope it may be helpful so here goes:

I noticed quite early on as I started to introduce a little gundog training to Skip that he had a tendency to prefer to run off and play with the retrieve item rather than bringing it straight back to me. I have to admit it is not something that my own pups have ever done, but the important part was to notice it immediately and deal with it before it became a habit. I have no doubt it started because he runs with all my other dogs (maybe it would not have been a problem if he was kennelled who knows) and would need to grab things and run to stop the other dogs stealing whatever he had in his mouth. So problem recognised very early on now I had to deal with it.


His heelwork is amazing both on and off lead, he stays while I walk a circle round him, he recalls like a train (so its not a recall problem no point in flogging that to death) and all of this by six months old.


The first thing to do is to ensure that it is not possible for him to run off with the retrieve article, so all retrieving when free running out in the field was stopped immediately. I collected together all my puppy panels that I have and built a retrieving lane down the side of the paddock so he met with a dead end if he turned away from me after picking the retrieve. All of our retrieves were then set up in this "lane". He is of course still being sent for retrieves with no control or steadiness as he is too young for this to be introduced, so I would throw the retrieve down the lane and as soon as he picked I would get down on my knees (making myself small and welcoming) and call him in to me with my "happy clappy" come and show me your prize type voice. If he showed any sort of hesitation at all I got my secret weapon out of my pocket a bright yellow brand new tennis ball that shines like a beacon and said what's this then and he couldn't resist, as he came back to me I would slip the ball back in my pocket and praise him for bringing the retrieve back without taking it letting him show off with it but all nice and close too me. After a while I would take the retrieve from him and then after a few seconds give it back to him again telling him how wonderful he was to be carrying it and keeping him close to me all the while. I did this for about two weeks.


I then moved this to the small corner area of the paddock that is fenced off so he could not get too far away from me and he was fine. We have now moved on to doing a hunting exercise where I get Skip to hunt an area (out in the big paddock) and when he isn't looking I drop the puppy dummy and get him to hunt and find the dummy with the wind to help him. This is to teach him to get his nose down and use it to hunt rather than using his eyes and looking for the retrieve. Again as soon as he picks I recall him, get down low and praise praise praise for bringing it to me. All thought of running off with the retrieve has disappeared and he is happy to share his prize with me.

I will post more updates as he progresses.