The First Swallow

If I were to write this tomorrow nobody would believe it......

But as we got the ponies in this evening I was dive-bombed by a Swallow. Is this early? There it was wheeling and swooping around Ritz's stable, probably sussing out whether last year's nest was still intact and operable.... It seemed to be an advance guard as there were no others around......

Will keep an eye out for more tomorrow...........

Meanwhile, the new ark arrived today also - it's destined for Ginger's next litter of piglets, so it's a little early. However, having had a closer look at her this evening she looks as though she might be surprising us ahead of schedule again........ more things to keep an eye on.............!!!!!!

Easter holiday? Not for Gunner

It may have been the whitest Easter in 95 years but that's no excuse for a willing would-be gundog not to go to school. There we were, therefore, in the middle of Tuesday morning - back for another lesson in 'how to be the best gundog in all the world'.

"So. How's he been" asked our noble trainer. "Hasn't chased off all fortnight: sprung a hare and sat and watched it away. Had a flustered duck flapping round his face and feet - never moved an inch" said I. "Good" says he. "And" I continued "We've been playing a few ball games to get him watching things and where they go". "Jolly good" says he.

So we spend our hour's 'training' time hunting around strange fields and bogs with lots of rabbits and hare. Gunner is working (cautiously) at 60% normal self - . which we put down to his sensitivity to doing anything wrong in front of the Trainer Man. We try a few retrieves but he's really not at all interested in those in the midst of all the exciting smells around.

Ah well.

We think we may have steadied him to fur; too much so because he's clearly now hesitating in case he finds something that he shouldn't and gets told off. Almost as if, when he smells a rabbit, he backs off.

So our homework?

Encourage more excitement in the hunting: it's OK to hunt rabbit and hare .... as long as you don't chase after them. And we can get a whole lot more excited about retrieving -- lots of throwing things and letting him chase after them and making it all much more interesting. In fact, for the next couple of weeks we're to cut the hunting back to just one or two days a week and make much more of the retrieving side of life...............

This could be fun..................

Happy Easter???!

Easter Sunday is calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This year it fell earlier than for 95 years. And didn't we notice! More like Christmas......

We woke up at about 6.30 am to see snow tumbling out of the skies, no view beyond the beech hedge and quite a lot of white stuff on the ground. It continued to tumble for the next few hours. Probably about 3 ins covered the ground when we did 'breakfast' for the yard. The ducks were totally unperterbed; in fact,they seemed to relish it; out of the poultry palace they waddlled and almost immediately sunk themselves in the soft white stuff, before waddling off to the pond for their early morning dunk and dive. The chickens on the other hand were going nowhere!
Conchita looked out of her boudoir door and clearly said "Moi? Out there? Not today, thank you" and promptly retreated into the inner warmth. Who'd blame her ?
Rocco and his mates thought it was picturesque; but didn't raise much complaint when they realised they were spending Easter indoors.....

And as for the dogs -- well Pilot sided with the ponies and poultry and stayed inside whilst Lancer (puppy at heart) and Gunner (never seen real snow) went out and made complete asses of themselves --- rolling and charging everywhere, behaving like they were truly in a winter wonderland.....
And within a few short hours it was almost all gone.

Still,we saw some children tobogganing on the hill and built a snowman for the dogs to play with......

The next time Easter will be this 'early' is 20 65 or thereabouts.... doubt we'll have too much to say about it then.....!

A duck called Garbo

It's a funny time of year. Spring; but not quite. Easter; but too early. The ducks have formed little groups around the three drakes. Many of them have started laying eggs in strange places hoping the chickens won't find them (the politics of envy - or something - they destroy them).

At least four of the hens are going broody and attaching themselves to nestboxes full of eggs. And all the cockerells are becoming very territorial; I was viciously attacked by Rusty (from behind - the coward) only this morning! He's the handsome coloured cockerell you can see lurking in the background.

Amidst all this spring-like activity, one of the prettiest apricot ducks has taken to wandering off on her own. Occasionally she's to be found with Merlin and his hens but mostly she's to be seen pitter-pattering and digging around the Church field or the stable yard (keeping a wary eye out for the 'three retrievers').

Much to our dismay (not to mention detriment to my nerves) she's even taken to sleeping somewhere other than the Poultry Palace or its lodges. For each of the past three evenings at dusk, when all the birds are safely herded into their 'bo bos', I count in 13 ducks(one too few); each morning I count out 13. But during the day there are 14. It's a mystery where she gets to - particularly since there are three very keen noses always around and goodness knows how many visiting noses each night. But there we are. She's survived so far. I keep my fingers crossed for her. And, meantime, have christened her Garbo.

Sunday visits

It's about a month since two of Ginger's offspring went off to live in the North of the county at The Pink Pig Adventure Park (http://www.pinkpigorganics.co.uk/). So, finding ourselves in that part of the world last Sunday we dropped in to visit.

And we found the two little ones in a privileged pen almost alongside the carpark. All the better to keep their beady eyes on any visitors. And all the better for visitors to see them. We stopped for a brief chat and a photoshoot. Their ears twitched as they listened to us, but most of their attention was bent on the succulent greenery under their snouts! Since they were clearly enjoying their food we decided to sample the cuisine too. And very enjoyable it was. All organic, home grown and cooked and served by smiling waitresses who flitted happily between the many young and old children enjoying their day out.

With lunch happily despatched, most people appeared to meander off in the direction of the nature trail where they could enjoy the geese, ducks, chickens, alpacas, sheep and a large selection of pigs. And if that didn't provide enough excitement there was more to be had from the various climbing frames and outdoor toys and slides.

We left secure in the knowledge that the hairy pair were enjoying plenty of company during the day and probably having great fun at night playing on all the toys! No wonder they looked so contented.

(Mind you, we're a little bit worried about the antics that must accompany those 'weddings in wellies'!)

Uh Oh! Him again!

Pigs may not fly but time certainly does; yesterday saw us back once more at Rory-the-Trainer's for Gunner's continuing education.

Reporting on our homework, I explained the problem of absent rabbits and hares over the past fortnight resulting in my not being certain that we'd cracked the chasing problem. On the plus side, however, I was fairly comfortable that the retrieve lessons - distinguishing left from right, going 'back' and recovering hidden objects - were progressing almost too well. "He is nothing if not enthusiastic" said I.

"Right" said Rory "We'll start with the rabbit pen and see where we go from there."

"Uh Oh: him again" said Gunner's little face as I told him to get out of the car. And off we went to the rabbit pen. There's a quarter-acre or so paddock which is used for general training and this leads on to the pigeon pen which precedes the rabbit 'pen'. Gunner was already a little reluctant entering the paddock. "Let him have a little wander round first" said Rory. So I let him off his lead and told him 'off you go' but he looked round me to Rory and remained firmly on the ground! "Hmm" said The Trainer. "Pop him back on his lead and we'll go in the pen". For the first time in his life Gunner was not in the least bit interested in going with me. I had to be very firm but even so had to half drag him beside me. When we got in the pen he sat trembling at my side, mostly averting his eyes, absolutely and definitely NOT looking at anything, never mind the numerous rabbits skipping around.

"Hmm" said our Trainer.

"Let him off his lead and we'll try some retrieves to relax him."

Following instructions, lead removed, retrieve thrown, I send dog to 'Fetch!'.

He sits.
I repeat, several times; he sits.

"Hmm" says our Trainer.

"Pop him back on his lead. Walk him half way down the pen. Remove lead and tell him to sit and stay. Then walk back and whistle him to you."

"Right" says I, proceeding to follow instructions. I had to call him twice before he, rather carefully, returned and glued himself to the floor again. We repeated this a few times, increasing the distance and disturbing the rabbits so they ran hither and thither whilst he was sitting and returning. Gunner was extremely hesitant. Gunner did not look at a rabbit. As far as he was concerned there WERE no rabbits.

I thought that was good. Rory is not so sure. "He's learned the lesson of the pen" says he "but we don't know whether he has learned not to chase rabbits." It seems we now have to test that out in the field. Rory admits that he has never had a dog take such an adverse reaction after just one session in the pen. One thing's for certain. Gunner will not be going back there!

In order to cheer up our sadly dejected student we take him off to do what he loves: hunting along the ditches and hedgerows. And for the first 20 minutes or so he is perfectly happy; hunting eagerly and keeping really close; sitting whenever and wherever instructed. Then Rory spies a couple of hares in the middle of the field and says we will 'hunt' Gunner across their line and see if he picks up their scent. And if he does, he must hunt (to and fro) NOT follow the line (which is what he did last session when he 'ran' off). I think I probably got anxious at that point, worrying what might happen if he buggered off. Whatever it was, from then on, Gunner retreated back to his shell. He certainly picked up the 'line' each time we crossed it, but he wasn't going to hunt no matter what. Was he remembering what happened last time? We returned to hunting the hedgerows and ditches but the sparkle had gone. So we tried a couple of retrieves. But he wasn't interested in that either. We hunted the very reticent Gunner back to the car and then a little beyond. He perked up a little but found nothing so we decided to call it a 'bad day'.

Our homework? To 'encourage' him to retrieve whilst out hunting: to continue testing his reaction to rabbits/hares: to stretch his memory more by more difficult retrieves at home. We return in two weeks.

On the way home we stopped and went for a short walk to clear his head of the session; but he still wasn't really himself. Such a sensitive little soul. Clearly we shall have to tread carefully so's not to squash him again. ..............

(Which is more concern than he's showing for these daffodils!)

New Season - New Carriage

The new carriage driving season is almost upon us so we've been trying to put some effort into getting Mr Ritz 'fit' enough to compete later this month. It is not for no reason that driving tends to be a fine weather sport: one can get some seriously cold bits sitting up there or standing on the back-step. We've managed three outings so far this year and at, more or less, fortnightly intervals it is not a get-fit-quick occupation! We thought it would be OK today but it was a bit nip 'n tuck - the sun was quite warm but there wasn't much of it! And, at the pace which Ritz assured us was the best he could do when we set off, we were soon beginning to think perhaps we'd been a little too keen to get out.

However, judging by his cranky mood - now only able to go very slowly, then only able to go very fast; now definitely wanting to divert off left into that green field, then wanting to dive off down that track - he is well used to his new carriage. He's too much of a professional to misbehave when there's something serious to concentrate on, so the first couple of times we went out he was on his best behaviour. Should have known that wouldn't last.

The new carriage is a very smooth machine; which, coming from one of the most respected carriage makers in the country (Bennington), it should be. Not a squeak or rattle; admirable engineering, light to manouevre; no wonder Ritz is finding it a doddle after the previous machine. It'll be interesting to see how we get on when we put him in a competitive situation with it! More reports to follow!

The Birthday Boy

It's official. He is no longer 'the puppy'. Does it not seem somehow appropriate that he should celebrate his birthday on the day (6th March) that the most prestigious of Canine Conventions (Crufts) opens this year in Birmingham. Not that we'd want to associate a chap of such illustrious working blood with those Pampered Pooches!

Whatever!

Here he is with a selection of his pressies:- the bear will probably last all of two minutes (he has an almost disdainful disregard for cuddly toys): as soon as he finds the seam he'll have the stuffing out of it! The way he's licking his lips you could be fooled into thinking he's already helped himself to one of the Dentastix since they're just about his most favourite thing. So much so that, just lately, he's only been getting them as a reward for being extra clever (or well behaved) in his training. So, we'll see how long they last!! And the bag is full of retrieve dummies which are covered in real pheasant pheathers. Another of his most favourite things - retrieving dummies that is, not the p.ps. However, he quickly becomes bored if not asked to do 'different' or more difficult retrieves so he is limited to just a couple each session with the object being to stretch him a little more each time. He proved his mettle the other day. I'd hidden a 'blind retrieve' in the garden whilst he was still in the house. I came in to fetch him and in the time it took me to turn round, pick up my gloves and put them on he was out of the house and found, fetched and returned to me with the feathered dummy!

And on the subject of finding: since our last session with Rory the Trainer we have walked miles in search of rabbit and hare in order to be able to 'bring home the rabbit pen lesson'. All I can say is that there is no greater deterrant to finding fur than taking a dog out on a lead. I have seen plenty of Hares and a couple of rabbits (in the far distance) but the would-be gundog, nose habitually to the ground, has seen none. All have long since scarpered by the time he is anywhere near where they had been. At this rate, it is going to take a long, long time. So we're back to hunting off the lead but under close control and if he flushes a rabbit I'll just have to be jolly damned quick to reprimand him before he gets 'out of' control. That'll be fun. He's having a scratch here but it's the nearest I can get to a photo of him laughing.......

The time has come....................

"The time has come" the walrus said "to talk of many things

Of shoes,and ships and sealing wax

of cabbages and kings

Of why the sea is boiling hot

and whether pigs have wings" (Lewis Caroll Through the looking glass)

He's just over a year old; he is 4ft long from the end of his back to the top of his head between his ears; he is 3ft high and his girth is 46 inches. That computes to a weight of 17st 10 lb, or, if you prefer, 228 lbs. He is gentle, calm and complacent rather than charismatic and today is his last day.

Tomorrow Wurzel becomes unique. He is the first ever of his kind outside his country of origin (Austria) to give us the opportunity to learn how best to convert his strengths to premium charcuterie. He has had a wonderful, if not very long, life. Able to rootle and wallow around in the dirt and the mud for the past year and now he is giving us the opportunity to explore what his strengths are.

He will live on for a very long time.