So, you ask "How's The Understudy doin?"

"He's gonna be 10 months old tomorrow so I thought I'd better give you all a quick update on my Understudy. After all, he was specially selected and arrived last October with a weight of expectation on his little shoulders.... The fact that we refer to him as The Understudy says it all.
He's certainly a livewire.... doesn't miss a thing and is always looking out for excitement. He's very good in the house - apart from when he's sittin' on me ( which is one of his worse habits - that and not sharin'his biscuits with me..... ).  I s'pose what I should say first off is that She (who must be obeyed) keeps comparing his progress with mine at the same age. But, as the Big Boss does keep pointin' out, She's got a very selective memory. Can't remember me ever doin' a bad thing - I don't mind that obviously but it don't bode well for Jaunty. You don't have to think too long to guess whose side I'm on in this debate.

"Anyway, let's just consider his strengths:
- He's energetic, always bouncin' and runnin' & on the go
- He's observant, always watchin' what's happenin' and never misses a trick
- He's quick to learn, pickin' up new things very easily - almost too much so because he's then easily bored (and inclined to go & do his own thing)
- He's quiet, never whines or whimpers or woofs without very good reason
- He's a bit soft, not a nasty hair on is body
- He loves retrievin' and is developing a good eye for a mark
- He's fast - fetchin' & bringin' back, though sometimes his speed takes him past the mark and past the Human on his return and he don't always give dummy up cleanly
- He walks to heel without his lead and can go for a long while though he do pull when on his lead.
On the downside:........well, there's nothin' really ... except.... one Big Thing...... He does like to Hooley..... He's learned his whistle commands and perfectly understands them. He'll hunt like a grown up dog for a little while, sometimes for quite a few minutes. BUT .......a good deal of the time he hooleys off .... into the wild blue yonder ... or just anywhere really. She (who must be obeyed) says it not that he don't listen.... it just he gets bored with listening and when his turbo kicks in he's off ... gone.... sometimes for a 60 metre circle, sometimes far further. He always comes back, grinning from ear to ear - usually sayin "That feels better, that was fun Mum, here I am -what you want me to do next? Stay close? Oh. OK. But hang on, I just gotta go hooley again................" .  Now, that really upsets her cos one thing we gundogs gotta do is hunt close and stay close and not hooley off - whole shoots are ruined by dogs hoolying off and upsetting all the birds in one go. A steady spaniel is worth his weight in gold. (*Ahem* it is said I am a positive treasure). What's really annoying Her is that the Understudy behaves when She takes him to Rory-the-Trainer (I have, of course, briefed him accordingly - long standing readers of this blog will know only too well the effect that He-the-trainer had on Yours Truly as a young dog). So, next lesson, Rory-the-trainer is coming over here to see 'the real dog'. We know it won't make any difference. The pup will behave whilst Rory is here and will then b....er off when She's alone with him.The Trainer has that effect on us dogs. We know he's serious but with Her we can sort of play around a little.

So, there we have it. The Understudy is learning all his lessons well (did I mention, he can already swim and 'trieve from water and jump obstacles on command? Smarty huh?). He just won't always listen to the whistle. Says he can't see the point really.
She's not giving up on him though. Says he'll come to hand eventually. Says She'll give him two years if necessary. He'll not be out with me this coming Season but maybe next one....
Meanwhile, look at this last picture.... see the Jaunty sitting still (you might just be able to see me there on his left if you look hard!) --- well he sits to command and watches her go off for hundreds of strides....... and then races up to her on command - now that's not bad for a flippetyjib puppydog is it? Nah. We'll give him time. He'll come good in the end.......!"