On 12 September 2007 Gunner, at the age of 6 months, went for his first assessment with Rory-the-trainer. It was noted in the blog at the time that he could walk to heel, on and off the lead, sit, stay, wait, go find (chew sticks) and come to voice or whistle.(Smarty pants)
Rory-the-trainer noted that he was almost too steady for a young dog! Visions of winning Gundog trials across the country wafted cross my subconscious. (Ignorance was such bliss!)
It was noted by Rory-the-trainer that he was a good deal sharper than his father - and already far too independent!
It's all a matter of perspective!
Gunner's first lesson was over an hour of varied activities to test his aptitude. I thought he passed with flying colours but we came away with
(now familiar) instructions to sharpen him up in all respects and return in a month or so.
In contrast, Bugler's first lesson was just short of half an hour. He demonstrated his independence by happily hunting further and further away from me and choosing when he wished to obey the return whistle or call. His retrieving was keen enough but he does have the habit of dropping the ball either at, or just short of, my feet. Rory frowned! And demonstrated both how to get a sharper response from the pup and how to encourage him to hold the ball till asked to 'give'. It looked soooo easy when he did it; proved so very difficult when I had to do the same! There is a reason why he is the trainer.
For the next few weeks my task is to continue playing with the pup to keep him happy but only to give him the ball to retrieve as a reward - either for coming straight back to the whistle or giving it back to my hand instead of my feet.
Easy then.
We shall see.
"Come back for another half hour in a month or so" said the trainer as we were leaving. What he meant was clear: 'come back when you've got these two things sorted'........
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