Happy Birthday Bugler

It was Bugler's birthday last Sunday. I can't believe it's already three years since Gunner and Meg got together and produced 6 bouncing pups.
As ever, it took me two or three visits and several hours to select Bugler from the litter. I don't know why; he was a mini image of Gunner so should have been the obvious choice from the start but I was tempted to pick his black & white brother (Where have we heard this story before!).
Anyway he came to stay and settled in immediately. A real chip off the old block, he was very fond of his dad and spent lots of cuddle time with him... .
Although Jaunty was supposed to be the Understudy, Bugler fell into that role far more easily. He has the same capacity for wanting to please that Gunner had, is quick to learn and, more importantly, remember his lessons and has boundless energy. Where he differs from his dad is in being twice as fast and bouncy and probably not naturally as bold!

In the 2014/15 shooting season they shared the workload and in most instances, if I didn't say anything, people thought it was the same dog - just that he was slightly steadier on some days than others!!! Apart from Bugler being leaner, they were, to the untrained eye, identical. Like his dad, Bugler is never norty and tries hard to please. He earned himself a couple of certificates in Gundog Working Tests last summer so this year we are having another go to see if we can progress. So far the omens are not good; the dogs which catch the judges eyes are small and whizzy/busy across the ground.whereas Bugler is a good 4-6" taller than most of them and has a less frantic style of working. Never mind; he is a speedy obedient working dog and will continue to be a pleasure to work with on any shoot in forthcoming seasons. As far as he is concerned, hunting is his favourite thing and as long as he can do that he is more than happy.
So.... Happy Birthday SonofaGunner xxxxx

Gunner's Calendar - April

Unlike the March photo, which was taken in March, the April photo was shot at the other end of the year. It's not an obvious selection. However, no matter how often I looked through the photos this one kept drawing me back.
One reason is ......... I am looking at the dog's face. It was far more usual for my view to be from behind as he looked out at the scene ahead of him! If I moved to stand in front of him to take a photo, he would usually step aside or move over and keep looking ahead of me!
The other reason I picked this one is because of the focus in his eyes. Typical of Gunner - his concentration on the scene unfolding in front of him had to be seen to be believed. It was as if he held his whole body on alert... waiting, waiting, waiting...... sometimes for as long as 20 minutes he would remain motionless. Here the strong wind is battering his head and blowing his hair across his face. But his eyes are rivetted......
From the first day we went out beating together he would, before each drive, position himself a yard or two in front of me - sitting, standing or lying down. No command was necessary. He would just wait. As soon as the signal to move was given he would spring up, turn to look at me and wait to be told to "seek on"!
This particular day was 13 October 2013. Gunner was in his prime, 6 years old and his 6th season.  The shoot we were working on was my least favourite: There was no camaraderie between Guns and helpers; there was a clash of personalities among the organisers; the terrain itself was often inhospitable - on one drive the beaters were expected to cross a number of rough fields separated by thick hedges and deep ditches with no apparent way through, literally having to scrabble on our knees! Another drive featured coarse knee-high brambles which, apart from being difficult for people to walk though, tore at the dogs ears, tongues and tails. Many were the times when Gunner's 'private parts' would end up sore and bloodied. On this day the shoot captain had cried off because his wife was ill so 'several' people were in charge; breakfast had been organised for all but not everyone had been told and the weather was very, very windy with intermittent showers. Not a good day. Gunner was oblivious to all of this............. That was one of the great things about going to work with him. He didn't care about anything  - if people tried to befriend him he would tolerate their advances but never seek them out, likewise the other dogs. His attention was totally on the job he was there to do: Motionless when waiting but totally joyous, committed and absorbed when given the signal to move. The happiness he showed in his work was only matched by the pleasure it gave me to watch and be with him.
The look on his face holds so many memories..................

Sows sort themselves out!

 Delila and Andromeda go head to head

We've only got 4 curly coats left now and two of those are destined for the butcher in a month or so. Delila and Andromeda though are going nowhere. They served us well as sows over a number of years and have earned a long and relaxing retirement.
Circumstances, and their litters, kept them apart over the years. Since we stopped breeding from them they have enjoyed (maybe) living on their own in their separate domains.

Jaunty transfixed by the antics of the sows!

However, a couple of weeks ago we decided to move them to well rested pens next door to each other - not least because they are soon to be the only curly coats on site and must (we thought) want the company of their own kind. The idea was that they would grow used to each other from living next door and eventually we would let them run together and keep each other company.
Typical human arrogance to assume we were in charge of their destiny.
This afternoon when I was training the dogs in the Church field Andromeda was having a 'moment of decision'. By the time the last of the three dogs was out for his exercise her mind was made up. Jaunty for once, was rooted to the spot when I told him to 'sit' whilst I went to explore what Andromeda was up to.

Delila and Andromeda fighting tooth for tooth

I'd been conscious for a few minutes that she was trotting up and down the fence and knocking her head against the hurdle which separated her pen from Delilas. Suddenly adrenaline kicked in and she pushed her snout, followed by the rest of herself, through the hurdle and off she went.... sniffing here and trotting there - until she came across Delila quietly snoozing away in the far corner of her pen...... She got a rude awakening as Andromeda poked her in the side: Within moments they were pushing and shoving each other around, neither willing to give way.... Just when I thought they were exhausted and the fight was over Delila ran into her ark with Andromeda in hot pursuit and their fight continued inside with lots of shoving and pushing and the ark virtually lifting off the ground. Jaunty meanwhile was still rooted to the ground watching..... he didn't move an inch!

20 mins later - Neither willing to give in....

After several minutes the sows tumbled out of the ark but neither would give in and the fight continued. Despite all the shoving and pushing there was no grunting or snorting.... but by now both of them were breathing very heavily. Squabbling for that length of time in those thick woolly coats was taking its toll. But still they would not give in.
Eventually though the older lady tired, admitted defeat and was chased off by the younger....... each then withdrawing to rest and lick their wounds. It was a warmish afternoon and I expected they would need a big drink but neither went for water for the best part of half an hour.......

Andromeda sees Delila Off...... for now

... and then, after a quick drink, there was another bout of squabbling but the energy had departed and this little fight was just for show. Within minutes each retreated to their own ark to sleep it off.
When I checked them over later there was remarkably little blood and few wounds. Although I think Andromeda, the younger swallowbelly, probably won the battle She definately suffered more wounding than the older Delila.

Andromeda retires to recuperate

Delila returns to her wallow to recover

It will be interesting to see whether they settle down into amicable companionship or whether they still need to sort out who is numero uno.......