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..................