The feeding of pigs.............

Delila snoozing in the afternoon sun

The 3 Degrees tucking into some of their 5 a day

The first Mangalitza pigs arrived at Rectory Reserve in February 2007. For the next couple of years we fed them on a diet of proprietary pig feed - weaner pellets, finisher pellets, sow rolls.
We didn't overfeed them.
Nonetheless they developed considerable girths.
It's fair to say they grew fat.
The Mangalitza is a slow growing pig; unlike commercial animals which are 'ready' in 22 weeks or so, our boys go at 8 months and the girls can be with us for two years or more. All that time on commerial feed would make them enormous.
After a while we had a couple of gilts who were being 'custodianed' at a local school which bought feed from a local mill. It turned out that this feed was 'lower' in calories (and it was a bit cheaper since it was not pelletised)
 - so we duly switched suppliers. A years or so later it was possible to see that our pigs were definitely slimmer. There was a problem with the new feed, however. Unlike our original feed it was a 'powder'. As all our pigs live outdoors, this was not entirely suitable. Wind blew it away; rain washed it away and the pigs snorted much of it away in the act of eating. Indoors this wouldn't have caused a problem because the powder would have landed on a surface from which it could easily have been snuffled up. But that was not the case outdoors.
We switched back to feeding pellets - and compromised by feeding less.
That wasn't a solution though.  The pigs were not impressed. They can be very noisy when they are not impressed.
We's visited Mangalitza breeders in Austria who milled their own feed. That seemed a possible compromise... then one of them mentioned how their pigs thrived on a diet largely comprising vegetable waste.

"We're coming, we're coming"

"Aha" we thought. That's the thing. Here we are in the midst of one of the country's main vegetable growing regions so you'd think it would be simple to find a supplier - but not so; we needed it by the tonne not the box so whilst the local Fruit & Veg shop was more than willing to let us have their waste it was a mere morsel in the context of the pigs' dinner. Another chance meeting, however, led to an introduction to one of the country's major vegetable producers and packers.

A deal was struck whereby we would take surplus or substandard veg. for the price of collection and off we went with our horse trailer to fetch it.
In trugs (like the ones the supermarkets deliver your goods in if you order over the internet).
Which we loaded by hand.
About 130 of them -  piled high. But 130 wasn't enough to make a dent in the needs of 70 or so pigs. So lots of work for little effect. We scratched our heads again.....

Willy - the little blue vegetable truck

Then the Big Boss rubbed the magic lamp and, hey presto, along came our little blue veg truck. It was, and is, perfect for the job - more so since we can tow another trailer from it too. Result - lots of veg. and, more importantly, happy healthy pigs. Not only is it 'less fattening' for them but, unlike commercial feed which they wolf down in a matter of minutes, it gives them many more hours of activity and entertainment before it is all eaten up. Happy pigs and happy people....

Sadly, though, all good things eventually come to an end.............. our vegetable supplier is closing down the local 'depot' thereby ending our happy relationship and our regular source of veg.
We haven't told the pigs yet. What to do???
The Big Boss has been tasked with rubbing his magic lamp ............again................. he hasn't long to come up with an alternative......................   but he will, we know he will .....

If at first you don't succeed...........

Bugler makes his dad proud

Exactly a week after #TeamGunner's last Gundog Working Test adventure, off we went again. Another early start yesterday saw us heading to Barleythorpe in the beautiful county of Rutland.
"If nothing else" said The Big Boss "the dogs are getting us to visit some lovely countryside".
The morning was dry and cool with a promise of sunshine later. Our destination was a quiet (we thought) country lane (with a distant view of Rutland Water) a mile or so out of the village. Arriving shortly after 9 o'clock - not the first by any means - we collected the 'Card' and our numbers (4 and 8) and waited for the signal to move off to the test ground. We'd been advised in advance that we would be using a white grass pasture and were, therefore, a little surprised when we came to a halt by a young plantation!
"Oh well" I thought "all that practice in the cornfields ( the nearest thing to white grass here) might still serve some good!"
Bugler was the first of the pair to 'run' - being an even number we were in front of the novice judge first. He hunted enthusiastically albeit a little further from me than I would have wished but was good on the whistle and, joy of joys, when the shot was fired he sat and looked at it, thus (for the first time) seeing the dummy thrown. That meant the retrieve was simple and he completed it quickly and cleanly. His 'blind' retrieve needed only one bit of help from me, which he paid prompt attention to, quickly finding and returning with the dummy. His second run in front of the senior judge was a lot tidier and his retrieving needed no help so I was well pleased with him.

"What do you mean 'closer'?"

Since the No. 6 dog had not turned up, each of Bugler's runs was immediately followed by Jaunty. The judges couldn't have had a starker contrast! My second dog was well fired up for each of his first runs! What a good job I'd taken the advice to buy a new whistle! It took all my efforts to 'hold' him. His worst mistake - running in to the other dog's dummy - was of my making. Since Jaunty was a fair distance from me when I whistled him to sit to the shot the judge suggested I might like to call him to me - but only by name. When I'm doing group training with the three dogs at home, I use their name to indicate which of them I want to fetch the dummy - so as soon as I used Jaunty's name he understood I meant him to go for the retrieve. Stupid of me. That cost him 50% of his marks on that run. The fact that his own retrieves were clean and prompt was a consolation but didn't improve his chances! Each of his second runs was better than the first but nowhere near close enough or sharp enough on the whistle. More practice is definitely required. He has bags of ability and style and when he finally understands why he needs to listen to me I suspect he'll be better than Bugler.

"I've had a nice sleepy morning, thank you"

The tests finished around 1.30 pm and we all returned to the lane and our cars in warm sunshine. I'm not sure that Gunner was pleased to see us because we 'caught' him sitting on the seat behind The Big Boss. Mind you, it was a good job that he wasn't in the back because the youngsters jumped in with gusto, drank loads of water and then crashed out exhausted from the excitement of the morning! Apparently the lane had morphed into Piccadilly Circus after our departure at the beginning of the morning - The big boss regaled us with tales of the comings and goings whilst we ate our lunch!

"We'll have 'em licked next time!"

It was fully an hour to wait whilst the judges deliberated and certificates were written out. Finally the call came to "gather round" for the results.
When I heard the name of the third placed dog I was slightly disappointed, thinking that Bugler might have done enough to get in the placings. I was totally overwhelmed therefore when I heard the name of the second placed dog - and it was him!!! Apparently I was grinning from ear to ear when I walked up to collect our certificate.
"Makes all the hard work worthwhile" said Rory-the-trainer when I told him later "Especially when it's a dog you've bred yourself".

If this had been Red, we'd be out of Novice so perhaps blue is best

It most certainly does. In spades.
If we never get another certificate, I'll always treasure this one.
And what a clever dog Gunner is to father such a talented son. Oh - I know it's only 2nd place but if he can get one certificate surely he can win another?
I did say we would only do three tests but we've entered already for our 4th and we've got 6 weeks to practice so I'm keeping fingers crossed for Jaunty too!
Nothing wrong with ambition is there??????????

#TeamGunner sally forth again

View of Boughton House across the park

Sunday dawned dry and clear, if somewhat cloudy, as #TeamGunner sallied forth for their second appearance at a Gundog Working Test. This time the destination was the impressive Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire at the kind invitation of the Duke of Buccleuch.
Arriving in good time shortly after 9 0'clock we collected our 'card' and found that we were numbers 3 and 15 of 24. By the time we started at 10 a.m. that had been reduced to 19 by 5 no-shows and we were advised that the dogs would get a 'run' in front of each of the Judges and that any dogs eliminated in the first run could use their second as a 'training' exercise! And off we all went into the wild woolly woods of Boughton. The Big Boss recorded our departure on his new mobile - sadly  by the time he got organised, he had a very good picture of where we had departed from!!!!
For the next four hours the dogs (and handlers!) were put through their paces. Same format as before: hunt; shot fired; dummy thrown in sight of dog (if he happens to be looking); retrieve; hunt on; shot fired, blind dummy to be retrieved from behind; hunt on and finish. What could be easier? The terrain was perfect for spaniels - thick woodland with a good ground cover of fallen trees, mixed herbiage and brambles. The weather was equally suited to the event - dry, cool, cloudy with a light breeze. We couldn't have ordered better conditions.

"It is no laughing matter" said Gunner

Bugler was first of our pair to go, in front of the A list judge. After his performance last time I had high hopes that he would do well. They were soon dashed! The highly scented woodland combined with the stresses of the occasion must have gone to his head (or his ears). I'd been worried about his lack of attention to the "shot and drop" bit, but his retrieving was very good. His hunting on the other hand was uncharacteristically erratic and off the whistle.
"You need to work him in a tighter pattern much closer to you and get him to pay more attention to the whistle" was the judge's conclusion.
Jaunty had plenty of time to absorb the atmosphere before his first run. I expected the worst but was hugely impressed with his work. He was on the whistle (admittedly I had to use it a lot), eye-catchingly enthusiastic in his hunting and sharp with his retrieves. I was delighted. Then, just at the very end of his run he flushed a pheasant, I was too slow on the stop whistle and he was eliminated for giving chase! He didn't run far but the damage was done.
"He's a good dog" said the judge "Persevere with him and for goodness sake, get a quieter whistle!"  I've been using the same whistle for 8 years and now I find out it is "too loud". Well!
Both dogs got to run in front of the second judge. Neither covered themselves in glory but there were no more misdemeanors. His general advice was to "keep up the good work" and "work them in a tighter pattern and much closer". He was particularly taken with Jaunty, calling him stylish and eye-catching.Small crumbs then...............
As for the whistle........... I'd never realised that it was particularly loud. Rory-the-trainer did mention it once but I thought having trained the dogs to a certain tone, they wouldn't listen to another. I've now bought a different one. If I blow it as hard as I can it is still quieter than my original as its quietest!
Do the dogs respond to it? Gunner looks at me quizically when I use it as if I'm doing something quite bewildering but he's prepared to humour me, albeit in slow motion! The youngsters took a short while to get used to it but after that are, if anything, a lot sharper on it than the original. Perhaps they are saying "Thank goodness She's stopped shouting at us".
Meanwhile, we have our final working test of the 'season' on Sunday. Paws crossed that we've all learned some lessons........................ and that we can do Gunner proud!

The ducks are wandering..... again

 Male (white) and female call duck

Spring is heralded by many factors.... Here at RectoryReserve one of the prime indicators is the heightened activity of the ducks.
All year round the 10 Call and 6 Indian Runner ducks live happily within the confines of the pen and poultry house they share with the chickens. Most of the day they paddle and sleep, interspersed with bursts of poking around in the ground or disappearing into the poultry house to eat. Unlike chickens, they don't mate and they don't lay eggs.

Male (small mallard) call duck with 2 female Runner ducks

But that all changes when 'spring' is on the way. Ducks that haven't waddled more than 12 metres in any direction for 9 months become long distance runners  and convincing Houdinis, not to mention sex maniacs! They used to get through the vertical rungs in the wrought iron gate to their pen; but I stopped that so now they go out via the adjoining pig pens and down to the fields. Obviously there's a lot more (bugs as well as grass) to feed on down there and, if they go far enough, there is a natural pond. You would think they would fly but the Call ducks, whilst very adept at it, rarely do and the Runners' wings are out of all proportion to their bodies so, whilst they flap alot, they can only do extended hops! Mostly, therefore, they all waddle - the Runners more elegantly than the tubby little Call ducks.
We only acquired the Runners last year. Up till now they have flocked together rubbing alongside, but never joining, the Call ducks.
However, there is only one male Runner duck and he appears to be a timid fellow. So one of the Call Ducks males has adopted the female Runners and is now firmly 'in charge' of them, escorting them everywhere and leading them frequently and often down to the pond. I don't know if this is abnormal but it is certainly 'odd' and always makes me chuckle. He looks so important!!! I haven't seen him trying to mate with them but I've no doubt he's tried.

Call drake leading Runner ducks down to the pond

Meanwhile, the other call ducks are pairing up and bustling about looking for safe, secluded places to 'nest'. Unfortunately, their idea of 'safe' is ill-founded. Pig arks with nice fresh straw are very attractive to them. Several of the pigs have enjoyed fresh eggs for breakfast over the past week! There's just one vacant, freshly strawed ark at the moment but some young gilts will be moving in there tomorrow..... I think they may find an unexpected welcoming gift!!!

The ducks would be enjoying a perfectly idyllic time but for one factor!
They are extremely attractive to dogs - whose natural instinct is to chase them!
The ducks therefore become a "training exercise" and - as long as I am around - the spaniels quickly learn to "leave" them. Of course, the ducks don't know that! As soon as they catch sight of the dogs they make their way as quickly as possible back to their pen.....
There are usually a few early 'mishaps' - occasioned by my being rather slow and the dogs being rather fast to react to the sight of a flock of happily hunting birds. Luckily the springers all have soft mouths so the ducks suffer nothing more than shock! An incident a couple of weeks back is a case in point. When the Runners were new to this wandering business and I was unaware that they were out Gunner found one, picked it up and brought it to me. It was totally floppy when he gave it to me but there was not a mark on it. I carried it to the Poultry Palace and laid it gently on the floor. Expecting the worst. She stayed there motionless - for fully 30 seconds.
Then she got up, shrugged purposefully  - and waddled quickly across to the door leading out to the pond!!!
But all this fun will end when summer comes and the ducks return to their normal restrained selves; but will the Call Drake still be in charge of his lady Runners? That remains to be seen...................

Testing Times

Chatsworth Car Park on a very grey spring day

In the spring of 2009 (see this blog April-May 09) The Bestest Gundog in all the World and I ventured off into the Gundog Working Test Arena with great expectations and mixed results.
Six years on and we're doing it again - only now with Bugler, son of Gunner, and the not-so-Norty Jaunty. The overnight switch to British Summer Time notwithstanding, we left home at 6 a.m. on Sunday bound for Chatsworth in the beautiful Peak District.
"Ah well - need an excuse to do some sightseeing" I said to The Big Boss as we sallied forth. But soon it started to rain...... hmmmm
Meeting up with the organiser in the car park some two and a half hours later we collected schedules and numbers.
"You're on first" she said jauntily... appropriately as it turned out: I soon realised that not only was I drawn first - but with Jaunty!  I'd have felt more relaxed had it been Bugler but he was drawn 23rd out of a total of 34 assorted Springer and Cocker spaniels.
Eventually when all the contenders had arrived and we'd received our welcome & instructions we departed the car park for the woods. The rain, which had been quite heavy, abated somewhat. Foolishly a number of us commented that maybe the weather was going to be kind to us after all.
As Jaunty and I moved forward to take up our starting position the heavy rain returned - and did not let up until we - people and dogs, drenched and bedraggled - finished for lunch several hours later.
What happens in a test is:
           There is a Listed judge(on the right) and an unlisted judge (on the left) of the 'path' across the terrain being used for the test. The odd-numbered entrants 'run' in front of the senior judge and the even-numbered in front of the other. If entrant numbers have been restricted (usually to 16 or 20) all dogs get to 'run' in front of both judges. Otherwise, all are given a first run after which those not up to 'standard' are eliminated whilst the others go on to a second run.
The second run may result in the judges agreeing on a clear winner. If not, it is necessary to complete a further test (a retrieve from water on Sunday - in view of the weather though, extra water was maybe a little unnecessary!!!)) before the final decision is made. Judges may award positions from 1 to 3 and certificates of Merit. On Sunday there was also a trophy for the winning junior handler.
During the first run the dog is expected to hunt with a good 'pattern' (think windscreen wiper) in close proximity to the handler with the minimum amount of whistle/voice control. Whilst hunting, shots are fired at which the dog is expected to sit immediately. The first shot is accompanied by a 'marked' (theoretically seen by the dog) retrieve and the second by a 'blind' (i.e. the dog has no idea of where it is) retrieve. The dog should not move till sent and should fetch with minimum 'help' from the handler, returning promptly and giving the dummy up cleanly to said handler.
If the dog goes through to the second run the shot is accompanied by a dummy thrown on the other dog's territory. Similarly, the other dog's retrieve lands in front of your dog - who is expected not to move. In any case, a dog who does not automatically sit to shot, or runs in to retrieve without sitting or before being given the instruction by the handler, is immediately eliminated.

Bugler & Jauty drying off

Apart from the obvious - lovely smell-laden woodland - there are lots of distractions to throw the dog off his stride: the gallery (think golf), the judge & his assistant(s), the chaps with guns/dummies, the other dog 'running' at the same time - with accompanying entourage..... not exactly a normal working day situation (which it is supposed to emulate). This was Bugler & Jaunty's first ever test so they had a great deal to take in and deal with, not least being expected to behave as 'normal'. A tall order I think! The fact that Jaunty (along with No.2) was first to go meant he had to cope with my nerves as well - it's amazing that any dog does anything! (see Gunner's experience referred to at the beginning!!!)
I worried about how Jaunty would handle things; he has a somewhat independent mind and doesn't always think prompt delivery of dummies is essential. However, whilst his hunting pattern was more boomerang than windscreen wiper, he was on the whistle, sat promptly and paid attention to instruction. I was well pleased with him - not least because he didn't b...... off on the trail of an interesting scent! He had a little difficulty 'seeing' me amongst the group when he returned with his dummies -hardly surprising when we were all dressed much the same & sodden wet! But he didn't mess about and will have learned a lot from the experience.

Sadly he didn't make the cut for a second run. Of the 34 dogs only 8 did. Bugler was one of those so I was overjoyed with his performance. Particularly since he didn't show himself at his best. The pressure affected his normally smooth hunting pattern but he was sharp on his retrieves - all of which were 'blind' because he looked at me when the shot was fired rather than the shot itself - so missed seeing where the dummies went! I was impressed, however, that he got straight on with the job after having to wait patiently in the rain until his turn.  It was a good first performance. There's lots to work on before our next Test ......... No Certificates of Merit were awarded so he was no worse than the other unplaced 2nd-runners.

Onwards and upwards therefore.

Gunner totally disinterested in what the others have been up to

Gunner, meanwhile, was totally unphased by the morning's activities even refusing to get out of the car when invited by the Big Boss to go for a walk whilst the rest of us were 'away playing'. I'll bet he remembered how he felt 6 years ago...... "Not letting myself in for that game again" I'll bet he said to himself.....

The sun came out as we drove home lending a somewhat ethereal atmosphere to my reflections of the morning.......

Finally out of the mud????

At last we have had a run of fine dry windy days and the pigs' quarters are beginning to look 'normal' again.
Throughout the worst wet winter months they tend to resemble something more like I imagine the battlefields of the Somme might have looked. Yet the pigs don't complain or show any signs of 'minding'. We have the odd grumble and 'noisy night' if we omit to check that their arks have plenty of dry flooring - I'll go out last thing and hear a lot of loud grumbling as the one at the bottom of the pecking order gets shuffled along to the draughtiest or dampest spot!

That's a sure way to secure some fresh straw the next morning! Which, in turn, is guaranteed to cheer pigs up on a cold wet winter's day - they just love tossing it around and making a cosy nest. We could just give them all some clean straw each day but we've found they don't like too much - they just push or carry it back outside!
A continued wet spell is our worst scenario. As the pigs wander in and out of the ark all day long they each 'drag' gooey mud in on their trotters which can quickly turn the cleanest bed into a soggy mess. Of course, lots of rain makes everything else gooey too so we find ourselves slip sliding around with feed, vegetable and water containers - all of which get well clatted up with mud - much of which ends up all over us. There is no way of staying clean when the pigs think nothing of jumping up against the fencing and welcoming us with a shake of their curly heads! Add to that the fact that our little tractor and trailer become unusable in really wet slippy conditions and it is no surprise to learn that we become exceedingly good-humoured when "dry" is the adjective that most readily springs to mind.....

Months and milestones passed.....

 A lot has happened over the last couple of months: a number of significant (to me at least!) milestones have been passed. Not least of these is that Gunner officially retired from his job as a Beating Dog. Following my last blog in December, the Bestestgundog continued to do his utmost to please me with the quantity of game he could bring to hand. Comments like:

Held under restraint, Gunner watches his fellow beaters

"Gunner's out with the Guns" or "Whistle him Sylvia, he's bringing you a bird" and even "You'll never go hungry with that dog  around" became commonplace. It was not long before I was working for him as gamecarrier! He really enjoyed that! 

Gunner returning with a cock pheasant

..And here's the hen bird to go with it!

Although there are occasions when an over-eager retriever is a useful addition to the beating line, not all gamekeepers and guns appreciate such extra curricula activities. There were times when he had to be held to heel or, shame of shames, kept on his lead to stop him running-in (the term given to dogs who rush out of either the beating or the shooting line to fetch a shot bird).
He wasn't to know. I'd been ignorant enough in previous seasons to take him out to work as a Picking Up dog. He well knew the connection between 'Bang', 'Drop' and 'Retrieve'  but until then had been happy to wait until after he'd finished beating. When picking up though it is often necessary to send the dog as soon as the bird is shot if it looks like a 'runner' (a bird which is pricked rather than shot dead; such birds can 'run' to cover and suffer a lingering death, hence need to be retrieved as fast as possible.) The retrieve, therefore, immediately follows the shot and a sharp dog soon learns the importance of marking and proceeding speedily to the 'fall'.   It is very rare to alternate successfully between both disciplines.  Expecting Gunner to ignore shot birds whilst he was beating was unfair; telling him off for doing so would have been gross.                                                                                         

21-1-15 The sun sets on Gunner's career as a Beating Dog

Working with the dog became less of a pleasure and more of an exercise in damage limitation which is not a happy way to carry on. It wasn't that he was not doing a good job - he was simply doing the wrong job!
His son, Bugle,r has proved to be an excellent beating companion; eager, stylish, obedient and tireless! After his successful initiation to the field I found an increasing number of occasions when he was better suited to certain of the 7 or 8 shoots we worked on. Gunner was reserved for the larger shoots where proximity to, or sight of, the guns was minimal. He had enough days out but they were necessarily selective.

As he returned, under the watchful eye of the gamekeeper, with yet another keenly retrieved cock pheasant at the end of the last drive on 21 January I decided - "Enough is enough" and, after 7 seasons, the BestestGundog's career as a beating dog officially ended. Turning to that keeper I said:-
"You have just witnessed Gunner's last ever retrieve as a beating dog"! He smiled - understanding fully that it was not an easy decision to make.

"As one door closes......" & "Every cloud has a silver lining..." We rapidly moved forwards to achieving the next milestone.

27-1-15 Gunner's first day as my Peg Dog

During a session with Rory-the-Trainer early on in my partnership with the dog I expressed the ambition one day to be able to shoot over him. Two or three years ago I acquired my shotgun licence and last year,  being a novice, was accompanied on beater's day (the end of the season when roles are reversed and beaters are rewarded by being invited to shoot). However, this season I had the courage to go without an escort - apart from the Dog that is. So it was, therefore, that we had two wonderful days together. The first, on January 27th,  was gloriously sunny and Gunner was able to fulfil all three gundog roles - beating, retrieving and being a 'peg-dog' (the dog that sits patiently by the peg while his 'master' shoots, then - when the drive is over - finds and collects up all the shot birds) since we 'guns' were organised into two teams to alternately stand/shoot and walk/beat.

31-1-15 With the hen pheasant I shot in the midst of a blizzard

I only managed to shoot a pheasant and a partridge but Gunner thoroughly enjoyed his multi-tasking. I kept him 'pegged' down to the ground whilst I was shooting and after straining fiercely at the lead through the first few flushes, he settled and waited patiently till the end of the drive! We had a superb day made all the sweeter for fulfilling that long-held ambition. Our second day out together was the last of the season; just 4 days later but the weather could not have been more different. As we made our way to the first drive the snow blizzarded down. During the walk to the pegs we were transformed into snowmen. The dog sat obediently shivering in the freezing conditions. We waited what seemed ages for the beaters to drive the birds in our direction. The dog made no sound. After Tuesday, he knew the rules. He shivered uncontrollably but didn't move from his spot. My hands and face froze; my mind wandered to the thought that I must be crazy.There was just him and me, in a blizzard too thick to see anyone or anything else. The two of us alone in a silent, frozen world.
Suddenly birds appeared above us. Snow made focus difficult; I missed the first two; then could barely reload with my frozen fingers but - joy of joys- when the next bird flew overhead I took aim and followed through with both barrels. The sight of it dropping to earth just to my left sent me into an ecstatic spin and Gunner's immediate retrieve gave him almost as much pleasure. He knew for the first time that I had shot a bird. There was no other gun in sight. On Tuesday he had been focussed on the others, not me, so had no reason to believe I had connected with anything.....  The fact that the penny had dropped and he now knew he was my peg dog made it the real 'fulfilment of the ambition'.

24-12-14 Gunner & Jaunty keeping their eyes on the guns

24-1-15 Picking up together at Benniworth

No less enjoyable were my outings with my two picking up dogs. Jaunty has such an exuberant attitude to everything.  His horizons are far wider than is desirable for a beating dog! Early on in his training it became clear that if he could be focused he could be an excellent picking up dog. I hadn't dared hope that would happen this season. He accompanied Gunner as an 'observer' only at Christmas. I wanted to check that he had no fear of gunshot (he hadn't) and would not become 'vocal' with all the excitement (he didn't). When I let him off the lead halfway through the morning he did almost-briefly disappear in excitement and pursuit of a 'flying' pheasant. I made a note not to let him off again without the visible presence of a dead bird for him to focus on! It didn't happen that day! A month later, however, his presence was requested since he and Gunner were to be the only picking up dogs on that day. I hardly slept the night before. I needn't have worried. Enough birds were shot during the day to give Jaunty plenty to focus on - not least two which fell in the middle of a large lake which he retrieved with more speed and relish than Gunner (who is not particularly keen on water) ever would have. By the end of the day, apart from being contentedly exhausted, he had acquired one or two admirers of his own, had done nothing to disgrace #TeamGunner and had not even taken advantage of a huge acreage of Elephant Grass to go AWOL. I couldn't have been more delighted with him.

19-1-15 The youngest member of #TeamGunner

The final milestone was achieved at Rory-the-Trainer's shoot on 19th January. He was hosting a day for HPR(hunt/point/retrieve) handlers to work their dogs and invited me to take all three spaniels. It was a thrilling culmination to all our months of training; throughout the day all three were employed at different times in various roles which enabled them to work to their strengths. I was totally over the moon; being able to select which dog was best fitted to the particular job in hand was a rare luxury and being able to do it in the presence of The Trainer was a real honour.
Without doubt, this was the most varied, challenging and stimulating shooting season we have experienced.
The 8 months till the next one will be spent honing the dogs' individual and combined skills and when it commences #TeamGunner will be able to field two first class picking up dogs and one steady beating dog.
The intervening months will fly by!!!