The hairy ones are getting hairier

Stories are told of the coats of Mangalitza pigs being shorn and spun into waistcoats. Until now, I have - secretly - questioned how this was possible. Now, however, as winter draws ever closer all doubts are being laid to rest. The coats on our little herd grow longer and thicker with each passing week. Interestingly, the swallow-bellies' pelts tend to be dense and wavy but the blondes' display distinct tight curls. I learned whilst I was at the hairdresser yesterday that apprentices still have to learn how to do old-fashioned "pin curls" (a small section of hair is wound round and secured with a hairpin; when released from its pin a tight springy curl emerges). This is exactly the 'look' being worn by Ginger and Pepper this year!

One-upmanship

Living with animals is not always straightforward. Ever since he arrived, Gunner's been trying to come to terms with Cat. Just when he thinks he's got it all figured out - he finds Cat taking over his 'cage'. So "Who do you really think is Numero Uno around here".

Another bete noir of Gunner's is spectacles - specifically, my reading specs. Twice he removed the lenses from one pair before destroying them beyond repair. So I got a new pair of lenses put in an old frame; twice he has removed the lenses from these before destroying them beyond repair. I know --- I should have learned by now to put them well out of his reach. It's just that every now and then I forget to do so and every now and then he finds an excuse to get hold of them (usually, I must add, when left alone with just Lancer and Pilot in the house).

So this week I have spent a few hours at Specsavers taking advantage of their "two for one" offer. All I have to remember now is to put them out of Gunner's reach.......

(Or should I be taking the dog to the optician..... maybe he's really trying to tell me something!!??)

Gunner to Gundog - Lesson 2

It's a month since his first 'turning me into a gundog' lesson. In that time, Gunner's learned a lot: how to retrieve visible and out of sight objects; how to deliver them straight back to me (most important!); how to search for items that have been hidden (knowing they are the favourite dentastix after dinner probably helps that lesson!); how to 'stay' for increased periods of time; how to catch the ducks (not a good lesson.... according to our trainer) - oh... and how to catch mice.... much to the annoyance of Puddy Cat.
On the down-side, he has also learned how to turn a deaf ear to the whistle when there is something more interesting (sea gulls, pheasants, rabbits, duck) going on....
So, my question to Rory (he the trainer) was "how to control dog going away, encourage him to come back without putting him off coming back". The answer, of course, is simple: "watch your dog and don't let him get in the position of being about to ignore you". Easy: I must make sure he pays more attention to me than anything else in his environment. Practice that for the next few weeks.
"So" said Rory; "What's he like at retrieving?". "Enjoys it" said I. "Sits, waits, stays till told to fetch. Finds things: Brings them back. A little reticent about giving them up, but otherwise fine". "So we'll try a few things then" said Rory. First, we throw a simple dummy. Ask dog to sit. Throw Dummy. Ask dog to stay. Ask dog to fetch. Dog fetches; dog returns enthusiastically (perhaps a little too enthusiastically) and gives up dummy. Easy.
Try next step. Dog on lead. Walk dog 100 yds. Drop Dummy. Turn and walk dog back 100 yds. Remove lead. Dog sits. Tell Dog to fetch. Dog zaps off and fetches. Returns instantly. Perhaps a little too enthusiastically. Good Dog. Dog on lead. Walk back 50 yds. Turn and throw dummy. Dog still on lead. Continue walking. After 200 yds let dog off lead. Tell dog to sit. Tell dog to Fetch. Dog fetches instantly. Returns with dummy - still v. enthusiastic.
Next lesson. Let dog off lead. Tell dog to sit. Throw dummy over big ditch. Tell dog to fetch. Dog instantly fetches, returns enthusiastically. Gives up dummy. Says 'can we do that again'. Next lesson. Tell dog to sit and stay. Throw dummy across big ditch and into dense undergrowth other side. Send dog to fetch. Dog goes off; searches; wags tail a lot; keeps looking; keeps looking; keeps wagging; gets encouragement from him the trainer; finds dummy; races back over big ditch and gives up dummy! "OK " says the trainer; "We've found out what he's naturally good at" adding that he's never seen a young spaniel quite so good at retrieving so soon in his training. What a stunner Gunner is!
So, for the next couple of weeks we are to worry less about the occasional running off (I just need to be more vigilant and stop him before he goes) and we've to take the retrieving lesson to the next steps ---- tell dog to sit; throw dummy over his head; wait a while; send dog to fetch. Following that: tell dog to sit: throw several items around and over his head. Occasionally fetch them myself; occasionally tell him to fetch. Eventually, throw items to left and right and start sending him off to either left or right. Any problems or great success and need to know next step? Contact He the Trainer! Easy peasy.
Meanwhile, the piggies are still playing 'tag' every morning to keep themselves in trim and enjoying their afternoon tea of apples - of which we have a glut - from the orchard every afternoon. And, they continue to grow..... Furthermore I've decided they are less fond of females than males --- me they push around, him they don't. Is it because I give them apples and other treats so they think I'm a pushover?????

End of an Era

It was a sad day yesterday - we finally sold Ritz & Max's carriage. There will be no more flying round the countryside, cones or obstacles with the dastardly pair.

After 8 years of excitement, frustration and fun in and around the Wolds, Max - at the age of 23 - is now officially retired. Sadly, his arthiritis now makes it difficult for him to work without pain, particularly on the hilly territory around here. The German warmblood half brothers came to us as 'schoolmasters' having enjoyed a busy career competing both in England and France with a number of handlers. We learned a lot from them. Particularly, we learned that there was not a lot they did not know and they very quickly had us trained to their ways! Ritz taught us all about dealing with colic -he managed to have three bouts in quick succession soon after arriving. The first required transportation to the equine hospital in Rutland - when we had no transportation! We knew virtually nobody in the area but we quickly learned how to rustle up trailer, towing vehicle and driver! Thank you Ritz. Over the years he has taught a number of people not to take him for granted - either by a crafty and well-placed nip (one local vet learned to be very wary of him!), or a well-timed buck (on one occasion tossing a complacent would-be groom into the dirt), or doing a 'platform nine-and-a-half' through various hedges and fences. Danke Ritz. They both taught us that trailers were not the transportation of choice for well bred equines..... many a hazardous journey was undertaken with the pair of them creating all sorts of mayhem in the back before we finally traded the trailer for a lorry - overnight the terrible travellers were transformed into angels! Throughout, Max has always been the straight guy, reliable and steady in contrast to the crafty and sharp Ritz. The only time he has ever really displayed a temper has been in his impatience to get going once hitched to the carriage. Mind you, there was one memorable occasion when the pair of them showed what they were made of on a particularly trappy uphill farm track - and we very nearly lost our two senior citizen passengers out the back...... We shall miss seeing their two pairs of ears ahead of us.

Now the search is on for a lighter weight carriage for Ritz for next season.... though the elder of the pair, he has far too much go in him to consider retiring to pasture yet a while. I don't doubt that he'll lead us a merry dance between the shafts on his own though.

Meanwhile, we have now witnessed the squirrells dashing hither and thither with conkers clutched between their jaws..... so that explains the piles and piles of discarded conker shells everywhere. It is an entirely new 'thing' to us this year. Is it an omen? An indicator of a really hard winter ahead? We shall find out.........