There's a lot of beet in beating!

Could do with a drink mum!

One of the things that makes bushbeating fun (yes! fun!) is the infinite variety of terrain human and hound are expected to work through - from gorgeous grassy pastures to the thickest most leg-grabbing bramble thickets and everything you can imagine - & a few things you never could - in between......
So, yesterday was Bugler's second day out this season and he spent the whole morning hunting through well grown soaking wet (lots of rain the night before) sugar beet. It's hard enough for human legs to walk (or stumble) through for hours on end but for dogs it involves endless bounding and diving through flapping wet near tropical greenery.... It exhausts them but they love the variety of smells..... the tantalising scent of the birds, rabbits, hares, deer, foxes who have passed this way before them. Imagine reading your favourite novel, the one you can't bear to put down even though you are almost too tired to take in another word. That's hunting through sugar beet........ the dogs just go on and on.... just another yard, just one more scent, OH! and another and OMG over there's another..... and finally the field and the drive comes to an end...... the soaking wet dogs emerge and hunt around in search of a much needed drink.... any old puddle, ditch or stream will do...
What makes the dog keep going? He can't be fit - it's the beginning of the season and we don't do this sort of thing between seasons.... 20 mins to an hour of exercise or training once or twice a day not 5 or 6 or 7 times.... Why does he keep going through sodden beetfields for hours even though he must be getting tired? 
Look at the face of the dog; the eyes say it all - he just loves what he is doing and will go on for as long as I ask him to..... he'll have sore feet at the end, he'll sleep like a log, he'll probably be a bit stiff first thing in the morning..... but, if I ask, he'll get up, go out and, beet or not, do it all again................. That's working dogs for you....

And so another season begis

Another year, another season....Bugler's (and my) first day. He was so obviously happy to be back doing what he loves doing best - whichever way you look at it, training and sniffing out mice are no way near as much fun as going out in a big pack for the day!
It started rainy but by late morning (after a couple of Sloe Fizz's kindly provided by our host) it dried up and the day just got even better! There were birds in abundance - more than enough to satisfy the guns that they are in for a good season ahead: far more birds flew on than hit the dust - which pleased our host greatly!!!
It's always a worry - the first day back: Will the dog behave properly? Will he listen to the whistle? Will he chase after that blinkin hare that always lurks in the stubble? Any shoot day, but particularly the first one, is so full of high charged energy, anticipation, excitement and distraction that many dogs find it all too much; small wonder if misdemeanors and shouts abound. However, today was Bugler's time to shine...... he was a real joy to be out with; worked his little paws off in a really professional way. Will he stay like this all season? It would be too much to expect: usually he starts to boil up by Christmas and we have to have a few little heart to hearts.... but maybe he's old enough now to remain stable and biddable........ time will tell...... Meanwhile, thank you Bu for making the sun shine on an otherwise grey October day !