Gunner's Calendar - February 2016

Gunner - 23 March 2008 (Easter Sunday)

With so many photos of Gunner in the snow it took a lot of deliberation to select just one.

Easter was early in 2008 and we had a great deal of snow. Gunner was just over a year old. We had two other spaniels, Lancer and Pilot, but it was Gunner who was always with me. Even at such a young age I think he considered yard duties part of his remit!

This gate marked the entrance to a sheltered courtyard garden when we first moved here. When we rebuilt and extended the outbuildings the garden became the Carriage Yard and the gate was moved to provide access to the poultry premises.  (The same gate later became infamous as the one on which Jaunty became suspended en route to retrieve a duck from the pond!). Gunner loved the chickens and ducks. At a very young age he witnessed the 'marvellous' sight of Lancer retrieving (and bringing to me) a wandering duck from another part of the yard. It was the thing in all the world which gave Lancer the greatest joy!  From that moment on, he was transfixed. Whenever I was doing anything near the poultry, Gunner would 'guard' them and if they were 'in the wrong place' he would conscientiously fetch them and return them to me! They soon learned to scarper or fly off at first sight of him..... not always successfully... he could be fast when the occasion demanded!
On this Easter Sunday morning I had let the poultry out of their Palace and the ducks were making their best efforts to get to the pond. Some of them, as ever, decided the fastest way was to fly but, with the pond being submerged under a heavy layer of snow, they were misjudging their landings with hilarious results. In the midst of laughing at them I turned to see this very serious young face staring solemnly through the gate! He remained motionless until all the ducks had landed. What was he thinking?
You can tell everything you need to know about a dog from the look in his eyes.

The Understudy comes of age

Jaunty came here as Gunner's Understudy. Frustrated at the lack of progress with Gunner's proposed 'wives', I decided in his fifth summer to go out and buy a puppy. Just like that! Well, no. I did a lot of research and eventually found two litters with the right credentials available - one in Norfolk and the other in Cumbria. Norfolk won simply because my mother lives there and I could combine puppy visits with filial duties!! Very scientific. With the pick of the litter, it took me three visits to choose Jaunty. I subsequently spent more than a few moments wondering if I should instead have chosen his quieter brother!
He was, however, a joy; as soon as we got him home he went into his crate, curled up and fell asleep as if he'd always been here. Not a sound through his first night - or any other. He quickly learned the toilet, and every other, routine. He immediately adopted Gunner as his best mate - a state which continued until the arrival of Bugler 8 months later - and I dreamed of my bestestGundog and his Understudy being an incomparable team for years to come.
One morning around the time he was about 4 months old I lost sight of Jaunty when I was feeding the pigs. One minute he was close by, the next he was nowhere to be seen. I heard frantic barking from a nearby field. The pup had gone exploring and found himself on the wrong side of the fence, unable to get home.
On reflection, I should have ignored him to scare the living daylights out of him. Instead, I went and fetched him!
We both learned a lesson: me, that I should never take my eyes off a young dog and he that he could run off on his own!
For the next two years and more he was the ideal Understudy in all ways but one. He learned his lessons quickly; but everything was a game to him; running round me when returning with dummies, squiggling on his back when I told him to 'stay', jumping up & down crazily whilst walking to 'heel'. Frustratingly, he would hunt keenly, happily and relatively close but when the urge came upon him, his hocks would come under him and he would bolt off into the distance....  deaf to any shout,whistle or call I might make.  I was never really relaxed with him, always waiting for that moment when he would 'go'. He always came back looking thoroughly chuffed with himself. Various remedies were suggested by Him-the-trainer and numerous learned authors. None solved my 'problem'. I despaired. I had a brilliant pupil with a mind of his own. Not the ideal follow-on from my first and BestestGundog. I read everything, tried everything, consulted everyone..... still the Understudy hoolied off. "He just loves to run" said Linda. Well.. that was obvious. I wrote off a possible career as a Bushbeating dog. Jaunty was hard wired to be the dog most gamekeepers hate - the one that jumps out of the wagon and runs straight through the cover for the hell of it! He is so full of life that he just wants to bounce, run and roll around in the long grass....
'Sit still!' Why?
'Stop!' Why?
 'Jump!' How High?

 High on energy with a low boredom threshold.... Agility was an obvious route. We signed up for classes last summer and he took to it like a duck to water - when he wasn't looning about.... even it  was too slow for him at times. Jess, our 'teacher' quickly dubbed him "Rockstar" - which kind of sums up his approach to life. We've just joined another group to train for competitions and the only thing holding him back is his handler!

However, I was determined not to write off his gundog chances. He'd done two or three days with Gunner last season and not disgraced himself. The keeper on our local shoot agreed that I could take Jaunty along through the Season and 'train' him in exchange for no fee and on the understanding that I take him straight home if he ran amuck!!!
We were out just 6 days in total. On the first one, whilst he didn't disgrace himself, he spent a great deal of the day on his lead, standing up on his back legs whenever a bird went over his head. When the drives were over and he was asked to find the birds, he mostly charged around the woods having a good time. I think he just couldn't believe his luck! He was a little more relaxed on the second day and by the third cottoned on to the idea that he should bring me any dead birds he might stumble across; on the fourth he actually went out looking for them and for the last two I found myself relaxing and actually enjoying working with him. His boundless energy found an outlet at last! In between drives he was calm and quiet, waiting patiently for the shooting to stop and his 'fun' to begin. There was nothing he wouldn't crash into, through or under in his search and runners didn't stand a chance!
For the first time in his 3 years he was actually tired at the end of the day!
He received lots of compliments through the season for his looks and manners but when the keeper handed me some money for his work on the last day I felt he'd finally come of age! Gunner would have been proud of his understudy!
And I can look forward to working him next season without the fear and trepidation that I felt at the beginning of this one! He hasn't bolted for the last three months either..... has he really grown up???

Gunner's Calendar - January 2016

Gunner at Fulletby Shoot 21-01-2011

It seems appropriate that the first Blog of 2016 should start with Gunner! He may no longer be with us but his spirit is very much still here.

This was an easy choice of photo for the First Month of the Calendar year.
Firstly, because it was taken at Fulletby Shoot - where we learned our 'trade' - and secondly because this was "Gunner's Pose". When he wasn't on the go this was how he sat: motionless, silent, watchful and waiting: Slightly ahead or to the side of me... never close beside me..... his eyes and nose firmly fixed on the land ahead where the action was going to happen. He would sit like that for 10, 15, 20 minutes... however long it was necessary to wait beween drives; as soon as he heard "Right chaps off we go and take it steady" (that's what most of the keepers and beat captains seem to say!) he would quiver and wait for a signal from me.....  never moving until I told him to....
The chap in the background is called Pete. In typical Lincolnshire fashion, he didn't say much or directly talk to us for a long while... he was a wildfowler.... so this was pretty tame stuff to him.... but Gunner eventually earned his respect...

Fulletby shoot was special (it 'ended' two or three seasons back). It was our first. The keeper spotted us when Gunner was about 9 mths old; we were walking across the fields with Lancer and Pilot and he stopped and asked if I "picked up with those dogs"? I replied that the hope was to do so with the youngest if he turned out alright. "Give me a ring if he does" he said, driving off.
We bumped into him again 6 months or so later and he said I should bring the dog along to the yard at the start of the season! I hadn't really got a clue what he was talking about but I said "Yes" I'd do that!!!!  I found out when the first date was and went along, not knowing what to expect. I found a number of men of mature years and a couple of younger ones; some dogs (One, a large yellow lab, bounded up to Gunner and near frightened him out of his skin!!) a couple of tractors and trailers and, luckily, the Keeper - although he hardly noticed me and just said to "jump in gal" as the other chaps loaded into one of the trailers. There was one other female, 2 labs and several other spaniels... and about 18 blokes! Who all knew each other.... Gunner and I both felt a little bit shy. Gunner maintained his "shyness" to the end of his time.... We worked with Fulletby shoot Tuesdays and Fridays every week for our first season - except for the weeks Gunner was off work through having to have his tail amputated - another story.
We picked up other shoots along the way and by 2011, our third season, we were a fixture on the local team and a number of other shoots besides, Gunner having earned his stripes in many different ways.
This photo encapsulates so much about that shoot.  High on the Lincolnshire wolds, the landscape around Fulletby is wonderfully hilly with views across to Lincoln Cathedral, the Wash and the East coast. It was a privelege to have access to land one couldn't normally walk across. This shot is taken in the 'middle' of the shoot. By January the keeper, Plum his name was, would say with glee: "We're goin thru' the middle today chaps".... rubbing his hands with glee because that's where the real sport was.
Shoots comprise a variety of 'covers' which vary from rough grasses, maize, mustard, tritikale, bracken and assorted shrubs to a variety of woodland areas. At the beginning of the season, the birds are 'driven' out of the lighter covers with the woodlands being saved for mid to late season.
So here we are, towards the end of the season in an area of bracken set between two large tracts of woodland. I could never remember the names of the different covers but I think this one was Goldy Top. Scent is pretty dead in bracken. Birds hide deep within and underneath it. A good dog will drive into and under it as well as the brambles and briars which grow alongside it. This particular tract lies on a sloping, boggy-bottomed hillside which rises up fairly steeply through mixed woodland......It was Gunner's favourite type of 'cover'. He just loved thrusting through the bracken, bounding across the boggy bits and snuffling round the woods. It was what his sturdy frame was built for.  Stamina not speed.
This 21st January 2011 was freezing cold and frosty, dry and sunny  - ideal scenting conditions.... the dog, as ever, worked his socks off!. The photo was taken around 1130 am.... we had just about thawed out by then........
Later in the day far away from Goldy Top, Gunner was thrusting through an ancient hawthorn hedge growing alongside a deep trench surrounded by thick brambles. Although I couldn't see him I could hear him working his way through the undergrowth.... Suddenly there was a heartrending screaming noise. I had no idea what was going on; I could see nothing; I thought maybe Gunner had hold of a hare - but hares don't make that noise..... slowly it dawned on me that it was something bigger... I grovelled on hands and knees through the undergrowth till I could see the back of the dog; it was attached to something at the front which was making all the noise.  Gunner was hanging on to a Muntjac deer and was determined to drag it out of the bushes. I could not believe it.
I told him to let go.  Relucantly he did! And we carried on with our proper work!!
Later I learned that the Guns had thought I had fallen into the dyke and was screaming for help!!!! Plum on the other hand said "You should hev thrown yersen in there after it gel - I'd have shared it with ye for dinner!!!"
It was a 130 bird day but by the end the bag was 146.
A truly memorable day.
As were so many out on the 'beat' with Gunner.....

And so to 2016...

Happy New Year everybody.....
This blog is going to take on a rather different 'character' for the coming year. For the past 8 we have had
A) Curly coat pigs

and B) Gunner
without them, what shall we do??
Well, that's what everyone keeps on asking us.
So, this blog will unveil our continuing story as it happens.
"Cheers" & Here's to the Future - to 2016 and the years beyond as well.
We wish you all good health, happiness, prosperity (spiritual rather than financial I think) and a whole bucket full of adventures.
We shall share ours - whether big or small. Each step along the way...... What will we do without the Curly Coat pigs and without Gunner?   .....
Find out first here...... xx

Update on Gunner's calendar....

Gundog Calendar 2016 cover page

Well.... here we are, nearly at the end of the year and I've now done the final 'totting up' for Gunner's Calendar.
I am really honoured and touched that so many people wanted to buy copies. I have just two left, which means that my estimate of 150 sales was spot-on. Nearly all the calendars have gone to people who knew Gunner via fb and twitter. That is great because we can keep in touch and, as each month goes by, I will give a little background to, and explanation of, the photos I selected for that month. The BestestGundog may be gone but he will not be forgotten. 
The other objective for producing the calendar was, of course, to spread awareness of canine cancer and to raise money for further research. Hiopefully, at some future date dog owners will have more targeted help and information to deal with this devastating condition. It is the biggest single cause of death to our canine friends. I didn't know that before it took Gunner. I'm certain I'm not alone in ignorance. After deducting all costs of production I am able, thanks to your generosity, to donate well over £300 to ACT. I thank Gunner for that achievement, tho I do so wish he had not been the reason for it. xx 
Thank you all and I wish you a very Happy Christmas xxxx

Happy 1st HalfYear birthday gorgeous grandson

 

The latest addition to #TeamGunner turned 6mths of age today.The time has flown by and Skipper has changed from an awkward little pup into quite a handsome young dog. He is a lot like his dad Jaunty but there are many instances where grandad Gunner's genes shine through - not least his ability to concentrate and listen. Fingers crsssed these traits remain and develop through the next 6 months. 

Although Skipper had a short assessment from 'Him the trainer' a couple of months ago, we are off for our first real session tomorrow. He's already comfortable with the whistle instructions for 'sit', 'turn' and 'come here' and will happily hunt for or retrieve tennis balls and small dummies. He's also able to 'sit & stay' for several minutes whilst I am in sight and is growing more confident with staying put when I disappear from view. Uniquely amongst all the dogs we've had up till now he also understands  to 'lie down', something we learned together at puppy class.

It will be very interesting to see how we get on tomorrow. Up till now everything has been learned through play and I'm hoping we'll be able to continue in that way ....

That's it then

Sunrise after the storm...

Desmond, the fourth in the first season in which the met office are naming storms, wrought havoc across much of the Scottish lowlands and northern England, dumping some 11+ inches of rain on parts of Cumbria alone, during the 4th & 5th December. We were fortunate; we escaped the downpours.

A tumultous dawn....

Nonetheless, the day of our Last Ever Market -   Sunday 6th -  dawned dramatically over the Wolds, a fierce wind bending the trees and making the leaves dance across the fields. "Going to be a challenging day" I grinned to myself as I opened up the poultry palace. The chickens were not keen to come out. I didn't blame them. I couldn't help feeling I was going to get more than ruffled feathers if the wind didn't ease off a bit.
Fittingly, our Last Market outing was to the local town where we'd started out several years ago. It's not the busiest place in all the world so I didn't expect to sell out, but it's always more rewarding to come home with a 'decent' return. Over the years we've been to all manner of 'markets' in every type of weather - the combination of wind and rain is undoubtedly the worst - if everything doesn't blow off the stall, there's a fair chance that most of it will get wet. Added to which, browsing around markets is a popular hobby but one which only thrives in fine weather. As soon as the rain comes the people go!!!
Our luck held out; we were located in a sheltered street and after a smattering of dramatic gusts in the first hour the wind died down completely and the day became quite busy - familiar faces and friends not seen in a while made the time go quickly. Then it rained. And that was it really. Two or more hours of nothing much happening apart from the 'entertainment' and people promenading..... Totting up the takings over a bottle of champagne later my suspiciouns were confirmed. We'd done OK, no great shakes but no disgrace either.

Christmas Market stall 6.12.15

So - that was it. Our last market. Ever. Let's list the things I shall miss: Fine days in interesting places; being invited to attend things like the Queen's Golden Jubilee Garden Party 'Market'; talking to entertaining customers; the camaraderie of other stall holders; selling out; coming home to a well earned drink after a hard day at market; being told our pies/sausages/pate/black pudding/etc are "the best".
And the things I shall not miss: Getting up before dawn on a cold winter's day to travel to market - and not being able to feel my feet after an hour or two; leaving the animals for the day(s), being told "I can get it at half the price in Tesco (insert any other supermarket)",  missing more pleasurable events because of  markets...
More pluses than minuses....
Oh Well.... we've still a few pigs left so our options are open......
But this was Our Last Market Ever........................ honestly.............
Our Bespoke Provisions Service will still be available to customers ensuring you are not without your delicious Curly Coat products over Christmas and through to Easter  2016.