Gunner's Calendar - May

"Today's lesson chaps is all about manners..... " 14/9/2010

Mangal and Wurzel, our first curly coated pigs, arrived here in April 2007. Gunner followed shortly after in June that same year. So pigs were always part of his life. A part he took very seriously from the start....... which was why I felt it was important to include at least one picture of him with pigs in the calendar. I'm not sure why this one, but when I was looking through them all, this one kept calling me back. It has a real feeling of the dog and the piglets being equally interested in each other.
The first litter of curly coats was born here in November 2007 and from the beginning Gunner would position himself outside their pen and watch them in wrapt fascination. In the early days we tried to keep them in the pens with their mothers, an impossible task. We were forever rounding them up and returning them to the correct pens or blocking up gaps in fencing where they broke through. Those of you who have read back to the early years of this blog doubtless chuckled at our vain attempts. Gunner watched our efforts with interest. Soon he was instrumental in helping round them up and became self-appointed guardian of the piglets. Within a couple of years we admitted defeat and allowed the piglets to free range wherever their trotters took them. Visitors grew accustomed to being greeted by hordes of happy piglets trotting up the drive or mooching by the back door; users of the adjacent bridlepath grew used to being followed by them or rang us to advise whereabouts the piglets were! They always returned to their mums eventually but Gunner would keep an eye on them, bringing them back if they strayed too far. Everyday when I did the feed rounds he would mingle amongst them, gently minding his own business or having words with them about their role in the world!  I used to joke about him giving them their daily lessons and teaching them manners......
Other times he would just sit motionless watching them go about their business......
As with everything, Gunner took his role of PigKeeper very seriously. Whenever weaners left for pastures new or older pigs for their final journey, he would be there inspecting, assisting and occasionally hampering their progress into whatever transport was being used! Even moving them from pen to pen required his presence to ensure proceedings went according to plan and if we delivered pigs to custodians, Gunner would be first out of the truck to check out the new premises!
We took the decision at the beginning of last year to "get out" of breeding the curly coats for a number of reasons. Now, I cannot imagine having them without Gunner being around.

The "fickle finger of fate" ........................

Happy Birthday Bugler

It was Bugler's birthday last Sunday. I can't believe it's already three years since Gunner and Meg got together and produced 6 bouncing pups.
As ever, it took me two or three visits and several hours to select Bugler from the litter. I don't know why; he was a mini image of Gunner so should have been the obvious choice from the start but I was tempted to pick his black & white brother (Where have we heard this story before!).
Anyway he came to stay and settled in immediately. A real chip off the old block, he was very fond of his dad and spent lots of cuddle time with him... .
Although Jaunty was supposed to be the Understudy, Bugler fell into that role far more easily. He has the same capacity for wanting to please that Gunner had, is quick to learn and, more importantly, remember his lessons and has boundless energy. Where he differs from his dad is in being twice as fast and bouncy and probably not naturally as bold!

In the 2014/15 shooting season they shared the workload and in most instances, if I didn't say anything, people thought it was the same dog - just that he was slightly steadier on some days than others!!! Apart from Bugler being leaner, they were, to the untrained eye, identical. Like his dad, Bugler is never norty and tries hard to please. He earned himself a couple of certificates in Gundog Working Tests last summer so this year we are having another go to see if we can progress. So far the omens are not good; the dogs which catch the judges eyes are small and whizzy/busy across the ground.whereas Bugler is a good 4-6" taller than most of them and has a less frantic style of working. Never mind; he is a speedy obedient working dog and will continue to be a pleasure to work with on any shoot in forthcoming seasons. As far as he is concerned, hunting is his favourite thing and as long as he can do that he is more than happy.
So.... Happy Birthday SonofaGunner xxxxx

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

Sows sort themselves out!

 Delila and Andromeda go head to head

We've only got 4 curly coats left now and two of those are destined for the butcher in a month or so. Delila and Andromeda though are going nowhere. They served us well as sows over a number of years and have earned a long and relaxing retirement.
Circumstances, and their litters, kept them apart over the years. Since we stopped breeding from them they have enjoyed (maybe) living on their own in their separate domains.

Jaunty transfixed by the antics of the sows!

However, a couple of weeks ago we decided to move them to well rested pens next door to each other - not least because they are soon to be the only curly coats on site and must (we thought) want the company of their own kind. The idea was that they would grow used to each other from living next door and eventually we would let them run together and keep each other company.
Typical human arrogance to assume we were in charge of their destiny.
This afternoon when I was training the dogs in the Church field Andromeda was having a 'moment of decision'. By the time the last of the three dogs was out for his exercise her mind was made up. Jaunty for once, was rooted to the spot when I told him to 'sit' whilst I went to explore what Andromeda was up to.

Delila and Andromeda fighting tooth for tooth

I'd been conscious for a few minutes that she was trotting up and down the fence and knocking her head against the hurdle which separated her pen from Delilas. Suddenly adrenaline kicked in and she pushed her snout, followed by the rest of herself, through the hurdle and off she went.... sniffing here and trotting there - until she came across Delila quietly snoozing away in the far corner of her pen...... She got a rude awakening as Andromeda poked her in the side: Within moments they were pushing and shoving each other around, neither willing to give way.... Just when I thought they were exhausted and the fight was over Delila ran into her ark with Andromeda in hot pursuit and their fight continued inside with lots of shoving and pushing and the ark virtually lifting off the ground. Jaunty meanwhile was still rooted to the ground watching..... he didn't move an inch!

20 mins later - Neither willing to give in....

After several minutes the sows tumbled out of the ark but neither would give in and the fight continued. Despite all the shoving and pushing there was no grunting or snorting.... but by now both of them were breathing very heavily. Squabbling for that length of time in those thick woolly coats was taking its toll. But still they would not give in.
Eventually though the older lady tired, admitted defeat and was chased off by the younger....... each then withdrawing to rest and lick their wounds. It was a warmish afternoon and I expected they would need a big drink but neither went for water for the best part of half an hour.......

Andromeda sees Delila Off...... for now

... and then, after a quick drink, there was another bout of squabbling but the energy had departed and this little fight was just for show. Within minutes each retreated to their own ark to sleep it off.
When I checked them over later there was remarkably little blood and few wounds. Although I think Andromeda, the younger swallowbelly, probably won the battle She definately suffered more wounding than the older Delila.

Andromeda retires to recuperate

Delila returns to her wallow to recover

It will be interesting to see whether they settle down into amicable companionship or whether they still need to sort out who is numero uno.......

Gunner's Calendar - March

On his 8th Birthday - 8/3/15

Of all the pictures in the calendar this was the easiest to choose, although - thanks to my incoherent filing system - I almost didn't find it. Even looking for it again now took me ages - I really should have filed it in the right place.
Every birthday, from the first, we had a bit of a ritual. All bar one of our previous dogs had been rescues so we didn't know when they had been born. Pilot was the first we'd 'bought' as a pup but we never made a fuss about his birthday - I feel a bit bad about that now, but he was not that kind of dog really. Certainly, if we'd given him any presents he would have buried them at the first opportunity!
It seemed natural however to celebrate Gunner's birthday; he was such a special person. For the first two birthdays he had presents but by the time he was 3, and already a seasoned working dog, he seemed too grown up for them. Instead we would go off together for a special 'walk' for much of the day during which there would be the 'official photo shoot'! For his 6th & 7th birthdays he even had a Cake - liver & carrot, decorated with bits of chewstix! Doggie people will not think this is crazy.
Last year was slightly different. After the shooting season ended I started the usual slow process of getting the horse fit after his winter lay-off. In previous years Gunner had often indicated that he wanted to come along but I'd been worried about taking him on the roads. We don't have a lot of traffic around here but a shooting colleague had lost one of his dogs to a hit and run driver so the thought was always at the back of my mind. Usually I'd get Rocco groomed and tacked up whilst Gunner patiently watched. I'd then put him in the house before heading out on our ride. One day last February though, instead of going in the house Gunner picked up a stick and ran up the drive with it. Clearly he'd decided he was coming with us. So off we went; me, the horse and the dog; most days for the next few months.  Until the horse got fitter and, I thought, Gunner was having difficulty keeping up with us.  It was quite magical.  Gunner would wait patiently outside the stable whilst I got Rocco ready; as soon I led the horse out to the mounting block, the dog would jump up, bounce around frantically looking for a stick and then charge off up the drive ahead of us. After a couple of days he knew the route we were going on and would be either just in front or behind us, stopping to snuffle this and that, or he'd go off hunting across the fields and hedgerows - never too far away. Numerous times he came back with a rabbit or a hare - I tried to teach him to stand on his back legs leaning against the horse so I could take the treasures from him but he was wary of that. He'd get really close and lift his head as high as he could but I still coulcn't reach down that far. Many's the time I would curse at having to dismount, take the rabbit or whatever from him and then get back on the horse and carry the thing back home. I couldn't throw it down anywhere 'cos Gunner would just go and fetch it again and we'd have the same rigmarole!!!

So on his birthday last year, instead of going for a walk together he came along for the ride! We still had to have the official birthday photo though.
The snowdrops were particularly good last year; Gunner suddenly sped off snuffling under the trees in pursuit of a recently departed pheasant. I thought that they would make an excellent backdrop.  Gunner was not impressed when I told him to sit still. He was far more interested in where the cock-bird was going and would not take his eyes off it, craning his neck to watch his progress down the hedgerow.....
When it came to deciding on the photo for the calendar I initially selected this bottom one because of how it shows Gunner's profile. However, the top photo which I finally selected just captures what he is thinking...... he was not going to let that bird out of his sight. So typical.
Happy Birthday Gunner xxx

Eight Months old already!!

Skipper's Mum 'Nell' (sister to Bugler)

Skipper 10 weeks with his dad, Jaunty

The puppy picked at 5 weeks

Skipper is 8 months old today - where have those months gone?
Incredibly he was the pup I tried Not  to like. Since both Jaunty and his mum, Nell, were black & white I had set my heart on choosing a black & white one. The first time I went to look at the pups they were about 3 weeks old and difficult to tell apart but when I went back at 5 weeks, no matter how many times I pushed the little liver & white one away in favour of his black & white brothers, he always came trotting back.  At 7 weeks one of his black & white brothers was still looking for a home and I was sorely tempted to have them both ... very sorely tempted. Nell's dad even offered to give me a special 'deal' - not exactly BOGOF but close enough. However, as I said to him, it's not about the money. I sent a text to him-the-trainer asking his advice on having two pups from the same litter "from a training perspective". His response was very prompt and very concise: "No, No, No, NO"
So that was it then. One pup only. But which one....? I asked Gunner - Liver and white won. Skipper it was then.. We collected him at 9 weeks - he ran straight to me across the lawn -  brought him home and never looked back!

Bosun & Skipper 7 weeks old

He won everyone over in no time at all - including WaifaCat. Housetraining was a doddle - just a few incidents till he got the hang of always doing puppy weewees when told and asking to be let out inbetween. He was clean in his crate from day one! Nell obviously brought him up well.

It's been much the same with everything else too.  He's a happy go lucky sort of chap who wants to do the right thing and learns very quickly. Which is not to say he isn't cheeky with it. But never (yet) naughty!

Pssst can you tell me what we do next?

We started puppy-training from the beginning; teaching him to sit to the whistle and wait for his food & playing hide and seek with the tennis balls - I'm sure he thinks they grow in the grass!  He learned the 'down' command very quickly and that's now his default position when asked to 'stay'.  Recall has never been a problem; he'll do almost anything for a treat! Now that we've started training proper he's just as eager to learn and, so far, there have been no issues - although I think he feels learning to walk beside me is a waste of time when he'll happily run around my feet!
So far so good then!
However, he is now in his "teenage" months so I freely expect everything to go belly-up and I'll end up eating my words about how good he is...... Although you have only to look at his eyes to realise he honestly wants to make you happy with him....... It's going to be fun watching how he develops from here.......

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.