We went to the Pig’s gundog class on Sunday which was an introduction to shotgun, starter pistol and live and dead game. Was all new to us so thought I’d write it up here. It was in a stubble field of corn. I wasn’t sure how the pig would react to shot, so I made sure we were far away at the start. It was difficult as the shot was unpredictable, but by marking and celebrating each shot with some roast chicken we generally coped. We then joined the line of retrievers slowly walking up behind the gun. The Pig was on lead because of her issues with pheasants, so it was a very long exercise in very very slow loose-lead walking. Apart from one bored frustrated outburst, the Pig did very well, and was nice and steady watching others be sent for dead partridge retrieves. She got one retrieve too, but I asked for it to be just her normal dummy and within the length of my long line as I didn’t trust her in that environment yet and I saw what she did to a wood pigeon she got hold of once 
anyway she did it beautifully, fast and keen and sat and delivered to hand.
Then we got closer to a full-grown corn field where the partridges were. The Pig heard her first partridge call, and at that moment changed into a different beast. Completely took the shot in her stride from then on (was only tolerating it before that), I guess because it was now appearing in a hunting context. She had to sit by me and watch some spaniels do her dream job - rushing around flushing partridges. At each flush, the Pig inevitably lost her mind, and was quivering on her hind legs trying to get to them. So not very good but given we have never had enough exposure to train calmness in that context it was to be expected. Made me realise the difference between the Pig and the other retrievers - they were all having issues of steadiness to the retrieves if anything, whereas mine was the only one fixated on the hunting.
At the end of the session, as we were walking back, the instructor asked why I hadn’t volunteered the Pig for a hunt. Well I didn’t know I was allowed to! But I was sure she wouldn’t have responded to any whistle and been out of control. The instructor suggested I let her off then to see what she would do. I nervously agreed expecting her to bolt right back to the partridge field. But to my delight, I sent her off and hunted her in front of me in a zigzag, with her turning at every whistle, then she did a beautiful stop whistle and a recall! Wonders never cease. I know it would have been different if the partridges were closer, but there must have been some scent around. The instructor commented that I underestimate her and said we should go to the next class up next time (the second most advanced out of four, I think) and we can learn to hunt
Finally, I wanted to test her out with a dead partridge to retrieve. Expecting a thrilled pig with a lot of shaking the bird and enthusiastic feather plucking, I was surprised to find the Pig wouldn’t even touch it, and not even a dummy with a wing attached! So will need to start the clicker retrieve training from scratch with feather I thing. She is fine with bunny fur but was quite freaked out by feather weirdly!
So all in all a good day and I learned a lot about the pig. We won’t talk about her going mental at a hot air balloon and barking at me every time I tried to speak in the group chat at the end. It had been a long day for both of us!
anyway she did it beautifully, fast and keen and sat and delivered to hand.Then we got closer to a full-grown corn field where the partridges were. The Pig heard her first partridge call, and at that moment changed into a different beast. Completely took the shot in her stride from then on (was only tolerating it before that), I guess because it was now appearing in a hunting context. She had to sit by me and watch some spaniels do her dream job - rushing around flushing partridges. At each flush, the Pig inevitably lost her mind, and was quivering on her hind legs trying to get to them. So not very good but given we have never had enough exposure to train calmness in that context it was to be expected. Made me realise the difference between the Pig and the other retrievers - they were all having issues of steadiness to the retrieves if anything, whereas mine was the only one fixated on the hunting.
At the end of the session, as we were walking back, the instructor asked why I hadn’t volunteered the Pig for a hunt. Well I didn’t know I was allowed to! But I was sure she wouldn’t have responded to any whistle and been out of control. The instructor suggested I let her off then to see what she would do. I nervously agreed expecting her to bolt right back to the partridge field. But to my delight, I sent her off and hunted her in front of me in a zigzag, with her turning at every whistle, then she did a beautiful stop whistle and a recall! Wonders never cease. I know it would have been different if the partridges were closer, but there must have been some scent around. The instructor commented that I underestimate her and said we should go to the next class up next time (the second most advanced out of four, I think) and we can learn to hunt
Finally, I wanted to test her out with a dead partridge to retrieve. Expecting a thrilled pig with a lot of shaking the bird and enthusiastic feather plucking, I was surprised to find the Pig wouldn’t even touch it, and not even a dummy with a wing attached! So will need to start the clicker retrieve training from scratch with feather I thing. She is fine with bunny fur but was quite freaked out by feather weirdly!
So all in all a good day and I learned a lot about the pig. We won’t talk about her going mental at a hot air balloon and barking at me every time I tried to speak in the group chat at the end. It had been a long day for both of us!
, bet you never thought you would get so far when you first used to post about the Pig 
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woe is me...