Shootover day with Bramble...

Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Had a good day out working with Bramble today. We were very lucky with the weather, a practically balmy 13 degrees. As we are at the beginning of the season, we started with a "practice" day. Essentially, 4 guns, 3 dogs picking up and beating dogs (spaniels and a hpr). There were quite a few birds and some challenging retrieves for Bramble. She worked tirelessly all day, picking up 7 birds in one drive alone, 2 of them being runners, meaning Bramble needed to hunt quickly and bring them back to me.

Bramble showed boldness in cover, which I was pleased about, especially when I had to redirect her after a pricked bird. She hunted really well and listened to me when I needed to use a stop whistle. She was flawless throughout the whole da, well until right at the end she decided she needed to relax in a mud bath. :giggl:

This clip gives a bit of insight into the role of a picking up dog. Our gun is just in front (12 0' clock) Bramble is completely focussed and still, waiting for the beating dogs to drive the pheasants overhead. You can just about spot another gun and behind him another lab and handler( No birds are seen shot in the clip...)



Bramble relaxing at the end of the day... :rofl:


 
Leanne

Leanne

Sniffer Dog
Location
Shropshire, UK
Beanwood said:
Had a good day out working with Bramble today. We were very lucky with the weather, a practically balmy 13 degrees. As we are at the beginning of the season, we started with a "practice" day. Essentially, 4 guns, 3 dogs picking up and beating dogs (spaniels and a hpr). There were quite a few birds and some challenging retrieves for Bramble. She worked tirelessly all day, picking up 7 birds in one drive alone, 2 of them being runners, meaning Bramble needed to hunt quickly and bring them back to me.

Bramble showed boldness in cover, which I was pleased about, especially when I had to redirect her after a pricked bird. She hunted really well and listened to me when I needed to use a stop whistle. She was flawless throughout the whole da, well until right at the end she decided she needed to relax in a mud bath. :giggl:

This clip gives a bit of insight into the role of a picking up dog. Our gun is just in front (12 0' clock) Bramble is completely focussed and still, waiting for the beating dogs to drive the pheasants overhead. You can just about spot another gun and behind him another lab and handler( No birds are seen shot in the clip...)



Bramble relaxing at the end of the day... :rofl:


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This will so be Mas tomorrow 😂😂😂
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Selina27 said:
Well done Kate and Bramble. She's such a great dog.

Does make me realise though what Cassie is missing out on :(
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I have some cold game from yesterday chilling. Has Cassie retrieved game yet? She might benefit from a shootover day where everything just slots into place.
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Selina27 said:
Thanks, and no she hasn't. The nearest I've got is a pheasant wing tied on her puppy dummy in a stocking!
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Well, I am no gundog expert, and only have a little experience myself in the field. The first time I tried Benson with a pheasant pelt tied around a dummy it was a disaster! Benson, on the other hand, thought it was the best thing that ever happened!! I spent ages picking bits of pheasant of our neighbour's lawn, including a head. When he went on an actual shoot he was very good and picked really well, he needed just a little encouragement to bring it back, then just got better and better. It is interesting though, as even now I wouldn't trust him with a pheasant pelt :)

Cassie looks to me looks like a really instinctive dog, lovely hunter, who might just surprise you in the field :)

Bramble knew she has a job to do, and even with a lot of shot and pheasant scent was steady. ( You can see how relaxed and happy she is having her mudbath ). She didn't feel the need to self-reward by hunting, instead was focused on the guns and my body language and cues.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Beanwood said:
who might just surprise you in the field
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You're not alone in thinking that! I guess it will come down to me having confidence to have ago!
One thing I can be sure of, she has no fear of thick cover :) But what she'd do with what she finds I wouldn't like to say.
That's interesting about Benson. I was advised to try a feathered dummy, which she plucked! But if she finds feathers or even a dead bird out and about she doesn't do that.
I am feeling very heartened after todays training :)
 
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