Not taking it any further

[kateincornwall]

I love to see a Labrador working in the field , loving the job and happy owners . I had harboured thoughts of trying to achieve a reasonable standard with Reuben , nothing spectacular but maybe being able to take him picking up . I have now altered my train of thought completely , I still enjoy training sessions with him, he adores retrieving but I think its time to call time . I`m feeling very happy with where we are right now , he is a good lad most of the time , he seems far more inclined to want to keep me in sight these days and we have built up a lovely bond of love and trust so thats it , the short fun sessions will continue but my desire to take him to the next level has waned , a pet gundog he will be xx

 

[FayRose]

Sounds exactly the right thing to do @kateincornwall . Being happy with your dog and knowing he's happy with you and what you do with him is what I'm sure we all want.
It's one of the best feelings, the company of your loyal, loving dog.

 

[David]

I think you are right not to get outside what you are comfortable with, but you might still be able to have a go at picking up if you can find a friendly farm shoot to take him on. I think find one where they aren't too "up them selves". Generally one with lots of down to earth farmers.

The SBD was the world's finest gundog in her day provided nobody minded all her rather obvious faults. We had great fun together on my farm shoot and I think she only stopped half way back to pluck the bird probably no more than 5 times in 6 years of picking up and probably only sat down on strike a couple of times with her "you have to be kidding" look on her face. Several times she excelled and it was so worth it watching her do what she was already half trained to do straight out of the box. One memorable occasion I sent her off after a runner that went under stock fence into woodland. She never has been a jumper of fences so I thought that's that. But no she went up and down the fence and found a hole and disappeared into the wood for what seemed a lifetime. She reappeared through the hole with the bird to a round of applause from the nearby guns. Wonderful.

I'd still be tempted to give it a go for that possibility just the once.

You might be able to go beating with him as an alternative. I think it spoils them a bit for picking up but that won't matter. Also in my experience, Labs do rather better than spaniels in the finding lost birds part of the job.

 

[Selina27]

@kateincornwall it's great just to do what ever you want, and if Reuben enjoys retrieving you can do it at whatever level gives you both satisfaction. Just have a happy boy.

I too love seeing them work, how dogs use their noses is a source of never ending fascination to me. After giving it some thought I will be taking Cass shooting again this season, all being well.

I think find one where they aren't too "up them selves". Generally one with lots of down to earth farmers

Yes this is the way for me!! I was nervous about taking her, but my friends shoot is exactly as you describe. One of them said to me " oh don't worry, if it all goes tits up we always just blame it on the black dog! "" I wish I'd taken her before really, she just slotted in and got on with her job. I don't whether it's coincidence but it seems to me she's sort of worked what's important to her in her life since then.

I didn't like the duck shooting, so will sit those out.

 

[Stacia]

Rourke went picking up for three years (I picked up with my GSPs for several years), I hated the first year, it was a posh shoot and I was terrified of doing it wrong. My friend Janet borrowed him for two years. He loves retrieving and we do something every morning for fun. I have taken him to the places where we used to pick up just on a dog walk and he doesn't seem to look longingly for picking up. I think as long as a dogs' retrieving instincts and that they enjoy retrieving are used, it doesn't matter if they go on a shoot or not.

I would enjoy going on a shoot that @David describes, but a posh shoot no. I enjoyed picking up with the GSPs in the Cotswolds, we were back in the woods and it was enjoyable. Just enjoy Reuben and what you so with him, you are both happy.

 

[David]

My friend Janet borrowed him for two years ......

My son was working Lady on the shoot when I was a gun. It was hilarious. I was watching them with one eye across the other side of a field when he sent her after a bird and Lady picked it up and promptly brought it to me!

 

[SwampDonkey]

She's such s character. Such a funny SBD XX