I have just taken him to the vet (I like to have all animals in my charge checked) he was absolutely fine and considered in super health and condition, good heart and clear lungs and his urine test came up clear. (he drinks more than a fish so I wanted to rule out diabetes )
Vets are obviously a bit stressy to him - he had sweaty paws, so I took them all for a comfort break on my way past home. Parking up close to the gateway I let them all out off lead and then walked up the track. He came every time called and even when when he and Ellie went off about 100yds both she and he turned at the whistle and he was the first home. I had four of them at heel off lead - quite a nice little milestone. So a lot is obviously in the box; just need to polish it all up a bit. Judging by his conformation his pedigree is very good (for the record I will try and get some 'stacked' pictures of him and close ups of his head), he was about a year old when found - so who knows what he knows or was taught in the past. He certainly either knows a lot already or learns very fast. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
A condensed version of the posts that have disappeared.
Tuesday night Barney went to Ash Ringcraft - initially to just go in the door and have some positive strokes, but in the event he stayed all evening. OK he growled at two dogs - but one was a shepherd that all the dogs growl at and the other was a young WSS who was very much in your face; also a very pale dog and Barney has a problem with small pale coloured dogs. When a cocker (black roan) lunged towards him and they touched noses - he didn't flinch.
Wednesday
Took Barney for a walk at Brittany Picnic Land. Only on a loose long lne he ran off to investigate two labradors and al that happened was some circling an sniffing before he returned. Early in the day he had got out of the car and followed Ellie to meet and greet next doors cat and woof at the cows - ending up with him needing a hosing off and a bath and shampoo.
Thursday
Lunchtime I took him to Old Winchester Hill - a nice piece of rough grass and two parallel paths. this allowed me, whenever he ran ahead a bit, to change paths and hide. Barney was very good and spent sme time trying to find me. So a clue there about a dog in unfamiliar area is easier to handle than one on a mown playing field who knows exactly where you are.
How is this affecting the others? Topaz seems to be bit more focussed on me - which is good as we have a field trial on Saturday. Catja is moving much more smoothly now - she has her next trial on Monday. Ellie - despite Barneys amorous attentions is loving having a kindred spirit in the house - he writes as he is surrounded by snoring dogs. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Nuray - yes Barney is a Brittany. He is about 7 year old, he was rescued for a dogs home by his owner when he was about 1.
i must put some pictures on here. He is a very nice animal and has many very good points. The great shame is the advice the owner has been given in teh past and how this has blighted his life. His only fault is he doesn't like Collie type dogs or small ones like terriers.
Today for instance he has played high speed chase around the workshop. being chased by Catja who was determined to bite his tail and back legs. This is the dog who on Sunday was not allowed out without a muzzle on. He also went for a walk off lead and at heel.
I have an appointment for him to meet two terriers and a collie next week. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Topaz hunted beautifully, worked the wind and the ground intelligently and with pace. He had a strong point a good flush on command and a nice retrieve of a runner to hand with a nice sit present - undamaged. However he failed to stop at the flush. A shame as even by dog 10 when we managed to leave he was the only one to have 'filled his card'
The afternoon the two orange and i went to pick up. As luck would have it for a change we stood next to a gun who brough down everything he fired at. One even fell within 5 feet of us and both dogs stayed put. Hunting both for a missing presumed shot bird of another gun they both decided it was time to hunt elsewhere - so errant dogs. Himself for quite awhile. My warm feelings towards him over his earlier run were fast disappearing.
Barney - had a quiet day at home - which is good - Julia was in the garden and he and Ellie stayed indoors - but no barking from him and only a few woofs in the night and no frantic digging at doors. i think he is coming around to our way of thinking. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Unlucky Guy tell me was that on second run or first and not sure what you mean about result did any one get in the awards.
Rosie (ruby) and I went out in second run at GLHP club after two really good runs to a damaged bird.
PS dont tell me nigel did well Please. Sorry NIgel
Mick - Nigel withdrew, i think his bitch is on heat.
I left whilst they were still working through the dogs for the first time. Dog 11 was about to run, but it was a convenient place to walk back to the farm safely. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Sunday
What a wet day - made less bearable by my haveing to take a 'mock up' to a client. The said 'mockup' decided to slip its lashing from the roof rack and spread itself along the side of the dual carriage way. By the time it was repositioned i was soaked!
In the afternoon took Catja out for a run in the local wood as she was running very deep on Saturday. she was still running wide and not paying as much attention as i would wish to me.
Took Barney out for a little run on his own off lead - my heart sank a bit when he dissappeared over the edge of the embankent of the disused railway and was not to be seen when I got to the bottom myself. An orange raon dog on a carpet of dead beech leaves at dusk is not the hardes of targets to spot. However he did come back within a couple of minutes - from up the bank - so he had obviously not just bu----ed off. I migh give him a bell next time.
Monday - Ammerdown HVC field trial. This must have been the most unlucky run i have ever had. Run one in a turnip field with the wind on the rear quarter (an arse cheek wind someone suggested) we were the fith dog in thsi field and it had only produced two birds. We found nothing - she ran the wind very well, better than my ground treatment, but did go deeper than i wanted and seemed to be ignoring the whistle.
Run two was in turnips in a field that last year ws their FYM dump. so plants as high as my waist in places - certinly not easy to see a small dog. The first dog in the field took a point within ten yards of the gate and after a nice retrieve was called up. the next dog flushed a partridge and then ran in for it . We had a slope down to a corner. She was back on form ran nice pattern and good speed and very attentive to me with no more than one redirect. The gun near me advised to work the hedge so we did and found nothing so i redirected her to have another go as one should not ignore 'local advice'. She went through the fence and in a monent th ejudge asked me to call her back. She did not come immediatly so i went to the edge to find her on point half way down a very steep bank - one of those twisted direction points - looking intothemiddle of a tree. Once the gun had scrabbled down the bank she went in hard for a flush, which turned out to be to the left and not the right as she indicated. bird flushed and she then tumbled the rest of the way to the bottom of the bank, continuing to the now shot bird. Bird back to hand with its heart still beating. I doubt many dogs would have stopped from a tumble to sit and watch a fall - what a way to go out!
Must get some more sit to fall practice in before Saturday when she has a run at Titsey with the Norfolk and Suffolk.
I have to say it is frustrating we are not getting the breaks - and so much luck is involved - the dog mentioned earlier was only on its second ever trial and was awarded 2nd whilst other dogs who worked harder and longer were without result. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
I don't know how to train for that one, except throw her down the banking and blow the stop whistle ( Joking ), just a bit of bad luck and with it being an unusual flush it does tend to get them excited.
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and only a few woofs in the night and no frantic digging at doors. i think he is coming around to our way of thinking.