Retrieving still continues to improve .... he is much keener and is starting to trust my directions (not long distances but hey) and better yet he knows he has to thrust the retrieve into my hand before he gets a reward.
At one point I never thought I would get back to this on a dummy but we seem to be winning, he will even push past another dog (Brice) to thrust his dummy at my hand.
Game retrieving is much stronger but I need to be able to reinforce directional control and in reality I can't do that exclusively on game. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
Chase and I went to Hamptworth with 3 other Brits, a GWP and 2 LM's. We made mistakes, he only had one unproductive point (a few iffy indications), a couple of bumped birds which prompted a little half hearted chasing and one truly messy retrieve in terms of not following direction (only two birds shot that he produced and neither hit but hey).
One person (Brit) had never seen him running before and was very impressed with his ground treatment and gave me valuable advice about not being rushed by the guns to move him on while he was still working an area.
He did have selective deafness and turn and stop which had become much better went out the window at times.
He was the youngest there and compared to his mornings at Bunwell at the end of last season he was 100% better. Lots to work on, lots of nice comments about him (and some on how strong willed he is ) but a very useful day. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
Gosh - Hamptworth will think Britts are common - four Britts on Wednesday, four this Friday and four Monday _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Interesting how a days shooting changes his attitude.
He is running much wider and faster and is lovely to watch but at the same time I also see how he is pushing basic commands. He is not 'wild' but he is taking his time responding and it is funny seeing how the boundaries of my influence have changed - it brings home the knowledge that 'control' is very fluid. I can be 'on top of him' and he flattens or I let him have more freedom and he looks superb but I also know he is on the edge of acknowledging me.
Back to basics for us both to sharpen response without distraction but I hope he will be able to carry on with the more intense working stuff at the same time as he so needs to learn in the real situation to gel everything together.
In so many ways I wish I could have had him as my second brittany (Mugi was such a dream to handle I can't count him even though he taught me loads) as I know I am never likely to really do him justice . Saying that I love my little lad to bits and wouldn't change him for the world, he isn't easy but he is such a nice dog to own. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
Today was interesting - took himself out for a good run in rain that was lashing down and wind that was gusting badly. It is the first run this week where I have made no allowances to the fact that Charley has been 'fruity' and he soon picked up on the fact. His STOP was really sharp and although once or twice he didn't sit solidly but had his bum hovering over the deep puddles he didn't move till released. Turn was less good, he does turn but 'own sweet time' springs to mind and I need to find a way to sharpen his response without cramping his style.
Still, all in all a good mornings run. We were going to go out again this afternoon as the weather had cleared but we all fell asleep!
Tomorrow is another day - that will be taken up with trying to find a kennel for next weekend, my trusty one is not open and the THREE I have visited since I would not leave a mouse let alone a dog. Is it too much to ask to need to ensure that the food I provide is fed (one told me I shouldn't pamper my dog ) as it is for health reasons I can't feed wheat/rice based food or that my dogs are not to mix outside their own group? I have more hope with the one I will see tomorrow as I actually have been there with a friend to watch training classes and I remember the facilities AND I don't need an appointment to go check them out so they don't know I am going. Tis more expensive than I normally pay but that is not a problem as long as they can look after the two dogs that can't travel with me. I need Chase as he is working on Sat and I can't kennel Charley, she is only just settling and is a good traveller so she is best as Chase's travel companion. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
as I know I am never likely to really do him justice
But you are, Sue...!! And your diary is inspirational because when I have a Breton day I would rather forget, I know the world over, that our puppies are not alone in having days when their ears go and their noses lead them astray!! _________________ "...amitie, respect mutuel et amour..."
I can be 'on top of him' and he flattens or I let him have more freedom and he looks superb but I also know he is on the edge of acknowledging me.
Speaking as somebody who hasn't a clue about working dogs, can I say that those few words paint a beautiful picture. _________________ If a job's worth doing, it's worth paying somebody else to do it properly
Saturday saw him leaving home before 5am to go to Bunwell. We had a day that made me very proud. Three brittanys and a GWP (great to share the day with Santiago and his friends) and as always a great giggle with Mark and his team esp as Chase and I were the only ones sharing the beaters van with them - guys you missed a hoot!
We ran the dogs singly and Chase's first run was not auspicious as he found a hare and left his beat in hot pursuit , thankfully he did return without wasting too much time and for the rest of his run I kept him under control, we met another hare and he sat straight away and so with that and turn and stop whistle training we found no birds and I pulled him out a little short on time while I was on top with regards to his 'ears'.
His second run made me realise what a great little lad I have. He had a strip of beet as described in Guy's Diary as it was also used in the FT. We worked the entire strip into a headwind and with the natural boundaries I was able to turn Chase well. His first production was shot but landed into a hedge a fair distance away and so John and Liz went to look for it as no way is Chase ready for that type of retrieve. He went on to produce a further two shot cock birds, two shot hens and two hares of which one was shot dead. He was so steady to shot and marked well but sadly he didn't retrieve once he had got his first mouthful of feather so I sat him up while Santi worked Valick onto the retrieves. With hindsight I should have tried him on the hare but isn't hindsight a wonderful thing!
I was so proud of him as it was only the 4th shoot experience and he got his share of the bag without messing and he is safe to shoot over as he is sitting himself and so calm.
TBC _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
So from Saturday evening onwards Chase, Charley and I have been guests of Patricia, Alan and Jessie and what a lovely weekend we have had. Lots of chat both Breton and general - cuddles with loads of Brittanys and superb food and wine. Sunday evening saw the addition of Guy and really having Alan, Guy and myself drinking freely and chatting till 2am probably wasn't the best trial prep in the world .
Chase has had daily training on hare and this morning indulged in one superb coursing session with Charley (no point in using the whistle as he was too committed and with both dogs all I would teach would be to ignore) but the second one Charley went and I was able to stop Chase - yippee. He got the opportunity to point game daily and generally would no doubt love me to move him there permanently .
One thing that was brought home time and time again is how similar Chase and Baileys are - so many mannerisms and vocalisations are the same especially related to excitement and kisses. Obviously being brother and sister even though they are a year different in age and live on opposite sides of England just isn't enough to overcome their breeding.
............ and as we arrived at the trial Mark gave me a super photo of Chase from his day on saturday looking so intense and dirty but it was taken while he was stood rock solid as his hare was shot.
_________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
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) but a very useful day.
. Saying that I love my little lad to bits and wouldn't change him for the world, he isn't easy but he is such a nice dog to own.
) as it is for health reasons I can't feed wheat/rice based food or that my dogs are not to mix outside their own group? I have more hope with the one I will see tomorrow as I actually have been there with a friend to watch training classes and I remember the facilities AND I don't need an appointment to go check them out so they don't know I am going. Tis more expensive than I normally pay but that is not a problem as long as they can look after the two dogs that can't travel with me. I need Chase as he is working on Sat and I can't kennel Charley, she is only just settling and is a good traveller so she is best as Chase's travel companion.
, thankfully he did return without wasting too much time and for the rest of his run I kept him under control, we met another hare and he sat straight away and so with that and turn and stop whistle training we found no birds and I pulled him out a little short on time while I was on top with regards to his 'ears'.
