I agree with the comments about working gundogs being expected to do the job in all cover.Over here we also hunt and trial in all conditions and all types of terrain but my query was focussed on the comment that the ground was covered in tall nettles.
You ought to see our dogs plough through thick gorse which is common on riverbeds over here.
Concern for a working dogs well being does not necessarily equate to it having "soft" workouts. _________________ Home of the canine "Spice Girls" - Spice, Sophie & Kip - and Lou the sheepdog.
I may be absent in mind and body but always addicted to man's best friend.
A dog doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.
They just dont seem to bother with the nettles Chris, most of the farmers leave them as cover for the birds. Also there is the EU directive as regards land lying fallow, the farmers get a grant to do this each year.
When we talk about nettles we mean stinging nettles [as opposed to the scotch type thistle] they are about 2 foot tall and usually by this time of year they are dying back so are not such a problem. Now and again the Ghilldog gets her feet in them and when her tootsies warm up she is a bit tingly on the toes but apart from that she takes no notice. You can see the young nettles in front of Ghill here.
Jan
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject: nettles
I have loads of both nettles and thistles as well as dockens and goodness knows what else in my field. The dogs don't bother about ANY of them but I sure do. I go out well protected from Spring untill I have a reasonable path made through for me. They can hunt either side as much as they want but there's no way I'm going to join them if they point. I command by remote control until about September
Annie
I thought you were supposed to interact with your dog...you know the saying 'where my dog goest so do I' through mud,nettle and dirty water etc etc! Never mind standing on the sidelines watching them, get in there.
Well it certainly looks as this this thread has come back to life. Where to next? _________________ My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.
Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject: Gundog Training
The Committee are trying to get more training on the go(particularly our very enthusiastic FT Sec. John Anderson) Possibilities are making all three shows two day events with training days before them, or possibly to tie in with other shows throughout the year. Watch this space, and if anyone is interested or can help, let me or John know. I have been talking to Bill Thayne, who trained the one of first Brittanys for Trialling, and he has agreed to take a training day for us in Scotland, possibly in April next year. I have to get some birds to put down first - a pigeon loft or quail pen (including birds!) have been put on my Christmas Wish List.
Annie
Annie, maybe Jan and we could catch some of the pigeons/collared doves from our gardens and get them courriered (or should that be pigeon posted ) to you.
Love, Lin. _________________ Lin, owned by Rudi and Copper the Brittanys & Zac the Springer.
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