Pup did her first scurry!
Discussion
Proud dad. Our lab pup did her first scurry at Sandringham Game Fair on Saturday (and our first scurry too). Obviously we didn't win - but far more importantly she didn't disgrace herself and wasn't phased by the small crowd watching. Lovely to see how she just switched on into work mode - hopefully something she can do again when the shooting season starts. To say that training has been somewhat intermittant since the arrival of a little TRPD, it was an extremely pleasant result.
Does anyone else do scurries? I know there are a fair few on here who work their dogs on shoots, but does anyone do the 'fake' stuff too?
Does anyone else do scurries? I know there are a fair few on here who work their dogs on shoots, but does anyone do the 'fake' stuff too?
Sorry - a scurry is an exercise for retrievers where they have to retrieve dummies against the clock. There are several different types, but the video below shows the sort of scurry that Tally did.
http://youtu.be/NRA_2ae5uLc
It was (as scurries go) a fairly easy one as the dog gets to see the dummies being thrown, but there are some weird and wonderful ones where they have to collect unseen dummies in the correct order, so the dog has to take directions from the handler as well as using her nose to find the dummy.
All good fun - and lovely when they do it properly. I think the video makes it look easier than it is - a fair few dogs were busy getting distracted by the crowd whilst we were watching.
http://youtu.be/NRA_2ae5uLc
It was (as scurries go) a fairly easy one as the dog gets to see the dummies being thrown, but there are some weird and wonderful ones where they have to collect unseen dummies in the correct order, so the dog has to take directions from the handler as well as using her nose to find the dummy.
All good fun - and lovely when they do it properly. I think the video makes it look easier than it is - a fair few dogs were busy getting distracted by the crowd whilst we were watching.
therealpigdog said:
I guess she's actually not a pup anymore as she is about 18 months. Still definitely got puppy tendancies though when she's not concentrating.
Well if ours is anything to go by,she will be a pup for a lot longer that 18mts.5 years later she still has puppy tendancies.
There was I thinking you had pushed your dog too fast until I read 18 months but that's just perfect. My ESS is just starting to retrieve at 9 months which for some is real slow but he's a natural hunter with amazing flushing abilities. Looks like next year your going to have a real winner.
How's your directional work going?
How's your directional work going?
Directional work is really good. The only issue is when she gets over-excited and can start to lose focus.
She'll be out on the shoot a few times this year, but limited to half days - cant wait to see her working for real.
We're heading over to the Midland Game Fair this weekend so that she can have another go at a scurry. We'd love to get into it more as she has great potential (mum & dad were both FTC) but the main concentration will always be working for real.
Just looking for a local trainer to help move on to grade 4 gundog club test - she passed grade three only dropping two marks out of 170, so would be a shame not to continue.
I'm very proud of her (and my wife, who does all the hard work).
She'll be out on the shoot a few times this year, but limited to half days - cant wait to see her working for real.
We're heading over to the Midland Game Fair this weekend so that she can have another go at a scurry. We'd love to get into it more as she has great potential (mum & dad were both FTC) but the main concentration will always be working for real.
Just looking for a local trainer to help move on to grade 4 gundog club test - she passed grade three only dropping two marks out of 170, so would be a shame not to continue.
I'm very proud of her (and my wife, who does all the hard work).
Well done. Had a good laugh(not in a bad way) at last years game fair at Scone Palace as some dogs just gave up or never started and sniffed about and peed etc.
Hard for them as lots of other exciting smells and noises for a pup.
Again well done!
My sheep dog lookalike gets odd looks but in the "real" world is a cracker!
German short haired pointer lab cross. Just over 3 now and has been working on shoots since 7 months old!!!
Some dummy training as a pup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYEjSKqbIQ0&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQb8gjxyyok&fea...
Best of luck with yours hope she makes you proud each day!
Hard for them as lots of other exciting smells and noises for a pup.
Again well done!
My sheep dog lookalike gets odd looks but in the "real" world is a cracker!
German short haired pointer lab cross. Just over 3 now and has been working on shoots since 7 months old!!!
Some dummy training as a pup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYEjSKqbIQ0&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQb8gjxyyok&fea...
Best of luck with yours hope she makes you proud each day!
shambolic said:
Well done. Had a good laugh(not in a bad way) at last years game fair at Scone Palace as some dogs just gave up or never started and sniffed about and peed etc.
Hard for them as lots of other exciting smells and noises for a pup.
Again well done!
My sheep dog lookalike gets odd looks but in the "real" world is a cracker!
German short haired pointer lab cross. Just over 3 now and has been working on shoots since 7 months old!!!
Some dummy training as a pup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYEjSKqbIQ0&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQb8gjxyyok&fea...
Best of luck with yours hope she makes you proud each day!
Not sure I would have taken ours on a shoot at 7 months - she was far too fizzy! Although towards the end of last season she was retrieving pheasants (still warm) in the garden without too many problems. I really can't wait for the start of the season.Hard for them as lots of other exciting smells and noises for a pup.
Again well done!
My sheep dog lookalike gets odd looks but in the "real" world is a cracker!
German short haired pointer lab cross. Just over 3 now and has been working on shoots since 7 months old!!!
Some dummy training as a pup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYEjSKqbIQ0&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQb8gjxyyok&fea...
Best of luck with yours hope she makes you proud each day!
Love the videos - I must see if I can get some of Tally this year.
therealpigdog said:
Not sure I would have taken ours on a shoot at 7 months - she was far too fizzy! Although towards the end of last season she was retrieving pheasants (still warm) in the garden without too many problems. I really can't wait for the start of the season.
Love the videos - I must see if I can get some of Tally this year.
He was taken on the beating line just to get him used to site and sounds and smells. We were not sure if any of the pups would be good being a bit of an accident! Love the videos - I must see if I can get some of Tally this year.
But the two kept for gun work are great and the other two at fantastic family pets
He just clicked right away! Can't use him on the beating line now though as the pointer genes means it is difficult keeping him in hunting close as he wants to run and run.
He's great picking up or being a back dog sent out on runners.
Too intelligent at times.
I have they wee daft other more biddable one that will hunt all day in close but is poor at retrieving (my fault as not enough training at an early stage ).
Works well on our shoot and was great at the grouse working them both this year too (was invited after someone had seen them working) Also been invited to another shoot this year to help out. I must be doing something right!
Last year working as back dog picking up
My two on left with Glen's wee sister Belle on the right (she was the runt of the litter)
Ps I use pheasant wings all year round tied to dummy's. Great for during the summer just find a nice place to dry them out so you get no maggots!!
Wee Bailey(the brown one) will pick dummies without wings but not with! He's only picked one bird up on a shoot though, he finds them then stands over it looking at it!
Lol
Again could be a training issue as I have him a row for pegging a bird early last season and he mibbee sees picking one p as being wrong.
Will work on it this year.
Keep it up as the fun you get back out of them is immense.
Keepers day last year!
Wee Bailey(the brown one) will pick dummies without wings but not with! He's only picked one bird up on a shoot though, he finds them then stands over it looking at it!
Lol
Again could be a training issue as I have him a row for pegging a bird early last season and he mibbee sees picking one p as being wrong.
Will work on it this year.
Keep it up as the fun you get back out of them is immense.
Keepers day last year!
Our older dog has retired this year - despite having ocd with regards to dummies, she won't pick birds as she was spurred quite badly on her first pick. She was a fantastic beating dog though (despite being a lab). Unfortunately age has caught up with her and so she struggles on a full day. She is also going a bit loopy, so gets too excitable now when she thinks she's going out working. A real shame, but she is still a great pet.
We lost our other picking up dog last christmas (old age), who was a great, steady dog. The pup was bought because we knew she wouldn't have too many seasons left, but it was a shame that she wasn't able to teach the pup more.
Tally is going to be a peg dog (predominantly for my wife, who is a far better shot than me - plus it looks like I will be baby sitting this season save for a couple of days) but will be worked as a picker when my wife isn't shooting. Fortunately ours is quite an informal shoot, so shouldn't be an issue just working half days at first to get her into the flow of things. At some point I fancy an ESS to use for beating/picking - but two dogs is plenty for now.
Getting excited about the new season - not long to go now!
We lost our other picking up dog last christmas (old age), who was a great, steady dog. The pup was bought because we knew she wouldn't have too many seasons left, but it was a shame that she wasn't able to teach the pup more.
Tally is going to be a peg dog (predominantly for my wife, who is a far better shot than me - plus it looks like I will be baby sitting this season save for a couple of days) but will be worked as a picker when my wife isn't shooting. Fortunately ours is quite an informal shoot, so shouldn't be an issue just working half days at first to get her into the flow of things. At some point I fancy an ESS to use for beating/picking - but two dogs is plenty for now.
Getting excited about the new season - not long to go now!
Enjoy the season I'm looking forward to it as well.
Glen had a bit of a wobble after a big cock bird ripped his nose/face with an errant spur. I was worried but he picked a dead hen bird 5 minutes late so I thought all was well. This was last season and he was 2 and a half.
Next two shoots he refused to pick any birds, even ones I could see 5 yards in front of him. He picked a couple later in the day and dropped them and wandered off.
He then picked a nice woodcock up, walked 4 yards then spat it out and sat down. (he's done full woodcock shooting days with crazy italians and picked up and hunted no problem)
I started to get worried done dummy training and he was fine but as soon as I put wings on the dummies he refused to pick them. (pheasant scent.)
Possibly the spur that ripped him gave him a scare (he was 2 at the time)
For 3 weeks he was terrible a liability in fact!!
Then he just switched on again and picked up 10 pheasants, 3 pigeon and 2 woodcock all in the one day including 3 runners on pheasants and a pricked woodcock that he brought back to me totally undamaged.
He was just off his game and couldn't be ersed.
The hard thing is reading your dogs and the harder thing is making sure you understand them.
Glen had a bit of a wobble after a big cock bird ripped his nose/face with an errant spur. I was worried but he picked a dead hen bird 5 minutes late so I thought all was well. This was last season and he was 2 and a half.
Next two shoots he refused to pick any birds, even ones I could see 5 yards in front of him. He picked a couple later in the day and dropped them and wandered off.
He then picked a nice woodcock up, walked 4 yards then spat it out and sat down. (he's done full woodcock shooting days with crazy italians and picked up and hunted no problem)
I started to get worried done dummy training and he was fine but as soon as I put wings on the dummies he refused to pick them. (pheasant scent.)
Possibly the spur that ripped him gave him a scare (he was 2 at the time)
For 3 weeks he was terrible a liability in fact!!
Then he just switched on again and picked up 10 pheasants, 3 pigeon and 2 woodcock all in the one day including 3 runners on pheasants and a pricked woodcock that he brought back to me totally undamaged.
He was just off his game and couldn't be ersed.
The hard thing is reading your dogs and the harder thing is making sure you understand them.
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