Getting some of our younger dogs ready for working tests

Training at Thurlstone.

We went out training today onto some land which enabled us to range the young dogs out and increase their distances on their retrieves. The majority of the retrieves were blinds placed in rough cover and long grasses or tightly placed under the foot of walls making the dogs get their heads down and use their noses.
TEST 1 - A blind dummy placed in long reedy grass (which you can see behind Elder in the photo). We walked further up the field to a distance of around 200 yards then straight lined him to the dummy which was placed well into the the reeds and tucked right under the wall. He did extremely well with his straight lining, winded the dummy as he approached the area and then jumped straight into the reeds, hunted round a bit and then picked the dummy.



Glen and Elder.

Glen waiting for his next retrieve which was a blind placed into a hole under a tree - and in brambles and long grasses (distance of around 220 yards). He did this test with ease, and proudly delivered to hand.

Elder delivering his retrieve from on top of a muck stack (roughly placed at around 175 yards away).

All the dogs today performed well - especially the younger ones. We are really pleased with their progress over the last month or so and are thoroughly looking forward to working with them on a shoot day or at working tests.

Photos of URC Novice & Open Test.

Me on the way to test two which was a double mark over a splash.

Lining Jet up for the dummy on the right first.

Jet on the way out.

Jet on the way back in with the correct dummy.

Delivering to hand.

Ian with Boss - sending him for the right dummy first.

Boss on his way out.

Job done - and now on the way to the next test.

URC Lincs area charity Novice/Open test

We attended the URC Lincs area charity Novice/Open test held at Raithby, Spilsby - in aid of the British Heart Foundation - in memory of Jim Cochrane, Brian Capps and Ken Naylor. The tests on the day was well set out - 5 tests in all which consisted of seens, blinds, double marks, water tests and walk ups. There was a good turn out of handlers and dogs (around 40+), and friends and family came to watch and take part in the days other activities such as raffles, auction, barbeque and buffet. There was also a professional photographer taking good quality action shots of all the dogs during the water test.

All in all a good day was had by all with everything running smoothly - and I even managed to gain a COM (5th place) with Jet.

To view all the photos of the day just click on the banner below.

Mallyfield Photography are the official photograhers for Gundogs Express. If you wish to view Gundogs Express just click on the banner below.

Gundogs Express are the proud sponsers of
Peniglen Gundogs Labradors
.