Just a few pics of the growing boy.

He is becoming a real character, but the sweetest nature too. Very kind dog and eager to please. Mental when he plays though!!!

First grade 4 show.

Just a quick update. After a fab week with the dogs, and a good day saturday shooting with Olli, we had our first show since Lily won into Grade 4 this Sunday.

Lily was a bit OTT so blasted the wrong way in the agility, but having settled down a bit after that early exuberance, she went on to get 3rd in the 4/5 Jumping, which I was thrilled with. Some tricky bits and she actually tightened her turns, and listened really well. She also had a fast clear in another jumping class, but missed out on the places, as they went to 4 and she was 5th! Still a good round.

Olli & Fern had a great day, with 5 faults in Jumping, then 4th in Agility & 6th in the other jumping class! Really good results from both dogs. Good end to a great week.

Lily also recieved her certificate in the post this morning. Agility Warrant Bronze!!!! Very happy with that.

A good week of achievements.

A fab week for the dogs in different ways, so where to start?!!

I'll start with Stan. Our oldest, wire haired, wired up wrong terrier, who has a lot of strange behaviours, and is normally not keen on new arrivals. Well having seen Cove in the cage for over a week, we decided to just casually let them meet outside the bars. Unbelievably, Stan was very sweet and loves him! It probably helped that Cove is a very sensible lad and knows how to use the right body language, so being totally submissive when Stan was checking him out but then playing beautifully with him when it was right. So interesting to watch the way Cove thinks about things. They are turning into great friends over the last 24 hrs, and it makes life indoors so much easier! Cove only goes in his crate now to eat and sleep, but otherwise he has run of the house, playing nicely with the cats and Stan. That's a huge hug for Stan too, who really is quite a special old boy.

Then there was Lily. She has been watching and sizing up Cove since he arrived, and she did say hello briefly and offer him her toy in the field earlier this week, but I was still reserved about how she would be in the house with him. Lily doesn't like feeling enclosed, nor does she like people getting close to me if she is with me, and this all makes for wariness as Cove is still such a baby. However, today she has been indoors trying to play and she too loves him!! Ok she doesn't really know how to be gentle so Cove spent a fair bit of time being unsure of how bold he could be, but he soon started barking at her and interacting, and Lily is happy. That's a huge step!!

So to today, and Olli.

The morning was wet and a thick sea fog rolled across and practically engulfed us, so the decision was made by the Gun Captain to wait for an hour before deciding whether to shoot today. Olli was not impressed and sulked in the back of the truck, without taking his eyes off me as I stood with the others chatting. We finally set off at 10.30am, an hour late but the first drive was good and Olli went to work. A couple of fab retrieves straight to me and he settled down to the task at hand in his usual beautiful style. He also picked up a pigeon for me, just as accurately as the pheasants, which a lot of dogs wont do.

By late morning the fog had gone and it was beautiful sunshine across the valleys, so I sat with Olli at lunchtime, shared my cold chicken with him, and a piece of cake before setting off for the afternoon drives. He was a perfect companion all day, and the best part of the day was at the very end when one of the Guns said that a Cock pheasant, had flown on and not been hit as his Labrador had hunted the undergrowth but not found anything. I had heard the bird hit the ground so I sent Olli in to find it. 2 minutes later, after criss crossing the ground, through the brambles came Olli with the wounded cock bird carefully carried to my hand. If it hadn't been for my boy, the bird would have died slowly, possibly suffering for hours, but I did my job and it suffered no more.

Very proud of all my dogs this week.

Just posing in the garden.

Gorgeous boy.

Shooting season week 2.

Well I was on my own this week. Fern had to work, Rog had loads of equipment to carry on and build so it was Olli and me who set off in gorgeous sunshine yesterday morning for our second shoot of the season.

It was a crisp, beautiful sunny Autumn morning and Olli was as keen as ever. He spent the morning by my side, eager and alert and picked up some lovely birds bringing them straight back to me. The last drive before lunch and there was a flush of birds. 20 - 30 pheasants took off across the valley towards us and Olli showed his true ability. First bird he brought back as quick as a flash, 2nd bird again, and then whilst I was tying the brace together he went away again, returned with another bird, plonked it next to me and went to get the 4th. That is what does it for me. Olli does not need my direction, or whistle commands, he knows what to do and he just gets on with the job. I was so proud.

Lunchtime was spent sat on the grass, sharing a sandwich and then I groomed him to remove all the sticky buds and thorns before setting off for the afternoon.

12 birds again was his total, and he was again my best boy.

Agility Champion in the making?

Just a few pics of Cove as his personality develops. He already loves his mum Fern to bits, and its lovely to see how he responds to her. He is also very independant though, and confidence is brimming over! So intelligent, so happy and so handsome. He is a real star and a great addition to our family. Lily is not sure but curious, Olli just wants to play, Becki is ignoring him completely, Stan is just asleep and Dave is very interested but not being allowed anywhere near him. Its a steady and careful process but it will all work out in the long run, and I just know Lily & Olli will love their new partner in crime.

An exciting weekend.

Well what a great weekend and its not quite over yet.

Saturday morning I got up and whilst Fern made the sarnies, I got all my best gear on, loaded the car and with a very excited Olli we set off for the first days shooting. He was a little over excited and a bit vocal when we started, but he soon remembered his gundog manners and settled down. The first drive was slow but then a bird was shot and landed in dense undergrowth across from us. A hard retrieve for Olli as his first for 10 months, but without hesitation he shot through the brambles, and after a minute of rustling he appeared along the hedge with the bird and brought it straight to me! He was so pleased with himself and I was pretty pleased too as I was concerned that 6 months as an agility dog may have changed him. I needn't have worried as he continued the rest of the day, beautifully obedient, enthusiastic and ended with a total of 12 birds. One stunning one which he watched and took off after at great speed, right across a huge hill and into a hedge, and it was a runner so he had to be quick to pick it up. Even the Gun who had shot the Bird commented on what a superb retrieve it was.

Great day.

We got home and after settling Olli down with his warm coat on and a large tea, we set off to pick up Ferns new puppy Cove. It was exciting but in a way sad as we drove him away from his Mum & siblings, but he was so good in the car and soon settled at home too. Fern is still smiling, and Cove has been playing lots, sleeping lots and generally wasting a lot of our time!

He is going to be a beautiful addition to our family and we look forward to his progress.

All happy, all tired but a lovely weekend.

Exciting times!!

Its just a few more days to go before the weekend, and this weekend is going to be very eventful. Saturday is the start of our shooting season, so Olli will be doing his stuff. He has already been watching the skies and marking every bird he sees all week! Its weird how they know when its nearly time. Do they read our minds, or is it just the change of weather or hours of daylight that they read? I would love to know because he 100% knows whats coming!
Sunday we finally pick up the new addition to our dog family. Ferns first dog of her own, Devongem Hidden Cove will be coming home Sunday afternoon. 6 weeks old and obviously going to be an interesting and gorgeous addition to the gang. The week seems to be going so slowly!
Training tonight, tomorrow and Friday with Lily so that will help the time go I hope!
Puppy pics will be here next!