2004 Diary copied across

2008-01-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

2004

Pup – 5 months Vizsla bitch

Big dog – 4 years Vizsla dog

Risque – 8years oldenburg mare

2 March

am. Walking dogs at K’s stream

Big dog came on point at some brambles and pup was on point at the same bramble bush. (Wonder if the pup is pointing or backing?) Wish I had the camera. Let them both hold their point for a while and then put big dog in to flush. Produced large cock pheasant.

March

pm milder day.

Walking dogs at Ag.

Walked past the pond and there are a couple of ducks left on the pond. Big dog takes no notice. He knows all about ducks so wouldn’t bother swimming after ducks that he can’t catch. Pup has had different ideas and is now swimming as hard as she can to catch duck. Duck calmly swims about 3 ft in front of pup. I am pleased pup is happy swimming as this is the first time she has swum in a pond. 5 minutes later I am not pleased that pup is still swimming round after the ducks. I try to shout as quietly as I can to get pup out. If these had been wild duck they would probably have flighted by now but these ducks are reared and this pond is one of the duck drives on the shoot that I sometimes pick up on. (Hope the keeper doesn’t hear me.) Pup still swimming – Duck still 3 ft in front of her. Don’t know what to do now. End up telling big dog to go in (he doesn’t look very impressed) he goes after the duck and corners it with the pup. The duck dives and I call both dogs out. Decide not to take pup near any duck ponds for a while!

9 March

pm Cold and overcast

Walking dogs at Ag.

5 roe came through the gateway at the bottom of the field. Big dog drops immediately and I stand still. Pup sees up both stationery and stands looking at us (not the deer). She hasn’t seen deer before and it is important for me to get her steady as soon as possible as there are a lot of roe round here. The deer are at the bottom of a large field. I walk on so big dog works forward and drops again. I love watching big dog work on deer. I give him no commands now, he just knows how to work them. We continue down the field, pup is now running around oblivious that anything is happening. Big dog is now near to the roe, and 2 younger deer run over to him. I start walking briskly up behind the dog which will spook the deer and they return to the corner of the field. 3 roe jump the fence and the other 2 decide to run past big dog. Pup suddenly clicks that something is happening and chases the 2 deer so big dog starts to run in. Blow stop whistle and big dog drops but pup just charges past. (Very pleased with big dog as another dog charging past is really putting his steadiness to the test) Pup chases for a bit and then turns back. I tell her off but she has no idea why she is being told off. Big dog now looks worried because I’m shouting at pup, I tell big dog he was good, for the split second I took my eyes off the pup to talk to big dog she has wondered off and is not bothered at all.

I give up and decide to make a big effort on my obedience training on pup. It’s so much harder when you are trying to give commands to 2 dogs. How do people manage?

10 March

pm Dry and cold wind overcast

Walking big dog & pup in BFW

3 Roe crossed a long way in front of the dogs and weren’t spotted by them. Dogs still running on when a young roe comes across. Big dog immediately drops – roe deer stops and looks and starts coming towards big dog. Pup has now seen something is going on and runs after roe deer. Blow recall whistle to call pup back. Ends up that the big dog has now recalled over to me and pup is still running full pelt after roe deer. Now the deer has turned and is running towards me so this is an opportune moment. Run as fast as I can and intercept pup – told her off but she doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest and doesn’t seem to have a clue that she was being told off for chasing.

11 March

Walking big dog and pup in K’s

Working through the wood Big dog came on point and pup backed him beautifully, really pleased with pup. Get to pup and put lead on and stroke her and tell her good girl. Big dog flushed hen pheasant.

12 March

am. Sleet fell during the night and now wet & overcast with more sleet forecast. Walking big dog & pup along K’s stream.

Big dog starts working and crosses steam. I know he’s onto something as he wouldn’t have crossed at such a difficult point. The water level is low so there is a steep drop down the bank into the water and the exit is just as steep. He’s working scent and I see a flash of something - a black cat? It has leapt onto a tree and is now run onto a branch that is overhanging the stream. It is almost at eyelevel with me and I realize I am looking at a large mink. Its’ head is tiny and I can’t make out any ears, otherwise I would definitely have thought it was a cat. Big dog is still working the scent at the base of the tree but I tell him to work on as I know if he sees it in the tree it will be difficult to call him off and I can’t get to him because he’s the other side of the water. Deliberate all the way home if I should ring the ‘keeper and tell him. I know a couple of seasons ago he trapped a lot of mink, but not sure if he is still putting traps out.

14 March

am/pm very heavy drizzle and strong winds, with rain all afternoon

Took pup to Andy’s who is kindly offered to help to get her pointing. Set up an exercise with her on a long line and put 4 quail out in cages in some heather. Not the best of weather for doing training but hopefully it will improve (which it didn’t). She definitely indicated that she could smell them and was air scenting well but never got a strong point. However, she seemed very keen to ‘get’ them. Got big dog out of the car and worked him up to the first cage and he went on point but very tight to the cage. Then put the pup behind him so she could hopefully pick up on the scent cone. After a bit of playing around with both dogs, individually and together, did manage to get the pup to point on the scent on one of the cages. By now the birds were very wet. Andy released one of the quail to see if the pup would point it and then flush. However the quail didn’t flush very far and I picked it up. We decided to finish on the quail, and they were taken home to dry off. Pratised a few dummies in the afternoon.

15 March

am/pm Overcast and milder

Took Risque hunting. Woodland with tracks through. Had a lovely day, quite easy going and wasn’t that fast. Hounds worked well, but no foxes found while I was out.

16 March

Pm Swimming in pool. Pup is really confident now, as she has been going fortnightly since January. I practised doing a few retrieves with some dummies. Big dog came as well. He is not partically keen on swimming, and will only go in for a retrieve. He spent most of the time standing at the edge hoping I wouldn’t notice him, just so he didn’t have to go in. I think it is been a big benefit to get the pup started especially as it is so cold to swim a little pup in winter. However, I think the pool has now served its purpose and the next visit may be the last.

16 March

Pup is 6 months old today

16 March

I watch 2 cock pheasant chasing one another in front of the office. They are all fighting for territory at the moment and they are both quite commical. (I feed the wild birds just by the window so I can watch them while working at the computer. I buy a cheap wild bird food mix which has lots of wheat in, and the pheasants always wonder down and pick at the wheat on the ground). I am on the boundary of 2 shoots and the first release pen is not too far away. They have stopped feeding the birds now so I expect they come to my feeder when it is cold. I like seeing the pheasants in the garden and I think it might be good training for the pup but generally the birds tend to run if they see the dogs and it does give me a vermin problem so it is not to be recommended. I let the pup out to watch the pheasants, one of which runs down the side of the garden. The pup goes over to the fence and just hops through into the field! This is the first time she has ‘escaped’ and I can’t believe she has fitted through the fence. I am now really cross with myself that I let her out and now I will worry that she can get out and will have to re-fence the whole boundary!

18 March

I am trying to discipline myself that every time the pup goes out she does the first part of her walk on the lead at heel, at least down to the first release pen. She is not very good at heel work, and it is really the easy option not to do any at all. I am also going to do some recall and stop whistle work every time we go out. (I’ve written this now so no excuses for me!)

20 March

am Very wet with strong winds

Walking dogs at K’s stream. Big dog was working up some ground scent and was indicating pheasant. He then came on point right down the side of the stream’s bank. He was pointing directly at some debris that had been washed up at the side and was several feet down from the top of the bank and only about a few inches off the water level, so he looked a bit precarious. I looked round for the pup to see if I could get her backing big dog. She was running around over the other side of the field. I run off and get the pup on the lead and bring her behind big dog. I had to take her off the lead as there was no way I was going down the bank! She backed big dog immediately she saw him on point although I don’t think she is actually in the scent cone as she is too far back. I tried to call her to encourage her to move up behind big dog. Big dog decides to flush the bird and pup doesn’t move (so much for my training!). Next minute big dog is carrying a big cock pheasant up the bank. Big dog is so fast at the flush and he can go in so hard if the bird doesn’t flush. Big dog retrieves the bird and then I despatch it. Pup thinks a flapping pheasant is very exciting so I carry the bird for a while and then set up a short retrieve for the pup. Send the pup who goes to the bird but then stands there sniffing it. After a few goes the pup has picked the bird and is bringing it over to me in some sort of fashion. It is quite a big bird but she does try. Need to do more practise.

21 March

am Showery and windy and quite cold

Walking pup and big dog at K’s wood.

Came across at least 5 big roe this morning. Big dog very steady, while pup hasn’t actually seen them yet. 3 roe are a few yards to my left and there are a couple in front of big dog. I try to call pup but she isn’t sure what big dog and I are looking at. She is a very ‘pointy’ puppy now and will ‘back’ big dog all the time, if he stops she stops, irrespective of scent. I hope that as we are all stood, deer included, that this will mean the pup will stay. She has now wondered up the bank and spotted the deer, now she is chasing one of the deer yupping as she goes. (I wonder if I should run away but decide to shout as loud as can and pup does stop quite quickly!) The deer practically had to jump over big dog as it ran round in a circle! Told the pup off who doesn’t take much notice. The deer are now stood in the next field and aren’t too perturbed after there encounter with the pup. Big dog goes over and a couple of the deer come towards him so at least the poor deer aren’t too stressed. Pup is on the lead at this stage!

Went to GSP training. I try to go to a couple of classes each month as this is the only time pup and big dog see any other people or dogs. The pup seems quite good with other dogs and plays with some of the other puppies. Did a couple of retrieves with her which were adequate although she did run off to the other puppies with the dummy instead of bringing it to me!

22 March

am It has been cold overnight (ice on cars) and the ground is very wet but the sky is clear with full sun

Walking big dog and pup at K’s

I am counting today as the pup’s first point. She was definitely indicating at a bramble bush. She wasn’t rock steady and she always points on 3 legs (sometimes lifting the front paw and sometimes the back). She still finds it difficult to balance and looks quite comical as she sways around trying to stand still. She then moved round the bush and a rabbit ran out. She was definitely air scenting, and she didn’t quite see the rabbit flush so at least I didn’t have the chasing bit to worry about.

Walking along the stream and the primroses are out. The garlic has started coming up and the wheat seems to have grown a little in the last couple of day although it isn’t thick enough to hold game but it should only be a couple of weeks now.

Big dog is now sight pointing a rabbit up by the game cover. The rabbit is a long way off and the pup hasn’t notice and has gone into the wood. I stand and watch big dog pointing the rabbit, and the sun is quite warm and giving the morning a real spring feeling. The woodpeckers are all hammering away, and it’s mornings like this that I wish I didn’t have to rush back to get to work. Rabbit hops off, and big dog turns and comes back, I recall pup who is nowhere to be seen. Big dog starts working the edge of the wheat while I continue calling the pup. I am a bit worried now as this is the first time she had really gone off on her own (big dog never has done this.) Eventually one little puppy comes running flat out over the wheat towards me. (That was a terrible training time, as I expect she chased something in the wood!)

23 March

am/pm Sunny with heavy showers of rain & hail

Hunting with Risque

Out in Ratcatchers now, as it is after Cheltenham. This is the last meet of the season. Lovely lawn meet and had a fantastic day. Risque was beautifully behaved as always. Hunted up woodland and heard some voice from hounds but no foxes found. Went out onto the downs which was beautiful and later had a really fast run through woodland and out through farmland.

24 March

Now I am able to get into a routine with the days being longer. Pup now needs quite a bit of exercise so that she is quiet while I’m at work so she has a longer walk in the morning, and then after work take both dogs out and then exercise Risque. Big dog is back to coming out with Risque for 20 minutes road trotting and then some hunting in the woods, and then Risque has another 30 minutes in the school. It will be great when the pup can come out with the horse but I think that is some way off. I need 100% obedience on the road and she is a long way off.

25 March

pm Cloudy

Went to local park as was passing and the dogs were in the car. Thought it would be useful to do some steadiness training on the ducks. Hadn’t planned this so wasn’t in all the right gear. Put pup on a long line and took her towards the pond. Not many ducks on the water and they were quite far away. A couple of swans were nearby so she pulled towards them. Next thing I know pup is towing me towards the swans and I have no grip whatsoever and I am getting nearer to the water and can’t stop!! Next thing is we are even nearer the pond and yucky liquid mud is over the tops of my shoes and I am ‘skiing’ through this stuff where all the ducks have puddled the edge of the pond. Fortunately pup stops at the edge of the pond and the swans seem disinterested in the whole affair. I manage to drag pup back and keep my balance – just. I am covered is liquid mud and so is the pup. Decide this wasn’t such a good exercise at all.

26 March

am Overcast with heavy rain in the night. Cool

Pup definitely had a point on a rabbit this morning. Although she wasn’t staunch she definitely stood for a few moments before chasing it. I wonder if she never catches one if she will knock off chasing of her own accord. Nigel told me his flat coats don’t even bother chasing the rabbits anymore – just down to over exposure.

A couple of roe where out eating the wheat so put pup on the lead and walked towards them. Did a couple of sits with the pup but the deer where too far away and not running for it to be of any real benefit.

27 March

Broken sunshine

Off to the point to point meet today. Took the dogs, managed to exercise Risque before going. Had a great day, and pup was well behaved. Won the raffle and had a winner on one of the races.

28 March

Off to the HVC show. Didn’t do the GWP working test as thought the pup wasn’t ready yet. Pup was reserve in minor puppy and big dog won his class. Both were well behaved so felt really pleased, especially as I haven’t been to ringcraft at all this month!

29 March

Clocks have gone forward – quite dark in the mornings now.

K’s wood

Pup put up a hen pheasant and I saw it land over in the garlic. Pup couldn’t see the landing as she was too far ahead, although big dog had marked it down and was just about to run in. Stopped him and sent him hunting forward. Brought pup up to work the ground where I saw the bird land. She was whizzing around backward and forwards through the garlic. Thought the bird must have run on. Big dog come back and works the garlic and points the bird in about 5 seconds. I can’t believe the pup didn’t put this bird up – it just shows you. Pup backed big dog on point although she is too far away to be in the scent cone. Big dog flushes, works on and points another bird. Pup backs big dog again. Pup is really staunch on her backing. Big dog produced a lovely cock bird.

30 March

Warm & sunny

A big cock bird is in the garden at the feeder with 2 hen birds. The plumage is beautiful with the sun really reflecting off the feathers. Pup noticed them and ran in putting all the birds up - not quite what I wanted.

Earlier Pup was chasing a little robin fledgling in the flower bed so called her away, I can’t believe chicks have already hatched.

The pair of collared doves that have lived in my garden for the last couple of years are busy sorting out their nest. They have become quite tame, sitting waiting for me at the feeder each morning. They are always together, the perfect couple really. I guess this is where the phrase lovey dovey comes from as they look after each other all the time.

31 March

am ground frost but clear blue skies, mild

K’s woody area

Big dog indicated scent and started tracking. He went right up to the fence so lifted pup over and lifted up the barb wire for big dog to go through, who then decided to jump it at the highest point! Big dog is tracking a bird but pup has run on. Pup is indicating at a bush and then went round to the other side and is indicating again and then she produced a pheasant. She wasn’t staunch in her pointing but I am sure she winded it so was pleased. Big dog has now got to the bush – but too late – pup had this one.

1^st April

pm warm and sunny

Took pup to a friends who has a dozen sheep that aren’t with lambs. Did lots of practising with the stop whistle with the pup on the end of a flexi lead. Thought this was quite productive, but probably need to work with the sheep at least a dozen or more times to get total obedience.

3^rd April

am/pm cold with sunny intervals, only a light shower

Big dog & pup are at the HWV spring pointing training day at Jean’s in Norfolk. All runs were on spring wheat. On big dog’s first run he picked up some scent but the partridge had run on & flushed at the hedge quite a long way from him.

On pup’s run we just wanted to see if she would run out and do a little bit of quartering. She was doing quite well, when she picked up some scent and just raced in and flushed a pair of partridge. They rose high and the pup almost sat as she watched them explode upwards and then they flew off. She watched them for a moment & then was off, full speed chasing. Whistling was totally ignored but eventually she did come back. I was obviously too slow and should have blown the stop whistle immediately. Pup had another short run but then she was put back in the car so she didn’t get too tired.

Big dog had a point on some partridge on his run after lunch but they were running forward so big dog was moving forward whilst on point and then the partridge got up some way in front of him.

4^th April

HVS Championship Show.

Big dog won his class, and pup got a VHC.

5^th April

am cold and overcast and looked like rain but fortunately held off for the morning. Poured all afternoon

Took pup to Rory’s and had her in the rabbit pen and put out some dizzied pigeons to try and get her pointing. Thought if she would point then I might have a chance to stop the chasing. She was really keen to get the birds and was more interested in catching them than pointing. She is very young to be pointing, but she sight points all sorts of things so I thought she might scent point given the opportunity. She is really staunch now when backing big dog. Did lots with the stop whistle every time a pigeon was woken up so I do think that was a useful exercise. Also did some work with the rabbits, and pup on a check cord and sitting to the whistle.

Big dog had a run on some wheat and did reasonably well, although he had great fun chasing a hare and put up a couple of pheasant during the process. He did stop later on a hare so that was definite progress. Big dog doesn’t quarter as hard & fast as I would like but then he is never run on ground like this. Acres and acres of wheat with game sat in it. At home he does a little bit of woodland and field work where we are on the footpath – not ranging out across arable land.

Collected my quail for training the pup. Bought 2 males & 4 females. They are in a cage in one of the stables. Will leave them in there for a couple of weeks to establish their covey.

8^th April

pm warm day with sunny intervals

Walking dog at Ag’s

On the way back pup was standing looking in the hedge. She wasn’t really on point but she was looking quite intent. Walked up to her and praised and stroked her. I couldn’t see anything so I assumed it must be residue rabbit scent. Stood for quite a while with me stroking her then something moved in the hedge. There was a gap so she ran round the side, and I was really surprised to see a partridge flush. It flew off across the field and pup watched it away. I want her to watch birds as this will be needed when she has to retrieve them, but the next thing is she’s gone – full pelt across the field. Cursed myself for making the same mistake again – should have been quicker on the stop whistle.

9^th - 11^th April

Had my friends 2 labs to stay. Rosie is the love of big dogs life and they are about the same age- he won’t leave her alone for a minute and gets really whiny. The other lab is about 4 months – so only a couple of months younger than my pup. Big dog decided he wasn’t that keen on the Labrador pup, and even my pup was very dominant with it and kept bowling her over. Seemed a full time job just keeping all four of them happy. (This must be worse than having kids!)

11^th April

pm warm & sunny

Went to Michael & Pauline’s and did some training with the pup. Her retrieving is coming along, and she did a nice water retrieve so felt very positive with her.

12^th April

pm warm & sunny with showers

walking dogs in CB’s wood

This little wood is a picture now, with the floor of the wood covered in white wood anemones and all the bluebells are just starting to come out. A little fox cub was playing among the bluebells. I called the pup as I didn’t want up to chase it and I didn’t think she had seen it. She didn’t come when called but just stood there. I am not sure if she had seen the cub and was unsure what to do or is she was just picking up his scent. The cub ran off and went to ground not too far away. Big dog has now picked up the scent and is hunting up the ground, he was quite a long way off when he picked up this little foxes scent. Big dog hates foxes and hunts them really hard. Big dog is now ‘on point’ at the entrance to the foxes earth. There is loads of squeaking from the earth so there must be quite a few cubs in there. I end up almost dragging big dog away, I think he would dig them out if left to his own devices.

14^th April

pm warm & sunny but the temperature soon drops in the evening.

Went to UGS training with the pup this evening, and did lots of obedience work and steadiness. I think this is what she needs, so I will try and concentrate on this for a while. It was a real mixed class with a curly coat, a yellow lad and a liver flat coat and of course my Vizsla pup.

15^th April

am. Overcast

Walking in K’s wood.

Heard the first cuckoo this morning.

16^th April

Pup is 7 months old today

Warm & Sunny

Worked late tonight and then had dogs & horse to sort out. It was a beautiful day, really hot. I’d promised hubby that I wouldn’t be late tonight and made a rash decision to take them all out together. Risque was beautifully behaved and big dog was flying along with the pup trying to keep up. I don’t like her running this fast as she is still very young and Risque was cantering behind the dogs and they were still pulling away. Called the dogs and did some controlled walking. Pup was overall very good, and kept an eye on the horses’ legs yet I did manage to get her to walk with big dog next to the horse. Wasn’t out on the horse for too long, and it is a lot for a young pup.

I am not walking the dogs were there is any game, well that’s the intention but there seem to be loads of rabbits about everywhere. I want to stop her from chasing before the habit is too established.

Country Diary 2004

2004 Diary copied across