Had a fantastic day hunting with Isla yesterday.... Photos

Decided to take her out for a couple of hours hunting (not shooting sadly as I've no gun!) just to see where we're at before our next gundog training session.

And what a day we had!!!! You ever get those days where after months (nearly years) of training everything suddenly comes together? She was perfectly behaved, stopping and turning on every single whistle, recall was 99% and walking to heel off lead past several quail at one point. In total she flushed 4 pheasants, 5 quail, a rabbit and a Heron!

That last one took us by surprise and she thought about chasing after it, but she recalled straight back without a second thought.

She did half take off after the rabbit, however, definitely her weak point and something to continue working on.....

Anyway just had to share, I'm so, so proud of my girl.

Thats great mate and she looks pleased with herself

Yeah, but she always looks like that!

And I forgot to mention the best bit, she scented out a dead bird, fetched it back on command and plopped it straight into my hand!

Not great for most people, I admit, but I was ecstatic!

Would be great for me as the dead things Star finds end up as one of his stinky poos.

SHe's a star!! Well done!

Thanks Dawn!

I just really, really hope I can get her up on the Grouse Moors next season, my ultimate goal.....

But don't you know girly, unless its mainly white..looks like some funny collie/whippet/spaniel cross, and is more manic that a psyciatric ward's christmas party..it ain't a working springer and you can't hunt with it?:wink:
Well done to you both, she's grown up so well..you should be so proud!

Well done, love that pic of her

Not only beauty, but brains too!

It's a great feeling isn't it when you are both working together and the dog is doing what it is bred for

Well done!

Brilliant - well done Isla. Are you training her for beating, picking up or both?

Well that made me laugh out loud!

Know what you mean though, I went to a different Gundog trainer before Marc and he was crap with a capital C! He just didn't understand the differences between the working type and show type. They are totally different in their style of hunting, but that certainly doesn't mean you have to write them off altogether. He gave me the worst piece of advice anyone in dogs has ever given me and I'm still paying the price for taking it!

Thank you hun.

A Spaniel with brains? Who'd have thought it!

It so is! And the best bit is you can clearly see she's loving every minute of it. All those people that say making a dog take part in hunting os cruel have obviously never hunted with one.

Thank you.

She's in training for both beating and retrieving. She retrieves brilliantly with dummies after a lot of back chaining training. The trouble is my family didn't understand how to treat a gundogs mouth and as a result it has been ruined. That said, as she's matured she's got better so I hope to enter her into a working test at some point in the next few years and I might try her picking up once or twice. The main goal is to use her as a beating dog though.

Awwwww that's fantastic Rips. Well done Isla and very very well done to you xxx

What a great day. and a lovely pic she is beautiful.

Thanks both, I'm soooo chuffed with her.

There have been many days where I thought we'd never get there, but it's definitely been worth all the blood, sweat and tears!

It must be almost exhilarating for things to come together like that. I'd love to get either of my two to the equivalent state for HPR's. I know I've been floating on air after a lot less, so well done

Sorry I forgot. Could I ask how old Isla is

It is fantastic. It's been hardwork with her being my first gundog I'm training fully, I've made a lot of mistakes, but that's how you learn I suppose. I've got a fantastic gundog trainer now so things can only go from strength to strength.

Isla will be 3 in May, how time flies!

Just caught up with this one.

It's very rewarding isn't it (for you and the dog) !

Good for you.

Thanks mate.

It's bl**dy wonderful!

Like you say, I love to see her doing what she's meant to do and she equally enjoys doing it!

Make the most of it as you can never tell what the future will bring regarding your own circumstances.

I'd love to get back into it again but Fingal is a bit long in the tooth now and over the last few months we've noticed that his hearing is going.

I've fond memories of spaniels past and Fingal when he was younger.

He will still strut his stuff at the game fair though