Very little news at the moment with no more championship shows until Crufts. I have been receiving a number of interested enquiries from America and Europe asking for information on when and what to expect when planning a trip to Crufts. I am disappointed to hear that Helen Meuser, Germany, who has exhibited the last few years that she will not be competing this year. Mia Bagger, Sweden, is coming to spectate. Again my house will be full. I am glad I can offer accommodation to those interested in making it a week long visit. Crufts now draws the biggest entry of Chesapeakes of the year. Spectators around our ring in other years have been thin on the ground, I hope this year there will be more interest.
I have received enquiries from a few people who would like to work for their SWGS, this is really a job for the summer when the weather is kinder and puts handlers in a better frame of mind to want to enjoy the sport of training dogs. I look forward to helping.
For 50 years I have trained dogs, my own, but also those for clients and in several different breeds. I have spent years with individuals and groups helping people to train their own dogs. Most all of these dogs have been great, with results from an ok beating dog, a good picking up dog, a peg dog or a competition dog. Each dog would have its own quirky nature, but the biggest challenge has been with the owner. I have seen some brilliant dogs spoilt by owners who do not know what they are doing. Most novice people do not know how to read a dog before they all of a sudden pick up a whistle and start throwing dummies around. One of my favourite sayings to put them into perspective is to say “you have a Ferrari on the end of the lead and you are a learner driver”. The training of any gundog starts as early as possible, the golden rule is not what you tell it to do but what you allow it to do.
I have seen many disasters happen on shoot days where an out of control dog (or owner) can ruin the day or the dog. This can be a gun’s dog, a picker up’s dog or a beater’s dog – they can all run amuck. We would all like to have the perfect dog but not every dog is. I remember on one local shoot where a shoot captain walked into the yard with his newly acquired springer spaniel which he had paid thousands for. It had several field trial awards but was never going to make it to field trial champion. Standing beside the gun on peg 8 the shoot captain with his dog at his side, to the right was gun 9 with his own dog at his side. I was picking up out of shot behind both of them. As birds began to flush gun 8 brought 3 down in quick succession, the shoot captain to show how good his dog was sent him in quick succession, when gun 9 dropped a bird the spaniel was off like a rocket, the shoot captain was furious, it was not his bird to retrieve. Angry with the spaniel he put him on the lead scolding him verbally. As more birds fell around the now excited spaniel started to squeak. In just a few minutes the shoot captain had ruined a well trained dog that now had 2 of the 3 cardinal sins – running in and whining.
We have now seen the last of the shooting calendar for another season, just Keeper’s days to go, again it has been an excellent, sometimes exhausting season. We have said goodbye to some and welcomed others, introduced youngsters, novices and friends. For myself I have been blessed with having 4 good dogs to pick up with, they have worked their socks off this season, made some brilliant retrieves and finds. Best of all – no injuries. In January I started to introduce 2 of my youngsters, no problem with gunshot, quiet during drives and happy to be around people and dogs, yet so keen to get started. I look forward to training them this summer.
Lastly a catchup on Snappysaurus! The dog a mentioned in breed notes some weeks ago, the one that wanted to eat any other dog that came near it. The owner not realising the problem was her and not the dog had taken on board my observations and advise, feeling loads more confident. I am glad to say Snappy has stopped snapping. I look forward to seeing both of them next season.
Thank you to Kirsty Watts for sending in the results of these open shows from last weekend. Stoke-on-Trent Open Show, judge Graeme Hughes. BOB Watts’ Oakleaf Manor Bay Of Oakmarsh (imp DEU) JW; RBOB Watts’ CH Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC. Redditch & District Open Show, judge Marion Sargent. BOB Pont’s SH CH Oakmarsh Dancing Diva VW; RBOB Watts’ Oakmarsh Land Of Promise.
If you are any open shows I would be glad to receive your results.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com