A great time working in the snow on game retrieves

This week has certainly seen a cold spell with sub zero temperatures and snow. Of course that hasn’t stopped us training and working our dogs. It’s given us the opportunity to work as many dogs on game retrieves as possible. This has included working some whilst out rough shooting.

My three year old Fox Red Labrador Fern and 13 month old Springer Spaniel Islay both did me proud whilst out walking around my land, retrieving a pheasant each. Being methodical and patient in young Islay’s training has resulted in the most amazing working bond. She’s still more to learn but for the very little shooting she’s experienced this season, I’m very happy. Rushing a young unprepared dog out into the shooting field will only result in failure and bad habits.

This week’s star of the week award goes to Vinnie the Cocker Spaniel. After only four lessons he’s no longer running off and he retrieved his first pheasant to hand. This boy has huge potential for the next shooting season, which his owners are looking to get involved in after seeing what training with me can achieve.

Posted: February 1, 2019