First Job For Iris The Young Springer

I’ve been keeping you up to date with the progress of Iris, a young Springer Spaniel. I’ve been working with her owner, Charlie, to train her up into his first working dog as he pursues a career in gamekeeping. Iris has made steady progress following the Tessleymoor Way. Charlie has a tendency to want to push on to see results. By slowing him down and going through training steps methodically, he is achieving just what he needs, a well-behaved, keen and steady dog.

Charlie beats on a number of shoots and is keen to get Iris into the field. I have told him she will not be ready to go out with him, even for a limited number of drives, before November. However, there are still ways Iris can work with him, even at just eight months. Charlie has a job penning in pheasants in the evening at a local shoot. Iris accompanies him as he drives around the woodland, checking on the welfare of the pheasants, keeping them safe from predators and making sure they are fed and watered. He has taught her to walk quietly around the perimeter of the pens with him. She also sits and waits in his vehicle while he goes inside the pens and checks on the birds.

This kind of training, being around live birds and waiting while her handler is out of sight, is invaluable. It has taught her steadiness and also built the bond between dog and owner, as she looks to him for her next direction.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Iris progresses on a shoot in due course. For now, working in this way combined with the training tasks I am giving Charlie is reaping great rewards with this young Springer.

Posted: August 31, 2021