So proud today :)

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Little Lion Heart (Dave) discovered something about himself today... he discovered that he's a gun dog!

He's never really been interested in birds as such, but today we were up at my Dad's field as I wanted to give Normy a gentle walk in a fairly safe place (it's the first walk she's had since she was bitten by an Adder). I was sending the dogs off in different directions and doing a bit of light fun training. I sent them off to the back of the field where there is a strip of woodland. Normy had a sniff around and came back but Dave popped into the woods and..... flushed out 2 Pheasants!!!!!! Then came zooming back grinning and very pleased with himself I've always known he was a late developer but he's going to be 3 in a couple of months and only just discovered Pheasants bless him

A year ago I'd have said he'd never ever be interested in what he did today, I really really can't read that dog He's such a funny little chap and never ceases to surprise me

[Helen]

Jarv sez 'man, what took you so long'  

[EmmaA]

There will be no stopping him now 
Glad Normy got out for a little walkie too 
 

[Joules]

Well done Dave 

Coco is still not interested in fezzies but she does like wabbits     She would make a rubbish gundog though - too flippin' noisy 

[Hurtwood Dogs]

 
I have no idea what took him so long... but I have no idea what goes through Dave's mind or how he sees the world, so no surprise there

Dave is noisy but at odd times, usually when he wants to join in a conversation Trev used to hunt all the time but would scream in excitement - you could hear him miles away Dave was very quiet for this job today, I was very impressed! So if he's going to do all the flushing and Normy's great at finding stuff and bringing it back, we'll have an excellent team. Only problem being that I couldn't shoot anything to save my life and Normy won't pick up dead things (she finds them then stands by them waiting for me to go and pick them up ), she'll only retrieve dummies or lost items of clothing, so we're not going to win any prizes )

[Rats and Dogs]

Gari never chased or flushed anything until he was almost 11, and we took him on holiday to the Lakes - he found a load of phezzies and went crazy! OH had to run after him, climb into a field, race around for about 10 minutes until he caught him, then carry him back at arms' length cos he was so mucky! Gari was still whoop whoop whooping even whilst being carried back!

[Helen]

Gari never chased or flushed anything until he was almost 11, and we took him on holiday to the Lakes - he found a load of phezzies and went crazy! OH had to run after him, climb into a field, race around for about 10 minutes until he caught him, then carry him back at arms' length cos he was so mucky! Gari was still whoop whoop whooping even whilst being carried back!

I love that Gari story 

[Rats and Dogs]

I rememer you liked that story Helen, I was shocked when he did it, but stood doubled up, laughing my head off - OH was furious, he was terrified he would be shot by the farmer. 
Hopefully Dave won't be as interested when he sees phezzies again.

[vikki.k]

Gari never chased or flushed anything until he was almost 11, and we took him on holiday to the Lakes - he found a load of phezzies and went crazy! OH had to run after him, climb into a field, race around for about 10 minutes until he caught him, then carry him back at arms' length cos he was so mucky! Gari was still whoop whoop whooping even whilst being carried back!

I've never read that story before, just told it to my OH and we were in stitches  11 years of waiting and your OH took it all away an he was still wooooing about it whilst being carried off, so funny 

[Helen]

I rememer you liked that story Helen, I was shocked when he did it, but stood doubled up, laughing my head off - OH was furious, he was terrified he would be shot by the farmer. :005

Hopefully Dave won't be as interested when he sees phezzies again.

it's just their pure unadulterated joy that makes me  

I reckon that the Fezzie lurve has truly been awakened in young Dave  

[Hurtwood Dogs]

That story about Gari is lovely

Dave was oddly calm about it, he came straight back when I whistled him after I saw the 2 Fezzie's take off but was just really really pleased with himself. Trev was an obsessive flusher but had a tendency to be totally out of control when he had his head down

[Rats and Dogs]

Gari never chased or flushed anything until he was almost 11, and we took him on holiday to the Lakes - he found a load of phezzies and went crazy! OH had to run after him, climb into a field, race around for about 10 minutes until he caught him, then carry him back at arms' length cos he was so mucky! Gari was still whoop whoop whooping even whilst being carried back!

I've never read that story before, just told it to my OH and we were in stitches  11 years of waiting and your OH took it all away an he was still wooooing about it whilst being carried off, so funny 

I don't think I have ever told it publicly, cos was embarrassed that my "well trained, obedient" dog would do such a thing!

[Rats and Dogs]

Sorry Hannah, I'm hijacking your story.

[Annie's Mum]

awwwww bless him  annie flushed out some  pheasants the other day OH nearly s**t himself, he hates flapping birds was very funny 

[tritonx]

Loved reading the various flushing stories and clever lionheart Dave raising two pheasants. There are adders in England?? I know there are in Scotland, but so far south? Fraser threw himself enthusiastically today at three Canada geese (on his leash) and I thought he would get his comeuppance as geese are not reserved about seeing rambunctious pups off, but to my surprise they took to the air. I hope it hasn't gone to his head.