Hannah4181 260 Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 So nearly a year ago i took on the MENTAL, 10 month old, kennel bound, pyschopathic labrador ........ after the initial few "issues" of eating my ugg boots and chewing through a plug in, radiator flex ........ Moss settled well into the rest of the pack, decent diet and a heap of exercise and the boy started to come good. My friend the gun dog trainer took us on as new recruits and despaired of my " part time trainer" attitude, his words not mine! I will admit that i am silly busy over the summer with my business and the dogs tend to take a back seat, Moss was no exception and in all honestly i haven't done anything other than walk him since March time. With the approaching season i start to get bookings to photograph shoot days, i then got told by tomorrows booking ........ "bring that young lab of yours to see what its all about" ......... PANIC! So today i decided to introduce Moss to feather, now i know your meant to stick wings to dummies etc etc, we had 24 hours, so it was in at the deep end! i wanted him to hear a starting pistol and have a go at feather water retrieves, this dog never ceases to amaze me, given that its all completely new to him i can not be more pleased with his performance. Its like he just knows whats expected, i set off with a brace of pheasants and a starting pistol (borrowed from the gun dog trainer, who bollocked me for rushing the dog!) ......... So we get to the field, i put him in a sit stay and lob the pheasant 20 yrd away, release him, and he sets off like a rocket, slams teh brakes on, has a sniff, then lifts the bird and does a text book retrieve! He never looked back from there, i threw that manky pheasant hundreds of times, hid it in cover 50 yrd from the dog, lobbed it in water, even put it in thick brambles, the dog never faulted on scenting it and returning it like a pro. His delivery isn't great, he often drops it at my feet, or a yard away, but given its his first time on feather (bar one retrieve on a pigeon 6 months ago) .... i was made up with him. The starting pistol worried him the first time, but after 5 or 6 shots he didn't even notice it, i shot over his head and he wasn't fussed .......... So tomorrow we are off on a grown up dog shoot day and we will see how he fairs. Heres a few shots from the day (a few dodgy holds on the birds, but that'll come in time) He never once attempted to play or chew the birds though .......... please excuse the state of the pheasant after a couple of hours of retrieves and water they were gross! Quote Link to post
just jack 998 Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 :clapper: mint, thats a cracking looking mutt Quote Link to post
skycat 6,174 Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Lovely write up, and and even lovelier dog. :thumbs: He really must be one of the best looking Labs I've seen.........and that's just on the photos: he must be even more handsome in real life! Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 ....................looking good. Keep him on the lead tommorrow.....different ball game on shoot day.... .. Quote Link to post
Hannah4181 260 Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 ....................looking good. Keep him on the lead tommorrow.....different ball game on shoot day.... .. Don't worry he'll be staying on the lead, that said i'll let him have a couple of easy retrieves if the situation allows it. Quote Link to post
forest of dean redneck 11,799 Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 stunning dog uggs are shit anyway hannah go on celtic sheepskin website wife even get s them for couple kids Quote Link to post
Hannah4181 260 Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 stunning dog uggs are shit anyway hannah go on celtic sheepskin website wife even get s them for couple kids I agree Celtic sheepskin boots are good . . . . however after years of studies, i have concluded that the Ugg sheepskin is thicker and of a denser consistency, seems to last longer ................... But i'm not fussed as this year its all about the "R Soles" Cowboy boots. Quote Link to post
forest of dean redneck 11,799 Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 stunning dog uggs are shit anyway hannah go on celtic sheepskin website wife even get s them for couple kids I agree Celtic sheepskin boots are good . . . . however after years of studies, i have concluded that the Ugg sheepskin is thicker and of a denser consistency, seems to last longer ................... But i'm not fussed as this year its all about the "R Soles" Cowboy boots. r soles? theres plenty on here 1 Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 ....................looking good. Keep him on the lead tommorrow.....different ball game on shoot day.... .. Don't worry he'll be staying on the lead, that said i'll let him have a couple of easy retrieves if the situation allows it. Known as "Dolly Droppers"...... . Will be great for the young dog to see a couple of birds falling from the sky with proper gunshot. A runner would be great...... Quote Link to post
Hannah4181 260 Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 So i'm just in from photographing the shoot day . . . . . Moss came along, drive one he was in the back of the landy, tied up, door open .......... He looked and listened and remained calm. Drive two, he was walking behind guns with me, to perfect heel and amazed at the falling birds......... whistle blows and i send him out, perfect retrieve on 2 partridges ....... Drives 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . . perfect peg dog, watching and marking then retrieving like a pro!!! A few people asked about him today and after i explained his history and lack of training and experience, they were all pretty impressed and won over by his heart and keenness! We had one nasty moment when he picked up a pigeon, got a mouth full of feather and promptly spat the pigeon out and ran on to pick up a pheasant! lol I am bursting with pride, this second hand mutt just shined today and enjoyed every second of it! Photos to follow ....... ( when the celebratory drinks wear off and i can see to edit photos!!) Yay Moss!!! lol :laugh: Quote Link to post
Hannah4181 260 Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 The nasty pigeon moment . . seconds before he spat it out and went off after a pheasant! Quote Link to post
Dave C 63 Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Nice pics and a cracking looking Lab :thumbs: ATB Dave. Quote Link to post
jazz_11 5 Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Well done... i need to take your approach and get my whippet sorted... Quote Link to post
old real tree 92 Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 yes you do jazz................................... Quote Link to post
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