Paul T Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Decided to just take my cocker out as it was raining (my viz hates the wet) and we do 'stand and walk' in January. My daughter has been working her in the beating line for the last 3-4 outings so she's making a great hunting dog but I thought it would be good to see how she fared on a peg so the stand & walk was ideal for her. Well to be fair, she just sat at my side on the peg and watched me miss twice . She found and put up a few birds when we were walking but there wasn't a lot about at all really, being January on a small syndicated shoot. Then at the very end of the day I was blessed with a cock bird rising from the last piece of cover. It was a fair way out to the side, quartering from left to right, so I moved my feet round, mounted the gun, pulled through and let fly with one smooth movement. Everything felt just right and so the bird folded and headed earthwards. I'd taken some ribbing earlier in the day for missing, but at least with the last shot of the day I'd redeemed myself. After the comments of 'about flippin' time' had subsided I turned back to the direction of the shot bird only to be greeted with a wonderful sight - my little cocker trotting back with a big cock bird held cleanly in her mouth. When she knew I'd seen her, her tail started to wag furiously (she's not docked as she's from Scotland) and she slowed to a waggy walk. When she was back at my feet she sat and as I put my hand down to grasp the birds neck she released it, then bounced for joy as only a cocker can. Absolutely made up I was and she was obviously chuffed too! It's one of those things that only happens once with each dog and it was a joy to watch. It made a cracking end to what was an otherwise pretty wet and miserable day and will be a memory that will stay with me for a long time. I just felt like sharing and I hope it's something you all get the joy of experiencing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burky Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 good times ahead for you both ,now that she has the bug you should notice a great change in her i.e when she see,s your gun coming out she should get exited by that knowing she is going to work as do mine every time it,s a great thing to have the bond between gun master and the dog good luck with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 That's brilliant! My cocker has been working on the little shoot this year, with some good retrieves picking up and I am really looking forward to beaters day when he will hopefully pick a bird that I or my wife has shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge hunter Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Well done that dog, its a cracking feeling mate. I had the same thimg happen myself just before xmas with my young cocker. Its great when it all comes together, many a happy day shooting together cheers hh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Good times Paul hope you and your Cocker have many great days to come. Atb P.T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Its a good feeling! If you want her steady on peg though try and make her wait (not all do actually want this though). The first strong runner is a bit of a boost as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Well done sir. If you don't mind me asking, how old is your young viz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Good for you for expressing that feeling of pride, and for the dog too. No more now until next season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted January 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Well done sir. If you don't mind me asking, how old is your young viz? He's 4 now. He's great as a HPR rough shooting dog, but not so good on a peg. He knows he shouldn't go for a retrieve without being given the go ahead, but on the plus side we've not lost a runner this season . If a bird is down he counts to 3, checks to see if no one else's dog has gone for it, then looks at me to say 'don't worry I'll get it' and then he's off. He will only go if a bird is genuinely down and doesn't just run in at the sound of a shot like some dogs I've seen, and he will come back if I whistle him. I have pegged him down so he can't but really I need a third family member to send him on command. My cocker is much less independent and dotes on your every command so I should be able to break the habit before it becomes an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 He's 4 now. He's great as a HPR rough shooting dog, but not so good on a peg. He knows he shouldn't go for a retrieve without being given the go ahead, but on the plus side we've not lost a runner this season . If a bird is down he counts to 3, checks to see if no one else's dog has gone for it, then looks at me to say 'don't worry I'll get it' and then he's off. He will only go if a bird is genuinely down and doesn't just run in at the sound of a shot like some dogs I've seen, and he will come back if I whistle him. I have pegged him down so he can't but really I need a third family member to send him on command. My cocker is much less independent and dotes on your every command so I should be able to break the habit before it becomes an issue. Yep my GWP was hard to hold back you could feel let alone see the tension in him, it was unsettling . I didn't wish to sound condescending but if you want it on peg don't send it on seen and always make it wait till the end. My lab now 28mnths started flinching a little at the shot so I sent him straight in on a single still dropping bird in his first "going for the experience season" it took a while to then break his desire to leg it in to the fall. He was about 16mnth then and going on 2 1/2 years now and only recently got back to "permission only" I have hand picked all but the ones in the deep water or ones I cannot see from that point. Running in to the shot follows running in to the fall, it helps if your a very bad shot LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.