GraemeGSP Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Hi Folks, It's been yonks since I posted on here. I'd forgotten all my credentials I thought you chaps and chapesses might be interested to learn of a shooting competition being held in Scotland on October 10th 2009. It's aim is to test the primary breed function of a spaniel and a retriever AND the handlers shooting ability. this is not a formal afair and is open to anyone who can turn up on the day with two dogs (of different breed), a gun and a willingness to have some fun... This is a non-profit making undertaking that is designed purely to promote the 'Art of Shooting with Dogs'. If anything, it's a chance to shoot game in a walked up scenario for £30 (for the day) on an estate that normally charges ~£35 per bird! And there's £250 for the winner!!! More details here http://www.polmaisecup.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) It is a shame it is just another field trial. Why all the eliminting faults? I can understand the gun safety part and even at a push the running in but as for all the others what has that got to do with "Promote the art of shooting with dogs"? My Spaniel will whine if he is held to long being being sent out for a retrieve but that does not make him a bad dog to shoot over and I have never lost a bird while he has been out with me. The fact that he may make a noise doesn't matter a jot. Noone has ever mentioned it in a shooting enviroment. Only in a working test or trial enviroment do they seem to care. It isn't really shooting with dogs either, if you need to turn up with two different breeds. What is going to happen? the spaniel flushes a bird, it gets shot and then the labrador retrieves it? Again when I go out shooting and my spaniel flushes to the gun he will get the retrieve as a reward for working well. He would well be ****** off if he didn't get the retrieve after crashing through brambles etc to find me something to shoot. Edited September 22, 2009 by MC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Its a competition MC thats the point scoring for traits you want in a dog. No disrespect to your dog but I can't stand shooting in a line with someone with a spaniel thats wining really annoys me and usually the owner as well, not seen one cured of it but its why I guess you don't see them as peg dogs that much as they don't usually do it while hunting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 So it doesn't matter how good a dog is in the shooting field just as long as it is quiet? That is a crock of **** and you know it, my spaniel is a shooting dog as are 90% of the breed. He has found birds that other dogs have left, he will enter the hardest cover with the slightest scent of a bird, he has found birds that the guns didn't know they had dropped. He will never give up if there is the slightest chance that he will make the retrieve. Does it matter if he whines occasionally. It certainly isn't constantly. Does that make him a bad gundog? In your eyes apparently it does. If it was a toss up between getting a shot bird back or having a robot dog that only covers a set quartering pattern, can only work to signals or a whistle rather than its own iniative then I know which one I would take. The competition states that it is there to promote the art of shooting over dogs, Who really cares if you are getting annoyed? If you read my post again it says that my dog will whine if held too long before being sent. Well in that competition he will never be sent as you need two different dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) thats what the whole essence of the competition is though for the spaniel to hunt and the retriever to retrieve. I'll stand by not wanting to stand with a whining spaniel though, imagine beaters trying to get round partridges and keeping the guns quiet to stop birds flying back and one of the guns spaniels starts whining its annoying. I've had it for the last two seasons and it really bugs whether i've been a gun or running the beaters line. Its not a good trait on a formal game field doesn't matter when rough shooting on your own, Though I'm thinking of one that sounds like its a lot worse than yours Edited September 22, 2009 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Well I have never had a complaint from anyone about my dog, retrieving a bird from a thickset of brambles or from the middle of a lake far outweighs the bad. As said he doesn't whine constantly only if held up from a retieve for too long, which is something that doesn't happen out in the field. If this dog is as bad as you say why hasn't anything been done about it? Maybe it is because everyone is out to enjoy the day and the only thing that matters is that they do enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 oh its been said a fair few times and I don't think it will be along this year. It is a spaniel thing as my mate has one and he won't bring it out when he's a standing gun despite owning the shoot as it gets on his wick. They just don't like sitting still watching game and not being able to hunt. Its sort of derailing the thread though fundamentally this is a gundog trial so you do have to have judging criteria and i have to say its a joy to watch dogs working spot on which i assume this will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeGSP Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 anyway, lads... it's not a trial. How many trials use 2 dogs? how many trials has the handler shooting the game? the emphasis is on a fun day oot, have a shot at game and working yer duggs... nobody will get sent home, just some will score better than others... everyone will get to shoot (although some might miss ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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