Veeka has been allowed in the HPR equivalent of a sweetie shop!
I was advised that it’s time for her to flush game and to work on getting her to sit to flush. Here she is in a well-stocked cover crop not really knowing what to do or how to do it 😂. She just blunders about bumping into birds everywhere! But the positives were that she sat to flush and eventually managed a point, stalk and flush.
Next, it’ll be associating a flush with a shot - but not a retrieve. That’ll be the next step.
It’s a new journey for both of us.
After tripping over a pheasant yesterday 🙈, here’s our second attempt to do what it says on the HPR tin: find, point and flush game whilst remaining steady.
Small step forward today …..
Laugh or cry?
Veeka throws doubt on her hunting ability.
Work to do 😅😅
I think I’m making progress in getting Veeka to pick cold game birds without hesitating whilst hunting. She had been stopping and pointing cold game, which I’m told is a big no no.
Her hunting pattern is not that tight, and she pulls on me a tad, but does respond to the whistle and I make her cover our beat. At 8 months of age, she’s coming on.
She has yet to bump a live game bird or deer. I’ve read horror stories of what’s likely to happen when a GWP encounters Bambi for the first time! 😅
Watch this space!
A day requiring patience from the girls …
I’ve never trained a pointer in anything but the basics of sit, stay, heelwork, recall, steadiness and retrieving. I don’t have any experience in teaching a pointer to range, hunt and point.
So when Veeka came on point to what turned out to be a woodcock, it was not only puzzling for me to know what to do next, but at the same time a real thrill to see a young dog go into predator mode with her natural instincts taking over!
I’m going to have to ask an expert how to channel her hunting instincts for when we eventually go rough shooting next year.
Update on Veeka, GWP, 8 months old.
Learning how to range and hunt under control, hitting scent, retrieving cold game.
Great Durnford Estate
29 November 2024
Steady as she goes …
Update on Veeka, a German Wirehaired Pointer, at 7 months:
Steadiness to air launcher
First retrieve of cold game
Commentary is on the video.
A long, long way for no reward for Tillbag!
I was sure that this cockbird was a runner and needed to be picked, but he turned out to be perfectly healthy and flew merrily on his way when Tilly approached.
Cheeky bugger!
I help you to train your pet Gundog in the basics required of a family pet & a shooting companion
