One Man & his Gundogs

12/12/2024

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!

07/12/2024

A day requiring patience from the girls …

07/12/2024

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.

07/12/2024

I came across this poacher’s / hare courser’s vehicle bogged and abandoned on Salisbury Plain. Not insured or taxed.

Police found evidence of game birds and recovered “tools of the trade” from inside the vehicle.

02/12/2024

Update on Veeka, GWP, 8 months old.

Learning how to range and hunt under control, hitting scent, retrieving cold game.

30/11/2024

Great Durnford Estate
29 November 2024

Steady as she goes …

15/11/2024

Update on Veeka, a German Wirehaired Pointer, at 7 months:

Steadiness to air launcher
First retrieve of cold game

Commentary is on the video.

09/11/2024

A lovely day out picking up. Daisy made a guest OAP appearance - she still loves working even though the body is ailing! She behaved well until the last drive when she went self employed, cruising around having a whale of a time! Still, at nearly 13, I suppose she’s earned a bit of latitude.
The day was topped off with the rarest of events: the keeper offering to share his sweets!
Result all round.

08/11/2024

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 bu**er!

20/10/2024

20/10/2024

Veeka’s school report from Mullenscote!

15/10/2024

Here’s my roughy, toughy, hunting machine of a GWP - scared witless by a couple of pheasants she bumped into!!!

13/10/2024

Good military drills. Girls demonstrating “All Round Defence”:

Choo - left of arc
Daisy - centre arc
Tilly - right of arc

Bring it on!

13/10/2024

What a day!

13/10/2024

You can’t win them all …

08/10/2024

Took Veeka, the 6 month old GWP, on her first hunt yesterday to see if she would hunt, quarter, turn and stay reasonably under control.

I had been advised that now would be the right time to expose her to game, so I was thrilled to see her scent, point, flush and remain steady to a hare! I don’t know whether I should be encouraging her to chase at this young age to “light the fire”, so I’ll ask my good friend, mentor and 2014 UK HPR Champion, Howard Kirby.

This is all new to me and I’m learning as I go. I’m loving it!

04/10/2024

Veeka (GWP) at 6 months.

23/09/2024

Choo now on a different level of ability.

Don’t know whether it’s because of the time I’ve recently been spending with the new pup.

Don’t know and don’t really care. Just so grateful and privileged to have been given this special little dog.