I went to gundog training at Druids Lodge next to Stonehenge. I havent been there for a couple of years and after the summer of hell I've had with Harvey and his health I wasnt sure he'd remember it all as we havent trained for months. I need not have worried. Harvey truly is a setter, a true gundog. He has all the natural instincts of any working dog - I simply dont have the time of experience to make him into a trailing dog.
Firstly for a November day the weather was quite amazing. It was around 15 degrees and dry until the last part of the day when there was a shower. Even the wind was just right for setter training.
We set off into one of the fields in this vast estate and all had a few goes at running our dogs. There were so many hare and a few people lost their dogs over the hills by chasing the said hare - boy can those creatures cover the ground!!! Harvey on the other hand put up a hare but only pointed - he did not chase it (oh did I feel smug).
We then had a few more runs in different fields and this time a hare jumped right out in front of Harvey. He ran after it (I defy even the best gundog not to) but after me just calling him twice he came back I felt even more smug). What a good boy!!
Just to put the icing on the cake we had some caged partridges to see how our dogs pointed when they scented birds. Unfortunately by this time it was raining and the wind was non-existent so even for the best setter it was hard to hook onto the scent. Harvey's turn came and we were quite a way away from the cage when I said 'steady' to him (this is the word I've taught him if I see the bird before he scents it) and low and behold he set like a rock - hooked onto the scent and was as steady as a rock!
I'm back home now and looking at Harvey, exhuasted but happy (he LOVES training) and thinking that after today I am even more proud of him and love him even more.
This photo shows my Bailey, Bailey's grandson Harvey and Harvey's son Wooster.
