Pointers backing – 10th October 2009
This week has been busy. My wife has been working long hours and whilst I do work at home most of the time this doesn’t mean that I seem to have any more time to do anything other than work. With the nights drawing in, and a real chill in the air, the opportunities for longer training sessions only really come at the weekends.
I went up into the forest today with no real intention of doing anything other than letting the dogs have a good run, practice a few recalls, and drop a few times to the whistle. I have to admit that I have been a bit disappointed with Grace’s training on the heather recently but maybe this is just in contrast to the speed and determination that Archie shows. Anyway, I sometimes forget that training can be a bit of a roller coaster ride and just when you least expect it things come together well. Today was one of those days.
It was warm with a good breeze and as we walked through the forest the noise of birdsong was intense. Flocks of coal tits flew through the canopy and I even got sight of a woodcock, given away by its jinking flight more than anything else. I know woodcock are here all year round but to me they signify the arrival of autumn in the same way curlew tell me summer is on its way. The dogs just ran flat out and every now and again I recalled them to me.
We moved out of the forest into a clearfell area and before long I noticed that Grace was on point ahead of me. Not only that but Archie was backing solidly from quite a distance. I moved in and waited. After a few moments Grace relocated and Archie followed, closing the gap slightly. As Grace froze on point again Archie dropped into the grass. Moments later Grace relocated and Archie followed suit. We eventually ended up in a situation where Grace was solidly on point up against the stump of an old tree and Archie was backing solidly behind. I waited, and waited, and waited. I figured that it would do no harm to let the dogs wait so this is what we did. We must have stood motionless for about ten minutes. I then clicked my finger and thumb and Grace went in to flush the bird. The bird however must have moved on into the small conifers because Grace worked out the scent, then headed into the trees. Archie checked out the scent excitedly then turned around and came back to me. Within seconds a noisy cock pheasant flushed and I blew the drop whistle. Archie dropped at my feet and I can only guess that Grace must have either dropped or stopped as when I called her she came back out of the trees instantly. She cannot have chased the bird. I called her back to me then hupped her. Archie stayed in the dropped position. I was really happy. To watch one dog point then produce the bird is one thing. To watch one point and one back then produce a bird is more than double the pleasure.
On the way back we walked through some dense woodland and came across some stag-horn fungus. It was visible from a long way off as it is virtually flourescent. A great session for both dogs.
