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                   Working Secretary’s Notes

Doesn’t time fly when your having fun?

    Firstly a warm thank you to all who have entered any of our working activities.They make them so much more worthwhile running.

    I’ve had an eventful year to date with a dislocated elbow, bout of pneumonia and am now just recovering from a cracked rib. Still everything can only get better, we hope. . .

    The wet summer left a lot to be desired but we did have a fine day for the training day at Hesketh Bank which made a suitable profit so enabling us to acquire new dummies etc. It also covers the coffee and bacon sandwiches to set us all off on the right foot. We do miss Audrey at these events, she was so relied on in the catering department and was always someone to talk over problems of any sort with when all had dispersed to work their dogs.

    As you all probably know I am extra busy as I’ve increased my hounds (mini long haired Dachshunds) and as I show them it makes for a very busy calendar.

    The last Working Test day was very successful, owing in no uncertain terms to our super judges and the weather, as well as the sporting attitude of the entrants. Lets hope it stays fine for the cold game test
See you all there!

Denise Jury (Hon Work. Sec.)


NEFRA Autumn WT. Report:


Novice winner Gill Awty & Rainbow Queen with Judges

       NEFRA held their Special Puppy, Novice & Open WT at Cuckoo Barn near Foremark by kind permission of the shoot and farmer Mr P. Bishop on 21st Sept. We were very grateful for this land as there were release pens in the near vicinity and quite a few birds around as this is a very prestigious shoot in the area. David Fields judged and was assisted by Peter Forster who had to step in at the last minute.

      The land was a deep valley widening at the river giving many opportunities for some quite trying tests up the banksides and in the undergrowth. The day turned out fine and sunny, a real Indian Summer’s day so the traditional bacon butties to start with were appreciated but not essential as they sometimes are at autumn tests.

      Open & Sp Puppy were held in the morning with Cherry Wood and Cumberwood Cracker taking top honours in the Open. 2nd was Gary Ellisons Blackflight Arrietta and 3rd Prof & Mrs Bell’s Dutch Endevour handled by Pat Bell. Peter Griffin with Eskwinds Black Moss was awarded a C of M.

      Sp. Puppy saw Jo Hewison 1st with their Casblaidd Little Archer, 2nd Gill Griffin with their Eskwinds Chaffinch, 3rd Terry Sparkes with Lenyam Martins of Churchwood. 2 C of M’s to Keith Aldreds Eskwinds Chloes Boy & his sister handled by Sandra Rees Eskwinds Chasing Moonbeams.

      The afternoon saw Novice won by Gill Awtry’s Rainbow Queen, 2nd Jo Hewisons Casblaidd Hazy Daisy, 3rd Cherry Wood ‘s Cumberwood Clover and C of M to Julie Matthews Astravia Saffron’s Spirit at Ollersett handled by Garry Ellison.

      Thanks go especially to the helpers who shot, threw and placed dummies, acted as stewards and generally helped with the general smooth running of the day along with those who spoke to the weatherman so successfully which helped everyone to have a super time at this lovely venue.

Denise Jury

More Photos from the Working Test - photos Chris Hewison

                  Cherry Wood 1st Open                Jo Hewison 1st Puppy    


Inbetween Tests . . . sunbathing?


InbetweenTests 2 . . . more sunbathing?
                 
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   Inter-Breed Test for Retrievers at Hope Show

    This was a wonderful competition organised by The United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) with teams of black, yellow and chocolate labradors, black and liver flatcoats, golden retrievers and irish water spaniels competing with four dogs in each team.
    The black flatcoats were lying in second place after the individual tests but lost their place after the team pick up test which was rather a free for all done in true flatcoat style - the judges said that if there was a prize for the most entertaining they would have won it and the crowd loved them.
    This dropped them to 5th place and the liver flatcoats were 7th. The flatcoats certainly held their own as Julie Matthews with Spirit was top dog scoring 40 points out of 40.
    The team of golden retrievers won .
    Competing in the black flatcoat team was Gary Ellison with Millie, Julie Matthews with Spirit, Peter Griffin with Moss and Gill Awty with Maddie. The liver flatcoat team was Caroline Hewison with Sorrell, Richard Hewison with Bertie, Cherry Wood with Pepper and June Brocklesby with Coco.
    The day was much enjoyed by both spectators and competitors.


The black flatcoat team


The liver flatcoat team

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Where do Dogs Learn Best ?

    The gundog world is very split over whether a dog learns best if kept indoors or kennelled outside. There are positives and negatives on both sides of this argument and in the end it will be left to the individual, family set up, dog in question and the standard of training required from the dog.

    A puppy kept indoors brought up in a family, socialised and guided fairly and firmly could certainly develop into a lovely well adjusted dog who is a delight to have around. The new family who understand a little of canine behaviour, who, as a family attend good classes and all sing from the same hymn sheet will not confuse the dog as to its position in the household by allowing it to gain a higher status than some of the human occupants. A dog is a pack animal and is happy knowing its place in the ‘pack’ or household. It’s when basic instincts are ignored or conflicting orders given that accidents happen. A puppy coming into the house for the first time is a novelty and given a lot more attention than it warrants thus elevating it in its eyes from the bottom of the pecking order. New pups placed on furniture don’t understand when the novelty and newness has worn off, why it is suddenly evicted from the chair, after all the pup hasn’t changed, except to grow a little bigger. My Dachshunds love the big chair in the kitchen but the older ones soon retreat and lean over the edge to tease the new pups or slightly fatter dogs who cannot pile onto the seat and woe betide any youngster who approaches and tries to upgrade itself. It will be well and truly put in its place, but what a picture lights up the pups face when it can eventually jump onto the chair with the older dogs and hold its place against all comers.

    F/c’s are a very easy going breed and don’t get offended or try to push up the pecking order in an aggressive way as some breeds might but they can insidiously upgrade themselves before you realise what is happening or has happened. Even though they will take a push off they still have powerful jaws and big strong bodies especially where small children are concerned. This is why a cage is so useful. It becomes the dogs own retreat where it can escape the attentions of anything, especially children. Where it will not get stood on, accidently kicked, and where it can hide any of its favourite things.

    A dog kept outside in a kennel learns very quickly what you want to teach it, after all its main association with you will be in a learning situation. Housetraining though a little slower than with a house dog is not a problem as most dogs will soil at the farthest point from their sleeping area or nearest to the exit door and soon learn a routine. If the kennel area is big enough and some entertainment is provided chewing will not be a big problem once the baby teeth are shed, as all dogs have to learn patience and understand that they cannot be entertained all the time. After all a working dog is not running around ‘doing’ all the time and many hours are spent just sitting contemplating, this in some very active lines of F/c can produce behavioural problems. Kenneled dogs need other canine company and a fairly strict routine. This reduces stress, barking and other related antisocial habits.

    Living in the house a dog soon learns who it can ignore, who will not pursue a command and it will ‘try it on’ with everyone thus making training that little bit harder. A kennelled dog with only one trainer may have fewer setbacks and therefore come on more quickly in some respects, but beware you cannot start a pup out in the house and then move it into a kennel, problems will arise and bring with them a really confused dog but a pup started in a kennel will when partially trained usually move into the house situation and settle in well. The only problem can be with older dogs who are established in their kennel and don’t take lightly to the more ridged discipline of the house.

    In the end it’s entirely up to you how you rear your F/c. They are a very social and people loving breed but it’s not always practical to have more that one or two in the house at one time but mine learn to come and go from house to kennel and vice versa once the pup knows and understands what a kennel is and who is top dog in the house.
Denise Jury.