Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject: Picking up from a Piggery
I've recently started picking up on a shoot where there are a few piggerys and on the one drive some of the birds have landed amongst the pigs. The first week Skye went in and retrieved the birds without a problem and I didn't give it a 2nd thought, I was the only picker up that week. Last time we went there was a lady with her lab also picking up (apparently she has worked on this shoot for a number of years but was away the 1st week) and she was also training someone with a spaniel to pick up. She said she would advise against letting the dogs retrieve from the piggery as the electric fence was on and it could permanently put the dogs off retrieving if they got a shock. I asked what she would do if the birds landed in there and she said she would go and get them herself. When a partridge landed in there I sat Skye and went in myself, next thing I looked up and Skye was in there with me picking up another bird. When I was telling someone else this they said they wouldn't go in at all as pigs can be nasty and would let the dog do it.
My question is what would everyone else do in this situation? _________________ www.deifstockgundogs.co.uk
I don't know how old they were, there wer no piglets in the ones we had to retieve from but there were in some of the others. _________________ www.deifstockgundogs.co.uk
I wouldn't either send my dog among pigs nor go in myself. Let someone else do it if they want. Have you mentioned the risks to the shoot manager? _________________ Aberdon HPR's. Good-looking AND Intelligent.
We had a situation like this at one of the F/T's this year and the judges just opened the gate and let the bitch go in and retrieve. It was Ray Davies's Spinone and the pigs ignored her.
Not so sure I would want to do this on a regular basis as the pigs could get a bit annoyed at the interuption. _________________ Sharon Pinkerton
www.bareve.com
Owner & breeder of Field Trial 1st prize winners
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Pigs can be very boisterous to the extent of being apparently vicious, although it may not be intended that way. It's not even a case of putting your dog off for life, it is potentially downright dangerous. Sorry, but no matter who the judge was I would refuse, even if it lost me the trial. JMH (and probably wimpish) O _________________ Aberdon HPR's. Good-looking AND Intelligent.
As one who owns pigs, thought I'd add a comment. My pigs are used to my Weims but none of the dogs have ever ventured into their pens. Pigs can be very protective, of their pen, piglets and food. Some days they can take no notice at all, other days they will bound over and investigate. Pigs can be dangerous, boars especially with their long tusks. One side swipe from them and they could slice though the dogs side or a persons leg - they may not mean to be aggressive but I don't stand beside my boar's head even though he is very friendly and gentle, its just not worth the risk.
Young pigs are very fast and they may charge over for some 'fun', equally they could squeal and run in the opposite direction. Having seen what two 6-month old boars can do to each other when one got into the wrong pen, there is no way I would want a dog anywhere near them. At this relatively young age they weigh 70kg or more and have a powerful jaw equipped with large teeth .
I'd leave the pheasant in the pen for the pigs to eat - strictly illegal as one may not feed pigs meat, but hey its a natural food - there wouldn't be much left the next day.
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