cressy
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A busy weekWe have just finished beating for our third full day this week, Mugi is still going strong and I am sure he will be gutted at the end of next week.
A really positive week which started on Tuesday when I was asked if Mugi would retrieve a goose off the lake. Although I declined the challenge I did send him out to see what he would do (goose was very dead). He nosed it but didn't attempt to retrieve it, I expected nothing as he has not retrieved game off water yet. When the goose was landed by a lab it was bigger than poor Moo!!! Mugi had an apology from the acting keeper as he had forgotten how old and inexperienced Mugi is (a pretty good compliment when you think of it). The rest of Tuesday went very well too.
Wednesday saw him doing a lot of very steady hunting and his response to voice and whistle is really coming along. I find though with him that his ability to behave well is enhanced in the field. I think the rest of the time he sees no reason to really respond to command, he is such a well mannered dog that him not wanting to sustain a stay etc is little problem. In the field though he will do a really solid sit/stay for nearly 10 mins off lead with me not on top of him as long as he can see game moving in front of him.
Today we were very short of beaters, Mugi has been allowed to work with alot of space which was right up his street  . He has finished the day with a drive through fir trees, I couldn't see him much of the time as I was struggling through briar but the guns were watching him and he never put a paw wrong apparently.
Next week we are doing three and a half days and a certain pupster will be doing a single drive as he has been much better doing his socialisation with the dogs and people in the mornings. He will be on a harness and flexi lead and all I want to concentrate on is his heel work and steadiness to flush so I aleady know which drive he will be on and what position we are working. (It helps chatting to the keeper in the pub and ensuring he knows my pup and his foibles beforehand).
We are also angling to get some picking up next year, another handler will have a youngster of similar age to Chase and so the plan currently is that we will share a patch out of the main swing of things on days when there are enough beaters. Our payment for being allowed to train like that will be ensuring we beat more days than we pick up - no hardship there!!!
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