lagopuslagopus
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HPR Partridge DayWe had a lovely day out in Suffolk yesterday with two Brittanies, two Munsters and 3/4 guns. The weather first thing was really unhelpful with next to no wind, and what there was changed directions all the time. The quarry was partridge and quail! The most frustrating part of the day was that Ekko had a lot of lovely points and flushes but all turned out to be pheasant except one. It was very very good for sitting to the flush though. After lunch we changed from working one dog at a time to two and anything that got up was being shot rather than just pointed birds so that at least there could be some retrieves. We had a nice blind retrieve on a partridge, only about 20 yards but Ekko went out in a lovely straight line where I sent her and winded it as she went past, hunted a little to find it in the long grass and brought it back still alive. We then changed to working the four dogs together and were working around an old racetrack. This obviously meant that the wind was changing as we went around. Ekko flicked around on point out to my left and was rigid facing me. I called to the gun out to my left and as I walked towards her a partridge lifted. Hurray. The gun was Santiago - another Forum member (thank you Santi  ). After she had sat for a short while I sent her for the bird. She hunted around for a while but couldn't find it. Then I noticed that she seemed to be starting to follow a track. I asked the keeper who was next to me if it could have run. He said it was only winged so yes. I just stood and watched (keeping my mouth shut Peter  ) and she went on for approx 200 yards. By this time everyone was watching. I saw something jump ahead of her and a few seconds later she was on her way back with the very alive partridge. This was her first partridge HPR and really made my day - it was such a lovely retrieve.
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munstyman
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| Quote: | | I just stood and watched (keeping my mouth shut Peter |
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OMG a woman has actually listened to something I said...I'll have to go and lie down 
Well done Ekko, now you have the handler trained the worlds your oyster 
Peter
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guy
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lovely story Karen.
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santiago
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Seeing Ekko work is a true pleasure... she is a fantastic dog brilliantly trained.
Karen has told it beautifully! This retrieve in particular was extraordinary. There were plenty of birds around but she managed to focus on this particular one and find it very far away from where it had been shot (kind of poorly!).
Really something I will remember too!
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Dave A
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HI
Well done to the 3 of you, I know i should have been there but some bugger has to work while you enjoy yourselves !!!!!!
Dave A
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langhaar
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No doubt you'll remember this retrieve for ever, this kind of work makes all the slog worthwhile ! Wonderfull !
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Mike
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Great story Karen:)
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santiago
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Dave, you were greatly missed. Much more than you would have been missed at work!!!!
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Greyghost
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Sounds like a great day. Well done Ekko  It's just not natural for a woman to keep her mouth shut is it. 
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lagopuslagopus
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Barb
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Ekkoglad you had a great day Karen well done Ekko
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münstermanager
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Well done Karen & Ekko. Great account, too. The retrieve sounds amazing. You and Ekko are a fantastic team.
Sue
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lagopuslagopus
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Thank you all - like Brenda said it is one I will never forget.
We should have been out again today but I was told I couldn't take Ekko because Inca is in season!
We were invited to go pigeon shooting this afternoon instead but the pigeons thought otherwise and didn't come anywhere near. We ended up with two crows and a jackdaw. The first crow Ekko was sent for was a runner! Every time she tried to pick him up he attacked her so she barked at him a few times before she managed to get him. (Good job it was a real shooting day and not a field trial) All the way back he was still trying! Her second one luckily was dead.
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sako75
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Nice story Karen, Ekko done you proud.
Do you often send your dogs for wounded corvids? Personally I would be wary due to them pecking at the eyes of the dog. Just a personal thing but when out shooting crows I would much rather give them a second barrel than send my dog. My potlickers won't retrieve the damn things anyway........
Barry.
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lagopuslagopus
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The only one she has had before was a jackdaw which we didn't realise had run when it was being looked for. We couldn't see it as it was shot before the wheat had been cut. I could see her retching as she came back to me with the second one - it really must have tasted horrible.
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munstyman
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Hi Karen,
I would `echo'  what Barry has said, corvids have a natural draw to `eyes' ( Ask any sheep farmer  ) its not worth the risk IMO, at the very least it teaches a dog to `bite down'.
Teal'q gave me a scare yesterday when he was `busy with something in the grass, I went over to investigate only to find him picking up a 1m long snake, he's done this before with grass snakes, but I doubt if he can tell the difference between an adder and a grass snake So its not to be encouraged, I don't fancy carrying him home...let alone the vet bill 
Peter
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sako75
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| Quote: | | I could see her retching as she came back to me with the second one - it really must have tasted horrible. |
I used to have a pet jackdaw believe it or not "jackie" was his name, original I know. Jackie stunk to high heaven so god knows what a jackdaw must taste like to a dog...........just writing this reminds me of Jackies unique odour..........very smelly but he became a local celebrity for all the wrong reasons landing on young school kids heads - he was just being friendly and saying hello. I think the local newspaper headline was something like MAD CROW ATTACKS SCHOOL KIDS !!
Sadly Jackie was run over on the road outside my house in 1988, it broke my heart  To this day I refuse to shoot jackdaws......... 
Barry.
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lagopuslagopus
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| Quote: | | I would `echo' what Barry has said, corvids have a natural draw to `eyes' |
Won't be doing that again then if I can help it. Feel really bad now having put her at risk. Those eyes are very important eh Peter (along with the rest of her of course!)
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munstyman
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I wouldn't feel too bad Karen as your in good company
Its the trouble of having a dog that can do everything, we sometimes get carried away Having dealt with the consequences of corvids and lambs for umpteen years you would think I would have had more sense I was put firmly in my place by a fellow picker up at the time
Peter
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