Training in Buckinghamshire

Rowoodhill · Training in Buckinghamshire

Are there any gundog, or ideally any HPR training classes in Buckinghamshire.

Looking for a beginner class to start a Vizsla puppy.

Does Laaghaar still do some classes? (which I guess are Oxfordshire.)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

langhaar

You're welcome to come over anytime Karen. What's the breeding of your latest puppy ?
If you are going to the HVC show at Kidlington, we are 15 mins from there if you want to pop in.

Might have a shot over training day in Bucks, near Aylesbury. Don't know any HPR trainers in that county tho, only cocker men.

Rowoodhill · Puppy Training

Thanks for replying.

My bitch, Jasmine (who is by Sylvia Cox's dog, and Martin Elliot's bitch) has had a litter with Jack (Nigel Dear's FT winner). This was the best working lines I hope... so fingers crossed for my next puppy.

One puppy is going to a family in Bucks, and they are quite interested in 'having a go' at gundog training, and I just didn't know where their nearest class was.

I have given the new owners the KC list of clubs, and there is a labrador gundog club, but it is always nice for beginners to go to an HPR class initially.

Luckily I have 3 pups going locally, and I hope to see them again at GSP Sussex and GSP Surrey.

I just have the difficult task of picking one of the girls (out of 5.)

Any suggestions or little tests that I can do, they all are so similar at the moment, I just can't decide. They are all so cute at 5 weeks now.

Thanks again,

K

langhaar

We chose our pups at 6 weeks of age then don't change our minds. Following this they start changing. I usually have a good idea as soon as they are born. With the Longhairs I choose who goes where! Go with your instincts.

Click to see full size image

Don't do classes anymore for HV's. There is CGDS which isn't that far away.

Rowoodhill · Picking a puppy

What a lovely puppy, and a really nice colour. I have till the pups are 8 weeks to decide, so I will wait another week or so and then see if any of them will pick a pheasant wing.

Thanks for the tip re Coventry gundog.

langhaar

Continentals take their litters out into forests and fields with their dams from 5/6 weeks of age. Deer and rabbit skins, and feathers in the kennel plus exploring deer and boar carcases in their yard. Paddling in the water on a warm day, they just follow their mum.Car journeys too.
No wrapping the Vizsla in cotton wool over there. Asked a German breeder if his smooth and wires had good days and bad days like they do over here, didn't know what I was talking about !
I do as the continental breeders do and take my litters out with their mum and dad, but I'm luckily with land where no other dogs go. As for instincts each GLP pup has the same as all the others, so I test for what I want how the Germans have taught me but I'll keep that to myself!
Good luck with your choice.

Rowoodhill · Picking a puppy

Hi Langhaar

Thank you so much for your reply. This is my first litter and I must say I have loved every minute of having them. (Actually Alison said this to me as well with her Vizsla litter - must be a couple of years ago now.)

I do have plenty of access to land.

What is your opinion with regard to the pups immune system to foxes? Obviously the pups won't have their first vaccination until 8 weeks.

Have you heard if the puppy can pick up distemper / parvo from foxes, as they come on my land every night. Also if I take the pups out to the shoot, I guess I would be more worried about foxes than unvaccinated dogs.

I had thought about showing the pups a pheasant (ie in the pen) but not sure if there would be anything to gain from this, probably just end in chaos.
Really value your thoughts on this, as I'm a complete novice.

Off to a new shoot tomorrow (350 partridges) on a day to see if I'm any good (and the dogs!!) If I'm ok I will get some more days in November. They shoot here everyday Monday - Friday..... Guess this means this is a serious shoot...... Hate to think how many birds they put down.
Am I nervous........ you bet!!!

langhaar

Mange would be the only problem with foxes, they come into the garden but haven't passed anything on to the dogs.Puppies like babies are very resiliant, did my midwifery training in a poor inner city area. I wouldn't take a litter near a pen personally. Road kills I would collect to see which one is the first to retrieve it.My 14 week old has picked up a hare.I drop bowls and clap my hands in the kennel etc and call mum in with the litter on the whistle. I also mix pups with the older dogs in the garden.

Good luck tomorrow. Don't like formal shoots, prefer small farmers ones. Been on big days, 600 / 1000, hated it. Larry shooting over our dogs on grouse in a couple of weeks with German Langhaar breeders, Birgit, Wendy and I will be handling the dogs so I'll be nervous then!!Let me know how you get on!

Rowoodhill · New shoot today

New shoot today.
Well, I got there, at the right time, and at the right place. But, I feel a bit out of place. I only have 2 dogs. Everyone else has a minimum of 4 dogs, with C having 7 labs, A having 5 spaniels, and J having a mix of labs and spaniels -not sure now many but quite a few!!

First drive, not much to do.
Second drive - have my 2 on a lead just in case. Oh no........ a partridge is running towards us. This must have been one of the shot ones from earlier on. Oh god, everyone is watching as this is the beginning of the drive and there are 3 of the pickers up with about 20 dogs all chatting at the top of the hill.
I really need to send a dog. Send Rusty. He grabs the bird, half it's feathers fall out, he spits it out, turns round to see if there is anything else to pick up... can't see anything.... I shout at him...... then one of the guns shoots...... Rusty is checking out the next bird........ oh no, it's all going wrong...... Blow the stop whistle..... Run out and put him on the lead..... leave Hazel in a sit stay....... I then have to pick the bird myself.... God this is soooo embarrassing. Run back with bird, and dog on lead to position.

Keep them on the lead for the rest of the drive, and then sweep up after, although neither of my dogs actually picked any birds, (Not many shot.)

Next drive... We are put well back near a pen. Rusty needs to be on a lead, as hundreds of pheasants keep flying into the pen wire and rebounding onto the floor right where we are stood. Rusty thinks this is very exciting!!! Partridge are running all around us. Sweep through after, both dogs do ok. Rusty retrieves a pheasant........ whoops ... put it back in the bushes and hope noone has noticed. (This is a partridge only day!!!)

Next drive.... on turnip fields.
Both dogs do really well, and both are on the whistle. Hazel found more birds, and worked harder than Rusty.

Last drive...... No much to do, put out on the side, but Hazel trashed a pheasant, although that was more through her lack of experience. No retrieves actually for Rusty, although he retrieved a load of birds off someone elses pile, so at least it saved someone carrying them to the game cart!!!

----

I wonder whether I'll be asked back????

-----

Actually there were a lot of destractions. This was only the 2nd day they had shot this ground. There were thousands of birds, many just feet away from us and overall the dogs were very steady. We were quartering ground and sweeping through very nervy sheep and neither dog was distracted. We had several hares, and neither dog broke, and deer (which they are more used to.) Even walking to our picking up point we were pushing birds along and had birds running just a few feet infront of us, and neither dog broke. Both dogs always stopped on the whistle, and this is hard ground, with a lot of open ground where tight quartering to sweep through after is needed.
Overall, if it hadn't been for Rusty's indiscretion on the second drive I would be much happier, but then animals are a great leveller.

I'll let you know if I get a call in November.

windem bang

I think you and your dogs did very well under testing circumstances - well done.

Bill T.

sako75

langhaar

Well the Vizsies were tested for steadiness and passed with flying colours.

Well done! This breed has had a few knocks in the past but there seems to be some very good ones around at the moment.

Rowoodhill · Working Vizsla's

I think my main problem is with noise.
Luckily Rusty never makes a noise on a drive (or only very quietly). He will make a noise if left in the picking up vehicle, or when we're driving (to a drive). He just knows what's coming.

The lab people hate it, especially if their dogs are quiet. This is my main bugbear with HPR's. My lab is very, very hot, barks all the time at home, but doesn't whine, and never makes a sound out on the shoot.
2 of the people picking up yesterday trial, and I know them through training classes. They just don't want a whining dog in their vehicle.

Next puppy must be quiet......... fingers crossed xxxxxxx

windem bang

Next puppy must be quiet -- I'm not sure how well you will manage to accomplish that. If you have a couple of noise making dogs in the back of your car and put a puppy in beside them, I would think there is a good chance it will begin whining or barking too.

I have sympathy for you but I also have sympathy for the lab. trial handlers. I used to trial labs myself and a dog that is in any way noisy looses you all of your friends as well as losing you all of your trials.

I wish you every success with your puppy. I have seen some good vizslas over the last few years, it looks like you and yours will be joining their ranks.

Bill T.

langhaar

Have a tin of Petcorrector in your truck Karen, it works. Stops my dogs singing everytime an ambulance goes past the house. Look on www.companyofanimals.co.uk. It's the best £10 I've ever spent. They do a smaller version which can be put in your game bag. Give the dog a hiss with the can everytime it barks.

Rowoodhill · Singing Dogs

Thanks for that B, definitely try and correct if a problem arises.

It is such a shame as my best dog gets left at home all the time. She just cant be quiet, and the whine builds to a crucendo during a drive. She is fine being shot over (ie when she is working) but as I don't have anyone to shot over her, most of my gundog work is on driven shoots. Poor dog, if only I could explain to her that she can't come because of the whine. perhaps she would stop.

It is so nice to have a partner who is interested in gundog work..... Doing it all on your own is hard. The only way I can give my dogs FT experience is by working on a shoot, and the only walked up shoot I tried was a disaster.... totally unruley dogs, and I never got a retrieve, if I kept my dog steady.

Please write a report on your shot over day. I love working the moors and would relish the opportunity to really do 'the job'.

Thanks for your valued input B.

Karen[img][/img][img][/img]

langhaar

Have you entered the HVS days?

Rowoodhill · Days out?

You mentioned some HVS days?

Am I being really dim but the only one I know about is this month and Jaz is still feeding her puppies.

The puppies go to their new homes the week commencing 22nd October, so will try and do some things with her after that.

Have I missed something????

langhaar

There are 2 shot over days organised by the HVS, the first might be full up as it's soon, the second is in Notts. Phone FTS ND.

Rowoodhill · Shot over days

Thanks for that.....

The first shot over day is on the 13th Oct but Jaz is (as of today!) still feeding her puppies.

When will she stop?

I have been supplementing them since 3 weeks old, and they are on regular 4 meals a day now (nearly 6 weeks). Jaz has free access to her puppies.

There is another training day that I would like to go to, but not sure what 'the done thing' is, as obviously she has a low undercarriage through feeding the pups.

I intend to swim her, and try and get her shape back asap, as I normally take her to the local shoot which starts in November.

Any tips?

Thanks,
Karen

langhaar

Sounds about right with her feeding her puppies, mine have a suckle or two up to 8 weeks. I only take them off when the bitch has had enough or her skin is rough with their scratching.
It took Baiser just 14 weeks after whelping to win a BOB, exercise and diet, just like it is for us !
As for a training day when her puppies have gone, why not if you're carefull. Took Tag out dogging in today, 2 fallow deer came out in front of him and he watched them away. Last time I thought he was going to catch some venison for the freezer, naughty boy!

Rowoodhill · Getting started again

Thanks for all your reply's Langhaar, it is really kind of you, and your knowledge is invaluable.

I have several books which have been really useful, but it is always nice to hear it from someone you know.

Luckily Jaz had 5 girls and 2 boys, and nearly all the enquiries were for girls.

Not sure why people don't like boys!??!!

kimgkg

Hi Rowoodhill ... we have a boy, and he is wonderful, he will be three next week, if he lives that long, Laughing

however he has been a ratbag ... to put it politely!!! Rolling Eyes

At 6 months he was doing everything he was told and was getting 3rds and 4ths at working tests (and that was definitely in spite of me) Smile

... at 10 months he became a monster!!! Evil or Very Mad

He would blink retrieves, he would hunt for himself and not for me, he would not do anything he was told ... although I always knew he could ... he just didn't want to! And yet he knew exactly how to get round me. Rolling Eyes

He was just always "there" ... between me and the worktop ... under the desk ... under the table ... on my lap ... and I would suddenly find myself playing with his ears ... stroking his head! It wasn't cos I wanted to ... it was because Iggy wanted me to!!!! Smile

This year he has improved ... he has had a 2nd, 3rd, 4th ... and several 5ths in Novice Working Tests. And he has his first Field Trial on Monday!!! We will wait and see!! Smile

I still get frustrated with him ... but then it is undoubtedly my fault! I probably let him down more than the other way round these days!! Rolling Eyes

I believe little girls don't necessarily go through the "teenage" stage in quite the same way!!!

I wouldn't swap him for the world ... and I love him to bits ... as do the majority of people that meet him ... but sometimes he is too intelligent for his own good ... and for mine!!! Sometimes I wish he would just do what I say without thinking about it ... but not Iggy ... he often thinks he knows best ... and there are times I often think the same!!! Smile

langhaar

Good luck at your trial !

kimgkg

Thank you! I guess it is more of a learning experience for me ... and Iggy!!! I am going to have a good day with friends to learn what he should be doing!!! Smile

Seriously, we do have a little knowledge, but we will see how it goes! I can always learn more. I have learnt loads just reading the posts on this forum!!! Smile

Rowoodhill · Guess what!!

Got a call last night, and I've been asked to pick up again. This time it is a FT day, although it will be a normal shooting day for the guns. The FT will be judged on every other drive, so it will be quite interesting to watch, as I've never been to a lab trial before.

Training in Buckinghamshire

Puppy Training

Picking a puppy

Picking a puppy

New shoot today

Working Vizsla's

Singing Dogs

Days out?

Shot over days

Getting started again

Guess what!!