Saving the best until last......

Even though I have only been around for eight and a half months of 2011 it has been a FABULOUS year for me, I have done LOTS of really exciting things.

However, THE BEST thing of all was saved until the very end...... this is me on the shoot today with my first retrieve.....

It wasn't all 'work' I also got to play with my friend Blue..

Rushcliffe Country Park

Today we went to Nottingham. It wasn't a very exciting trip for us dogs until we stopped off at Rushcliffe Country Park for a walk, and what a great park it is, just off the A60.

It has over 8 kilometres of footpaths, grassland, conservation and landscaped areas. Dogs are very welcome and there are maps and signs showing very clearly where dogs can be off lead, where they must be on lead and certain areas where they are not allowed.

Unfortunately it started to rain whilst we were enjoying our walk so we decided to cut it short but we will certainly go back there next time we are in the area.

So that's how Fergus earns his biscuits!

After a few days off over Christmas we all went to a shoot again yesterday. It was a lovely warm sunny day and there were lots of people there and far more dogs than usual. Some of the dogs I hadn't seen before, normally there are just Labradors, Spaniels, a Border Terrier and a Jack Russell but I met a Wire Haired Visla and even a Border Collie!

Just before lunch Mum let me watch a drive with Fergus. I have done this once before, but I didn't get to see much action then as there was nothing for Fergus to retrieve. This time was much more exciting. To get to the drive we had to jump over a small fence and across some ditches. I had never done this before but I just watched what Fergus did and copied him. When we had to jump Mum said 'over' I remembered her saying this word when I was a tiny puppy and I had to get over the back door step.

When we got to our place we had to wait a while before anything happened. Fergus was really good (I would say boring!) he sat there perfectly still, paying attention all the time, whilst I preferred to sniff around in the grass and find the odd twig to chew, but as soon as I heard a bang from a gun I sat up and paid attention.

It wasn't long before I heard another bang and then a pheasant fell out of the sky. After a few seconds Mum told Fergus to 'fetch' and he went running off after the pheasant. I was desperate to go and help, but Mum had a firm hold on my lead. When Fergus brought the pheasant to Mum it was flapping in his face but this didn't seem to bother him. Mum told Fergus to 'give' and he gave the pheasant to her, then she told him to 'sit'. I recognised the words, fetch, give and sit, Mum uses the same words when I am retrieving my tennis ball or dummy.

Fergus had just sat down when there was another bang and a much smaller bird fell out of the sky. The same things happened again, Mum told Fergus to 'fetch' then 'give' then 'sit'. This bird was a Woodcock.

It was all very exciting. I was desperate to have a go but Mum said no, my time will come. I hope 'my time' comes quickly!

Fergus in action

Merry Christmas!

In the beating line

Yesterday we all went to our favourite Saturday shoot. Mum normally picks up at this shoot with Fergus, and Max works for Dad when he is shooting. However, yesterday both Mum and Dad were shooting. The guns take it in turns to stand and shoot for 2 drives and walk with the beaters for 1 drive, and you will never guess what happened in the afternoon........................ when it was Mum's turn to walk with the beaters she put Fergus back in the car........................ and took ME!!!!!!

Fergus has told me all about what happens on a shoot so I just took it all in my stride. First we blanked in a big field of rape, then went through a small wood and finally through a maize cover strip. When the birds started to fly and I heard the guns shooting I sat and watched. I don't know why I had to sit and watch, but I remembered Fergus telling me it's really important to do this. Mum said it will all become clear when I am a bit older - I can't wait to be a bit older!!!!

8 months old

I am 8 months old today. The day didn't start too well - the scales came out - it was time to be weighed. I am now 20.5 kg.

This morning I did some training with Mum, this week we have been practising the stop and recall whistles. Mum only used to blow the stop whistle when I was close to her but now I can be at the other side of the field when I hear it, but I know to stop and sit (most of the time!) What I never know is whether Mum is then going to come to me or if she is going to blow the recall whistle for me to run to her, she likes to keep me guessing! I don't mind, whichever it is there's usually a tasty morsel as a reward.

This afternoon I got a BIG surprise, a great 8 month 'birthday' present was delivered for me......... a whole ton of gravel to jump on and dig in!! It was such fun, but Fergus was boring - he wouldn't join in.

I'm a big boy now!

I feel very grown up, I am now allowed to retrieve full size dummies. When it's cold and dark outside I get to practise in the house. Mum is teaching me to hold them in the middle rather than carrying them by the toggle - but it's fun carrying them by the toggle!

Mum's cheated with this one, she's taken the toggle off AND sewn down the end flap - now that's what I call cunning!

Out with Duggie

We are in the middle of the shooting season so Mum, Fergus and Max are very busy picking up on local shoots. Mum says Fergus and Max get more than enough exercise doing this so at the moment they are not coming out for walks. This means I get to go out with Duggie. Duggie is my oldest brother, he will be 13 in February but he still likes to have a good run and bounce!

Family & friends

On Friday I went to Clumber Park with Mum and Duggie and what a great time we had. We met up with lots of friends. Berwick and Linnet, my brother and sister were there with their big sister Plover. I hadn't seen Berwick and Linnet for ages but I think they remembered me. My best friend Merlin was there with his big brother Murphy, so too was Milly, and a new Welshie friend I hadn't met before called Google.

After saying hello to everyone we did a little bit of obedience training and then we all went for a walk in the park. It was great fun having so many other Welshies to run around and play with. I can't wait to go again!

From left to right, Berwick, Linnet and Me!



7 months old

Today I am 7 months old, I thought Mum might let me have a party to celebrate but she said I have to wait until Friday when I will be meeting up with lots of my friends, and best of all, Berwick and Linnet my brother and sister. I haven't seen them for 4 months, I hope they will remember me. I am SO excited!!

7 months old today

Who has been sleeping in MY bed?

Well, I have had my new bed for nearly 2 weeks now but I can count on one paw the number of times I have been in it for a good snooze. You will probably remember that Fergus claimed it when it arrived, well, if that wasn't bad enough both Duggie and Max seem to think it's for them now!

Duggie in MY bed

Max in MY bed

Both Duggie and Max have their own beds, so why do they have to keep sleeping in mine? I wouldn't dare go in their beds - except when Max isn't looking to steal his bone!

Good (and bad) bed news!

The good news is that a new (bigger) bed appeared a few days ago. It was in exactly the same place on the floor where my old bed (that had shrunk!) used to be, so I naturally assumend it was for me.

The bad news is that Fergus assumed it was for him and I couldn't get in!

Fergus slept in the bed all evening, I didn't get a turn at all. The same thing happened the next night too. At least I knew I would fit in the bed, if I ever got a turn, because Fergus is bigger than me and as you can see he fits in OK.

Then, last night I got my chance, Fergus had claimed the bed again but he got up to get a drink so I dived in as quick as I could. It's SO comfy, now I just need to hatch a plan for keeping Fergus out. Would anyone like to buy a brother? Part exchange (for bones) also considered.

Get Well Soon Harvey

My friend Harvey hasn't been too well recently. The vet thought he had broken his leg, but thankfully after x-rays it was found to be badly sprained. Still very painful for Harvey though. Then he had a bad gastric upset and had to be rushed to the vet again. His Mum thinks it was caused by a bone, so I have done the noble thing and offered to eat all his bones for him in future!

Get well soon Harvey.

What a day!

When I woke up on Saturday morning I could never have guessed what an exciting day I was in for! As usual we all went to a shoot for the day. I really enjoy the shoots, I get to say hello to everyone and play with some of the other dogs, but when they go off to work, I get to have a nice cosy sleep in the car.

It seemed like just a normal shoot day, I 'socialised' before the start, at elevenses, and at lunchtime, but near the end of the day Mum came to get me and said I could sit on my first drive. How exciting is that when you're just 6 months old!!!

It seemed an age before the drive started so I just mooched about, but as soon as I heard the beaters start the drive, I thought I'd better copy Fergus. Fergus had been sitting still watching the wood the beaters were coming through for ages, so this is what I did too! There were some shots fired, but alas nothing for Fergus to retrieve. Fergus told me afterwards that he doesn't really like that drive as there is very rarely anything for him to retrieve, and this is probably why I was allowed to help. What a cheek! but I really enjoyed it anyway, I felt VERY grown up.

My bed and brothers have shrunk!

Things around me are getting smaller, including my brothers, and more importantly my bed! My bed used to be big enough for me and several toys, but now I can only just fit in it on my own!

Here are some photos to prove it....

Me in my bed in June

Me in my bed yesterday

Me (on the right) with Fergus and Duggie in July

Me (on the left) with Duggie and Fergus yesterday!

A Grand Day Out

On Friday Mum took Duggie and me out for the day. First we went to Newark where we met Aunty Sandra. We went for a walk around the town and castle. It was market day so it was quite busy, but I am pleased to report there is a pet stall on the market run by a very nice man who gave Duggie and me a piece of Schmacko each!

This is me on the castle ramparts

After our walk round Newark we went to Aunty Sandra's house to see Murphy and Merlin (and Uncle Michael too!) It was great to see them again and Merlin and I had a big play in the garden. 

Practicing our dog ballet moves

Then, after lunch we all went for a lovely walk around the fields. As this was somewhere I hadn't been before there were lots of exciting new sights and smells to explore. Merlin said he would take me for a longer walk around the fields another day, I will really look forward to that.

Back home there was just time for tea and then a BIG sleep. Mum said I did a lot of dreaming, but I was just re-living a grand day out!

What a busy fortnight!

I have been SO busy recently I just haven't had time to blog so here's a quick catch up....

In the last 2 weeks I have been to my first shoots, been caravanning in Cambridge, passed my Kennel Club Good Citizen Puppy Award, continued my gundog training, and if that isn't enough on Sunday I celebrated being 6 months old!

Sharing a 6th month old birthday drink with Duggie.

I'm on the left....... I'm nearly as big as Duggie now!

Getting used to the sights and smells of life on a shoot.

Fergus says I'll have to help him fetch these next year!

Practicing retrieving at home

Being presented with my first rosette and certificate.

I passed my KCGC Puppy Award with flying colours.

My First Swim

If you have been following my blog you will know I have progressed from cooling off in a paddling pool, to getting my feet wet in Rutland water and playing in the sea. Yesterday, Mum kept her promise to take me for my first actual swim.

It was a lovely warm sunny October (yes October!) day so off I went to our local fishing lakes with Mum, Dad and Fergus.

I was desperate to go in the water and retrieve the toy but Mum made me watch Fergus do it first. I had watched him do this at Rutland water so I knew exactly what to do - I just wanted my go!

At last it was my turn but Mum didn't throw the toy very far, I got it without having to take my feet off the bottom.



Then the big moment came, Mum threw the toy further in the lake, and I had my first swim

I swam straight out and brought the toy back to Mum. She was really pleased with me, she said I swam very nicely - I didn't splash at all.

Then it was Fergus' turn again, but I 'helped!'

After another couple of retrieves I just went for a swim on my own - I really enjoyed it, I can't wait to go again!

Visitor

We had a visitor over the weekend, Aunty Linda came to stay. I hadn't met her before but we made friends straight away. On Saturday morning I was quite worried, I thought she had stolen Mum. It turned out they had gone to Lincoln to do something called 'shopping.' I don't really know what 'shopping' is, but it must involve a LOT of walking because Aunty Linda always comes back with new shoes!

Saying "Hello" to Aunty Linda

Why?

Mum has been teaching me a new word this week, 'hold.' It means I have to hold something in my mouth until Mum says the 'give' word. I'm not sure why I have to learn the 'hold' word???? I did hear Mum say it to Fergus last week when he was retrieving his dummy out of the sea, but I wasn't allowed to do that!

A trip to the beach

Yesterday we went to the beach and met up with Milly. It was great to see her again. She said I was a lot bigger than last time she saw me! Although I have been on the beach before this was my first time in the sea.

Chasing Milly on the beach

Playing with Fergus in the sea

I liked the sea, but I didn't go in as far as Milly & Max

Game of tug

My big brother Duggie hasn't been too well recently, but I am very pleased to say that I think he is feeling much better now. Today he played tug with me. Because I am going to be a working gundog Mum and Dad won't play tug with me so it was great to have a game with Duggie. Fergus looked on in horror...... he is already a working gundog and he was horrified that we were playing tug with a pheasant - but it was a toy one!

Back to school

After missing a few weeks I went to my training class today. I went on my own with Mum as she said I have to get used to being out on my own. It was really good to see all my friends again and everyone commented on how much I had grown. They also said I have got big paws - what a cheek - at least I won't get blown over in the wind!

First I went for a walk with all the other dogs around the car boot sale that was taking place in the car park, then we practiced heel work, weaving, sitting and staying. Mum says I am still too young to do the agility course but she did let me have a go at the tunnel and I really enjoyed fetching my ball through it.

Another BIG adventure

I have just arrived home from another trip away in the caravan - I am quite a seasoned camper now! This time we went to Rutland and we met up with Rufus and Jasper. I was really pleased to see them again. One day we all went to Rutland Water, and I got my paws wet for real for the first time. Previously, I had only been in water in my paddling pool. I wasn't sure about going in at first as Rutland Water is a lot bigger than my paddling pool and it had waves, but once I saw Jasper in there was no stopping me and I jumped in after him. Aunty Jane took the following photo to prove it!

I was desperate to retrieve the tennis balls like Fergus and Jasper, but Mum kept me on my flexi-lead. She said the water was too choppy for me, but she has promised to take me somewhere calmer soon so I can have a try - I can't wait!