Up on the moor a grey muzzled Karat with her 9month old daughter Mavis from our “Q” Litter who is starting to enjoy some more interesting bits of training. Intro’s to bird work through hunting and picking up are going well but being a big pup we are taking it very slowly not wishing to overwork the body as much as the brain!. Thanks so much to owners for the pics of your litter brothers and sisters. It is great to share our pups progress and they are all doing so well. Any remaining owners do send more in and we will post.
Best Present Possible
Bestie Dora at 12 1/2 doesn’t get much of a look in these days with the younger dogs always needing work, but she showed today that nothing has changed, letting me shoot off a lovely HPR and gently retrieving her runner - perfect for Christmas lunch 🎅🏻 Love them more as they get older ❤️🐾🥂. Happy Christmas to you and your dawgs too! ….. Have a good One !
Back with a Bang
Back with a Bang ....After returning from a week away when all the Aytee dogs were in kennels, I took 9 month old Mavis for her first day picking up today. Mainly on the lead, she met more dogs than she has met in her whole lifetime and watched Oxo and Jerzi work all day. She listened to drives, crossed footbridges and burns, enjoyed 2 small off lead hunts and finished with 2 partridge retrieves (put out as blinds in a quiet moment.) It was a most brilliant first day which we will repeat a couple more times before the end of the season. I love to give young dogs contact with something new quite early, but its important they will be able to cope with the day and then be fully managed so that all experiences are positive ones Enjoy your dogs this Christmas !!
Mavis with Oxo watching Jerzi on a retrieve
Away Days
It may not look like their holiday but these guys have settled very well in kennels for a few days while Johnny and I are away. Eight month old Mavis had learnt to kennel on her own beforehand at home and is consequently happy nexto her spaniel neighbours and they can all see other housemates too. It is definitely hard to leave them but as they have all learnt to cope alone at a young age, without being stressed, it is much better in the long run and I always believe an important part of training. Good luck if you are leaving your dogs at all this Christmas, and remember the welcome back is always worth the goodbye. 🤗🐕🐾❤️
Three Wise Dogs
A wee rough shoot at home today by way of a thankyou to Retriever and Spaniel triallers Sarah Miles and Tracy Fergurson of SBS, for their wonderful support of the Scottish HPR Home International Team Training earlier this year 👏👏👏 The rolling fog and a -4 temperature didn’t stop us bagging some nice birds with handy retrieves from Tracy’s Dolly(centre) and Sarah’s Idris(rt), with some birds shot off super points too from Oxo. Thanks again both, it was a great morning sharing our sport and lovely dogs ❤️
Oxo, Dolly and Idris
3 WAY PARTNERSHIP
Thanks to Aytee owner Ian Bell with Ruby - Aytee Lapwing, who along with hunting friend John, gave Oxo and I a great invitation to watch working their goshawks. A first for me … the birds phenomenal speed and precision was impressive and Ruby played her part pointing and flushing the game. A really fascinating and enjoyable day watching handler, bird and dog, thanks guys !
AYTEE VISITOR
It’s always good to see one of our homebred's back for a visit and in this case a visit yesterday from one of our “O” Litter, Aytee Overthetop (Oreo) with owners Ian & Sarah Baxter who came for some shootover work and did very well with lovely steady pheasant hunting and a really super points and retrieve. We finished up with both Oreo and sister Oxo working grouse on the local moor, Oreo doing brilliantly given it was his first time. Well done Sarah and Ian, a long way from home but so glad you could all make it!
Sarah and Oreo
HPR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2023 KC HPR Championship at Emblehope, Northumberland UK took place this weekend. A fantastic opportunity to view top class HPR dogs hunting rough open upland pasture. Conditions for 2023 were challenging, but the poor scent in the fog and the rain didnt stop a German Longhaired Pointer, with handler Steve Kimberley, beating 27 other runners into 1st Place in a fantastic competition featuring GSP's, GWP's, Bracco Italiano, HV, HWV and Large Munsterlander. For any aspiring Field Triallers, viewing at least one competition beforehand is a must and guaranteed it will be informative, exciting and inspirational. Only competing dogs are allowed and permission must be sought but I wholeheartedly recommend the experience. 2nd Place at Emblehope went to a member of our pages Jo Gosling. Many congratulations to Jo, her GSP bitch Bindi and Bindi's handler Rory Major. Finally I was joined at Emblehope for the weekend by Alida Bevk who flew in from Slovenia to watch the champs and took these photographs Great to spend a few days with you Alida and I hope you were inspired to do similar with Efi when you get home !
Oxo (Aytee Oceania) wine dog 😁❤️
Oxo hit 3 trials this week on 3 brilliant grounds … so proud of her for winning a 3rd, a 1st and bottles for 2 guns awards, finally bombing out at the end of day 3 😁🐾 sorry Oxo, my fault 🙄 Enormous thanks to the hosts for fabulous grounds, judges, Sponsors (Skinners Petfood & BASC) and to Robin Hall FT Secretary of the Lothian and Borders GA & Scottish FT Assn who worked so hard. Finally congrats to the other award winners and thanks to the gallery for lovely days and great camaraderie.
HPRs compete with Flying Colours
So proud to coach and carry the flag yesterday for our Scottish HPR team at The Home International at the Game Fair, Ragley Hall. Congratulations Team! An overall 3rd place for Scotland and the highest individual hunting marks of the day for our Team Captain, Katrina Wilkinson with Teasel. a fantastic result … now enjoy a hard earned rest for a few days! 😁 🐾🏴
Thanks to Howard Kirby, his team and all competitors for the camaraderie and such a great day.
Katrina Wilkinson/Teasel, Megan Dodds/Jeno, Stephanie Jackman/Flow, Mark Monie/Skye, Ben Barratt/Doc