Diary

LetFly

Hi,

Over the last few months I have been keeping a small blog/diary of my training/working tests with my springer spaniels on wordpress. If anyone needs a cure for their insomnia check out my site at http://ballinuregundogs.wordpress.com/.
All comments/suggestions etc. gratefully accepted.

deeksofdoom

Excellent Blog, i have a couple of Springers myself, my dogs aren't registered, would love to try trailing myself at some stage.

What lines are your dogs?

223Shooter

Great blog! I picked up my first springer pups last week and I'm really looking forward to training them now.. Picked up a few good ideas there and I've only read December

LetFly

Thanks lads,

Glad you are finding it interesting. I have only been involved in the trials and tests side of things for about 4 or 5 years so I'm a beginner at that, but have had springer's for years for rough shooting. I am aiming to have dogs that I can bring rough shooting and that are also trained to a high enough standard so that I can enter them in working tests and field trials and not disgrace ourselves .

As for the lines of my Springers my older bitch Molly who is the mother of the pups I bred is out of a FTCH Steadroc Sker dog which is a very good UK line including Clarburgh Art. My young bitch Penny is by IntFTCH Butlerstown Buddy to Clonduff Dreamgirl which is a very good bitch line. The sire of the pups is a dog called Rushwee Bruce that has won awards in trials and has been very promintant in working tests and was member of the Irish spaniel team at international level.

Feel to drop me a pm here or a comment through my blog if you have an comments, questions or just want a chat.

brianfrancis45

Great Blog . Well done ! Trials/tests are something I'd love to try myself one day as it must give unbelievable satisfaction to breed ,train and run your own dog(s) .
A friend of mine who is quite into the trialing scene has kindly invited me along to some field tests in Cork later this year. I'm really looking forward to that as I have never been and can imagine that it would be a great day out. For me personally watching a decent dog work is 80 % of the pleasure of shooting.

Bamanlou

good reading letfly, after seeing butlerstown buddy at a trial i bought a dog pup out of him and dam ballyhack tusker 3 years ago .best of luck with the trialing

LetFly

Hi Ferreter,

Yes pigeons have a season, but they can be shot if they are causing damage to crops, which in this case they were. The farmer has a lot of grain growing and I was decoying them over barley stubbles which is right beside fields of standing wheat.

LetFly

Hi BrianFrancis,
You will really enjoy the day out...I totally agree that watching the dogs work is what gives me the greatest pleasure when out for a days shooting. I got involved in the tests and trials as an incentive to train my dogs the highest standard that I can. You can also see the dogs work at the game fair in Birr at the end of this month.

Bamanlou,
Glad you enjoyed reading the blog. Butlerstown Buddy is a very impressive performer in the trails and tests. How is your pup turning out? A very nice worker I bet.

Bamanlou

yes letfly he is a stylish worker

LetFly

I wasn't implying you were having a pop at all and you are entitled to ask the question. No problem at all.
No special license is needed to shoot them for crop protection. Have a look at the NARGC website and you will find information there about it and a test case that they took and won relating to it.
Once they are causing damage to crops they can be controlled.

LetFly

Hi,
I have been adding lots of posts to my training diary over the last month and changed the layout a bit. Check out the latest developments at http://ballinuregundogs.wordpress.com/.
Feel free to add a comment, make a suggestion or ask questions.

deeksofdoom

Very Interesting, I have a 4 & 1/2 month old springer pup which I bred from my bitch. I feel like starting to do a bit of work with her now having read that.

LetFly

Thanks. Glad you are finding it interesting...nothing stopping you now getting out there and doing a bit with your pup. Just keep things very simple and above all fun and interesting for the pup. Little and often is a good motto to follow in training.

Tawny Owl

Hi Letfly I will be at the Fair in Birr at the end of the Month are you there both days if so would love to see the Dog's working and Thanks for the info

Cheers.
Tawny Owl.

LetFly

Hi Tawny Owl,

Yes I will be there on both days all going well. I have my young bitch Penny entered in the Novice test on the Saturday (I think). Say hi if you are there. Just give me a tap on the shoulder or a kick in the arse

Tawny Owl

Will see you there then will be nice to see you and the young Bitch working.

Cheers.
Tawny Owl.