Here's a little video of Oscar doing some quartering/hunting training. I'm really chuffed with how he's doing, considering he wouldn't stray 10 feet from me a few months back. He does point some pigeon at one point (no pun intended lol), but I've been advised to let him run a bit so I don't bother to stop him. Isla as usual is in on it and totally unresponsive to my whistle commands. The joys of Springers......

Oh and I do fall down a small hole at one point!

Long time no blogging! It's been over a year since my last post so I thought it about time I posted an update. I've continued to be plagued by my "dodgy hip", but now I've changed my job and with a slower pace of life it's finally beginning to ease! Anyway on to the important stuff: my dogs. Isla had cataract surgery about 6 months ago which I'm pleased to say has been a success, which at the grand price of nearly £2,000 I'm very pleased to say! Now she has her eye sight back, and as a result an increase in confidence, Isla has become a serious hunting machine. I have to be very careful where I take her now as when she has her nose to the ground I might as well not exist - any gamey walks near roads are an absolute no, no. I'm hoping that running her whislt training Oscar will steady her up a bit, but those who know Springers will know how likely that is!

And now on to my little star: Oscar! I've restarted Oscar's training these last few weeks and it started with a weekend out on the Grouse Moor at Grinton courtesy of the KC. These weekends are held every year in March at the cost of £60 and you get to spend approximately 6 hours each day in small groups with a trainer  teaching you how to hunt your dog. I have to say it's easily the most enjoyable training days I've ever had and it has helped Oscar no end. The advice I was given has really got Oscar moving and he's finally starting to hunt without feeling the need to be 10 feet from me at all times! Enough of the waffling now though, below are some of the pictures I took. Enjoy!

 

 A Korthals Griffon.

 A GSP doing what they do best: charging off into the distance!

 A lovely black GSP.

A smooth Vizsla showing Oscar how it's done!

 Another HWV named Love.

Special boy! lol

Love this shot, what a sweet dog.

 "I'm too sexy for this Moor!"

 Oscar on point here. Shortly after I took this I sent him in and he almost caught the bird in his mouth!

And finally my favourite picture of the day. Oscar got wind of something on the way back to the car and went straight into a staunch point. We didn't have time to investigate, but to say I'm proud of my boy is an understatement! He has an amazing nose and now he's gaining in confidence there's no stopping him!