Diary of a Squealy Spaniel 8th Jan 22

After the Christmas break I decided I wanted to try Thorn once more in the beating line. I had been working nonstop on getting him closer and more responsive with distractions so I hoped we would be alright. The first drive was cut short, I let him heel for a minute or two then sent him right to start hunting up the cover. Unfortunately, he kept going and going and going. I had to break the line and go to get him, I recalled him once and when he didn’t listen that was it and he was back on the lead for the rest of that drive. He was however, quieter. Just whining and no screaming so it was getting better.

Second drive was the same I asked him to hunt left and he kept going and again I had to break the line to collect him. Just so overkeen, on the lead for the rest of that drive too.

By the third drive my hands were shaking I was so nervous, my partner and some of the beating team urged me to try once more. I kept shaking my head saying this day couldn’t get anymore embarrassing and please no. I thought how could his steadiness have gotten worse, but at least he was being quieter. Eventually they wore me down and I agreed to try, I spent a long time heeling until I sent him left to hunt. He was brilliant. He stayed close and listened, he stopped on the whistle and was just fantastic. We ended up going into the wood and it was FULL of pheasant. I was slightly worried but he flushed wonderfully and came back again. He needed a lot of keeping on top of but he was so, so much better. I thought thank goodness for the boys telling me to try again or I wouldn’t have got this. We ended on a high with him stopping on the whistle right next to the keeper shooting, He sat watching me with all the bangs going on and he didn’t scream.

Every dog is different, and I have had so much conflicting advice on how to remedy this I have just decided to go with what I think is the right thing. If its bad we will take a step back, if its good we keep going.