Written and shared from Steve Turner.

Having owned a Brittany hpr dog for the last 4 yrs. i have found that their hunting instinct is very high and recall and retrieving can be very problematic if not dealt with in early training and the control kept on top off, so its always best to go to a professional gundog trainer to keep on top of these things, they are also more difficult as they are asked to do a lot more than a lab or a normal spaniel.

So here we are at Fallowfen Training kennels for the day with our four Brittany’s Sam, Pop, Remi and Gizmo, we arrived around 10.15 for a 10.30 start, Andy Kate and Adam have not been here before. Phillip came out and greeted us, had a chat on what we wanted from the day and put everyone at ease. We then took the dogs for a small walk as they had been traveling from up from Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Derbyshire and Warwickshire. Phillip then started us with some heel work to settle the dogs giving an explanation on why this was done, he also used one of our dogs as a demonstration on correct lead control, from that we went onto incorporating the stop whistle and the need for the stop whistle. We then moved onto a few seen retrieves, one dog started off well retrieving then lost interest, Phillip stepped in and helped the handler to correct and encourage the dog back onto the retrieve all in a relaxed manner. We then moved onto the importance of the sit and stay even with distraction’s how to correct if the dog moved and when to praise the dog. At around 12 noon we went for lunch.

After lunch we  then went down to the rabbit pen most had not been in a rabbit pen before and one dog has had a bad experience in a rabbit pen with another trainer so we were all a little apprehensive, Andy took the plunge first with Remi ( who had a bad experience in the past) Andy walked with Remi around the pen on the lead, Andy lost his nerve a little again Phillip stepped in to help out within 15 minutes Phillip had Remi sat off the lead!! Andy’s words were i am amazed to which we all laughed!. We all had a go in the pen and all the dogs sat off lead with the help from candy the jack Russell flushing rabbits for them, to see this really made the day for us and we had not finished. We then went to use the jump with the exception of Sam, none of the dogs had done this before, but with guidance from Phillip all the dogs achieved it. We then finished the day on simple memory retrieves to which ended the day on a good note!. We then went for coffee and a chat and was joined by Amanda, Phil’s wife before leaving for home, i had a one to one with Phillip and i go to his group session but the other three had never been before.

Since arriving home i have e mails thanking me for organising the day with Phillip and how knowledgeable and friendly he is and his wife Amanda are for taking the trouble to join us making a very enjoyable day, as a group we will be back again. If you want one to one or a group of friends wanting a great day training then Fallowfen gundogs is the place to go, thanks Phillip and Amanda.

Regards from Steve,Kate,Andy and Adam with the Brittany’s.

This video is to try and show how we introduce our puppies into training.

We don’t start until the puppies are 9 – 10 weeks of age. Up till this point all we do is shake their food bowl to encourage them to be very excited around feeding time.

When we are ready to start we are looking at gaining eye contact from a young age, if a dog isn’t looking at you how do you know they are listening. We also Don’t give them any command to sit,. When you first do this you shake the bowl to gain there interest then when they are interested you stand still no words no movement. They will lose interest and continue to move, this is normal.

When they loose interest you shake the bowl again to regain interest. Eventually your puppy will put there bum on the floor for a split second you then put their food down with praise “Good girl or boy”. Within days you will go to feed them and there bum will be glued to the floor and there eye’s will not leave you.

This is the first test or your patience as a owner – handler. This could take up to 10 minutes the first time you do it depending on your dog and surroundings. But done right could give you a lifetime of good eye contact.

Congratulations to Liz Mcdougal and her Golden Retriever bitch Ghillie. Ghillie was sired by Flint – Haddeo Thesfus of fallowfen and mothered by Ivyhouse Khana of Fallowfen.

Liz kindly sent this photo of the line-up at the Crathorne Working Tests yesterday. They have now reached the heady heights of “open” working tests after this “novice” win on 77 marks out of 80 and an entry of 31.

We thought we would post a few emails received of late regarding Working Golden Retrievers we have breed and how they are coming along.

Hi Amanda and Phillip,

I thought its time for another little update on Rocco. He is doing brilliant and his retrieving is coming on nicely. Just doing some more obedience classes at the moment before gundog training will begin in April.
He is strong boned and still gaining plenty in size. I think he will end up not much smaller than the other dog was. However he is ever so easy to train and it is almost like a walk in the park by comparison to training Charlie.
Well a little ‘more diluted’ Holway seems to make a difference perhaps. He is very alert but much easier to control. Good fun all round really.

Keep you posted and health and well being permitted he will certainly enter one or the other puppy working test this year.

Hope all is well with you – Christine + Rocco

Here are a selection of pictures we have received of Golden Retriever Puppies sired by Angus – Soinneanta Capercaillie of Fallowfen.

This week we have recieved DNA results for Chip our Fox Red Labrador stud dog. We have had Chip tested for prcd – PRA and CNM.

Both results have come back Normal/Clear which means his off spring can never be affected by these line’s of inherited diseases.

So our Fox Red Labrador Stud dog now has health results of

Hips 2/2 = 4.

Elbows = 0.

Current clear BVA eye certificate.

DNA tested Normal / Clear for prcd-PRA.

DNA tested Normal / Clear for CNM.

Chips stud fee is £350.

We now have a Fox Red Labrador available at stud. We received Chips Hip and elbow results this week so are happy to allow him to stand at stud.

Chip is a stunning Fox Red Labrador with a hip score of 2/2 = 4 and elbow score of 0.

If you would like any further information on our fox red Labrador please feel free to contact ourselves.

Angus – Soinneanta Capercaillie is our new up and coming Working Golden Retriever stud dog. He is the son of none other than Flint – Haddeo Thesfus of fallowfen.

Like his dad he has a fantastic temperament and honest ways.

Angus is a soft outgoing Golden retriever with good working ability. His training is coming on strong along side his older companions.

Hips – 4/3
Elbows – 0/0
Current Clear eye cerificate.
DNA Tested Clear for prcd – PRA
DNA Tested Clear for GRMD
Stud fee £400

Bess’s puppies are now just over 3 weeks old and growing fast. The Goldie pups have been eating solid food for the last 6 days a combination on Royal Canin Maxi starter puppy food with the Royal Canin puppy mousse, which has eased the pressure a little for their mum.

All puppies had their first dose of there worming program this week, they were wormed with Drontal puppy wormer and Bess was wormed with Drontal adult wormer.

Here are a few pictures from the last to weeks.

Bess our Golden Retriever bitch has been expecting Goldie pups and was due on the 19th  may. As Bess grew bigger and bigger there was no way she was going to last the full term.

So on the 17th Bess popped and we had a healthy litter of 10 golden retriever puppies  4 girls and 6 boys.

Here are some pictures taken this week. The puppies are  just over a week old.