Crufts or Scotland??? cont'd...

[Susan Stone]

All right, Ursula, this is THE hare that was responsible for Glen almost winning the award for 'best hare course' of the week! Some people had been praising Glen for his obedience and excellent bonding. Little did they know...
One clear morning Glen stumbled across this furry beast... and took off, chasing the hare across an enormous stubble field towards a team of pointers who were happily quartering in the far field under perfect control of their handlers (or so they thought). Of course one pointer joined in on the chase, both dogs carried on past the madly shouting Peter and were only stopped by a wire fence barring the way. Did Glen then turn back and come looking for his handler? No chance, he rejoined the pointer girls and happily carried on hunting with them, with me stomping across the field to pick him up (fuming!). And btw, he did all this with a long line attached so I could keep him under control...
So what next? On Peter's suggestion we then followed a team at work, hoping for more hares. No luck to start with, so I let Glen do a bit of quartering and sure enough, up gets another long-eared bunny. HA, I GOT HIM THEN! A good shaking and shouting, then I sent him off for more quartering... and after a few casts Glen pointed snipe and dropped to flush. Perfect!!! I could not have hoped for a better way of teaching him what was required:-))
Now if I can do that another 30 times he will be perfectly steady to hares...

And the 'best hare course' award? It went to a pointer who chased off after a deer, came back and took off immediately after a hare. His handler had not thought it necessary to attach the long line to the dog. So Glen and I were spared the 'not-so-honourable' award...

here are a few more photos...

this is Nicole's Busby working his ground well

we found loads of these

Here we are all on top of the snowy mountain looking for the elusive grouse.

Glen in full flight (photo by Nicole, thanks!)

Peter's Bo managed the only point on grouse that day

Glen working the grouse moor, last day

Red Grouse

Glen, having the time of his life

***
OK, I now know why most 'professionals' go down to southern Spain to train their dogs in the winter months - I managed to hit on Britain's worst winter in 16 years. The country came to a complete standstil - only some addicted setter & pointer people were out 'dogging' in the snow swept hills...

Despite the weather problems we learnt a tremendous amount, with Glen finding out about snipe, woodcock and grouse - never mind the pheasants (No, I won't mention the hares...). Glen certainly didn't let me down and I had every reason to be proud of him.

Jock and Glen, last day

Glen setting: 3 pheasants

pheasant!

So it paid off, choosing Scotland rather than Crufts...

...and we ended our trip to the UK with a visit to Anlory's in Coalville, home of Glen's father and reason for his name: Coppersheen Coalville Lad. This is Glen, straight off the moors, trimmed and handled to perfection by Nigel.

[Sue Clifford]

What beautiful pictures! And what beautiful dogs. I love the Anlorys - they are my type of Irish.
I don't know if I will get to Crufts, as I have to find someone to look in on the other two dogs - and my bitch is probably not the judge's type, but I have a couple of weeks to decide!
Good luck anyway with your dogs, and keep in touch.

[Agnieszka Rola]

oh great holiday you had! beautiful pictures as always!

[Danica Morarova]

Right choice:)

[Catherine Carter]

Superb photos! I was wondering how you managed to make it that far North with the weather we were getting! Even down here my dogs were running in the snow!

[Petra Kasznár]

thank you very much for the pictures and the story. I hope you made more pictures and will share them with us!

[Marta Galuszka]

It must have been great there!
Beautiful photos Susan - as always!

[Katariina Roiha]

Right choice Susan! Wonderful pictures!

[Nicole Wilson]

Great photos, Susan, and I'm glad you and Glen enjoyed it up here :-)) Sorry about the weather!!

[Laura Kolbach]

jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

What a good choise you maid! So lovely photos of this beautiful landscape and your lovely dogs!