ISCGB WORKING TEST FOR ALL HPR’S – 25/06/2005
BROOMFIELD FARM, ELSTEAD, SURREY
By Kind Permission of The Hampton Estate
and Mr D Beavan, Gamekeeper
Author: gifts_l2p6pp
ISCGB WORKING TEST FOR ALL HPR’S – 18/06/2006
BROOMFIELD FARM, ELSTEAD, SURREY
By Kind Permission of The Hampton Estate
and Mr D Beavan, Gamekeeper
SCGB WORKING TEST FOR ALL HPR’S – 23/06/2007
BROOMFIELD FARM, ELSTEAD, SURREY
By Kind Permission of The Hampton Estate
and Mr D Beavan, Gamekeeper
ISCGB WORKING TEST FOR ALL HPR’S – 21/06/2008
Working Tests Uncovered
Working Tests are run from spring to late summer (out of the shooting season) using dummies, and occasionally dead pigeons, or caged game for the dogs to point. No live game is ever shot (blanks may be used). These tests are organised according to the age and standard of the dogs – Puppy (6 -18 months), Novice and Open; and you would start in the Puppy or Novice and then qualify to move up to Open. Occasionally there is a Graduate or Intermediate test to bridge the gap between Novice and Open.
Working Tests Uncovered
Working Tests are run from spring to late summer (out of the shooting season) using dummies, and occasionally dead pigeons, or caged game for the dogs to point. No live game is ever shot (blanks may be used). These tests are organised according to the age and standard of the dogs – Puppy (6 -18 months), Novice and Open; and you would start in the Puppy or Novice and then qualify to move up to Open. Occasionally there is a Graduate or Intermediate test to bridge the gap between Novice and Open.
Alfie’s First Day on a Shoot
By Colin Elliot 2007
Alfie and I turned up on Sat morning not knowing what to expect and found a farm yard full of people and dogs of all ages and breeds, it seem that half the local village was there. There were 8 guns and about 20 Beaters some with dogs and 2 Pickingup teams not including Alfie and myself. When we arrived at the shooting ground I was told to stand with one of the Pickingup teams and watch how Alfie behaves and if he is not happy with the sound of the guns to move further away from the sound of the guns.
SHooting of a Different Sort
The Club was asked if they knew of an old Italian hunting dog that would be in a film and play the part …of an old Italian hunting dog!!! Linda kindly volunteered the services of my 10 year old brown roan Italian Spinone – Lucca. She has looked very grey for many years (like her grandfather Trusco, in Carolyn Fry’s book) and although fairly stubborn like many an old Italian hunting dog, she is very responsive in new situations and quite obedient (!).
So you want to pick up
Written by Joyce Parkes and published with her permission.
First find your local shoot and contact the gamekeeper or shoot captain to enquire if they need extra help on a shoot day. There may be several shoots in your area and it is worth enquiring widely. Contacts made on training days, breeders or other HPR owners in your area may be able to help or advise but people do guard their own territories jealously (they have probably had to work hard to ensure their place!) so there is nothing quite like the direct approach in the end— keep trying.
It was the last Saturday of the Shooting season and Alfie had become a real star on the local shoot that season, gaining in reputation as the dog to call in when a difficult runner was giving all the other dogs the run around. He would be shown where the bird had fallen and then he would be off deep into the woods or into heavy cover only to return a few minutes later with the bird tenderly held in his mouth.
The day was damp and cold and not much for us to do but stand around most of the day and watch with only a couple of pheasants to pick up. After the last drive of the day as we made our way back to the car. Alfie didn’t seem his self and on getting to the car would not jump in and I had to lift him in.