| Education
Moved to Wales at the age of eight weeks .
Attended Aberporth Dog Club until the
age of six months for basic obedience. Continued with gundog training.
Career
- competed in three Puppy Working Tests and won . Second in a Novice
Cold Game Test and then started picking up at a local shoot. A career
change ensued and competitive life ended.
- completed the seventh season, working 40 - 50 days a year. Ducks
at Cefn Gwyn with pheasants at Edwinsford and Monachty Shoots.
Traits
- specializes in pricked (wounded) birds. Superb nose and can be
out for 30 minutes tracking a pheasant. Very reluctant to come in
without a bird.
- enjoys working at night when flighting ducks.
- strong minded -devoted to picking up but professes total ignorance
regarding dummies!
- handles the position of top dog without any undue modesty
- although fearless regarding ice, snow, water, brambles etc prefers
to spot birds from under a bush during heavy rain.
- workaholic who refuses to be left behind.
Hobbies
- exterminating local vermin
- assisting handler in pond clearance, fencing, shopping etc.
- swimming
- persuading any available human to indulge in Labrador ear and
stomach tickling
Pebbles
whilst still enjoying picking up sees a well earned retirement in
view. This however she has decided to postpone until at least 2005.
She tried partial retirement this last season but decided that the
youngsters still needed instruction in how to do the job properly
!
The youngsters having now reached maturity and Pebbles having now had her 12th birthday - she finally decided to retire in January this year - 2006 . It was cakes all round and a hearty cheer from the rest of the picking up team .
At her request I have calculated an average of 50 birds a day, say 40 days a season for 10 years ---- err 2,500 birds or thereabouts. Quite a record . Pebbles still enjoys an occasional retrieve but has taken to the comfort of an armchair in front of the fire .
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