“Put your whistle in your pocket!”

There is always a plethora of advice given to me as a novice picker up which helps me to learn the ropes and enjoy a shoot day. Getting the most out of this rewarding and sometimes challenging role is key to my gun dog journey. My second season has had its struggles and challenges but for the majority of the season I’ve enjoyed picking up with Ivy and learnt a lot throughout the year. One of the key lessons which springs to mind is being able to ‘trust’ my dog. On many occasions I have had to send Ivy for a retrieve which is in dense woodland or thick rhododendrons. Being out of sight I'm left standing there hoping she is using her natural game finding ability and as the seconds tick by the silence terrifies me. I have to place my trust in her to find the bird and deliver back to hand. As a novice I’m always tempted to use the whistle and try to handle her but then a quote pops into my mind…”Put your whistle in your pocket!” These simple yet important words come from Joan Hayes, an experienced gun dog practitioner, who highlights the importance of natural game finding ability and being able to trust your dog. This season I have stood by her advice and not used my voice or whistle. I have taken a vow of handler silence and learnt from it. I have remained quiet whilst  Ivy hunts in the  mass of rhododendrons. And on many occasions the retrieves have been successful due to Ivy using her natural game finding ability. Silence is golden. The feeling is a combination of relief and joy. It’s strengthened my trust in Ivy and I realize it’s a key element to successful team work. Being able to trust my dog stems from consistently working on the basics and developing our bond. After all trust is a two way street…

Wishing you all many happy days of training in Spring 2016!

Reference: Shooting Gazette, January 2015:   ‘A Determined Lady - Joan Hayes'   by Graham Cox.

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