Ashleygrove Gundogs

Are you out and about training frantically ready for the shooting season? That's great then. However, I have been asked by our local farmers to post up some info for dog people in the Herts area and beyond.

You will be aware that the land we shoot on and where our footpaths run is all looked after by farmers. They spend their year preparing the crop for harvest and then preparing the land for future crops. At all times there is a process going on in fields you are walking and you and your dogs must stay on the foot paths.

 Last week it was time to treat for slugs, and pelletts would have been laid on the fields. I am certain you are all aware how toxic these are to dogs. There will also be guns out reducing the pigeon population which is high at this time of year. Pigeons will dessimate a newly sown field if not controlled.

This week the farmers are out spraying off weeds and old crop so the farm vehicles are about and the spray is active. Try not to walk farmland on the day of spraying, it is reasonably safe but can cause skin irritations and tummy upsets in dogs.

The latest issue I have been made aware of is damage to cover crops.

Maybe you don't know what htese are? Then please read on and learn.

These are blocks of crop, often maize (sweet corn looking) which are laid out to provide cover for game birds. The crop is not harvested and stands throughout the winter.

 People training their dogs with dummies have been found throwing into the crop so their dogs can practise retrieving out of deep cover. Well thats great for the dog but pretty disruptive to farmer, game birds and gamekeeper. The idea is that the crop holds a place of safety for the birds who become used to living in and around there. The gamekeeper needs his birds to stay on the land he looks after and not wander off so he can feed them and look after their welfare. On a shoot day the cover crop will be walked through by the beaters to produce birds for the guns. If you disturb the birds they will move away and both the farmer and the keeper are wasting their time and effort. Also when you stand with your dog, carefully trained to pick up on the shoot, and the beaters go through the crop, don't be surprised if they produce no birds!

So please everyone who is training on farm land have repsect for their hard work and the wildlfife that lives on there. Owning a gundog breed is not permission to go off the foot path or to do damage, in the name of training. we need to gain the respect of all those with whom we share the countryside.

Thanks for listening to my rant!

good advice,thanks for that.