FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY, my numptie Dad has realised what I'm for!!!  It has dawned on him that I'm not a Labrador, that sitting patiently by him with Pheasants plumetting all around (and him shooting the odd one or two as well) without uttering a sound is not me.  I'm a Cocker, I get excited, I quiver, I shake and yes, I squeak a bit as well.

On Saturday he finally got it right and we went beating.  Loads of cover, brambles, bracken, woodland and cover crops, all grist to my doggie mill.  In I went, ferreting around, over and under, never a cross word spoken or grumpy command.

Between you and me though I'm not quite sure as to exactly what I'm supposed to be looking for.  At one point there was a patch of bracken and there were two nice looking beigy-brown birds lying in it minding their own business.  They did not seem to mind me, and being an easy going little chap I though "hey, live and live" so I carried on.  Dad clearly did not think quite the same though and sort of waved his stick in their direction, whereupon they took off and Dad promply shouted "over".  Still, he was not shouting at me so I just carried on.

I was starving after my day's work, a few biscuits at lunchtime are not enough for a harding working Cocker like me!  I was very tired as well, I also had a few scratches and stuff from the brambles, but I guess that comes with the fun.  Mum and Dad went out, to something called "the shoot dinner", if they had to eat everything shot all season they'd be rather plump but I guess they did not!

I can't wait to go again, I wonder when Dad will take me???????????????????????????

Footnote, by Dad.  Ollie did really well on his first ever day's beating, I was very pleased with how he hunted nice and close, the hard work over the preceeding two years really paid off and he was controllable and energetic.  I was very proud of him.  We need to work on some things during the next few months, but it's nice to have definite goals and to know that the basics are there.

Very nice read, sounds like ollie had a very exciting day.

I think if poor Oscar had to sit and wait next to me all day he would go mental.

Oscar has been out twice this year now beating and he absolutely loves it, was a little worried at first about it with him only been young and the excitement of all them dogs seems to have just slotted into it no bother. Cant wait for next season now