“Let dogs learn by watching good work” ……. well this couldn’t be more true than when it comes to spending time with Sarah Miles and her Meonvalley Gundogs. Her five winners, young and old kept Mavis and Oxo mesmerised with their fast outruns, persistent searches and lovely deliveries. What a team! Good luck Sarah you have an amazing season ahead and thanks for being a brilliant neighbour and friend. NZ would love a visit from a great judge, trainer and general tip top person and I know somewhere you could stay!
Aytee GSPs Go Globetrotting
Lucie and Johnny will be relocating with all their dogs, from Scotland in the UK, to South Island New Zealand in September 2024 to join their family. Lucie would like to thank everyone who has trained with her in Norfolk and in the Borders of Scotland, and would like to wish them and their dogs every bit of luck and enjoyment going forward.
Aytee GSPs will continue to run online training for dogs and handlers, with all the usual support and advice through their FB group and Youtube Channel, but going forward Aytee puppies will only be available from Lucie or Harriett in New Zealand.
We wish everyone, wherever you are in the world, fantastic enjoyment with your dogs and we plan to keep in touch in exactly the same way through these pages.
In the immediate future, training the Scottish International HPR Team for the Game Fair at Blenheim, is a great privilege and the team and Lucie are super focussed! 🐾🏴🏆🐕 So for anyone visiting the Game Fair on 26th July see you at Blenheim !!
LETS BIG IT UP FOR VETS
Monday I travelled to Norfolk to my long standing vet Roger Bannock for 1yo Mavis’s hip/elbow score xrays and thank Roger for his expertise and taking such time and care. It was then 12 year old Dora’s turn to visit our local Cheviot Vet in Kelso for mammary tumours to be removed. Massive thanks to vet Claire Hicks, the large wounds are healing beautifully. Two days later and our cattle vet Galedin of Galashiels is performing a midnight C-section in teeming rain by headlights and head torch, on our smallest Belted Galloway Cow. Watching young vet, Mary Hall plunge into the cow and pull out this monster of a bull calf was something to behold, the right decision at the right time for which we are very grateful. Both cow and calf are doing well.
Vets are coming in for a lot of stick at the moment, but in one week I have experienced a phenomenal work ethic, great expertise, kindness and sense of humour in the toughest of conditions from 3 quite different veterinary surgeons - we must never forget how lucky we are to have these wonderful professionals to call on. Thanks Guys !
Our little monster wearing Johnny’s fleece 🤣
Baby its Cold Outside
The ‘R’ Litter 4 weeks old today. Born into the start of the New Zealand winter it was -5 outside, but these pups dont worry about any freezing temperatures and they are getting down to some serious socialising !
"R" Litter romping away
At over 3 weeks old our “R” Litter are not short of attention …. Six pups are such a lovely size litter and these little beauties all have names and homes lined up, it’s just a case of whether or not the grandchildren will let them go !
Sire: Castlepoint Pretorius
Dam: Aytee Kimono
Aytee NZ "R" litter repeat birthday
“R” Litter with Tarka
Exactly 3 years to the day since her first litter and Aytee Kimono “Tarka”, produced her second, Aytee’s “R” litter, born 7th April 2024 in South Island, New Zealand. Bred by Harriett Brownell from UK working lines and with field trial champions on both sides, the 6 puppies, 3 dogs and 3 bitches are prioritised for working homes.
We would also like to wish the lovely “P” Litter and all their owners a very 3rd Happy Birthday we hope you had a great day.
“P’ litter - 2021
BIRTHDAY BASH
1 year old today and Aytee Quintessa, “ Mavis”is back home after completing 4 days Grouse Pointing Tests run by the SFTA, LBGA, GSPC & NoSGA. We enjoyed some brilliant grounds and in relatively kind weather she graded GOOD and VERY GOOD. It was a marvellous trip for a young dog and she even got to spend her first night in a hotel on her birthday 🤣 Thanks to all the generous hosts for superb venues and to the hard working clubs, judges and secretaries who give us these great opportunities.
Sun shines on Scottish Team Training
The first dry day for a while for our team training at the weekend. Working on home ground in Jedburgh, all dogs settling into their work jumping, hunting, retrieving and swimming. A great 1st day, well done to all handlers, work hard and we have some super training venues lined up for you in readiness for the Game Fair in July.
Borders to Blenheim
Sooo, happy to be training the Scottish HPR Team again, for the Game Fair 2024. After a long trip away we’re prepping the training ground, with the help of my gang 😊 and look forward to meeting everyone, old faces and new this Sunday for the first training session. Roll on Blenheim ……it will soon come round!
Field Trials NZ Style
North Otago Gundog Club FT winners. Just wheedling my way into the picture 😁 holding Peter Hay’s 3rd dog.
I recently visited a field trial in New Zealand and was delighted to be asked to steward allowing a birds eye view and accompanying the judge. Many differences exist between the running of trials in NZ and the UK but the winners were a familiar partnership of well trained, hard hunting dogs in tune with a quiet and effective handler. The relatively small number of FTcompetitors in NZ have huge distances to travel to venues, sometimes flying(with their dogs), driving and travelling on ferries. On this particular weekend three south island gundog clubs, North Otago, South Otago and Waimate, had got together to run their trials back to back on some wonderful ground. It was very sociable with everyone staying over and enjoying an evening meal together which gave time to relax and share news. I’d like to thank Roger Neale, President of the NOGC for being so welcoming and allowing me to go along and congratulations to all the winners who showed off some lovely running dogs and I wish everyone good luck for the season.🐾🏆😁. Photos c/r Kelly at KC Photography.
The weekends 1st prize winners Anton van Loggerenberg (GSP) & Grant Adolph (GWP)