With the UK KC HPR Championship 2024 kicking off tomorrow we would like to wish everyone involved a marvellous two days and to all competitors have a great championship!
Withe the UK KC HPR Championship 2024 kicking off on 18th November we would like to send luck and best wishes to all competitors.
After a 2500k drive earlier this week, plus a couple of ferries, the Aytee gang are finally installed at their new home today. Massive thanks to https://www.pethavenquarantine.co.nz and Alan and his team at Auckland, for their fabulous care over the last 10 days - they are totally happy, healthy and relaxed. After countless checks and tests along the way, all the vets have commended them for their kind and even temperaments and quiet calmness , I am so proud of them all :) with so many new experiences, such a journey is a real test for any animal.
The kids had bought us a new GSP so the place wasn’t empty for a few days, introductions are going to be interesting 😉
Can something that is carefully planned be a shambles? I’ve discovered that emigrating with 5 dogs can 😤 Now waiting in Dubai for flight to Auckland , but only after Aytee dogs have finally landed safely today in New Zealand after a 2 week delay. Commercial shipping mistakes, government agencies that remain silent, long delays in customs and South African Labs that work one day a week, you simply couldn’t make it up. Sorry I haven’t replied to messages, but have spent hours constantly postponing flights and flipping between accommodations for me and the dogs 😮💨 ….Onwards and upwards, it will soon be done and at least Johnny has been there unpacking🤣
Exercise at Ascot racecourse - it needs a bit more cover
Today was a last day of hunting for Aytee dogs on the UK Scottish grouse moors, before heading off to our new home in New Zealand later this week. Mavis our 18 month old pup has not been ready to trial before we go, because she has not had nearly enough live game retrieving experience, but she has learnt a lot of hunting skills this summer which she will take with her and be able adapt to wild partridge once in NZ. It made me think about the different skills our dogs learn and the time it takes for them to perfect, she helped me make this short training video.
PS I've reflected that while living in Scotland, Aytee dogs have worked for guns who had visited the UK from New Zealand to shoot grouse over GSPs ! I must let them know that next time they do not need to travel so far🐕🐾 🤣
Congratulations to England ! winners of The Quintana Trophy, at the 2024 Game Fair’s HPR Home International. Presented by Paul Nixon at Blenheim, the trophy is a wonderful reminder of the Nixon family’s constant support of the HPR world.
Congratulations also, to runner-up Wales and to Ireland and Scotland for showing great sportsmanship in front of the lovely crowd. Training the Scottish Team was a real pleasure and I congratulate all our team members for working so hard, achieving so much with their dogs and for putting up with me these last months!
Finally, thanks to the Judges, Mark Spearing and Suzi Burton and to Howard, John and the whole team for making the event such an enjoyable day. 🏴SCOTLAND will be back! 🏴
Early this week was a first day of grouse counting for Aytee dogs. The result of the summer brood count is an important guide for deciding on the up and coming grouse shoot calendar and whilst we are ever hopeful, sadly at this time, results do not look good after a very wet Spring and summer. Our youngster Mavis has been progressing well just recently so I decided to take her along. On this day a kennel mate did her turn of teaching too.
Good luck to Team Scotland at the Game Fair 2024. Training the team again this year, for the HPR Home International has been a pleasure and a privilege. Thanks to Kenny Hamilton and Darryl Elliot for their huge support, to our dummy throwers for their help and to the Team for allowing me to guide you through those weeks training with your dogs and here’s to a fantastic Competition! 🏴 Go Scotland! 🏴 Dream it Do it!🏴
Im reminded what a great community the HPR world is after a day at the brilliantly run GLPC WT yesterday. Laughs, enjoyment and friendship mixed with a competitive spirit is such fun and in our huge puppy class of 20 it had all those ingredients. My own pup Mavis gained massive experience from the day, not least, introducing herself to all types of previously unknown poo 🤣 I must get some geese ! Thanks to the GLPC and organisers for their hard work and to the competitors for their camaraderie and congratulations to all the winners.
Walking the dogs we see so much and an encounter with a threatened species today showed why they need our protection. We can’t change everything but nature definately needs our help.
