Ilka's first day out working......

Got there and Ivors (person who runs the shoot) 2 spaniels came to say hello (they fancy Ilka). Waited for people to turn up, were about 15 men squashed in the barn with us in the middle and she was really good and even let a few of them stroke her (over the day there were only two people she didn't like). (note: she was on the lead a bit but). First drive was a small bit of cover crop and let her off near the end and she put up a pheasant and was fine. Then try not to waffle so, she found a runner and picked it up but was not quite sure what to do so dropped it and it went in a stream so she just stayed with it so someone picked it up, would have liked her to fetch it but am happy with that as at least she didn't crunch it, then another bit of beating and let her do the last bit again. Then the last drive in some woods took it steady but let her hunt and she was brilliant going through thick brambles and every thing and staying quite close. Then went on to pick up and she found another pricked bird, again did not pick it up but stayed with it until we did, think she will get the idea theres another dog on the shoot who didn't pick up for the first 2-3 days but now does so think she'll be similar. Sid had a scrap with a spaniel though Sid never starts scraps (but does not back down) the spaniel was a bit funny it stared at Ilka too and so Ilka almost had a little scrap I had to stop them (I really don't like it when dogs do that) they just did not like it and there was a black lab Ilka did not like that much either but she was good with all the other dogs. So over all was really good and it's brilliant socialising for her shes got to improve.