Thank you all for the kind words.
Well...typically she has more...fire in her style but I think she was getting annoyed with my lengthy circuitous approach.
I often look like I've been in a cat fight when I get home from these woodlots- scratches on my cheeks, my hands/wrists, etc. I wear shooting glasses because I got that wrong but once. I had a scare and now try to wear the glasses every time. There are many hawthorns which you can't make out in this pic. I've been in the shower only to find a red mark on my knee(s) months later. It's a hawthorn tip that finally surfaced.
I've had situations with woodcock (not grouse because they won't take the pressure) where I have been reasonably close to my standing dog, then had to back out for a less abusive approach. Sometimes, for the sake of a young dog, I "man up" and plow in. Hence all the cuts/scratches/thorns BUT the dogs are worth it!
Polmaise, this pointer has been nothing short of therapy. On a shot bird when hunting, she stands solid of her own volition. She marks
almost like a Lab. She is patient yet intense without let-down while waiting for me to release her for the retrieve. I tease her saying things with gusto like, "OK...FETCH...Get it...Alright...Go ahead..." then wave my hand over her head but she stands staring at the area of the fallen bird. I tap her head for the release. She LAUNCHES for the retrieve. OK...I don't do this all the time but I did in her early development to test her and still on rare occasion just to keep her sharp. I started this many ears ago when trialing because some of the folk I was braced with didn't care how they won and would say key words in
casual conversation while my dogs were on point. (I chuckled.)
She has an UGLY jowly face. I endearingly called her Ugly Rita for awhile....until she pointed.
