Fletchingly friends

I’ve recently been sent this lovely photograph of six Fletchingly dogs at a working test training day run by Easthoath gundogs in Kent. I only knew two of the people before they had one of my puppies, and as always, I have gained some new friends, and they have got to know each other through their shared love of training their dogs. One of the people pictured had never had a working dog before, and another two had not previously been involved in their local gundog club, or had formal training with their dogs, so it’s wonderful to see them enjoying their dogs and getting the best out of them.
The dog on the far left is a Moidart son, who is only 18 months old, and this summer he has won two puppy tests and been placed second in another, so full marks to his owner for the time and hard work put into his dog.
The other five dogs are all Riska offspring, with two sisters from her first litter, and three siblings from her second litter, being two dogs and a bitch, which are from the same litter as my Etive.
Etive has excelled herself this summer, winning out of novice at the age of 25 months, meaning that she’s had to run in open competitions for the rest of the summer, which is a big ask for such a young dog. As always, she’s just taken everything in her stride, and has been awarded a third place, as well as coming equal fourth with two other dogs. I will keep a pup for myself when she has her first litter next spring, an event that I’m very much looking forward to.