Quince Practicing his stack with Martyn

Martyn for many years has Beat for a Shoot in Sussex.  For a long time he was happy to be without a dog, but he was often told to get one or teased for not having one.  After a time we started looking at Gun Dogs and several were short listed before being struck off the list.

Clumbers were the last breed standing after a lot of reasearch and homework.  We did initially find our breeder Jackie at Abbyford Clumbers and there was a pup for us, but sadly family got in the way and it was not to be for another few years, which in fact worked out better as a change of working hours meant more hours to train a new puppy.  Finally in November 2021 for Martyn's 50th Birthday into our lives came Abbyford Lady Merry of Ivale, Briar.

Over the next year we had a steep learning curve as we learnt the mindset of a working gundog who had a strong drive to work.  Martyn went on to go to Gun Dog training and even did a bit of time in the ring with Briar as part of her socialising.   During her time in training she showed a strong reluctance to work on Martyn's left and the joke started that he needed a "left Dog".  Well that Joke became a truth when Clumbraise Your Song was noticed on the internet as the person who had initially booked him dropped out.   Time and Time again we saw clips and photos of him and thanks to a friend we got brave and found out more.  The reason it was a challenge was the fact that he was in Norway!  Well the long and short of it is we worked things out, Quince was flown as Excess Baggage to Schiphol and Martyn had a night drive on the wrong side of the road!  He hadnt been to Europe as an adult!

So now we have Quince and Briar!

After starting her working training in the Spring of 2023 Briar didnt get to start work until October 2023. That week was special as she first gained a Res CC under Judge Carole Coode at Malvern at the Welsh Gun Dog Show. Going out initally on Partridge before expanding her skill set with Pheasant Briar proved herself as a working beating dog.  She was disappointed when the season finished but was out as soon as possible in 2024.

2023 Also saw Quince get a Res CC at Richmond dog show when he was still a puppy, an award he managed to repeat again a year later, again at Richmond! Quince started his training in 2024 and has so far shown that whilst he is slower to get to working than his house mate, but he loves being out and getting muddy and finding those birds.