Working dogs
Field sport is very much the passion that eventually resulted in the forming of Tuffies, a company producing strong, waterproof dog beds. The very old and iconic way of hunting wild quarry by using pointers to find and hold the game is especially used in Scotland to hunt for grouse. On a moor with a natural population of wild birds, the pointer dog runs wide and fast in search for the slightest scent of birds sitting in the heather. This is tricky and the end result is a fair hunt harvesting a few wild birds for the pot. Driven shooting is very, very different. When it all goes well, the dog will find the bird and come on point. The picture below captures the cooperation between dog and human. The dog has found the scent of the birds and with his pointing stance, it is clear to the hunter that it is time to be ready.
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They say dogs find it very calming to have eye contact with their master.
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A perfect and careful delivery.
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Gaia's beard is being blown in the wind on Isle of Muck on the Scottish West coast.
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Pontus the sailor.
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Pontus on point on the moor.
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Definitely from the same family.....
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Everyone is well excited about the day's work ahead. Hooray.
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Pontus, who LOVES being on any type of boat.
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Pontus in sun shine on the ferry.
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Gaia pointing while stuck under the fence wire.
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Pontus on point, the others watching. Tom ready.
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Alice pointing snipe. She wears a bell so we can hear when she stops.
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Alice on point and Dave walking up at the ready. Click on image
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Gaia pushing a grouse up from the heather on 12th August 2015. A truly beautiful day on the moor.
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On the misty moor
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Gollum ready on point and Paul ready for the flush.
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A quick and gentle retrieve by Gaia. Another bird to go in the pot.
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Tippex on point on a little grouse sitting tight
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Gaia has remained sitting as the grouse flushes on the back wind.
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Anne with Dram and Isla
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Antoine is sure the dog is on point
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Gollum on point, scenting a bird in the heather
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Working day on Drummochter
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On Torrish Estate near Helmsdale.
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Good boy.
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The clean, fast retrieve done
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Luise at Gairnshiel
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Gaia delivers my bird
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Everything is shot for the pot.
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The guns admire the first bird on the morning of the 12th August.
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With the guns in position, Gollum flushes the birds.
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Wullie, shoot master, examines each bird. It is important to use this opportunity to check the general health of the grouse population and to check for ticks. The age of the birds are also determined before they are taken home.
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Tippex refreshing on snow during grouse count
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Jimmy and Richard Bain at Torrish Estate near Helmsdale
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Gollum as peg dog, allert. Click on image.
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The beautiful August days on the moors
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Gollum having a good old shake before we set off searching for birds
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Woodcock days on Isle of Skye (The Cuillin in the back ground)
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Gollum flushing grouse and then lying down
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Sporting Scotsman
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Dom with the lunch pony ready for the hill.
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Alice allert on the moor. See-through ears.
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Gaia running in the start of a snow storm
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Alice on the moor, out with the falconer for the day.
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Tippex pointing in the heather
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Tippex taking a soothing bath in a little water hole on the moor. It can get extremely hot running and running.
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Useful Highland ponies
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Gollum on point, JUST at the crest of the hill. Guns climbing up for the position.
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Vulin working the partridge
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Gollum intensely on point
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A fantastic, long, blind retrieve across the river and up the bank for a runner. Clean, fast pick up for good ethics. Just have to get over the river now. Click image.
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Gaia on point in the snow. Spring pointing gone slightly wrong
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Alice is showing Julian where the woodcock is sitting. Click on image.
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Tippex flushing a grouse. Click on image.
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'Keepers daughter with peregrine
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On command Tippex flushes the bird for the gun. Click on image
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Frank with Bebe
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Lunch arrives on pony at Braeroy estate. Click on image.
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A trick learned from Anne: carry half a football and a bottle of water. Easy for helping the dogs with the important thirst.
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Gollum lying down on point waiting for Andy to get ready. Rothiemurchus August
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Pontus running nicely with his head held high, catching the scent.
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One of Tippex' first points and flushes
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Ian MacDonald at Kildermorie
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Tippex retrieving fast and efficiently
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Taking the youngsters out for their first grouse shooting over pointers. Click on image.
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Gollum has got the scent of the birds, Ewan moving in. Click on image.
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One bird down and Gaia marks it
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Alice's intense face while she awaits the action. An experienced picking up dog. Click on image.
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Alice delivers the grouse. The midgets are homing in and the dram-stop (click image to see) has its problems!!!
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All game carefully collected for the table. Alice crossing the river. Dainty Alice is actually quite tough when it comes to rivers. Click on image.
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And yes, she flushes the birds
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Hunting with my dog
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Stalking at Kildermorie
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Tippex on point in a dip and the gun ready. Click on image.
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Pontus with one of his first birds and a supporting gun.
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Gollum busy at Glenstriven estate. Click on image
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Grouse blood is often taken immediately to be sent away and checked for disease. Click on image
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Luise with the three hounds.
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Gaia ready with the birds and gun getting ready.
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Counting grouse pairs in the spring
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Looking out for hinds when stalking in the Highlands.