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 the wild birds. 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 what the grouse sees if it looks up: the piercing eyes of the dog. Here is Isla, who is sadly no longer with us, concentrating on her find:

Grouse blood is often taken immediately to be sent away and checked for disease. Click on image

Gollum has got the scent of the birds, Ewan moving in. Click on image.

Alice on point and Dave walking up at the ready. Click on image

Gollum as peg dog, allert. Click on image.

Lunch arrives on pony at Braeroy estate. Click on image.

Taking the youngsters out for their first grouse shooting over pointers. Click on image.

Tippex on point in a dip and the gun ready. Click on image.

On command Tippex flushes the bird for the gun. Click on image

Alice is showing Julian where the woodcock is sitting. Click on image.

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.

Pick up dogs are essential for collecting all game for the table. Click image.

Tippex flushing a grouse. Click on image.

Alice's intense face while she awaits the action. An experienced picking up dog. Click on image.

Alice delivers the grouse. The midgets are homing in and the dram-stop (click image to see) has its problems!!!

Gollum busy at Glenstriven estate. Click on image

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.

Alice on the moor, out with the falconer for the day.

Alice allert on the moor. See-through ears.

Counting grouse pairs in the spring

Tippex pointing in the heather

Luise and Tippex on grouse

Gollum flushing grouse and then lying down

Woodcock days on Isle of Skye (The Cuillin in the back ground).

Luise annoying poor, hard working Alice

Gollum with face full of snow. On point nevertheless

Alice pointing a woodcock in the winter

Andy and Alice

Winter hunting

Grouse days, Tippex providing the sport

Tippex refreshing on snow during grouse count