Goodbye to this faithful friend

On a sad note we think of her owners . These two photos show her as a puppy and then in her twilight yesterday . I wanted to let you know that last Thursday we lost an irreplaceable part of our family to cancer. xxx had been part of our family since 2014 and was without doubt, the most wonderful dog I have ever had the pleasure to own... She was full of character, intelligent and friendly. Towards the end, she was brave, tolerant and stoic but the time came to say goodbye... The heartbreak is beyond words but when the dust settles, we would like to come and see you to choose a new family member... Kind regards,

Finding their feet #labrador #puppies #cuckavalda 3 weeks old Their lives in front of them Giving them the best start we can .#care #love #socialize #play #teach #life #jackpeckitt

Pip isn't going to miss out

Where's Pip ... that dog hasn't come in and as you know she has taken to living in the house, dining on the best and sleeping on the bed . Her days lolling about in the sunshine and we never thought she would want to go on a shoot again as she doesn't even want to socialise with the other dogs. So all the hullabaloo of getting packed up for going and Jack into his picking up clothes she must have thought I aren't getting left out. As he had counted 11 dogs he was taking with him,

between leaving the kennels and boarding the mule she had sneaked in . Looking to see if she was upstairs snuggled up on the bed , not int he garden nowhere to be seen Pip .Pip PIp .we shouted and search high and low for her. Low and behold she was sat there smugly in the back if the vehicle with the rest of them .She wasn't going to miss out. This is how much they love going off for the day picking up .

Life with us at Cuckavalda

WOW - We have over 18k followers and are quite blown away so thank you very much . It was Jacks birthday yesterday but just another day in our world until we went out to Westow -the Blacksmiths Arms . Quite apt really as Jack was born at Westow- not at the pub though 73 years ago . How the years fly and the days are now rolling into Summer and before we know it will be "backend" again . We try to give you insights into our lives and thank everyone who sends us photos of how their puppies which turn into adult are doing . Here is a bit more of day to day life here at Cuckavalda .

Thank you to everyone contributes to making our lives here at Cuckavalda continue going on with yout lovely photos and updates .

When Jack woke up

This was the good News Jack woke up to this morning .... Hi Jack, I'm thrilled to connect with you today regarding SME News' highly anticipated Northern Enterprise Awards, now proudly in their seventh year. First and foremost, a big thank you for being part of this years' edition. As always, we aim to celebrate and spotlight the exceptional companies, individuals and services across the North's competitive and bustling business landscape, who have demonstrated unparalleled leadership, dedication and innovation. I am delighted to share the exciting news that Cuckavalda Gundogs has gone on to be awarded within our 2024 edition, and has been named - Most Trusted Gundog Trainer and Breeder 2024 As many of you know Jack puts his heart and soul into his dogs and is very proud to have been acknowledged in this way .Normal day to day routine continues and he is out working with some young dogs today and we will have his verdict by tea time . You can bet that is it more exciting than the budget ! Here are a few flashback photos . He does gets

down on the ground to play with pups but you must never interact with a dog whose eye level is above yours .

New life ...

2 years ago we lost our 13 beloved dogs but they say every cloud has a silver lining . Our silver lining came in the fact that 2 weeks ago we had a litter of 6 beautiful fox red Labradors and this week - 4 days later so we were on tenderhooks a litter of 9 a mix of black and fox red Labradors. Another twist to this story is the mother of the mixed litter was concieved just a week before we lost the others . We had bred her mother and sold Sky and her brother as puppies to a lady who then came back to us use one of our stud dogs. We then bought 3 black girls out of this litter as we were worried we would lose our lines to keep out blood lines going. Jack calls them all Willow but there is Chloe who really is now called Willow , Sky and as she was black in colour and at that time the skies felt really black and Abbie after Byland Abbey. The first litter now have their eyes open and crawling about ,the second litter are just like tiny puppies are drinking and sleeping. So apologies to all of you who are waiting to see the puppies. Time seems to go by so quickly. One is already earmarked to go to the top of Scotland . The people have had 3 already from us but sadly lost one and have been very patient waiting for this litter to arrive. They got their last in lock down so it made for us a nice trip out to meet the lady half way. We had to pass a red squirrel area on the way but unfortunately didnt see any but it was a nice ride out,

What does a picker up do .And the shooting year

When we talk about Jack going picking up often people who have never been on a shoot wonder what we are talking about. The most days he and his dogs have done is 106 in a season in his prime but more likely to be 50-60 days these days . A season is starting on the grouse moors on 12th August known as the Glorious Twelfth and finishing on the 1st Februrary. They work just as hard as the loaders and beaters. Working teams of dogs and often walking and sending the dogs massive distances to find that one elusive wounded runner. A picker-up has to have a dog — the job cannot be done without them. A good beating dog is undeniably a huge asset, but many beaters do not have nor require a dog to do their job. Many shoots insist a picker-up has a team of dogs, so if one is injured, in season or has to retire, they have another to replace it. So this is why we have a lot of dogs.aand when it is really busy days we run two teams on alternative days so if the workload is too much it gives them chance to have a day off and rested up but most of them bark furoiously when the other set off to work as they love their job and want to go along too . So you could argue that a picker-up has increased costs purely from the fact that they need a full team of dogs, whereas for a beater it is often an option not a necessity. A picker-up frequently uses their own vehicle, so incurs those costs too. They also require essential equipment such as a priest, game bag or carrier, first-aid kit, drying coats for dogs and so on. Every single job on a driven day — where done by beaters, loaders and pickers-up — is just as important as the next and if done well they become a priceless asset to the shoot. On the last day of the shooting season it is known as "Beaters Day" which is when all the people who have worked on the shoot throughout the season have a free days shooting as a thank you for working hard and often closes with a meal at a local pub. With plenty to eat and drink there are plenty of tales to tell of what has gone on during the last six months. And if George Lupton had still being here he would have already been planning for the coming season to start again. As we look back at photos of him out on a hoot day over the years he always has a smile on his face .Never was he so happy than when he was out for the day giving guests a wonderful day at Wass Grange. He got great pleasure from giving memorable days to many people for years . He was a crack shot often managing to bag the first and the last bird and only handing his guns over when he was 99.