A Man and His Dogs
 
 
    As a young boy growing up I was a lucky lad because my Dad was most interested in outdoor activities that included hunting and fishing.   He would not go bird hunting without man’s best friend and hunting companion, a dog.
 
    So I grew up chasing Pointers and Setters.  These were the preferred breeds because most of our bird hunting was done for the either the bobwhite or blue quail and these dogs have no equal in that arena.
 
    Training and hunting dogs of this caliber requires a lot of land and equipment.  A big running dog like these can cover a mile of rough terrain in no time.  This makes hunting over these dogs a very physically demanding sport.  Most folks who enjoy quail hunting train their dogs and hunt off of horseback or some type of field wagon or truck.  Those that wish to hunt on foot usually select another breed of dog for this purpose because these dogs are just to wide ranging.
    
    For many years I was in the military.  Here I found that I did not have the time or the facilities to accommodate big running dogs.  So my interest turned to the German Shorthair Pointer and the Brittany.  Either of these breeds are good field dogs and work quail, pheasant, and other game birds quite well.  Because they are generally close hunters they can be hunted on foot, but it is still an endurance test because one must cover much ground if you are to find the birds.
 
    As age took its toll on my ability to cover a lot of ground on foot without being extremely uncomfortable, my bird hunting style also changed.  My interest in upland game was replaced by hunting for birds that come to you, like the dove, duck and geese.  Accordingly, the dogs that best meet these demanding requirements are the retrievers.  In this category there are many breeds that are known for their fieldwork, both land and water, and I have owned several.  If I were asked to select one breed from the many it would be the Labrador Retriever.
 
    We now own two Labs.  Birdie is a female Pointing Lab and Bear is a male Field Trial bred Retrieving Lab.  Birdie’s linage starts in Labrador and then to England where this breeding was changed forever.  Some of the Labs that traveled to England were sold or traded to hunters who pursued upland game birds in the central part of that country.  In order to have a dog that was more proficient on upland game they bred those Labs with English Pointers.  The cross breeding resulted in a dog that would point like a Pointer but would also have the close range and retrieving ability of a Lab. Thus an ideal hunting dog for the hunter who hunts on foot.
 
    Now Bear on the other hand is a product of American Field Trial breeding.  He is a rather large and lean retriever with great speed and endurance.  He too can be used on upland game, but rather than point he will flush the game much like a field Spaniel.  Once the bird is down, there is no equal to his retrieving ability.  Of course, his best performances come when hunting duck and geese where his speed and retrieving ability are really appreciated because when he is dispatched on a retrieve he makes quick work of it so the hunters can be ready for the next flight.
 
    Training the Lab is an experience like no other.  These dogs bring to the table a lot of outstanding traits such as intelligence, energy, endurance and a ready to please attitude.  They also bring a lot of love so they quickly become a family member like no other.  When you take on a Lab, you have a hunting buddy for life so be ready for 12 to 15 years of pure joy and pride.  You should also be preparing for one of the saddest days of your live that comes when you loose your Lab.  There is no easy way to say goodbye to one of these creatures from God.
 
    I believe that most dogs are trainable and I have trained many.  I also believe that no dog is easy to train.  All dogs require a lot of time, energy, patients, and most of all consistency if they are to be well trained.  All of this translates to a real commitment on the part of the owner.  If the owner is not prepared to make this commitment don’t fool yourself and acquire a Lab or any dog hunting dog because you will surely be disappointed.
 
    Since I was asked to write an article about training dogs I best get to it.  Training starts the day you pick up your Lab and continues until you say your last goodbye.  Initially you will be concerned with basic training like socializing, housebreaking, controlling barking, chewing, jumping up.  Then you will introduce the commands of sit, stand, down, come, kennel, and heel.  Once your Lab has passed these phases it will almost be ready for field training, but don’t be in a rush to get him to this point; patients is a virtue.
 
    Before going to the field there is some advanced training that must be mastered and that would be how to hold a bird, retrieve and deliver the bird.  All of this training can be done in the back yard and should be done before taking on more demanding filed training.
 
    When in the field we are concerned with four basic issues, they are:  Marking, Style, Perseverance and Trainability.  Lets break each of these four areas down a bit.
 
    Marking – Here we train to improve the dog’s ability to observe and remember were a bird falls so he can find and retrieve it.  Marking is considered one of the most important qualities in a retriever.  This really measures his natural ability to hunt.  Once he has mastered the single retrieve, we press on with doubles, triples and quads.  Some may even go beyond this level.
 
    Style – Here is where I think that dog lineage really comes into play.  How does the parents of your Lab perform?  That should be an issue to consider when you are looking for your Lab.  Here we are looking for the way your Lab acts; how alert it is; how quickly he is to retrieve; how eager and ready he is, and most important his attitude and manner.  Does he approach retrieves, both land and water, in an aggressive manner that clearly demonstrates his desire to do what he is doing.  There is no greater pleasure than watching a dog with style.  Conversely, a dog without style is something that you do not wish to see.
 
    Perseverance/courage/hunting:  Here we measure determination.  How aggressive does he approach his duties?  How does he search for a downed bird, aggressive or with little effort?  Does he have the courage to tackle the hard tasks of entering cold or rough water; busting through the brush or thick undergrowth; and is he willing and determined to find the bird?  If he is one to hesitate or demonstrates a lack of confidence or drive he will not fair well in a hunting situation.
 
    Trainability:  One must be willing to enhance the dogs natural ability through training and the dog must be willing to accept this training.  He should be under control at all times and not going it on his own.  He must be well mannered to the point that he is willing and eager to accept your commands without question or hesitation.  Once he has picked up the bird, he must carry it with the greatest of care not to damage it in any way.  He must deliver the bird to your hand willingly and undamaged.  If he can accomplish all of these tasks you will have done a good job and so has you Lab.
 
    Enjoying your Lab is what it is all about.  There are many ways to employ them that are fun for both of you.  Some like only to hunt their dogs while others like to take them to various kinds of competitions like Field Trials, Hunt Test, Agility Trails and Competitive Sports.  Some choose to show their Lab at Dog Shows.  Of course there can be and is much mixing and matching in working any of these events.
 
    I prefer to hunt my dogs during the hunting season and the in spring of the year when the hunting seasons are all closed I enjoy either the Field Trial or Hunt Test because they present near real hunting situations.  So training for these events just makes a better hunting dog.  Regardless of your choice, in the Lab you will find a ready and willing partner that just aches to please.
 
    The economics of dog ownership is often not addressed, but should be.  If you get a $25.00 dog and feed it cheap dog food or table scraps that is exactly what you will have – a cheap unhealthy dog.  That scenario may work for a while for a house pet, but not for a hunting companion or working dog.  The asking price for a well bred Lab pup can run for as little as a few hundred to several thousand dollars – depending on the color, sex and breeding.  There is no limit on how much a finished healthy retriever that is well bred can bring under the right circumstances.  In sum, if you are wanting a dog because you are going to make money from that venture, forget it because the out of pocket costs will far exceed any reasonable expected return on your investment.
    
    The purchase price of the dog is just a small part of the total cost.  These dogs have to be well fed, groomed, trained, provided medical attention on a routine basis, and provided a clean and healthy environment in which to live and work.  If you are going to train your dog, great that is the most rewarding way to do it.  However, if you are going to have it trained professionally you best figure on spending several hundred dollars a month for this effort and it may take many months to get the dog where you want him.  Once he is at that level, you too must be trained in order to reinforce that costly training.
 
    There are many dogs clubs and organizations around the world that cater to those who enjoy dog ownership.  These clubs vary in make up and style.  Some are breed specific – the Brittany Club for example is only for that breed.   Some are event specific – Dog Show Club would be in that category.  Anyone who wanted to show a dog, regardless of breed could find support through this type of organization.  So if you think that you might be interested in getting a hunting or working dog or if you want to learn more about the dog you already have I suggest you check out the dog clubs in your area and attend not only their meetings but visit them in the field to see if that is what you really want to do and or they are a group that you want to be affiliated with.
 
    Good hunting and enjoy the best friend a man can have, a good hunting dog.
 
 
Bear in South Dakota
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
My Life With Dogs