Hunt-Point-Retrieve Dogs for Work and Showing E-Book

Nigel Dear

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

The Hunt, Point, Retrieve (HPR) breeds of dog are unique in the gundog world. They are extraordinary all-rounders and no other gundog has the sheer range of capabilities, in the show ring and in the field, as well as in the home as pets. Aimed at both the beginner and those with more experience, this invaluable book opens up all aspects of the fascinating Hunt, Point, Retrieve world for you and your dog to explore and enjoy. Topics covered: The different breeds of HPR dogs and their history and development; How to choose an HPR dog that meets an individual's needs; Showing your dog; the HPR dog in the field and basic training. The book examines in detail the working tests, spring pointing and field trials and is aimed at all those interested in gundogs. With advice on choosing the right breed, what to watch for, which breeder to choose, fitting the dog into your lifestyle and the basic training required and illustrated with 77 colour photographs and diagrams, it is the complete guide for those interested in the HPR breeds.

Leseprobe

Hunt, Point, Retrieve Dogs for Work and Showing

N. C. DEAR

THE CROWOOD PRESS

First published in 2009 by

The Crowood Press Ltd

Ramsbury, Marlborough

Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2014

© Nigel C. Dear 2009

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84797 964 3

Illustration credits

The line drawings were prepared by Rebecca Dockery. All photographs are by the author unless othrwise stated.

Disclaimer

The author and the publisher do not accept any responsibility, or liability, in any manner whatsoever, for any error or omission, or any loss, damage, injury, or adverse outcome of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any of the information contained in this book, or reliance upon it. If in doubt about any aspect of choosing, owning, showing, training, or working any breed of HPR dog, or entering them for field trials and working tests, readers are advised to seek professional advice.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 The HPR Dog

2 The HPR Breeds

3 How to Choose your HPR

4 Showing the HPR

5 The HPR as a Shooting Dog

6 Basic Training

7 The HPR in the Field

8 Working Tests

9 Spring Pointing

10 Field Trials

Appendix: Kennel Club ‘J’ Regulations

Useful Addresses

Index

The Brittany has a fast hunting style, and is a keen game finder.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the tremendous support of Jennifer Hurley, who took on the not insignificant challenge of training both the author and his first dog from scratch, which must have tested her reserves of endurance to the limit and beyond. I am also indebted to Cliff and Madge Simons (whose record of five field trial champion German shorthaired pointers, three of them dual field trial and show champion German shorthaired pointers, is unequalled and unlikely ever to be surpassed) for their coaching, wisdom and support. Jean Robertson kindly agreed to proofread the draft text, and I am indebted to her for her perceptive, constructive criticism. My thanks to Nick Ridley for allowing the inclusion of a number of his outstanding photographs. Together with the publisher I would also like to thank Wilson Stephens for granting permission to reproduce text originally published in his book entitled Gundog Sense and Sensibility (Quiller Press, 1982); Verity J. Griffiths BSc (Hons), MA, Vet MB, GPCert (SAS), MRCVS for providing the section in this book, including X-ray pictures, dealing with hip dysplasia and hip scores; and the Kennel Club and Hilary Gould for allowing us to publish excerpts from the Kennel Club regulations. Finally to my wife, Rosalind, for her unstinting support in the whole dog enterprise, and to my daughter, Rebecca Dockery, for her excellent diagrams.

The Italian spinone’s slow trotting gait allows it to hunt large areas.

Introduction

When you first consider acquiring a hunt, point, retrieve dog it is unlikely that you will have any idea of where this might take you. What was first thought of as a pet suddenly transforms into a passport to the show ring, the shooting field, to gundog training and the working test. The world of field trials opens up to you. This is what happened to the author, who first caught sight of a beautifully elegant dog standing on the back of a Range Rover at the local clay pigeon shooting ground. Enquiring within as to what this was, he then set off on the trail, which resulted in the addition of a Hungarian Vizsla to the household. One thing leads to another: gundog training followed, the world of working tests and field trials beckoned, with success in the latter leading to Crufts and the show ring. All this, from one dog!

While learning the ropes at ringcraft, struggling with the gundog training, wondering whether we would be capable of competing at working tests, and with no knowledge of any of the tests themselves, it became apparent that there was no reference available to help the beginner in understanding the wide and fascinating world of the HPR dog: hence this book. This is the first comprehensive guide to the world of the HPR: showing, how to train your gundog, working tests with the actual tests being described in detail for the first time, and how to compete in field trials. This most demanding of the field disciplines – often a mystery and daunting to the beginner – is described, with tips on how to manage your runs successfully, and avoid the many pitfalls. So it is hoped that in demystifying the unknown, the reader will be encouraged to take the plunge, join a training class, and start their own journey in show and working tests, in spring pointing or field trialling, in any one or all of them. It is all there for you and your HPR dog.

Chapter 1

The HPR Dog

The hunt, point, retrieve breeds comprise a recognized sub-group of gundog, which, as the description suggests, are able to perform all three gundog tasks, thereby differentiating them from retrievers that retrieve, pointers and setters that hunt and point but do not retrieve, and spaniels that hunt and retrieve but don’t point. As an all-rounder, the HPR is regarded as an all-purpose gundog. Bred originally for use on the shooting field, all the HPR breeds are now popular as pets and in the show ring.

All the HPR breeds make excellent family companions in the right home, but they need a lot of exercise (see sidebar, below), and they will need training. All HPRs can be trained to a very high standard, well beyond that required for a family pet, but it does not mean that they are all easy to train. Breeding has a big part to play in how the dog will behave – a dog from a very strong working strain, bred to do field work, may well be beyond the capabilities of the average person to train successfully, since it needs the specialist knowledge and dedication of those who use these dogs for working. But don’t be put off, there will be one for you if you take the time to choose carefully. There is more information on this subject in Chapter 3, ‘How to Choose your HPR’.

If you are considering acquiring an HPR as a pet, a word of caution: while all the HPR breeds can make lovely family companions, they are energetic and intelligent, and need lots of exercise daily. They are not dogs to be left at home for long periods: intelligent dogs become bored quickly and this can, and often does, lead to them becoming destructive in the home. Lack of exercise will result in an out-ofcondition, irritable and unhappy dog. If you cannot be at home with them during the day, or are not able to take them with you and to exercise them during the day, please do not get one.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUNT, POINT, RETRIEVE DOG

As the gun gained currency as the hunter’s weapon of choice, and with the emergence of the shotgun, there was a growing requirement for a dog that could range in front of him in search of game. As the hunter at that time only had what was available, the dogs of the time were encouraged to work in a manner that assisted the walking gun. Some turned out to be totally unsuitable, but others that showed something of ability were bred and cross-bred to produce animals in which the desirable attributes are now instinctive and natural. With the basis of the breed in place, breeding programmes became more formalized and concentrated. In Germany, for example, the German shorthaired, longhaired and wirehaired pointers followed highly controlled breeding programmes to ensure that only the best stock was used in order to protect the development of the breed, a policy that continues today. In Hungary, the Hungarian Vizsla was so prized that it could only be kept by the aristocracy, who continued to breed it very carefully.

A Slovakian rough-haired pointer.

In the UK, HPR dogs are used for hunting game birds such as pheasant, partridge, woodcock,snipe and grouse,to a lesser extent ground game such as hare and rabbit, and for working with falcons and hawks, and with the deerstalker as well as with the rough shooter. In their native countries they are also used for tracking deer or wild boar. In the home or in the show ring, the HPR breeds continue to grow in popularity; they are seen in increasing numbers in the agility discipline, which suits their energetic character.

Chapter 2

The HPR Breeds

There are nine HPR breeds currently in the UK that can be considered as established in the field and in the show ring, all of which are recognized by the Kennel Club; these breeds are described in this chapter. There are others, such as the Slovakian rough-haired pointer, the Korthals griffon, the pudelpointer, the bracco Italiano and the Cesky fousek (popular in the Czech Republic but virtually unknown in the UK), but these are not covered in this book because they currently exist in such small numbers that it is unlikely you will come across them.

BRITTANY

The Brittany originated in the Callac region of France, appearing as a result of matings between the local fougère and the English pointers and setters owned by the English gentry who visited the region for partridge and snipe shooting. Often confused with the spaniel, to which it is similar in appearance, the Brittany is highly spirited with a fast hunting style, a keen game finder, and with a growing following amongst falconers and the rough shooter.

The Brittany.

GERMAN LONGHAIRED POINTER

The German longhaired pointer developed as a result of the need for a faster, wider-ranging dog than the typical fowling dog used by hunters in Germany in the early nineteenth century. Crossing with the English setter resulted in a much faster dog that fulfilled this need. The breed standard was formalized in 1878–9, and subsequent breeding concentrated on improving the dog’s hunting abilities. A relatively recent introduction to the UK, the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club in 2007.

A relatively large dog, undocked due to the protective nature of the long coat, it is an extremely enthusiastic hunter, able to work tirelessly, and which characteristically quarters energetically, this relative newcomer is gaining in popularity and establishing itself in the field.

German longhaired pointer.

GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER

Numerically the most popular and arguably the most successful of the HPR breeds, the German shorthaired pointer was developed in the early nineteenth century in Germany as an all-purpose gundog. A medium-sized dog with a short coat, and traditionally docked, it is a keen game finder and an ideal shooting companion for the rough shooter. The origin of the German shorthaired pointer is not clear, as with most of the breeds, but the foundation stock was probably the German bird dog, related to the old Spanish pointer, and various crossings with local German scent hounds and tracking dogs (Schweisshunde). English pointers were introduced to lend elegance, resulting in a highly capable gundog with good looks and a very even temperament. The German shorthaired pointer can be spectacular to watch: it is very fast and wide-ranging in its work, and has excellent hunting capabilities, all of which have made it the dog of choice for many a field trialler and rough shooter.

German shorthaired pointer.

GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER

Most of the early wirehaired pointers represented a combination of griffon, Stichelhaar (both mixtures of pointer, foxhound, pudelpointer and Polish water dog), pudelpointer (a cross of poodle and pointer) and German shorthair. The Germans had a preference for a hardier dog, and continued to breed the distinctive traits of pointer, foxhound and poodle until what is today’s dog appeared. The longer coat is one of the distinctive features deliberately emphasized during breeding, lending an all-weather capability and protection against rough cover.

German wirehaired pointer.

HUNGARIAN VIZSLA

One of the oldest of the HPR breeds, first recorded in 1350 but appearing in etchings dating from the tenth century, the Vizsla was selectively and exclusively bred by the Hungarian aristocracy. Medium-sized, with a short, russet-coloured coat, the Vizsla is highly intelligent and biddable, with a fast, wide-ranging hunting style; it hunts diligently at a pace that it can maintain all day, if necessary. As befits its breeding, it has an elegant, aristocratic air and attracts attention wherever it goes. In the home it is a gentle but excitable presence, very loyal – a Vizsla is always conscious of where its owner is, even when out in the field – and will always be all over you if you let it. Highly trainable, the Vizsla does not react well to harsh correction or voice – and they all have the ability to sulk for England.

Hungarian Vizsla.

HUNGARIAN WIREHAIRED VIZSLA

The wirehair is of Hungarian origin, created by crossing the short-coated Vizsla with a German pointer and later setter, with the intention of producing a more rugged and waterproof dog capable of work in rough terrain and water. The wirehair is a gentle dog with a sensitive nature, very biddable in training. It is very versatile in its work, both as a gundog and with falcons.

Hungarian wirehaired Vizsla.

ITALIAN SPINONE

This is a large, friendly dog with a relatively slow trotting gait, allowing it to hunt a large area methodically. The original representatives of the breed are not easy to trace, and opinions vary widely, but the coarsehaired setter and the white mastiff, prevalent along the coasts of the Italy, are the most likely candidates. The breed was introduced into the UK in 1981, gaining Kennel Club recognition in 1994.

Italian spinone.

LARGE MUNSTERLANDER

The large Munsterlander originates in Germany and is essentially a German longhaired pointer. The GLP breed standard dictates that the colouring cannot contain black, and so the black and white Munsterlander could not be registered after 1908. In 1919 a group of enthusiasts met in Germany and decided to carry on with the black dog, and so founded the large Munsterlander.

Large Munsterlander.

WEIMARANER

The distinctive silver-grey Weimaraner is a fairly recent development of the nineteenth century; it was used originally for big-game hunting in Germany on deer, wild boar, wolf and bear, for which it was used primarily as a tracking dog. Later on, when big game hunting was in decline, it was used increasingly on smaller game, such as rabbit, fox and increasingly game birds, its primary quarry today in the UK. It is not the best choice as a pet because it tends to attach itself to one person, which can be a source of conflict with others in the family.

Weimaraner.