James Douglas training video

[tobester]

I have just watched a James Douglas spaniel training video.

It is one of my favourite videos, in part because it is much shorter and more compact than most of my others, also because there are a number of really good tips that he illustrates very well. Thinking of the hand signals, for example.

A couple of things really struck me though
- At beginning of quartering, the dogs seem further out than other videos, although by end of video the dogs are quartering much closer
- The order of the training seems a heavily focussed on discipline and hunting and far less on retrieving. Is this due to the type of dogs in those days - I heard that spanields used to be much harder than current spaniels
- The spaniels look much bigger and stand much taller (i.e. with straighter legs) than current dogs. Is this a more recent trend, have spaniels changed to being more crouched down in last 20 years?

How did James Douglas do in Field Trials, for a matter of interest.

Toby

[Bryn]

Sounds like an interesting video and I'll leave it to others to comment on the man and his methods.
On the shape and style of the springers I suggest you go to trials or a championship, then go to the likes of Lowther show and look at pretty much every springer there and draw you own conclusions

[Fifer]

James Douglas never entered trails, he was a bit of a mystery,least said the better.
Fifer

[Rascal]

Did he actually ever train a dog or just front the videos?

Rascal

[beechessam]

Once saw a goose shooting DVD of his, gun goes off, dog goes off on a retrieve to return with either a frozen or very stiff long dead bird!

Staged or fake, not for me.

[Hepe]

Once saw a goose shooting DVD of his, gun goes off, dog goes off on a retrieve to return with either a frozen or very stiff long dead bird!

Staged or fake, not for me.

Hahaha, i just think they got better at faking it, sorry. Just think back to early days sf movies and what you see now.

Helene

[tobester]

Sounds like he doesn't get a great vote of confidence. Shame.

I still liked the video and learnt something from it.

Back to the more general question about springers - what are the most noticeable differences between springers of 20 years ago and those of today?

Toby

[Bryn]

The most obvious are size and action, as to temperament I couldn't say as Bryn is the first gundog I've attempted to train, though I've been told he's 'old style' in more than just appearance.