What dogs have taught me

[Nickheref]

I thought some might find this interesting, I often listen to Ron Boehme on the Hunting Dog podcast. In the latest his listed the dogs he had owned and what they had taught him which started me thinking about what I had learnt from them. So I am happy to start things off, this is by no means all of my dogs but all mentioned are ESS

Teal whelped 1978 straight forward, very forgiving and easy to train - gave me a life long love of gundogs and shooting (hunting) opened many doors but taught me that the stop and recall is most important. Doesn't matter about the rest if you don't have that because you won't be using any of the other abilities as you probably won't know where your dog is!

Tosh - whelped 1985 very well bred but did not really like him, never got him doing much because he really didn't want to do it, kept trying but eventually gave up. Just because it has a wonderful pedigree doesn't mean it will be any good. I didn't really learn this quite properly see later.

Storm - whelped 1990, big strong dog who as a pup did everything asked but not very flashy or exciting to watch as his litter sister. Grew, when shot over, into the best dog I have handled whether picking up shooting or beating despite lacking style. He taught me that style is an optional extra not a necessity, if you like a young dog give it time as it may develop, that some dogs know more than you that is why we use them and should be left get on with the job out on their own.

Star - whelped 2000 (I think some dogs you prefer to forget ) a beautifully bred daughter of Clarburgh Art - massive behavioural issues, again didn't really like her as a pup but persevered. Wasted months trying to get her to do things she had no intention of doing due to her nervous temperament. Lesson really learnt this time, if you don't like them as a pup you are very unlikely to like them as an adult.

Tug - whelped 2002 given to me at almost 2 years old untouched, I liked the look of him when I first saw him and he obliged by trying to do everything asked when I started training him. Just because a dog isn't 8 weeks old when training starts doesn't mean it cannot become a good gundog.

Smudge whelped 2008 not the best dog at anything but pretty good at everything and tried his best every second of his life. A dog who tries will usually succeed, one who doesn't definitely won't even if it appears to have more ability!!!

Dot - whelped 2016 - not the flashiest of bitches but a natural hunter and retriever with ability. Put to a good dog produced a litter I would have been happy to have any of the pups from. Just because a dog hasn't won anything doesn't mean it is a worse dog that one that has.

So what I have learnt is simply this, temperament is hugely important and a pup who tries will almost certainly be a useful gundog. A great pedigree doesn't mean a pup will try. If I like the pup I will almost certainly like the adult dog but if I am concerned about the pup don't go there however exciting the pedigree!! In a pup natural ability and a desire to do the job will get you a long way.

[PRH]

Lovely thread Nick, well done.

[Dawnrazor]

They drive you to drink quicker than wumin!!

[Dawnrazor]

I think Dot being put to a related dog made the difference, too many out cross to out cross just because they are "Ftch" is not the way forward, imo.
I was speaking to, in my eyes, one of the best spaniel trainer's there's ever been, made up into the teens of ftch's over the last 40 years as an amateur, working full time he made up dogs from every type of breeding from the hardest to the softest, he said he's loathed to take a bitch to a ftch sire for various reasons.

[Judy]

It can certainly B' up a breed, some stud dogs are used way too much simply because they are a FTCh or have won at Crufts, stupid.

[Nickheref]

I think Dot being put to a related dog made the difference, too many out cross to out cross just because they are "Ftch" is not the way forward, imo.
I was speaking to, in my eyes, one of the best spaniel trainer's there's ever been, made up into the teens of ftch's over the last 40 years as an amateur, working full time he made up dogs from every type of breeding from the hardest to the softest, he said he's loathed to take a bitch to a ftch sire for various reasons.

I think you are right DR, rushing to the nearest FTCH doesn't do much for the breed. The old boys I trained and bred pups with before only went to a famous FTCH once and it was not a good result, usually we went to dogs that we knew and were related albeit not that closesly. The dog pup has just put his hunting pants on, the easy going lump of a pup has changed and I am not sure I am up to the job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PRH]

Boo - 2005, black lab bitch. We (stupidly) got her 3 months before child no.1 was born and as a result she had limited early training. She was out of a bitch with show lines and solid working dog, very pretty but described by an A panel judge and trainer as 'the most defiant dog I've ever come across', which I took as a positive - at least she was top of one class! I started shooting when she was about 4 and she came along, we had some fun, we fell out from time to time, but she was a brilliant family dog. Lesson: you get what you train for!

Willow: 2010, yellow lab bitch. My first proper gundog, bought with the intention of being a peg dog and picking up as well as a family pet. Far, far too good for me, it was like having the keys to a Ferrari whilst learning to drive. She was out of a pet and Meditearean Blue. Fast, stylish and determined to make the retrieve regardless of distance, cover or ducks diving. Lesson: don't be in a rush to take your shiny new dog out onto the peg until it is ready, not when you want it to be ready. She worked out quickly when I couldn't pay attention (shooting) and I ended up tethering her rather than fixing the issues. A really poor decision on my part. We had some fantastic days out picking up and at 11 a lot deaf and partially sighted she is still keen to do a bit.

Tarka: 2017, fox red bitch. A funny little thing, needy, a bit nervous and at 18 months I thought she would never get there, but she has. She is a great peg dog (untethered!), a hard working picking up dog and a loyal family dog. Lesson: they all mature at different speeds, patience is needed and train the dog in front of you not the one you had before / wish you had.

Mole: 2020, cocker. 8kg of character! All the controls are there, stop, turn, recall, heel is all fine, but she has had injuries which have prevented her from doing more than a couple of days beating and a bit of roughshooting. Lesson: draw out the dogs natural ability through positive training. Some dogs are just injury prone!

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