i hist May a it Att Tay it! shes at 1 mah EY in ‘ is Rat aly Did ot fA ae hae Ret ith cS : et ee He ve rt ale Arash ey vee tps fia matt tae a aya escent a i ae : a - i Saas ra aege nel se aa Youth fauna iehsaacat nt Niietaant ua a ale eres pits, ht ae - tits ia itt hs 1 a ha ant eR GRETA i een te ee Aut URNS Haba Hi Hie ie fain oe thet iperieiai a ae = seer es ‘a ht wi nthe eo rater } Hinkel i batelt ay ih i ant bh hs “g's inert if inti my tdi 4] ees ae Bist ow ee He at ie Et) Mey cian thay rath ‘ 4} Mivlany rt 143 i a Ey oe ihe i i . 4 a _ aes is oS Hysteria? Ne hh ret se ete ne oe 7 ; ib Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/birddogsinsporic42yeat ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS DWIGHT H. GREEN, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION FRANK G. THOMPSON, Director Bird Dogs in Sport and Conservation RALPH} E---YEATTER Printed by Authority of the State of Illinois NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY DIVISION HARLOW B. MILLS, Chief Circular 42 Urbana December, 1948 THE LIBRARY OF THE JAN 19 1949 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS S77 AE hae EaOLes Dwicur H. Green, Governor DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION Frank G. TuHompson, Director BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION Frank G. THompson, Chairman A. E. Emerson, Ph.D., Biology L. H. Tirrany, Ph.D., Forestry L. R. Howson, B.S.C.E., C.E., Engineering Georce D. Sropparp, Ph.D., Litt.D., L.H./ LL.D., President of the University of Iilin Wa trter H. Newuouse, Ph.D., Geology Rocer Apams, Ph.D., D.Se., Chemistry NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY DIVISION Urbana, Illinois SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF Hartow B. Mitts, Ph.D., Chtef Bessie B. Henverson, M.S., Assistant to the Chief Section cf Economic Entomology Georce C. Decker, Ph.D., Entomologist and Flead ~ J. H. Biccer, M.S., Entomologist L. L. Encutsu, Ph.D., Entomologist C. J. Weinman, Ph.D., Entomologist S. C. Cuanpier, B.S., Associate Entomolo- gist James W. mologist Wiiiis N. Bruce, M.A., Assistant Ento- mologist Joun M. mologist H. B. Perry, M.A., Associate in Entomolo- gy Extension Georce F. Lupvik, M.A., Special Research Assistant Joun E. Porter, M.S., Laboratory Assistant Associate Ento- M.S., APPLE, Wricut, B.A., Assistant Ento- Section of Faunistic Surveys and Insect Identification H. H. Ross, Ph.D., Systematic Entomologist and Head Mitron W. Sanperson, Ph.D., Associate Taxonomist B. D. Burks, Ph.D., Associate Taxonomist Lewis J. SrannarpD, Jr., M.S., Assistant Taxonomist Leonora K. Groyp, M.S., Laboratory Assist- ant Puitip W. Smiru, B.S., Laboratory Assistant Dorotuy A. Mouton, Technical Assistant Section of Applied Botany and Plant Pa- thology Leo R. Tenon, Ph.D., Botanist and Head J. Cepric Carter, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist J. L. Forsperc, M.S., Associate Plant Pa- thologist G. H. Borwr, M.S., Assistant Plant Pa- thologist Rosert A. Evers, M.S., Assistant Botanist Consuttrant 1n Herrerotocy: Hosarr M. Situ, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Zoology, Univers of Illinois. This paper is a contribution from the Section of Game Research and Management (65811—10M—9-48) Sc Gao 2 Section of Forestry Witter N. Wanpe i, M.F., Forester @ Head Lawson B. Cutver, B.S., Associate in F estry Extension ; Section of Aquatic Biology Georce W. Bennett, Ph.D., Aquatic i ologist and Head Witiram C. Srarrett, Ph.D., Associate Agu ic Biologist D. F. Hansen, Ph.D., Assistant Agua Biologist R. We.tvon Larimore, M.S., Research Assi ant Jacos H. Lemon, Field Assistant DanteL Avery, Field Assistant Section of Game Research and Manag ment Rarpy E. Yeatrer, Ph.D., Game Specias Frank C. Bettrose, B.S., dssociate Ga Specialist Haro.tp C. Hanson, M.S., Assistant Ga Specialist Section of Publications and Public lations James S. Ayars, B.S., Technical Editor a Head BiancHe P. Younc, B.A., Assistant Te nical Editor Cuar es L. Scott, B.S., Assistant Technt Photographer Technical Library MarcuerirE Simmons, M.A., M.S., Te nical Librarian Cooperative Wildlife Research Pau. J. Moors, B.S., Project Leader Georce C. Arruur, B.S., Project Leader Lyste R. Pretscn, M.F., Project Leader A. B. Cowan, B.S.F., Assistant Project Lea WAAS LIE, , CONTENTS Role of Trained Bird Dogs Value to Sport Reducing Crippling Losses i Sear In Wildlife Research Peed ate: Selecting a Bird Dog Breeds and Classes 1 ee i IRE ae Bae Rnineearaimed: DOL. ... 42.5.0: uss snes Buvmera Yvoune Dos. 5... =: Ra oe tg Te MesiraplesC@haracteristics.....°:......-4.....- CUSPOUG) On) ULNA ee Be ee SenenaleeGonsideratvions: .°.9)... «2. seeks soe The Amateu re, AMS a RS tne oo Le eA oF PAIN OVNSLEMS ha ae eee oo ee rane Glasseshy hahaa. cals Pod Sen oe Planted Gam (Pouca crane «Co qatho Des Oke ie) O8O.@ 3 ch oGendoedl cl ooo o enn Sar aiond, 1 ep FITC MOUN OD OO enh AIS ea eke tn gee SE BDU GARNI Gye: Sie eric: cuss cacee Wee Satie ES HLIESSONS Si ase wee rae tens beet eek ad ae a cde FOU EUEER MEE Gr eIKL@ bays RE ewe BOM cae en es, Mera RE hire atl INatubaleRetrie vines... 4. 4 siete ns ee siren otathe Lt EL eae Horces breaking tosRetnleve. 044. ee ee ci ae Re Bee Freedom in the Field... Accustoming to Firing of Gan. : Oe Ae ae nc ee Means Win Gass Ol sD ier w ah a © Sys tausl = aerate ewe onto one ea ee eee REVIGWAO Leahy nOd oy Obes HIP erin thio caer ae ae Se 2 See Se ee Coming Promptly to Call.......... So Be oh RPP. he Latenrpa lt SFr eee ae cc ON paris LR ete xl Aenea Nn tel te ONY ery ui, oe Wavanced @vande Lrainine: v.44. h ewe pee re ech las aie at etm Field Training meheachinea Doreto, Quarters. =.=. ..22 30+ See ee Oe see eee nes Steadinession: Loint and) to. Wins, and) Shot... .2.25--.----..---4.- Training the Rheasante Dot Ahr tt tee a ess eee re Uvennandline Und esiraplee cu. 5 5 cck wy here caw BeSug sens Important Breeds of Bird Dogs The Pointing Breeds ESI CUAILVee S DANG lites core rere ote. Re re ees wee English Setter Gard re: SRYGHIGIES Sta ii oe et ean ee Wire-Haired The Sporting Spaniels... Clumber Spaniel. .... Cocker Spaniel...... Pointing Griffon r. «0 obs ie os. -~ English Springer Spaniel Field Spaniel. . Sussex Spaniel The Retrievers ; American Water Spaniel Chesapeake Bay Retriever Curly-Coated Retriever Flat-Coated Retriever Golden Retriever. . Or or or Ot OF oT OI O11 Co G0 GO DD hm hm WO WwW LO ane ss Irish Water Spaniel Labrador Retriever 62 Literature Cited 64 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Frontispiece. English Springer Spaniel, F. T. Ch. Bing of Roe. Winner in various field trials and third in First National Amateur Field Trials for English Springer Spaniels at Craborchard Lake, Illinois, December 12-14. 1947. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Quirk, Greenwich, Conn., owners. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 3. Pointer, Sport. Dr. E. F. Greer, Vandalia, Ill., owner. Photo from Beb Becker. Page 4. Chesapeake Bay Retriever, F. T. Ch. Tiger of Clipper City. Dr. George H. Gardner, Evanston, Ill., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 5. Golden Retriever, F. T. Ch. King Midas of Woodend. Winner of First National Championship, held in 1941. E. N. Dodge, Wayzata, Minn.. owner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 5. Cocker Spaniel, F. F. Ch. Cinar Spot ef Earlsmoor. Connecticut Spaniel Field Trial, Saybrook, Conn., November 17-18, 1944. Dr. Samuel Milbank, owner-handler. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 6. Black Labrador Retriever. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 7. Yellow Labrador Retriever, Mac of Greencroft. Russell Wilcox, Horicon, Wis., owner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 8. English Setter, Huntstone Felicia. Bob Becker, Chicago, Ill.. owner. Photo from owner. Page 9. Labrador Retrievers, F. T. Ch. Glenairlie Rocket, right, and F. T. Ch. Glenairlie Rover. F. T. Ch. Glenairlie Rocket (Mrs. Frances Morgan Garlock, Brockport, N. Y., present owner; Glenairlie Kennels, Barrington, Ill., former owner) is said to have won more points in field trials up to 1948 than any other Labrador. F. T. Ch. Glenairlie Rover, his sire, was formerly a widely known field trial winner. F. F. Garlock, owner. Photo from owner. Page 10. English Setters, F. T. Ch. Susie, left, and Sal. Susie was cham- pion in puppy class in northern Illinois field trials held at Downers Grove. March, 1948, and placed second in derby at Asa B. Wallace Memorial Field Trials at Weldon Springs, Mo., November 1, 1948. Paul Sabo, Jr., Cham- paign, Ill., owner. Photo by Paul Sabo, Jr. Page 12. Pointers. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 13. American Water Spaniel, Ch. Grant’s Red. Theodore Grant, Downers Grove, Ill., owner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 15. Brittany Spaniel, Ch. Avono Happy. Judged best in breed at 1946 National Brittany Spaniel Specialty Show, and winner in various field trials. Jack L. Whitworth, Avon, Ohio, owner. Photo from owner. Page 16. Irish Water Spaniel, Bog’s Jiggs. Thomas C. Marshall, Fairfield, Conn., owner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 18. English Setter. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 21. Irish Setter in training by Clifford Wallace. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 26. Labrador Retriever, Shot of Barrington, being trained to retrieve by Martin Hogan. V. Merkle, Chicago, Ill., owner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 28. English Springer Spaniel and trainers. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 31. Weimaraner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 32. German Shorthaired Pointer. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 35. Brittany Spaniel, Gwennes’ Passy the Second. Tommy Thompson, Ferndale, Mich., owner. Photo from Bob Becker. Page 37. Brittany Spaniel, Ch. Mac of Paradise. Judged best in breed at 1947 National Brittany Specialty Show, and best in breed at Chicago Inter- national, 1948. W.S. Oberlin, De Kalb, Ill., owner. Photo by George W. Bennett. Page 39. English Setter, Int. Ch. Silvermine Wagabond. Mr. and Mrs. Davis H. Tuck, Redding Ridge, Conn., owners. Photo by R. W. Tauskey. Page 40. Gordon Setter, Ch. Blakeen Saegryte. George W. Thompson, Baltimore, Md., owner. Phote by William Brown. Page 41. Irish Setter, Bryan of Tyronne. Edward H. Brown, Waltham, Mass., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 43. Pointer. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 44. German Shorthaired Pointer, Ch. Sue von Schwarenberg. Jack Shattuck, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., owner. Photo from G. D. Goodwin. Page 46. Weimaraner, Ch. Silver Blue Luke. Charles S. Hartung, Chevy Chase, Md., owner. Photo by Brooks Studio, Washington, D. C. Page 48. Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon. Max McGraw, Fin’n Feather Farm, Dundee, Ill., owner. Photo from owner. Page 49. Clumber Spaniel, Squirrel Run Ree. Hallock Du Pont, Wilming- ton, Del., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 50. American Cocker Spaniel. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 51. English Cocker Spaniel. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 52. English Springer Spaniel, F. T. Ch. Russet of Middlefield. Cham- pion at First National Amateur Trials for English Springer Spaniels at Craborchard Lake, Ill., December 12-14, 1947. Dr. C. G. Sabin, Portland, Ore., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 54. Sussex Spaniel, Hornshill Russet. Mrs. Brewster Sewall, New Hartford, Conn., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 55. American Water Spaniel. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 57. Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Ch. The Second Cocoa. F. A. Bunte, Chicago, Ill., owner. Photo by Allison-Lighthall, Chicago, Il. Page 58. Curly-Coated Retriever, Sarona Jacob of Marvadel. J. Gould Remick, Cedarhurst, N. Y., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 59. Flat-Coated Retriever, Black Royal. Mrs. Robert Boggs, New York, N. Y., owner. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 60. Golden Retriever. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Page 61. Irish Water Spaniel, Ch. Handsome Mahoney. Sire of numerous champion Irish Water Spaniels. R. G. Lindsay, Milwaukee, Wis., owner. Photo from owner. Page 63. Labrador Retriever. Photo by Evelyn Shafer. Note.—The author regrets that names or winnings of some dogs pictured in this circular have been necessarily omitted because of inability to obtain full identifica- tions. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer is indebted to numerous persons and organizations for assistance in preparation of this circular. Special thanks are due to Charles S. Goodall for advice on training and for critical reading of the manuscript; to Bob Becker for permission to quote from his publications and for the loan of a number of photographs used in this circular; and to Robert Cary, artist, for the crayon drawing used on the cover. The writer wishes to thank members of the Natural History Survey staff for their cooperation, especially Dr. Harlow B. Mills, Chief, for advice and interest; Dr. Leo R. Tehon, who proposed this circular and encouraged its writing; Dr. George W. Bennett for constructive criticisms and photog- raphy; Willet N. Wandell for making available unpublished material; and James S. Ayars for counsel on numerous occasions during the writing of the manuscript. Appreciation is expressed to the American Kennel Club for permission to use material from its publications. The Complete Dog Book (1947) is the source of much of the material on breeds. The writer is grateful to the late Professor Howard M. Wight for pointing out the value of bird dogs in game studies, and to Dean S. T. Dana of the University of Michigan School of Forestry and Conservation for permission to quote from Professor Wight’s unpublished manuscript on the pheasant dog. Thanks are due many others who cooperated with the writer in various ways. Unfortunately the list is too long to be published in full. The follow- ing assisted in obtaining material for the text or furnished photographs: F. A. Bunte, Chicago, Ill.; Rune Clark, Champaign, Ill.; H. B. Conover, Chicago, Ill.; Dean H. Ecke, Denver, Colo.; F. Fletcher Garlock, Chicago, II1.; G. D. Goodwin, Secretary, German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. H. W. Glassen, Secretary, the English Setter Association, Lansing, Mich.; Robert E. Hesselschwerdt, Urbana, Ill.; Roland Kilbon, Editorial Department, Sun, New York, N. Y.; R. G. Lindsay, Mil- waukee, Wis.; Max McGraw, Dundee, IIl.; Beatrice E. Peterson, Librarian, American Kennel Club, New York, N. Y.; Darwin Morse, Secretary-Treas- urer, the Weimaraner Club of America, Richmond, Mass.; Dr. Charles G. Sabin, President, Northwest English Springer Spaniel Club, Inc., Portland, Ore.; Miriam L. Steyer, Secretary, Gordon Setter Club of America, Bronx, N. Y.; Joseph C. Quirk, Secretary-Treasurer, English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, Inc., New York, N. Y.; and Jack L. Whitworth, Secretary, American Brittany Club, Avon, Ohio. An English Springer Spaniel with a cock pheasant he has just retrieved. Trained retrieving dogs recover many thousands of crippled game birds and animals annually, thus conserving game that would otherwise be lost. MD DOGS Ai conservation RALP Rice. 7 EAE be IRD DOGS have enjoyed wide popularity among Illinois hunt- B ers for many years. During the period of settlement, the open prairies proved well adapted to dog work, and even then hunters imported and bred pointers and setters to aid in hunting upland game birds. Later, retrievers became well known in the extensive waterfowl hunting areas of the Illinois and Mississippi river valleys. Since the ring-necked pheasant was added to the list of Illinois game birds about 30 years ago, spaniels have become popular as upland game dogs. The recent marked increase in hunting as a recreation has brought an increase in the numbers of bird dogs of all kinds, and today one or more breeds can be seen in nearly every community in the state. Indicative of the interest in bird dogs shown by sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts of Illinois is the number of major field trials held in the state annually. Other organized efforts that indicate an interest in bird-dog breeds and help to ad- vance them include the activities of specialty clubs. Many of these clubs have good-sized membership lists. However, in Illi- nois, as elsewhere, by far the largest number of backers of bird dogs is found in the host of unorganized owners who value these dogs for their services afield, as well as for their friendliness, intelligence, and beauty, qualities that make them, as a class, excellent family dogs. This circular discusses pointing dogs, spaniels, and retriev- ers, referred to collectively here as bird dogs, in relation to hunt- ing and wildlife conservation in Illinois. Although it was written chiefly with a view to giving information for the benefit of pros- pective owners and owners who plan to train their own dogs, it is hoped that it will be of some value to everyone who likes to hunt and is interested in the welfare of Illinois wildlife. A suggestion made to the Illinois Natural History Survey by Bob Becker was in large measure responsible for the writing of this circular. Mr. Becker, as one of the directors of the Illinois State Museum, urged the Survey to undertake a study of the [1] 2 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 place of bird dogs in Illinois conservation, particularly from the standpoint of reducing crippling losses of upland game and water- fowl. The following discussion of the important values of these hunting dogs is based on studies in Illinois and elsewhere. ROLE OF TRAINED BIRD DOGS At the present time, trained bird dogs in Illinois serve in three important capacities. Not only do they continue in their historic role as companions of the hunt; they also help to con- serve dwindling game resources by reducing crippling losses and they aid in wildlife research. Value te Sport Illinois ranks high among states in the proportion of land devoted to agriculture. In the northern half of Illinois, where the great bulk of the state’s 8,000,000 inhabitants live, intensive farming and pasturing make upland game cover very scarce. Illinois hunters include about 400,000 residents who buy hunting licenses annually and, in addition, many farm owners, tenants, and farm boys who hunt on their home acres without being required to purchase licenses. The total number of hunters in the state each year is undoubtedly well over a half million. Although the cottontail rabbit, in point of numbers taken, is by far the most important game species in Illinois, the game birds, particularly quails and pheasants, provide the favorite sport of many hunters. In bird hunting, trained dogs play an especially important role. Well-trained bird dogs increase materially the opportunities of bagging game. They are especially important to the average bird hunter, whose time in the field is limited to a few trips or a few hours annually, and whose annual game bag is relatively small. Many hunters who do not own dogs hunt with friends who do. Thus, the thousands of trained bird dogs in the state help to distribute the opportunities of harvesting game among a large number of hunters. The fact that trained hunting dogs tend to increase hunting success often overshadows other important values of these dogs. Not the least of these values is that, for most people, hunting with a dog greatly increases the enjoyment of the sport. The use of bird dogs frequently diverts emphasis from large game bags to enjoyment of hunting as a recreation. Voluntary limiting of co YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION the kill is commendable, since most kinds of game birds are no longer numerous enough to meet the heavy and growing demands of hunters. The value of the trained bird dog to the average hunter is well expressed by Bob Becker (1945): “In our estimation, the The rigid point and tense expression of this pointer mean quails just ahead. Skillful handling and retrieving of birds by well-trained dogs add much to the enjoyment of any hunt. most potent reason for using a hunting dog, aside from the humane angle of finding wounded birds, is the FUN of getting your game with the aid of a devoted canine partner. And he doesn’t have to be a purebred with a pedigree a mile long to give the owner a lot of fun in the hunting field. If the pooch has a nose and will get those cripples he can’t help but add a lot of fun to any hunt. In fact, a hunter who doesn’t use a dog misses about 80 per cent of the fun of a hunt.” Reducing Crippling Losses It is now recognized that retrievers and other hunting dogs that are trained to retrieve have an important place in game management. By capturing wounded birds and mammals that would otherwise escape the hunter, these dogs reduce materially a serious wastage of wildlife. A high percentage of game partially or wholly disabled by shot will eventually die of wounds or be killed by natural enemies. Game lost by crippling means more 4 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 game killed or crippled by hunters in an effort to complete the hunting bag. Crippling losses of upland game and waterfowl have become a cause of grave concern on the part of conservation officials and thoughtful sportsmen. The extent of these losses is indicated The Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed originated on the eastern seaboard. Dogs of this breed, for several years numerically strong in the Mississippi River valley, have retrieved many ducks annually. by studies in various states. In Minnesota, for example, crippling losses of ducks were found to vary from 11 to 54 per cent of the total number bagged plus birds known to be crippled, and the losses by pheasant hunters to vary from 6 to 48 per cent (Nelson & Swanson 1941). The percentage of crippling was influenced by the type of shooting and the experience of the hunters. In a detailed study in Pennsylvania, the crippling losses of pheasants averaged 30.4 per cent of the number bagged and crippled (Ran- dall 1939). Hawkins & Bellrose (19389) estimated the crippling losses of dabbling ducks on the Illinois River to be at least one- third of the annual bag, and of diving ducks more than one-half the bag. The effectiveness of retrievers in reducing crippling losses YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION v1 A Golden Retriever brings in a duck. Estimates of the number of ducks wounded or killed and not recovered in Illinois range from one-third to one- half the number bagged. Greater use of trained retrievers could materially reduce this loss. A Cocker Spaniel retrieves a wounded pheasant. Despite small size, the hunting strains of Cockers are splendid field dogs. G ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 is illustrated graphically by a tally of hunters’ bags carried on throughout the 1946 hunting season on two check areas in north- ern Illinois, one in Kendall County and one in Winnebago County. Several kinds of retrievers are well known in the Illinois waterfowl] fly- ways. Here a black Labrador retrieves a duck shot by a hunter from a nearby blind. On these areas the hunters who hunted without dogs shot 88 pheasants, of which 19, or 21.6 per cent, were crippled birds that were able to escape. Hunters with dogs shot 81 birds, of which only 8, or 9.9 per cent, were so lost.* Similar reductions of crippling losses when dogs were used were found in the previously mentioned Pennsylvania pheasant study (Randall 1939). Here it was found that hunters of all classes who hunted without dogs had an average crippling loss of 39.8 per cent, while those who hunted with dogs lost only 20.1 per cent of their birds. The losses reported by all the Pennsyl- vania hunters were high, but the number of birds lost by crippling was reduced to approximately half by retrieving dogs, as was the ease in Illinois. In the Pennsylvania study, the hunters were classified in three groups, novice, average, and veteran. Novice hunters were *Unpublished data contributed by Illinois Pheasant Research Project (PR-30) conducted cooperatively by the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois Depart- ment of Conservation, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 7 found to have higher crippling losses than average or veteran hunters, owing partly to such causes as shooting at birds that were out of range and using too small or too large shot. Nevertheless, the losses of even veteran hunters were reduced by more than 40 per cent by the use of retrieving dogs. The true retriever breeds, such as the Chesapeake, Labra- dor, Golden, and the water spaniels, were developed primarily as waterfowl retrievers, but today many of these dogs are being used on upland game. In upland game hunting they have been teamed frequently with pointing dogs as “non-slip” retrievers (that is, kept at heel except when retrieving). However, their services are not confined to retrieving; often they can be trained to hunt pheasants and other game ahead of the gun. The Ameri- can Water Spaniel is a notable example of a retriever that can easily be trained to hunt upland game. Labradors, Chesapeakes, and doubtless other retriever breeds seem to possess considerable ability as hunters. Speaking of Labradors, Becker (19470) says: “Another point about the Labrador which the average duck and pheasant hunter will be interested in is the breed’s ability to be trained something Retrievers are becoming more popular in upland game hunting, where they are often teamed with pointing dogs or sporting spaniels. In some cases, retrievers, like this pointing yellow Labrador, are trained to quest for pheasants. 8 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 like a spaniel and work ahead of the gun to flush game. It’s qui.e possible that not all Labradors will do this. We owned one Labra- dor (Dawn of Kezar) who, after being broken as a retriever, was taught in a few weeks to take hand signals and quarter her ground back and forth ahead of the gun. No one watching her valuable work would pretend that she crashed the weed thickets with the speed and dash of a Springer. . . . But this Lab loved to quest for game. To the ‘hunt ’em up’ command and a wave of the hand she would bang into the brush and tall weeds to find pheasants for us, always staying within easy gun range.” Most upland bird hunting is, of course, done with the point- ing and sporting spaniel breeds, and in these dogs ability to retrieve is especially important from the standpoint of reducing crippling losses of upland game. Many of the pointing dogs and sporting spaniels owned by Illinois hunters are trained for the dual purpose of finding and retrieving. In the case of the spaniels, training to retrieve is doubtless given considerable impetus by the fact that they are expected to retrieve in field trials. Retriev- ing is not included in field trials for the pointing breeds. In regard to trials for pointing dogs, the late Professor Howard M. Wight Although trained on upland game birds, setters occasionally fill in as waterfowl retrievers. This English Setter served as pick-up dog during a shoot on a duck pass in North Dakota pheasant country. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 9 of the University of Michigan School of Forestry and Conserva- tion (unpublished) wrote: “It seems to me that field trials emphasize both speed and range too much, for while both are worthy of attention, they are | > 45 ae, O24a LR A pair of champion Labrador Retrievers owned by an Illinois sports- man. Field trials stimulate the improvement of the bird-dog breeds. now quite well beyond any particularly practical use, and such factors as the ability to retrieve may well be given a more pro- nounced place in trials designed to improve the bird dog.” In Wildlife Research Increasingly stringent legal restrictions on hunting seasons, game bags, and other improvised conservation measures have, in most instances, failed to halt the downward trend of upland game, waterfowl, furbearers, and other wildlife. This failure has brought a tardy recognition of the importance of preserving and restoring wildlife habitats. Unfortunately, wasteful land man- agement practices, including a general intensification of farming and grazing, regardless of land types, and wholesale draining, have already caused tremendous losses of soil, water, forests, and wildlife. 10 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 The past two decades have seen a remarkable growth of research in the field of wildlife conservation. Throughout the country, biologists in colleges, in universities, and in state and federal conservation agencies are gathering facts on the basic requirements and behavior of game and other wildlife. This Two English Setters spect a pheasant in a central Illinois stubble field. The rear deg has stopped short te honor the other’s point. Trained bird dogs such as these are of much value in game studies. information is necessary before wildlife management can find and maintain its proper place in the whole conservation move- ment. Game research has created a new field of usefulness for the talents of various breeds of hunting dogs in the United States. Several years ago, Professor Wight conducted extensive studies of pheasant populations in Michigan with the’aid of his setters, Max and Max Barry, and thus drew attention to the value of trained dogs in wildlife investigations. Since then, hunting dogs have given valuable aid to field men engaged in game population studies, in life history studies, and in other kinds of game re- search and management work. SELECTING A BIRD DOG Picking the right dog for a hunting companion depends in large measure on the sportsman’s hunting preferences, on his knowledge of the work of the different breeds, and on the sound- YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 1a ness of his appraisal of the hunting potentialities of the particu- lar dog or dogs in which he is interested. Breeds and Classes The bird dogs may be conveniently classified into three groups: (1) the pointing breeds, (2) the sporting spaniels, and (3) the retrievers. The chief breeds are given in the following list. The Brittany Spaniel, the only spaniel that points game, is here listed with the pointing dogs. Two spaniels, the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Water Spaniel, are well-known re- trievers and compete with the other retrievers in field trials. All of the breeds of sporting spaniels and pointing dogs can, of course, be trained to retrieve. BREEDS AND CLASSES OF BIRD DOGS CLASSIFICATION BREED Pointing Dogs Brittany Spaniel English Setter German Shorthaired Pointer Gordon Setter Irish Setter Pointer Weimaraner Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon Sporting Spaniels Clumber Spaniel Cocker Spaniel English Springer Spaniel Field Spaniel Sussex Spaniel Retrievers American Water Spaniel Chesapeake Bay Retriever Curly-Coated Retriever Flat-Coated Retriever Golden Retriever Irish Water Spaniel Labrador Retriever The hunting breeds in the above list that are best known in Illinois are probably the Pointer, English Setter, English Springer ~ 12 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 The leading Pointer has just retrieved a quail and is holding it in his mouth while he points another bird. The well-trained companion is honoring his brace mate’s point. Spaniel, Irish Setter, Chesapeake Bay, Labrador, and Golden re- trievers. The Brittany Spaniel, Gordon Setter, German Short- haired Pointer, and American Water Spaniel are fairly well known. The Cocker Spaniel is probably the most popular of all family dogs, but is used much less for hunting in Illinois than the Springer Spaniel. Although most people know the Irish Water Spaniel, it is overshadowed by some of the better known breeds of retrievers and ranks as one of the rarer hunting dogs in this state. The other bird dogs are rare or known to but few Illinois hunters. The rarity of these breeds in no way detracts from their merit. Buying a Trained Dog The prospective purchaser of a hunting dog may be faced with the problem of training his dog for work in the field. The sportsman who is able to buy a fully trained dog does not have this problem, but he should remember that training methods differ. For best results he should know how the dog has been worked in the past. This statement applies also to the owner who has had his dog trained by a professional. Although dis- satisfaction between a dog buyer and a reputable dealer or trainer is usually due to differences in handling and knowledge, the buyer should not lose sight of the fact that there is a certain number of YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 1 dishonest dealers who advertise ‘‘trained” dogs that are of little or no value as hunting dogs. He should make sure that he is deal- ing with a reputable seller (Stringer 1946). Buying a Young Dog A 3-months-old puppy will probably give little evidence of his potential ability as a hunting dog. Hence, it is to the advan- tage of the purchaser to learn as much as possible of the ancestry of the prospect. The buyer of a registered puppy has the ad- vantage of records kept over a number of years. Familiarity with the families of the breed that have produced outstanding field trial dogs is helpful in making a choice. Although there are many bird dogs of uncertain ancestry that do good work in the field, buying a purebred puppy of proved hunting ancestry in- creases considerably the probability of getting a good performer. A puppy should not be taken from its mother before the age of 2 months. If it is to be shipped far, it should be at least TARE Aes A sturdy and eager retriever despite his small size, the American Water Spaniel continues to win friends among Illinois sportsmen. It is at home in upland as well as marsh hunting. 14 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 3 to 4 months old, and preferably 4 to 6 months. The strain of shipping may give a younger puppy a setback from which it will recover slowly, if ever (Lytle 1934). Dogs can now be shipped by plane from New York to Cali- fornia in about 16 hours. It will usually be well to investigate the possibility of air transportation for the newly purchased puppy or grown dog to reduce the time and strain of shipping. Air express rates on dogs, as a rule, compare favorably with rail- road express rates. The breeder of good hunting dogs must charge prices for puppies commensurate with their breeding and potential hunting ability, and the care they have been given. This fact does not mean, however, that a sportsman must pay an exorbitant price to obtain a good bird dog. Desirable Characteristics Perhaps the leading qualifications of the potentially good hunting dog are hunting instinct, intelligence, health, vigor, amenability to training, and a good nose. Since for the great majority of sportsmen the hunting dog will be the family dog, good disposition also is desirable. The nose of the bird dog has been developed by many gen- erations of breeding to a high degree of efficiency in detecting even faint scents. Nevertheless, individuals, whatever their breeding, show considerable variation in the keenness of their scenting powers. If his nose is faulty, a dog will be handicapped in the field regardless of his other natural qualifications and his training. Well-trained bird dogs hunt while running at full speed, with head held high, and seek the scent of game birds in the air. This habit is in contrast to the ground trailing of the hound working on rabbits or other “fur’’; the hound follows the scent left on the soil and vegetation in the path of the quarry. As discussed later, ground trailing is a fault in bird dogs. The behavior of the bird dog working on game will doubtless be made more understandable by a brief discussion of scent emis- sion by game animals. Stoddard (1932) has aptly described game scent by comparing it to a smoke or a vapor that is visible to the eye. When a bird moves about or shakes its feathers, it gives off a heavy cloud of scent, or “smoke.” If a breeze is blowing, the “smoke” is constantly carried downwind. If the atmosphere YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 15 is still and moist, the “‘smoke” spreads out in all directions, but lies close to the ground. If a quail, for example, is flushed, it flies away swiftly, leav- ing an air-borne “smoke trail” behind it, which terminates where the quail alights and crouches. The bird can be located easily by the bird dog that arrives before the “‘smoke trail” is dissipated. If the bird remains motionless for some time, the trail of scent disappears and its “body scent” is largely withheld by the tightly compressed feathers. Then the dog will probably have difficulty in finding the bird. The scenting ability of the dog and scent emission by game are affected by a number of conditions that are only partially understood. It remains something of a mystery why dogs with keen scenting powers can sometimes locate game birds with ease and at other times fail to find them. Doubtless the conflicting odors given off by moldy vegetation, the different degrees of moisture and temperature of the air and soil, the physical condi- tion of the dog, and other factors play an important part. HINTS ON TRAINING Undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets of the success- ful dog trainer is his understanding, usually acquired by experi- In a bird dog, the nose counts. Field-trial champions, such as this male Brittany Spaniel, excel in scenting ability as well as in other hunting quali- ties, and their offspring is in demand as hunting and breeding stock. 16 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 ence, of the nature of a dog’s mental equipment and mental proc- esses. Lack of space precludes enlargement on this subject here, but an informative discussion, in understandable terms, of the Formerly, Illinois market hunters used Irish Water Spaniels extensively on waterfowl to conserve powder and shot. Less numerous now, these dogs still rank high in ability as retrievers. mental reactions and behavior of dogs can be found in H. W. Carlton’s book, Spaniels: Their Breaking for Sport and Field Trials, Chapter XI, “Psychology and Dog-Breaking.” This book is listed under “Literature Cited,” page 64. General Considerations The Amateur Trainer.—Sportsmen who buy trained dogs or have young dogs fully trained by professionals are relatively few compared with those who buy young dogs and train them during spare time. That numerous capable hunting dogs in the state have been trained by their owners speaks well, on the whole, for amateur trainers. Nevertheless, many dogs develop bad hunt- ing habits that might have been avoided or minimized if the owners had been better informed on training. There are numerous books on the subject of training hunt- ing dogs. Unfortunately for the average reader, authors some- times fail to bridge the wide gap between the professional trainer and the amateur and they outline rough training methods which, in the hands of the beginner, may ruin the dog as a hunter. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 17 In the section “‘Literature Cited” are listed some publications on training that, in our opinion, are especially helpful to the am- ateur trainer. A considerable number of other books might have been listed; the reader’s own interests will guide him to other sources of material suited to his needs. The publications men- tioned have been drawn on in writing this section on training. It is obvious that the subject of training cannot be presented fully in a publication of this kind. We have attempted to give only a brief outline of some of the more important steps in train- ing, in the hope that as training problems arise the reader will turn to authoritative books and articles on this subject. Most dogs are by nature anxious to please their masters, but they cannot do things they do not understand. Lessons need to be repeated until they are thoroughly mastered. Patience on the part of the trainer, whether natural or acquired, is the first requisite in successful training (Moffit 1937). Obedience training is an essential part of the education of the dog, whatever his breed. In hunting dogs, this is especially important, since the disobedient dog hunts mostly for himself and takes most of the owner’s time in trying to keep up with him or to find him. The obedient dog, which responds to directions and hunts for his owner, stands a good chance to find as many birds within gun range as the wild, disobedient dog will find for himself a mile away (Becker 1945). The successful amateur trainer develops a knack of teach- ing obedience without cowing or alienating his hunting companion. The following quotation from a widely known English authority on spaniels (Carlton 1945) can well serve as a guide when the puppy’s obedience training is begun: “One should no doubt teach the puppy his name, which may be done by calling his name and patting him or giving him a piece of biscuit. One should also, no doubt, make the puppy gallop up to one on his name being called—which may be done in much the same way. And one should make him go to his kennel when desired. This presents more difficulty. Personally, if a puppy is recalcitrant in this respect, I generally get him to me, and either pick him up and carry him in or put on him a collar with a short light cord attached and make him comply by an admixture of cajolery and gentle force, and end up with a reward. “Tn these early lessons, as with all other lessons during early puppyhood, the four cardinal principles are: 18 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 “(1) Never give an order without seeing that the puppy complies with it; he has got to learn to obey you always, not sometimes. “(2) Always be absolutely gentle, both in voice and action —when you come to work in the field, you want a bold, keen dog, not a cowed and listless wreck. “(3) Never give an order with which you cannot secure compliance without a display of harshness. ““(4) Never persist in any lesson which is becoming a bore to the puppy. “The nearer these early lessons can be approximated to a game, in the puppy’s eyes, the better.” As the puppy develops and learns to take directions, you ~ should become accustomed to giving them in a firm, distinct voice, making sure that each command is understood and carried out. The commands should be short, and the same words should An English Setter points a covey of quails. The many setters, pointers, and spaniels trained to retrieve game help to reduce crippling losses among upland game birds. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 19 always be used for each response expected. Be sure each com- mand is audible, but do not get into the habit of raising your voice, or the pupil will probably think he does not need to mind unless you shout. Teach a few basic things well rather than attempt a large number, which may be only half learned. At each step of training, make every effort to see that the dog understands what you want, and, whenever possible, why you want it. When the lesson is learned, it should be practiced until response becomes habitual. This is the background of obedi- ence training. Such training calls for ingenuity, common sense, and much patience in getting the lessons over to the dog. Harsh treatment and punishment not understood have permanently intimidated many promising hunting dogs. The dog’s span of attention is short. Lessons should be only 4 or 5 minutes long for the young dog. They should not be prolonged until the dog becomes bored or sour, and the trainer loses patience. Dogs vary in intelligence and temperament just as do humans. This variation calls for study of the individual charac- teristics of the pupil and adaptation as far as possible of the training program to his needs. Some dogs need more rehearsals of each step than others. Some must be praised and encouraged more than others (Becker 1947a). Although considerable emphasis has been laid on the prepa- ration of the trainer, there is no need to overrate the difficulties of training a hunting dog. Most boys can teach their dogs any number of tricks by the simple method of showing the pupil what is wanted, practicing it until well learned, and rewarding the dog’s progress with praise. The amateur trainer who stresses the development of companionship with his dog, and encourages his inborn desire to do things to please his master, paves the way for progress in training. The man who likes hunting dogs and dog work and who is willing to acquaint himself with the fundamentals of training can usually do at least a fairly good job of training his own dog. The development of a good hunting companion will amply reward him for his work. Moreover, the skill in handling acquired dur- ing the training period will serve the hunter well in the field. Obviously, good dog work is in large measure dependent on good handling. Training Systems.—Various systems are used in training bird dogs. Some owners do little yard training and confine their 20 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 programs largely to a few field trips before the hunting season, and then take the dog along on hunting trips. If the owner works frequently with his dog, the animal can eventually become a useful hunting companion, but he will make mistakes, some of which might have been avoided with more yard work and other preliminary training. A program that combines yard training and field training over an extended period of time seems to give best results. Training Classes.—A program that combined yard training and field training over an extended period was used successfully by a group of spaniel owners in northern Illinois. They began a training class in April and continued until October. Yard (obe- dience) training was given first. When this was thoroughly ~ mastered, the dogs were taken to the field and put through an intensive course of quartering, finding and flushing game, remain- ing steady to flush and shot, and retrieving. During the summer months the dogs were trained in water retrieving, and in the autumn a field trial was held. Observation of the methods of a successful trainer was par- ticularly helpful to the beginners, who had a good spaniel man to act as instructor and coach. A class met for instruction every other Sunday. At each meeting progress was checked, mistakes were straightened out, and questions were answered. Then each amateur trainer was given a mimeographed sheet of the lesson and told to work at home (Becker 1945, Goodall 1946). Sound instruction of this kind is helpful in all phases of deg training, particularly in the more difficult tasks, such as training to retrieve. Planted Game.—The use of planted birds is of great assist- ance in training dogs for hunting and retrieving. Barn-loft or pen-reared pigeons, game-farm pheasants, guineas, and domestic ducks are used for this purpose. Planting or hiding a dizzied bird in cover, where its exact location is known, enables the trainer to control his dog on the approach or on point. Flushing and shooting planted birds in flight provides the means of training a dog to retrieve under conditions that ap- proximate actual hunting. The Young Dog.—The dog makes most of his physical and mental growth during the first year of life. At 6 months most dogs have developed only to the stage of simple yard training, finding and chasing game, and other relatively easy tasks. To YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 21 adapt training to the mental development of the young dog, most trainers delay the start of intensive yard training until the puppy is at least 8 months old or even a year or more. Some trainers, however, believe it does no harm, and may be beneficial, to do a limited amount of hunting with a puppy 5 or 6 months old before he has had advanced yard training. However, Martin Hogan r . 75 pnd > A) eS hk Clifford Wallace, trainer of hunting dogs, tests an Irish Setter on the command, “Sit.” The trainer walks around the dog and then moves some distance away to see if he will stay in position. 22 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 (Becker 1947) warns that a young dog, even one that has been trained to the firing of a gun, can easily be made gun-shy if several hunters shoot at once when the dog is in the immediate vicinity. A young dog that seems fully trained to field hunting can be ruined by being taken into a duck blind where there is heavy shooting just overhead. The steps in training pointing dogs and spaniels for hunting are similar in many respects. However, there are obvious differ- ences in the work of the two classes of dogs and in methods of handling. For example, spaniels are usually taught to sit down when they spring game and to remain steady in this position until they are sent to retrieve or to resume hunting. Also, when given the signal to halt (‘““Hup’”’) they take the sitting position. ~ Pointing dogs are trained to remain steady to wing and shot in standing position, and also to “Whoa” in the same position. Publications mentioned later deal with specific training methods for each class. The following brief training outline, based on steps followed and methods recommended by well-known professional trainers and authorities on hunting dogs, may be helpful to the amateur trainer in planning his program. Numerous variations in the sequence of steps of training are employed successfully by differ- ent trainers. Puppy Training First Lessons.—The puppy from the age of about 3 to 8 months can be taught a few simple lessons. In addition to being housebroken, he can be taught to know his name well and the meaning of “No” and he can be given simple yard training, for example, to lead, to stand (pointing dogs), to sit (spaniels), to “Retch’ and a few other easy lessons such as those outlined below. During this period, like a child, he learns how to learn, and how to mind. He learns the meaning of a number of words (sounds to him). This preliminary training, based largely on the desire of the puppy to do things with his master, paves the way for future progress. During this time, the young dog is usually given a period of freedom in the field, which is continued until he learns to recog- nize game and to handle himself well afield. Name.—Whenever you call the puppy or speak to him, make a point of using his name. He should learn always to associate YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 23 the sound of his name with himself. Later, when you teach him to stand or sit, you should be able to call him by a dozen different names, without having him move from position. He should not move until you use his own name (Moffit 1937). Lead.—Hogan (Becker 1947)) advises that the puppy be taught to lead early and that the owner exercise care in this training. He says: “‘As you know, any good dog of any breed can be cowed by an owner who handles it too roughly on a leash. You can make pups leash shy by being too rough with them at first. At the age of 4 months or so, a pup should have a short leash snapped on his collar so he can trail it around. Then you gradually exert pressure on that leash and guide him.” He can then be taught to follow readily at the pull of the leash. ““No.’’—When the puppy does something wrong, give the command “No” in a firm tone, and make every effort to show him what he has done wrong. His knowledge of the meaning of “No” will be very useful throughout his training. Pointing Game.—As a means of introducing the pointing breeds to game, one professional trainer (Bufkin 1946) uses the following device. A squirrel skin is tied to a piece of twine about 10 feet long attached to a long stick. The skin is placed on the lawn close to the puppy’s nose, where he will get the scent. As the puppy tries to pick up the skin, it is pulled along, just out of his reach. When he learns that he cannot quite catch the quarry he will usually begin to point instead of chase. This pastime de- velops pointing at an early age, but it should not be continued more than a month or it may form the habit of “false pointing” of moving objects. Natural Retrieving.—Most bird dog puppies possess a natural tendency to retrieve that can be developed by practice. Carlton (1945), speaking of spaniels, advises that training be started as soon as the puppy is weaned and his cc afidence in his master is firmly established. This is probably sound advice for puppies of any bird dog breed, especially if they are to be trained as natural retrievers. Carlton points out that the puppy’s inclination to pick up and carry things is present much earlier than his desire to hunt. Similar stages of development are evident in young foxes; for example, around the entrance of a fox den will usually be found dead ground squirrels or other prey animals, which serve as playthings for the young. Female foxes have been observed to give to their young parts of prey animals to carry during their first hunting trips. 24 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 Carlton’s advice on early training of puppies in retrieving is partially summarized below: 1. Do not begin until you have gained the puppy’s confi- dence so that he is eager to race up to you whenever he sees you. 2. When you begin his retrieving lessons, take him to a place where he will not be distracted by dogs, other animals, traffic, or people. This may be on the lawn, if it is not his regular playground, or it may be in some area where the grass is not close cut, but where he will have no difficulty seeing a thrown object. 3. Get him interested in a knotted handkerchief or a simi- lar easily seen, soft object that is to be used as a dummy. When he is watching the movement of your hand and moving in the .- same direction, throw the dummy underhand a yard or two away, at the same time telling him to “Fetch.” 4. If he has seen the dummy leave your hand, the chances are he will race out to it, pick it up, and run back to you. If he does not go to it, he probably has not seen it leave your hand, in which case pick it up and throw it again. 5. If the puppy does not come directly back to you, try to get him to do so by sitting down, or by turning your back, or by walking away from him. When he comes to you with the dummy, your object is to get it directly back in your hand. How- ever, do not snatch it or engage in a tug-of-war with the puppy. To do so tends to develop a “hard mouth,” that is, a habit of biting down hard on what is being retrieved. Place your hand under the puppy’s lower jaw (so that he will not duck his head or drop the dummy) and press the dummy up and toward the back of his mouth as you remove it. If necessary, place your fingers in his mouth and open it gently. | 6. When the dummy is back in your hand, reward the puppy with a bit of food or by making much of him. Probably food is the best reward for the first two or three lessons. Follow- ing these lessons, rely on praise, reserving the food until he shows a disinclination to return to you after he picks up the dummy. While the puppy is very young, limit the practice periods to 4 or 5 minutes at a time, and once or twice a day. He should always consider these lessons play; whenever his interest wanes, take away the dummy and discontinue the lesson. After a week or two of practice, begin to substitute larger dummies, such as a stuffed canvas glove, a short piece of garden hose, or some other soft object that the puppy likes to pick up. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 25 For later lessons, a good practice dummy is one made of a piece of soft wood, 8 or 10 inches long, rounded off to a diameter of about 2 inches, with a number of pigeon, pheasant, or other bird wings attached to it. As your puppy grows and becomes proficient at picking up and returning the dummy, you must vary lessons gradually in the direction of retrieving in the field. As early in his schooling as possible, begin to throw the dummy where he will have to use his nose to find it, but not, at first, in thick cover. He should return it to you in the same way as in the earlier lessons. Another variation is to get the puppy to find the dummy without having seen you throw it. When you are walking down- wind with him, drop the dummy when he is not looking. After you have gone 50 feet or so, turn and walk back into the wind toward the dummy, encouraging him to hunt for it. If he is familiar enough with it to recognize the scent, he should be able to draw up to it from a distance of several yards. He will thus learn to look for and retrieve something he has not seen fall. Later, under hunting conditions, the training of natural retrievers must be extended to include retrieving of shot birds. Methods of field training vary among trainers. One of the most useful methods of teaching the dog to retrieve birds is by releas- ing domestic pigeons to be shot in flight and retrieved by the dog. If the puppy will not retrieve in play, the practice should be discontinued, and he can be force broken to retrieve after he has had some hunting experience (Bufkin 1946). Force Breaking to Retrieve.—There is some difference of opinion as to the merits of natural and force-broken retrievers. It is generally agreed, however, that if the dog has been thor- oughly force broken he can be depended on to retrieve, while a natural retriever may refuse to retrieve and the owner will be unable to enforce the command. Nevertheless, force breaking is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks of training, especially for the amateur. Unless the job is done thoroughly, it is better not attempted. If the dog shows indications of being at least a fair natural retriever, it may be questioned whether it is worth while for the nonprofessional to attempt force breaking. The amateur trainer who plans to force break his hunting dog to retrieve can find descriptions of methods in the books on train- ing listed under “Literature Cited.” Freedom in the Field.— Getting your young dog into the field and allowing him to learn to hunt by himself is an important 26 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 part of his training. By the time the puppy is 5 or 6 months old you will probably find it profitable to get him into the field to gain experience in finding wild things as often as possible. Al- though some trainers favor delaying this period of freedom in Martin Hogan, professional trainer of Barrington, Illinois, uses a padded and weighted dummy in training a Labrador to retrieve. The dog is taught to remain in sitting position until sent to fetch. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 27 the field until advanced yard training is begun (8 months to a year), it seems better in most cases for amateur trainers 1o begin to take their dogs to the field at an earlier age. Generally, the more preliminary field training and experience on game your puppy receives, the better hunter he will become. On these trips allow him to find and chase rabbits, squirrels, birds, anything he finds, to his heart’s content. Four or five field trips a week where he will have a chance to find game provide excellent training. This is his time to get acquainted with the field and to develop independence in finding likely spots for game. The dog should be allowed plenty of freedom to learn things for himself. His early attempts at hunting may be supervised, but not too obviously. Frequent directions may take away his initiative, or give him the idea he is doing something wrong, which is likely to lead to disobedience later (Moffit 1937). Clifford Wallace (Becker 1947b) emphasizes that usually a good shooting dog can be made from one that likes to hunt. The period of freedom in the field is his time to learn to thoroughly ‘enjoy hunting. He can be got under control with obedience train- ing after his hunting instinct is developed. Since he needs to gain self-confidence, it is well for him to be without canine company on at least most trips; many success- ful trainers believe a young dog will learn to hunt faster if taken out a few times with an older, experienced dog. If he is one of the pointing breeds and shows a tendency to point, he should be encouraged, but no attempt should be made to enforce point- ing at this time. Sooner or later he will start making points. Accustoming to Firing of Gun.—Field trips offer you good opportunities to accustom the young dog to the report of a gun. Previously you may have introduced him to a report by firing a cap pistol (not close at first) as you approach him with his food. He will thus come to associate a report pleasurably with food. In the field, begin by occasionally firing .22 blanks, at first when the dog is some distance away and only when he is intent on chasing something he has flushed. He will probably pay no attention to the report. Gradually you may fire the gun nearer to him, always when he is chasing. If he shows no nervousness, you may use a .410 or larger gauge, firing it only when he is chasing, and at first when he is some distance away. Teaching ‘‘Whoa’”’ or “‘Hup.”’—Another lesson that you can give a dog of the pointing breeds during field trips is the mean- ing of “Whoa.” When the dog is ready to start his romp in the 28 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 fields, but before you have unsnapped the leash, grasp him by the collar and tail, putting him in pointing position, at the same time giving the command ‘Whoa.’ Since he will be anxious to be off, he will probably stiffen to a point. Repeat this procedure at the start of each trip until he has learned to remain quiet in Teaching a Springer Spaniel steadiness to shot. Spaniels are trained to sit when they spring game and to remain in this position until sent to retrieve or resume hunting. this position; then try stepping back a few paces, restraining him with the leash. Whenever he moves, go back and straighten him to a point. Soon he will stop on point at ‘““Whoa’’ with only occasional restraint by the leash (Bufkin 1946). The meaning of “Hup,” or sit, can be taught to the spaniel in about the same way. “‘Heel.’’—In teaching a dog to heel, carry a very light, willowy switch. When you start to walk with the dog on leash give the command “Heel” and a hand signal to indicate he is to stay behind. He will not know what is wanted and will probably try to go ahead. Call him back, giving the command and hand signal, and repeat these until he understands he is to walk behind. If he is still hard to keep back, flick (not whip) him lightly with YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 29 the switch, repeating the command. This will cause him to get back in position quickly. Practice with this method will teach him to walk in position at command. Review of ‘‘Whoa”’ or ‘“‘Hup.’’—If the period of freedom in the field has begun before the start of the yard training, the dog will probably have learned the meaning of ‘‘Whoa” (pointing dogs) or “Hup” (spaniels), but will need further practice. As previously mentioned, the spaniel is usually taught to sit after flushing game and to come to a sitting position when stopped in the field. You can teach the spaniel to ‘““Hup”’ (sit) when you are walking with him on leash. When you stop, give this command and show him what you want by placing your hand on his rump, pushing him gently but firmly to a sitting position, at the same time drawing up the leash to keep his head erect. Practice until he will sit without command when you stop. An occasional pulling up of the leash may be needed as a re- minder. Eventually you should be able to move away some dis- tance while your dog remains motionless in ““Hup” position. Coming Prompily to Cail.—oOne of the most important lessons involves teaching the young dog to come to you when you call him. If you are having difficulty in this respect, you may use a 25-foot clothesline rope as a lead. If the dog does not come at once when you call, use the lead to start him to you. When he comes promptly, praise him. After he learns to come promptly when called, mistakes in other phases of his training can be corrected at once. It may be questioned seriously, however, whether it is ever good handling, or fair to a dog, to call him to you to punish him. If punishment is necessary for willful infrac- tion of rules (when your dog is old enough and well enough trained to know the rules and to know that he must obey them) you should go to him. He should not have the idea he is likely to be punished when he comes to you (Lytle 1934). Hand Signals.— Dogs learn the meaning of hand signals more readily than they learn words. During yard training, use hand signals along with commands as often as possible. For example, when you give the command to “‘Whoa,” ‘“Hup,” or ‘Heel,’ also give an appropriate hand signal. The dog should learn to respond to hand signals in the field whether he hears the command or not. Advanced Yard Training.—By the time your dog is 8 to 12 months old he will probably have developed mentally to the point where he is ready for advanced yard training. We will assume that he has had preliminary lessons in most phases of yard work, 30 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 and that the series of lessons has progressed gradually from the easier to the more difficult tasks. The advanced yard training program should perfect by degrees his performance of the earlier yard lessons, or any new ones given him. Later, wnen further freedom in the field will do no good and teaching control will do no harm, these lessons may be applied to initiate control of your dog in the field. Field Training Teaching Dog to Quarter.—Eventually, in the field, you will bring your hunting dog’s yard lessons into play in teaching him to remain steady to flush and shot, and in bringing him under. control while working ahead of you. Do not be in a hurry to enforce control, however, until he has gained field experience. You should teach him to quarter the ground ahead of you, but he will have to learn for himself to work the birdy spots and to skirt the unlikely places. Proper working of the cover requires experience on his part. Spaniels should quarter the ground, windshield-wiper fash- ion ahead of you, to flush the game within gun range. Preferences vary among hunters as to what distance the spaniel should work ahead of the gun. In thick cover, you will often find it an advan- tage if you are able to hold your spaniel in where he can be kept in view. On open ground some hunters prefer not to have the dog work very close. On this point Charles S. Goodall (letter) writes: “A dog that finds and flushes game 50 yards ahead gives little chance for a killing shot. A pheasant will be at least 60 and perhaps 70 yards away before it is safe to shoot (because of the dog). From 25 years’ hunting experience, I know that most game is shot under 30 yards. It is my opinion that most hunters and even top wing shots can’t even cripple a bird at 70 yards, much less kill one. Also, a dog 50 yards in front of the gun will flush a moving bird far out of range if it is necessary to follow the line any distance before flushing. A dog ranging or quartering over a 70- to 80-yard front with the gun in the middle of that front is covering enough ground, even though he is crossing in front of the gun at a distance of 5 yards. Incident- ally, that is exactly where I want my Springers to cross in front of me most of the time; wide on the sides but close to the gun when they cross.” YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 31 Patient labor is required to produce a fully trained retriever or hunter: the age of attaining maximum working powers varies with breeds and indi- viduals. This Weimaraner is classed as a finished retriever and hunter at only 2 years. 32 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 This young German Shorthaired Pointer shows the staunch pointing qualities that are characteristic of the breed. In training the spaniel to quarter, you may use hand signals to advantage to indicate that he is to turn and quarter in the opposite direction. Some trainers use their dog whistles for no other purpose than to turn the dogs. Perhaps the most useful device you can use in training your young dog to quarter properly is to follow a zigzag course over the field, always working into the wind in early lessons. When the puppy sees you change your course he will usually swing back to keep ahead. Occasionally you may find it necessary to start to run to arouse his interest in what lies ahead of you. After the dog has learned to quarter properly, you may reserve whistle signals or voice signals for special occasions when it is necessary to get his attention. Pointing dogs should quarter ahead of the hunter while working the likely spots, but at a greater distance than in the case of the spaniels. Steadiness on Point and to Wing and Shot.—The well-trained pointing dog should hold in pointing position until the hunter flushes the game and shoots; then remain steady in this position until sent to retrieve or to resume hunting. The spaniel should flush the game within gun range; then sit and hold steady in this position until sent to retrieve or to continue hunting. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 33 Achieving steadiness in the young dog requires patience on the part of the trainer as well as frequent rehearsals of the lesson. It is probably better not to strive for complete steadiness early in the dog’s hunting experience. The first impulse of the dog when game is flushed seems to be to leap after the quarry. The strong tendency found in all breeds of dogs to chase moving objects is undoubtedly inherited from their wild hunting ances- tors (Becker 1947a). Some dogs learn with experience that it is useless to chase birds, but most dogs, if not given careful training, repeated when necessary, are likely to develop persistent habits of breaking and chasing. When the pointer or setter begins to point game, make a special effort to get to him when he is on point. Hold him there for 5 minutes or more, stroking him and straightening him to a good pointing position; let him know you are well pleased with him. Repeat “Whoa” several times to associate this command with pointing game. Pushing the dog gently toward the pointed game tends to make him lean back. This is a good way to make some dogs more staunch. Methods of teaching steadiness to wing and shot vary among trainers. Many trainers rely on a check cord (25 to 50 feet of clothesline attached to collar) to steady the dog on point or to wing or shot. Stopping the dog with enough force to cause him to turn end-for-end after he has broken point and started to chase is frequently recommended to cure these faults. Never- theless, in most cases it seems better for the amateur to teach steadiness without the use of a check cord if possible. Goodall (letter) states: “The check cord ruins more spaniels than any other thing; it makes blinkers or pointers out of them. Many bird-shy spaniels are caused by a check cord, even in the hands of a good trainer.” The following method of teaching steadiness without a check cord is recommended by one nationally known professional trainer (Moffit 1937): When the dog has been taught to “Whoa” or “Hup,” is accustomed to the firing of a gun, and is undergoing advanced training in the field, the trainer begins the steadiness training by firing a gun at an opportune time. The dog is prob- ably accustomed to associate the report with the fun of chasing, and his impulse will be to be off, but in this lesson the command “Whoa” or “Hup” is given immediately after the report. If the dog has been sufficiently trained, and all goes well, he will 34 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 stop and hold the standing (pointing dogs) or sitting (spaniels) position. If the dog does not obey the command, the trainer usually (under some circumstances it may be preferable to let the dog get his chase out) goes to nim and carries him back to the exact spot where he should have stopped. The dog is put in correct position, kept there a few minutes, and allowed to think over his mistake. This procedure is repeated until the dog learns to stop at the shot and command, and finally to the shot alone (Moffit USB )e Training the Pheasant Dog.—Training a bird dog to hunt pheasants presents special problems because of the cock pheas- ant’s habit of running ahead of the hunter and dog. Pointing dogs must learn by experience to follow the pheasant, rather than keep on pointing while the bird runs away. Occasionally, one of these dogs learns by himself to circle the pheasant, thus probably causing it to lie to a point between the dog and hunter. The following quotation from Wight (unpublished) presents some original ideas on training the pointing dog to work on pheasants: ‘“A good census dog must be fast, rangy, heady, and not too staunch on points. The good hunting. dog should be less rangy, more readily controlled, and fairly staunch on points, but it must not be permitted to hold its point long after the cock has run far out of the area, as so frequently occurs. In other words, the behavior of the cock pheasant is quite different from that of the quail or grouse. It may lie to the dog, or it may not. It is safe to expect that it will move out when the dog approaches. A dog which holds long points, and finally is sent on only to point and repoint, is not a pheasant dog, and probably it never can become a pheasant dog. It indicates that it lacks proper training. After watching many well-trained dogs hunt pheasants, it is the author’s opinion that the old, well-established methods are used too frequently and that it is better to forget practically everything that is known about training the grouse or quail dog before starting in to train a dog for pheasant hunting. Lots of bird sense which the dog alone can develop if he possesses the natural ability is the first essential in a good pheasant dog, and the dog can develop bird sense only when he is given the oppor- tunity. Many good dogs are spoiled by too much attention by the trainer. “Instead of pursuing the cock from the rear (trailing) it is best for the dog to move out and around the bird, thereby either YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 35 changing its course or causing it to lie to a point or to flush within shot of the gun. There are several methods for training the dog to handle the wily cock in this manner. “1. Keep the dog’s head off from the ground; never let him develop into a trailer. The best method found by the author has This Brittany Spaniel’s tense point marks the hiding place of a pheas- ant in a snow-covered thicket. been to take the dog out of short cover at the first indication of ground trailing and put him down in a dense vegetation that he can best traverse with his head held high. “2. Never permit the young dog to trail the bird from behind. Train him to move around the bird. This may be done by teaching him to respond to a command. I personally like to locate a flock of pheasants in a narrow draw with but two normal escapes, one at either end; then when it is known that the birds are there the dog is put down so that he has the advantage of the wind. When he has his birds well located, force him to leave them completely and circle around, approaching the birds from the opposite side. After he has learned to do this efficiently from command, he may 36 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CiRCULAR 42 be encouraged to make the same move without command. Time and much patience will eventually result in an automatic response which seems to increase with age. “3. By tethering a cock bird in dense cover, or by attaching to it a light clog, one has almost a complete control over the training. By time and again controlling the dog’s movements when the exact location of the bird is known, the approach and the point can be steadied. This is probably the best method of training the pheasant dog. “4. Once the idea takes hold, it is advisable to give the dog plenty of opportunity to develop all of the fine technique which the particular dog is capable of developing through plenty of self-hunting, or better still through loose control when the trainer is present. “This seems to be about the only way the dog has of learning the characteristic behavior of pheasants in flocks and singly under varying conditions.” Overhandling Undesirable.—It should be the objective of the hunter to train his dog thoroughly in the essential points of working to the gun; then to allow him to work with a minimum of direction. Frequent directions will distract the dog and retard the development of initiative in finding and skill in handling game, both marks of the good hunting dog. IMPORTANT BREEDS OF BIRD DOGS* In the following pages are given brief histories of the chief breeds of pointing dogs, spaniels, and retrievers, as well as partial summaries of the bench standards approved by the Ameri- can Kennel Club. For full descriptions of the breeds and complete breed standards, the reader should consult the latest issue of The Complete Dog Book, official publication of the American Kennel Club. Hunters are usually more interested in the field performance of their hunting dogs than in bench-show points. While there is justification for this attitude, hunters should remember, never- theless, that, if hunting ability is not given a subordinate role in breeding, bench standards can have an important role in main- taining high quality in the hunting breeds. *Principal source of material in this section is The Complete Dog Book (1947) and other publications of the American Kennel Club. Spelling of names of breeds included in this circular follows the style of that book. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 37 The Pointing Breeds Brittany Spaniel.—Although only recently introduced into the United States, the Brittany Spaniel is probably one of the oldest of the spaniel breeds. The naturally short-tailed character of the modern Brittany is credited officially to the mating, about The Brittany Spaniel points his game like a setter or pointer. Recently introduced into the United States from France, the Brittany, a medium- sized, naturally bob-tailed spaniel is gaining in popularity. a century ago, of a bitch owned by an old hunter living in the Valley of Douron in Brittany with the dog of a visiting English hunter. In the litter were two tailless puppies, one of which was reared as a hunting dog. This dog, which is described as a splendid animal and an excellent hunter, became a popular stud. Among his progeny were numerous puppies either without tails or with short stubs. At the beginning of the present century, when the Brittany was said to be badly degenerated owing to inbreeding, a French breeder introduced crosses with pointers and other hunting breeds. The Brittany type, however, seems to have been faithfully preserved, and the modern breed dates from this period. In 1931, the Brittany Spaniel was introduced 38 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 into the United States, where it has gained steadily in popu- larity. In general appearance, the Brittany Spaniel is a small, strong, closely knit dog of intelligent appearance and graceful bearing. It is energetic of movement and possesses vigor and stamina. It is longer legged and more rangy than the Cocker and Springer spaniels, and, unlike any other spaniel, it points game. Its work on pheasants and quails resembles that of a setter; it can be trained easily to retrieve. Coat colors under the standard include dark orange and white, and liver and white. Some ticking is desirable but not so much as to produce belton patterns. The coat should be dense and flat or wavy, but not silky. Shoulder heights of the mature Brittany should be 1714 to 2014 inches, weights 30 to 40 pounds. English Setter.—English Setters probably have been trained as hunting dogs in England for centuries. A popular theory based on old records is that this breed is an offshoot of the spaniel family. Another theory is that the setters and spaniels are de- scendants of the same ancestral type of dog. Still another theory is that the English Setter breed was developed from crosses between spaniels and old Spanish pointers. Numerous strains* of English Setters have originated in the British Isles and several of these have been imported to America. The most famous of the British strains are the Lave- racks and the Llewellins, both of which were brought to this country subsequent to 1870. About 75 years ago, R. L. Purcell- Llewellin, in Wales, made outcrosses of a strain of setters from northern England with outstanding dogs of the strain developed by his friend, Edward Laverack. The progeny proved to be re- markable field dogs, which became well-known on both sides of the Atlantic. The Laveracks became the foundation of the pres- ent bench show type of English Setter, while the Llewellins proved to be outstanding field trial dogs. Both the bench show and field trial types have their staunch supporters (Speelman & Williams 1928). The English Setter is an exceedingly attractive, intelligent, active dog possessing speed, stamina, and hunting instinct. A lithe, muscular, well-balanced conformation enables it to move with ease and grace. An eminent breed characteristic is the long : *The term strain refers to a subdivision of the breeds of domestic animals, that is, a group having a common lineage but not distinguishing characteristics sufficient to constitute a separate breed. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 39 bs +~ - ined a The English Setter is a popular hunting dog on every continent. Ances- tors of the modern dogs of this breed aided in the medieval sport of netting. The better known strains of modern English Setters include the Llewellins and the Laveracks. A blue belton English Setter is pictured here. skull with its moderate dome. The coat is straight, flat, and of medium texture. In Illinois, English Setters and Pointers share popularity as leading all-round quail and pheasant dogs. English Setters make good companions and family dogs. Strains are not recognized under the breed specialty organ- ization standards; bench standards apply to all English Setters. Acceptable colors under the standard are black, white, and tan; black and white; blue belton; lemon and white; orange belton; lemon belton; orange and white; liver and white; liver belton; and solid white. Dogs without heavy patches of color on the body but flecked all over are preferred. Dogs should stand about 23 to 25 inches and bitches 22 to-24 inches at the shoulder. Mature dogs should weigh about 55 to 70 pounds and bitches 50 to 65 pounds. Gordon Setter.—The “black and tan Setter” is an old breed, probably antedating the Irish Setter. A native of Scotland, where A() ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 it gained wide popularity among titled sportsmen of the eight- eenth century, it was named for the Duke of Gordon, who was one of its foremost breeders. Although the Gordon is a hand- some dog and its owners are invariably enthusiastic in their et an ba . tte? thes The handsome biack and tan Gordon Setter is not so well known in Illinois as the English and Irish setters. Gordons are intelligent and capable hunting dogs. praise of the breed, it remains one of the least-known setters in the United States. The Gordon Setter Club of America points out that the numerical weakness of the breed in this country is due chiefly to the fact that the Gordon is a one-man dog and, therefore, does not train easily to work for a handler he is unaccustomed to in field trials. Field trial handlers naturally prefer a dog that develops early, has speed and independence, and is adapted to kennel routine without requiring close companionship of his handler or trainer. On the other hand, the Gordon makes an ideal family dog and is one of the most intelligent hunting dogs. Its friends claim that it has no equal for cover shooting and that its trait of covering the ground thoroughly and at a somewhat slower pace than the English Setter is often a decided asset. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 41 The Gordon is not common in Illinois, but a few dogs of this handsome breed can be found here and there in the state. The coat of the Gordon Setter should be straight or slightly wavy, silky, and deep, lustrous black in color. Tan markings occur above the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle, on the throat and chest, on the forelegs up to the elbows, and inside the hind legs and thighs. Present bench standards call for shoulder heights of 24 to 27 inches for mature males, 23 to 26 inches for females; weights should be 55 to 75 pounds for males and 45 to 65 pounds for females. Irish Setter.—The Irish Setter was a popular hunting dog in his native Ireland more than 2 centuries ago and, as early as the first decades of the nineteenth century, it had become estab- lished throughout the British Isles. There is no certainty as to the origin of this hunting dog, but officials of the Irish Setter Club of America believe that a combination of English Setter, spaniel and Pointer blocd, with a trace of the Gordon Setter, Motes ae WT . ae i eee i : ae a ; ‘ - ‘ t > ° eo ead ot Lae . “s ¢ = 4 soggy . Far ay fre . a ‘ ? *) af’) *) gra « ' ‘ q L i Es : 4 . , s 7 4 Pied The English Cocker Spaniel is larger than the American Cocker and it has a long muzzle that facilitates retrieving of large game birds. This is a typical English Cocker. which are common, include jet black, red, tan, cream, and liver. The standard specifies that these colors should be sound through- out and not faded or “washy.’’ White on the chest of otherwise solid-colored animals is considered objectionable, but does not disqualify. Color combinations, such as black and white, black and tan, occasionally liver and white, and tricolors, or black and tan and white, also occur. Accepted weights of the American Cocker range from 22 to 28 pounds. The English Cocker, relatively uncommon in the United States, differs from the American Cocker in both type and size. Primarily a sporting dog, it is somewhat larger and has longer legs and an elongated, setter-like dome and muzzle. Desirable weights are for males 28 to 34 pounds and for females 26 to 32 pounds. ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 or bo English Springer Spaniei.—As their name indicates, the an- cestral stock of this and most other spaniel breeds is believed to have been native to Spain. Development of the modern sport- ing spaniels took place largely in the British Isles and western Europe, where some types have been popular hunting dogs for centuries. Hunting dogs much like the modern English Springer Span- iel are shown in the illustrations of sporting books that date back to the fourteenth century. The early “Springing Spaniel” flushed partridges and other game for the falconer. The Kennel Club of England recognized the English Springer as a distinct breed in 1902 and adopted a standard as a guide to breeders. This breed became quite well known in the United - States after 1920. Field trials were held as early as 1924, and, in 1927, the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association was founded. It became the official sponsor of the breed on this side of the Atlantic. The English Springer Spaniel is an attractive, compactly built, upstanding, and active spaniel of medium size, possessing The English Springer Spaniel is now one of the popular hunting breeds in Illinois. Springers are good pheasant dogs and hunt well on other small game. They are widely used as waterfowl retrievers. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 53 intelligence, a keen nose, and sporting instinct. it is a hunting dog of all work. Its whole makeup is suggestive of strength, endurance, and considerable speed. In Illinois, the Springer ranks as one of the leading pheasant hunting dogs; also it is often trained for rabbit hunting. Its value as a retriever on land and water is widely known. In spite of the fact that the Springer’s coat lacks the requisite density for continuous work in icy water, this dog is probably surpassed in popularity as a waterfowl retriever along the Illinois River flyway only by the Chesapeake Bay and Labrador retrievers. The Springer’s intelligent and friendly nature make it very popular as a family dog; few breeds surpass it as a companion for children. Among the colors and color combinations acceptable under the standard are liver and white; black and white; tan and white; black, white, and tan; liver; black; and roan. Only red and white and lemon and white are subject to discrimination. The favored shoulder height for dogs is 1814 inches, with an allowable varia- tion of one-half inch either way, and for bitches 18 inches, also with an acceptable variation of one-half inch. Mature dogs should weigh about 45 pounds, with 50 pounds as the upper limit of desirable weight. Bitches should weigh about 42 pounds and should not exceed 47 pounds. Proper balance and proportion in contour are considered highly desirable. Oversize is held pref- erable to bad proportions. Field Spaniel.—The Field Spaniel type was established by repeated crosses between the “Welch Cocker” and the Sussex Spaniel, resulting in a very long-bodied, low-set dog. Breeders at the same time strove to produce a heavy-boned breed. In recent years, these exaggerated body and skeleton characters have been largely overcome through wise and careful breeding. The desirable Field Spaniel today is a handsome dog with good balance between height and length. It possesses level-headedness, intelligence, perseverance, and a keen nose. Continued breeding for endurance, speed, and agility have made much progress in producing a capable field dog. The typical Field Spaniel stands about 18 inches at the shoulder and weighs from 35 to 50 pounds. The color is usually black. The Field Spaniel is almost unknown in Illinois. Sussex Spaniel.—The Sussex Spaniel is thought to be one of the oldest breeds of land spaniels. Formerly the Sussex was 54 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 A coat color of rich golden liver is a distinctive mark of the Sussex Spaniel. Dogs of this breed are used in England for small game hunting, but they lack the speed desired by American sportsmen. a dog of exaggerated body length and shortness of legs. The modern dog possesses good proportions for field work. It is, how- ever, more massive and slower than the Springer or Cocker. In England, it is used for hunting pheasants and other farm game. It is not well known in this country. It is doubtful if there are 10 Sussex Spaniels in Illinois. The color of the purebred Sussex is a rich golden liver, a distinctive breed characteristic. The body is rather massive and muscular, but should exhibit freedom of motion. Weights vary from 35 to 45 pounds. The Retrievers American Water Spaniel.—The American Water Spaniel for many years has been known to Midwesterners as a familiar com- panion of the duck hunter. In 1938, this spaniel was recognized as a breed by the Field Dog Stud Book, an adjunct of the Ameri- can Field, and, in 1940, it was recognized by the American Kennel Club. or oO YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION There are several versions as to where and when this spaniel originated. A similar dog has been known to New England out- doorsmen for many decades, but the present type dog seems to have evolved in the Middle West. Fairly early in the present The American Water Spaniel, developed chiefly in the Middle West, is a capable retriever and takes easily to upland game hunting, where its work resembles that of a Springer. century, American Water Spaniels were well known to hunters in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and other nearby states. The American Water Spaniel is best known for its ability as a water retriever, but owners claim that it deserves to be ranked as a capable all-round hunting dog. It is much at home in both marsh hunting and upland game hunting. On upland game its work resembles that of the Springer Spaniel. It hunts by body scent and “springs” to flush. Its natural retrieving ability here makes it useful in returning crippled and dead game. As a waterfowl retriever, this dog is praised for its accuracy in marking, its vigor in going after shot game, and its prompt return, as well as its ability as a swimmer. It is said to respond cheerfully to handling and as a breed to possess a tender mouth. 56 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 Obviously, the American Water Spaniel is not of sufficient size to compete on equal terms at all tasks with such powerful dogs as the Chesapeake Bay, and its coat is not water resistant enough to allow it to work comfortably for hours in icy water. Neverthe- less, none surpass it in love of the water and willingness to work. The typical American Water Spaniel is an attractive, medium- sized, active, muscular dog of characteristic spaniel build. It possesses intelligence, an amiable disposition, and a keen nose. It is strong and sturdy and has legs of medium length. In general outline the body should be symmetrical and not too compactly coupled. Its appearance should suggest strength, endurance, and willingness to work. : The coat of the American Water Spaniel should be closely © curled or have a marcel effect, and it should be of sufficient density to be of protection against weather, water, and punishing cover, yet not coarse. The legs should have medium-short, curly feather. Acceptable colors are solid liver or dark chocolate; a little white on toes or chest is permissible. Shoulder heights of mature animals may vary from 15 to 18 inches; males may weigh 28 to 45 pounds and females 25 to 40 pounds. Chesapeake Bay Retriever.—As with most other sporting breeds, there is no complete and authentic record of the develop- ment of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Until the recent recogni- tion of the American Water Spaniel, it held claim to being the only sporting breed to originate in America. The following ac- count of the early history of the Chesapeake is accepted by the American Chesapeake Club as probably true. In 1807, the American ship, Canton, rescued the crew and cargo of an English brig off the coast of Maryland. Included in the cargo were two Newfoundland puppies, a dog and a bitch. The dog named Sailor and the bitch named Canton, after the rescue ship, were presented to the gentleman who gave hospitality to the shipwrecked crew. Both dogs eventually earned great reputations as retrieving dogs. Sailor, with a dingy red coat, and Canton, a black, were mated with a number of the common nondescript dogs then used for retrieving, thus laying the founda- tion of the Chesapeake breed. Whether the two dogs were them- selves ever mated is unknown. The claim is sometimes made that out-crosses were later made with other breeds, but this seems to be based entirely on supposition. By 1885, the Chesapeake Bay breed had become fairly well established and widely known for feats of retrieving in the cold YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 57 and rough waters of Chesapeake Bay. During World War I, fur- ther developments in the breed took place, including the now popular ‘dead grass” color. The Mississippi River valley has long been one of the chief strongholds of this breed. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a powerfully built dog with a short, strong back, a deep and wide chest, and well-developed fore and hind quarters. In outline, the Chesapeake should be im- The rugged Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a valuable aid in reducing crippling losses among waterfowl in Illinois. A waterproof coat and power- ful frame enable the Chesapeake to work in icy and rough water. pressive and well balanced. Courage, willingness to work, nose, intelligence, love of the water, and good disposition are qualities that, according to the standard, should be given primary con- sideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Special emphasis is placed on quality and texture of coat, as well as color. Acceptable colors vary from dark brown to a faded tan known as “‘dead grass.” The coat should be thick and short, with a dense, fine, woolly undercoat. The oil in the harsh outer coat and the woolly undercoat are of great value in preventing icy water from reaching the dog’s skin, and they aid in quick drying. Hair on the face and legs should be short and straight; hair on the shoulders, neck, back, and loins only should have a tendency to wave (not curl). Mature males stand 58 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 23 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 65 to 75 pounds; females measure 21 to 24 inches and weigh 55 to 65 pounds. Curly-Coated Retriever.—The Curly-Coat is thought to be one of the oldest breeds of retrievers, although its origin remains an enigma. Like the Flat-Coated Retriever, it is an English product. It was first shown in an English dog show in 1859, but — ES 3 ‘", ele 4 4 The Curly-Coated Retriever is a capable hunting dog long well known in the British Isles but is unfamiliar to most American sportsmen. some time after this Poodle crosses are reported to have been made to give the coat a tighter curl. Curly-Coated Retrievers are rare in the United States. . The Curly-Coated Retriever is a strong, smart, active, and upstanding dog. Friendly and amenable to training, this dog is said to be a first-class land and water retriever. The entire coat should be a mass of thick, crisp curls, either wholly black or liver in color. A few white hairs on the chest are not penalized. Flat-Coated Retriever.—This breed originated in England about a century ago. It has proved to be an excellent worker on waterfowl, marking, retrieving, and delivering in fine style, and a good land retriever on pheasants and other upland game birds. Like the Curly-Coat, this breed is rarely seen in the United States. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a smart, active, sturdily built YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 59 The Flat-Coated Retriever is an English breed that is not well repre- sented in Illinois or elsewhere in the United States. dog weighing 60 or 70 pounds. The coat should be of fine quality, flat, and dense to afford good protection in water. The color is usually wholly black, but occasionally a bit of some other color is seen, usually white on the chest. Liver color is also acceptable. Golden Retriever.—The Golden Retriever is a descendant of an old breed of dogs known as trackers, which are native to Asiatic Russia. Russian trackers are huge dogs measuring about 30 inches at the shoulder and often weighing 100 pounds. The breed serves man in a variety of ways in its homeland, among which, it is reported, is to guard isolated fiocks of sheep in winter with great steadfastness and courage. According to the American Kennel Club, the circumstances leading to the development of the Golden Retriever breed primarily from tracker stock are as re- lated below. In 1860, Sir Dudley Marjoribanks watched the performance of a troupe of Russian tracker dogs at a circus in Brighton, Eng- land. He was impressed by the intelligence shown by these dogs and, reasoning that this could be put to good use in the field, he purchased the entire troupe of eight dogs and took them to his seat in the Guischan deer forest in Scotland. Here they were bred without out-crossing for 10 years, but there was no game in Scotland suitable to their size, and in about 1870 plans were abandoned to establish the breed in its original form. 60 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 The Golden Retriever is a powerfully built dog with a rich, golden- colored coat. Fine retrievers and agreeable companions, dogs ef this breed are gaining in popularity in Illinois and the Middle West. At this time the Russian trackers were crossed with Blood- hounds. There is no record of crosses with other breeds, and only one generation of Bloodhound crosses is reported, but the descendants appear, on the basis of photographic records and notes, to have soon developed into the present Golden Retriever type, whose characters included smaller size than the tracker, as well as intensification of scenting ability, refinement, and a slight darkening of the color of the coat. In this country, Golden Retrievers are found chiefly on the Atlantic seaboard, in the upper Mississippi valley, and on the west coast. They are gaining in popularity in Illinois and the Midwest. In general appearance, the typical Golden Retriever is an active, powerful, soundly built dog, of kindly expression, and possessing good, level movement of body and legs. The skull is broad, the chest deep, the body short coupled, and the loins strong. The forelegs are straight, with good bone, and the hindlegs strong and muscular, with well-bent stifles. The standard calls for a flat or wavy coat, with a good, dense, water-resisting undercoat, and a rich golden color, not so dark YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 61 as that of an Irish Setter. Cream color is also acceptable. A few white hairs on ihe chest are permissible, but white collar, feet, or toes, or blaze should be penalized. Ideal weights for mature Golden Retrievers in good hard-working condition are for dogs 65 to 68 pounds and for bitches 55 to 60 pounds. Shoulder heights should be for dogs 28 to 24 inches and for bitches 2014 to 22 inches. Irish Water Spaniel.—The Irish Water Spaniel has served waterfowl hunters in the Illinois and Mississippi river flyways and elsewhere in the state for many years. The popularity of the Chesapeake, Labrador, and other breeds of retrievers in recent The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest of the spaniels. The topknot and tapering tail covered with very short hair help to distinguish it from the American Water Spaniel. years has overshadowed the Irish Water Spaniel, but a few indi- viduals of this fine breed can be seen along the Illinois and Missis- sippi. This quaint-looking product of Erin possesses a water-shed- ding coat of good quality and he loves the water. Although the Trish Water Spaniel is one of the larger retrievers, he is some- what less rugged than the Labrador and Chesapeake. 62 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 The general appearance of the Irish Water Spaniel betokens poodle crosses at some early time in the largely obscure history of the breed. It has been suggested, not without truth, that this dog looks as though he had borrowed spare parts from other kinds of dogs. The topknot, a striking characteristic of this breed, and the round, rather short tail covered with very short hair, a so-called “‘rat tail,’ distinguish it from the American Water Spaniel, whose tail carries a fair amount of feather. The Irish Water Spaniel is employed to some extent as a land retriever, but its size and curly coat are something of a handicap in thick or thorny. cover. It is an excellent worker in marshes, and in the water its all-around ability and willingness to work earn it a high rank among waterfowl hunters. For show purposes, the color should be deep, pure liver with- out white, although a white toe does not disqualify. The neck, back, and sides should be covered with tight, crisp curls. Under- neath the ribs the hair should be longer. The legs should be abundantly covered with hair that falls in curls or waves. The topknot should fall over between the eyes in peaked form. Mature dogs usually stand 22 to 24 inches and weigh 55 to 65 pounds; bitches usually stand 21 to 23 inches and weigh 45 to 58 pounds. Labrador Retriever.—The ancestors of this breed were native to Newfoundland rather than Labrador. In 1822, a traveler to Newfoundland wrote of “‘small water dogs” there that were ad- mirably trained as retrievers in fowling. Some of these dogs were carried to England by fishermen, and early in the nineteenth century the Second Earl of Malms- bury, on seeing one, arranged to have a number imported to his kennel in England. Here they soon gained considerable popu- larity. This dog gradually died out in Newfoundland as a result of a heavy dog tax. The decline of native dogs and the English quarantine law put an end to importation of Labradors to Eng- land, and many English breeders crossed the Labrador with other breeds of retrievers. The Third Earl of Malmsbury is credited with having kept an almost undiluted line of Labradors, thus preserving in large degree the original Labrador characteristics. He states in a letter written in 1887 that he always called his dogs Labradors, and he thus seems to have given the breed its name. Later, Labrador fanciers, desiring to end the practice of interbreeding, drew up a standard that discouraged crossing with other retrievers. YEATTER: BIRD DOGS IN SPORT AND CONSERVATION 63 The Labrador Retriever should be an exceedingly active dog, strongly built and close coupled; it should have a good spring of ribs, and wide, well-developed loin and hindquarters. A keen nose, intelligence, steady nerves, stamina, and an inborn desire to please its master make the Labrador an excellent hunting The Labrador is one of our most popular retrievers for both waterfowl and upland game. Labradors are strongly built and possess stamina, intel- ligence, and steady nerves. Black is the usual color for Labradors, but yel- low and other colors are permissible. companion. The eyes of the Labrador, set in a wide skull, should be of medium size and expressive of an active brain and good temper; they may be brown, yellow, or black in color. The jaws should be strong, the nose wide, the nostrils well developed. The coat character is important; it should be short, very dense, and without wave, and it should give a fairly hard feeling to the hand. The color is usually black; it should be free from rustiness and any white except possibly a small white spot on the chest. Yellow Labradors are occasionally seen, and other whole colors are permissible. 64 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR 42 Under the standard, dogs should stand 2214 to 241% inches and bitches 2114 to 2314 inches. Approximate weights of Labra- dors in good hard-working condition are dogs 60 to 75 pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds. LITERATURE CITED American Kennel Club 1947. The complete dog book. Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., Garden City, New York. 753 pp., illus., index. Becker, Bob 1945. Retriever, a big hunting asset, makes cripples count in game bag. Ill. Cons. 10(1): 20-4. Illus. “1947a. Mostly about dogs. Syndicated newspaper column, various dates, in Chicago Sunday Tribune. *1947b. Bob Becker’s dog digest. Paul, Richmond & Co., Chicago. 130 pp., illus. Bufkin, J. Earl *1946. Handling your hunting dog. Highth edition. Ralston Purina Co., St. Louis, Mo. 64 pp., illus. Carlton, H. W. *1945. Spaniels: their breaking for sport and field trials. Mile G. Den- linger, Washington, D. C. 126 pp., illus. (Reprint of original published 1915 by Field Press Ltd., London.) Goodall, Charles S. 1946. The Springer Spaniel is here to stay. Ill. Cons. 11(1 & 2):6-7. 31 illus. Hawkins, Arthur S., and Frank C. Bellrose 1939. The duck flight and kill along the Illinois River during the fall of 1938. Am. Wildlife 28(4):178-86. Illus. Kilbon, Roland 1947. Born hunters, the bird dogs. Natl. Geog. Mag. 92(3):369-98. Illus. Lloyd, Freeman 1937. Field dogs in action. Natl. Geog. Mag. 71(1):84-108. Illus. Lytle, Horace *1934. How to train your bird dog. A. F. Hochwalt Co., Dayton, Ohio. 224 pp., illus. Moffit, Ella B. *1937. Elias Vail trains gun dogs. Orange Judd Publishing Co., Ine., New York. 219 pp., illus., index. Nelson, Urban C., and Gustav Swanson 1941. Losses of crippled game birds. Cons. Volunteer 1(6): 44-8. Randall, Pierce E. 1939. Ringneck pheasant crippling losses. Pa. Game News 10(5):3, 31. Speelman, S. R., and J. O. Williams 1928. Breeds of dogs. U. S. Dept. Ag. Farm Bul. 1491. 46 pp., 34 figs. Stringer, Don H. 1946. Beware of the dog racketeer. Here’s how he works. Ill. Cons. 11 (1 & 2):32-3. Illus. Stoddard, Herbert L. 1932. The bobwhite quail: Its habits, preservation and increase. Charles Seribner’s Sons, New York. 559 pp., illus., index. *Publications suggested for use by the amateur trainer. ; f ; - : wii) Recent Publications A.—ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY BULLETIN. Volume 22, Article 1—VThe Plant Bugs, or Miridae, of Illinois. By Harry H. Knigh September, 1941. 234 pp., frontis. + 181 figs., bibliog., index. $1.25. Volume 22, Article 2.—Studies of North American Plecoptera, with special reference the fauna of Illinois. By T. H. Frison. September, 1942. 122 pp., frontis. + 126 fig bibliog., index. $1.00. Volume 22, Article 6—Survey of the Illinois Fur Resource. By Louis G. Brown at Lee E. Yeager. September, 1943. 70 pp., frontis. + 33 figs., bibliog. (Bound wi Article 7.) Volume 22, Article 7.—Illinois Furbearer Distribution and Income. By Carl O. Moh September, 1943. 33 pp., frontis. + 24 figs., bibliog. (Bound with Article 6.) Volume 23, Article 1—The Caddis Flies, or Trichoptera, of Illinois. By Herbert ] Ross. August, 1944. 326 pp., frontis. + 961 figs., bibliog., index. $1.50. . Volume 23, Article 2—Duck Populations and Kill. By Frank C. Bellrose, Jr. Noven ber, 1944. 46 pp., frontis. + 27 figs., bibliog. 50 cents. Volume 23, Article 3——Overfishing in a Small Artificial Lake: Onized Lake near Alte Illinois. By George W. Bennett. May, 1945. 34 pp., frontis. + 15 figs., bibliog. Volume 23, Article 4.—Wetwood of Elms. By J. Cedric Carter. August, 1945. 42 py frontis. + 30 figs., bibliog. Volume 23, Article 5—Fox Squirrels and Gray Squirrels in Illinois. By Louis ¢ Brown and Lee E. Yeager. September, 1945. 88 pp., frontis. + 42 figs., bibliog. Volume 24, Article 1—The Mosquitoes of Illinois (Diptera, Culicidae). By Herbe- H. Ross. August, 1947. 96 pp., frontis. + 184 figs., bibliog. 50 cents. Volume 24, Article 2—The Leafhoppers, or Cicadellidae, of Illinois (Eurymelinae Balcluthinae). By D. M. DeLong. June, 1948. 280 pp. + 514 figs., bibliog., inde S258 ) ; B.—ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY CIRCULAR. ) 34.—Rout the Weeds! Why, When and How. By L. R. Tehon. September, 194 (Fourth printing, with revisions.) 47 pp., color frontis. + 13 figs. 36.—Planting and Care of Shade Trees. By J. E. Davis. September, 1947. (Thi printing, with additions.) 28 pp., frontis. + 20 figs. 41—How to Recognize and Control Termites in Illinois. By B. G. Berger. Februar 1947. 44 pp., frontis. + 32 figs. C—ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY MANUAL. 2.—Fieldbook of Illinois Land Snails. By Frank Collins Baker. August, 1939. 166 pp color frontis. + 170 figs., 8 pls., $1.00. Fieldbook of Native Illinois Shrubs. By Leo R. Tehon. December, 1942. 307 pp 4 color pls. + 72 figs., glossary, index. $1.25. 3 List of available publications, about 400 titles, mailed on request. 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