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Going Afield: In Fall, Hunting Dogs Know Their Time Is Here By AKC Staff Published: Sep 22, 2020 | Updated: Aug 02, 2023

Fall brings its own rhythm and sounds. After the long days of summer, it is almost a relief to enjoy the gap between summer and winter. The soft rustle of leaves gliding on chilly winds, the muted sounds of birds still hanging around before undertaking their migrations, and the tinkling sounds of bells all tell us of the changing seasons. Our hunting dogs, too, sense the shift of the breeze and the scent of familiar clothes pulled out of closets. When the shotgun is being oiled and the leather case taken down from the gun rack, a seasoned hunting dog knows their time is here. The well-worn collar with its familiar bell is a sure sign of good times to come. Even the puppies whose only experience has been training with a bird wing in the yard sense that adventure is here. Being fitted with their own collar and bell gives a sense of pride and purpose that every bird-dog hunter can see in a promising newcomer. On the first day of hunting season, anticipation

runs high as owners and dogs set out for their fall adventure. Finding birds, whether upland game, prairie chickens, or ducks, is the goal. But the process of getting there is just as exciting for humans and dogs, as they set out by truck or boat for a day of hunting. The Best Time to Take a Dog Hunting Autumn is the best time for taking a dog into the field. The days are crisp, the air full of the scents of pine and hickory. Different climates bring their own special tang, sort of like the difference between a gin and tonic and well- aged bourbon. Dogs inhale their own special fragrances, far more subtle than we humans can detect, and what they scent is far more telling than anything we can imagine. So we follow their lead into the brush, along the fence lines, or into the sage, relying on their instincts to lead us to the game. Hunters have their own systems of calling game, just as birds, ducks, and “meat hunters” do.

Duck calls bring down the flying migrants. Game calls mimic elk, deer, and other wildlife to within range of the hunters’ guns and the dogs’ retrieves. Today, there are far fewer opportunities to go afield with a good hunting dog. Fortunately, there are those hunters and lovers of the natural world who have given us the opportunity to take our sporting dogs out for a chance to experience

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