some of what their ancestors did to survive. As regulated as today’s field trials and hunting tests are, they give dogs and their companions the opportunity to demonstrate the purpose for which these animals were bred. It is an amazing and thrilling experience to see a young puppy lock up on a bird,
©Field Dog Imagery
that type of outdoor activity must start months ahead to get themselves and their dogs ready. It’s never too late to work toward next season when the leaves begin to change, the days grow crisp, and dogs can sense autumn in the air. Connie Vanacore is a longtime breeder of Irish Setters, the author of several dog books including Dog Showing: An Owner’s Guide and Who’s Who in Dogs, founding member and chair emeritus of the Irish Setter Club of America Foundation, 2010 recipient of the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award from the Irish Setter Club of America, and 2014 inductee to the Dog Writers Association of America Hall of Fame. The AKC Gazette is the official journal of the sport of purebred dogs, and hasn’t missed an issue since 1889. Read the current AKC Gazette issue, sign up to receive new issues via e-mail, and browse 10 years of back issues on AKC.org. Article taken from the AKC website at: https://www. akc.org/expert-advice/training/hunting-dogs- know-season-is-here/
standing and quivering with excitement that no one could possibly teach. In the formal world of hunt tests and field trials, there are rules of style and form that mark the differences between the contestants, but at the end of the day, the dogs win, whether or not they bring supper to their owner. Competitions are not judged by whether dogs bring game to the table. That is for serious hunters whose dogs must be trained and conditioned for work under any circumstances. That is what they were bred to do and what they must love to do. Today’s Hunting Dogs & Competitions In our former lives, dogs could make the difference between living and starving. Today, dogs have the best of both worlds. They do what they were designed to do, and they get fed whether or not they bring home the game. At the same time, taking a good bird dog to field is a fabulous experience for the hunters as well. People who like to hunt, whether in formal competition or fun, must be in good physical condition. Anyone wanting to participate in
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