Let 'em hunt?

The question posed was whether hunting with a springer involves quartering accompanied by active handling and whistle pips, or just letting the dog hunt. The respondent is a successful springer trainer and has also judged for our Dogwood WSSCA tests. I'm reproducing the response in full for all of our enjoyment and knowledge.

I would say that at times, I am on the whistle with the dog but most of the time, I am just letting the dog hunt.

Quartering is all about searching for game. A dog that does not quarter well will miss game. This is not to be confused with a dog quartering in a methodical windshield wiper pattern over unproductive ground just because the pattern looks nice.

The quartering pattern should also have different "looks" depending on the wind. I am sure this is covered in most training books. I have learned that if I will not whistle, the dog will utilize the wind to its advantage to find birds. This shouldn't be a "taught" skill ... well.. the handler has to be "taught" what to expect and then stay out of the dogs way.

If one of my dogs breaks out of its search routine, then there is a reason it isn't turning or coming back across and it usually means get ready for a bird to flush.

When hunting my woodcock thickets, a nice wiper pattern is not going to be expected. Too many obstacles in the way. However, the dog should cover ground on either side of me. I will walk slower and make sure all the cover has been checked out based on the wind direction and scenting conditions. I want to make sure they at least pass cover on the downwind side. I hunt my dog towards objectives making sure we check out all the likely spots game might be hanging out.

I don't think it is any different than what one should expect from a hunting dog from a pointing breed. I would hope the pointing dog would be covering ground farther away from me than my spaniels. They should search and use the wind in a similar manner.

I would say that most spaniels are natural at quartering (ie covering ground on either side of the handler). There are drills that will help refine the skill but that is just another training drill.

Sometimes it is just this easy.

Fortune smiles

Larsen's guardian angels did not get Easter weekend off as they saved the little mutt from harm at Lake Allatoona last Saturday.

Aki and I were at the lake just off Exit 283 of I-75. A pathway at the lakeside park is an old railbed from the Chattanooga-to-Atlanta rail line that had been the site of some long-ago Civil War action.

We were walking along the pathway that had been cut from the hills. Larsen was at 20 feet above us, on top of the cut, exploring. A jogger and dog came along and we chatted. Larsen decided to join, and unhappily also decided to to take a short-cut that involved a headlong plunge over the side.

Larsen hit the ground and flipped. I scooped him up on the flip and grabbed him to me. Miraculously, he was uninjured. He didn't vocalize a sound when he hit. He seemed unfazed and did not make any yips or cries when I poked and prodded his gut, ribs, and joints.

I can only think that he hit and skidded on the leaves and debris that had piled up at an angle in the berm at the bottom of the cliff. This angled berm produced a sliding glancing landing, rather than the brutal impact that would have occurred with perpendicular ground. Either that or someone was looking out for the little dog.



Larsen invents a new way to give Frank a heart attack.

Jeanne and Millie grab some orange ribbons

Training partner Jeanne G. and her eight-year-old American Cocker Millie grabbed two orange Junior Hunter ribbons this past weekend at the Clumber Spaniel Nationals in Orlando. That's two for the home team. Congratulations Jeanne and Millie.


Jeanne and Millie show that an old(er) dog can learn new tricks as 8-year-old Millie earns two Junior Hunter legs.

Mary and Adara

Mary T. and her Welshie, Adara hit it big this weekend in Orlando with two qualifying legs on Adara's Junior Hunter title. Congratulations to dog and handler.



Adara is in the catbird seat after her two JH legs this Easter weekend at the Clumber Spaniel Nationals in Orlando, Fl.

Zelda's big day

Zelda earned a Master Hunter leg on Friday at the Clumber Spaniel Nationals. Congratulations, Zelda.


Cathy and Zelda are pleased with Zelda's water blind at practice last weekend.

Clumbers afield

Back, Humphrey.

I said "Back", Humphrey.

(I knew I would find it.)

The season ends

Cathy V, with Humphrey and Zelda, and I, with Larsen, went to Danny's Circle W farm for one last spring practice before the Clumber Spaniel Nationals in Orlando next weekend.

It's spring in Alabama. Danny is out of quail and has given his fields their summer cuts. The fields have no more cover than you would see on your nicely manicured suburban lawn. The only areas with any cover at all seemed to be under water left behind by last Thursday's storms.

I got to the field early to run Larsen. Larsen and I finally found an area with some cover that was relatively dry, or at least not under water. The small area had a profusion of green spring grass and some old cane and many thorns. A nasty site to be sure, but one that might be similar to the Hunt Test grounds in Florida.

Cathy's goal on Sunday was to have a little simple fun with Humphrey and Zelda in this last run before the Clumber Nationals. No e-collars, no real challenges. Just run through the traps in short, fun installments. My goal for Larsen was to continue to work on the to-the-hand retrieve. Both of us were successful, and it put a great end to the season for Larsen and me.

Cathy fretted that Humphrey did not take a straight line in the Hunt Dead, and we both agreed that Humphrey would not take a straight line to his dog bowl. He seems to forget what he was after about half-way out, and then shifts from sight to nose and tracks down the bird. There is no doubt about his finding the bird, and it is not a pig & acorn thing. Humphrey being Humphrey, he believes his nose, and not his lyin' eyes. Who knows what Humphrey will do this weekend. Miss Zelda performed flawlessly and we hope she will add a Master leg to her trophy case.

Larsen and I continued to work the Joe DeMarkis method to get Larsen to crisply bring the bird to hand. (See post at Friday, April 8, 2011.) We made progress, with Larsen bringing the bird to a perfect Junior-level distance and putting the bird down. Finally, when running hunt deads at about 60 yards, Larsen twice brought the bird precisely to hand in a good Senior/Masters delivery.




Larsen finds a good spot for training.


A perfect Hunt Dead.



The promise of an open field.

Logan's run

Friend and WSS-owner Donna W.had the heart-stopping feeling of losing her dog, Logan, during the storm that swept through Pennsylvania last Saturday night during the WSS nationals.

The storm knocked out power at the hotel just as the annual WSSCA dinner was being served. The strong rain caused the river to breach its bank and flood the nearby Harrisburg Kennel facility and show rings. The river also flooded the lots where the RVs were parked. People left the darkened hotel in the rain to move their motor coaches and rescue their dogs from the flooding Kennel. In the mayhem, Donna's red and white took the opportunity for a personal reconnaissance.

Donna said that people turned out from everywhere in the pitch darkness to help her find her Logan. She said that people in the hotel with no dogs at all were grabbing flashlights and umbrellas and heading out into the woods, as was hotel staff.

The saga had a happy ending as the wet and muddy dog was found wandering about, enjoying the fuss.


Logan, safe & sound in the hotel room.

WSSCA Nationals

The report from nationals can be summarized in a single world: water. Or two words: rain and water.

The storms that hit Alabama on Thursday and Georgia on Friday swept across Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday and wiped out the show. The hotel lost power Saturday evening during the WSSCA banquet, after only two tables had been served.

The Harrisburg Kennel Club asked WSSCA members to pick up their dogs, but leave behind crates and equipment. There were dogs lost and then found, a lot of confusion. There was a lot of help and camaraderie as members helped others find their misplaced dogs, and, later, helped one another break down crates and tables and corral towels and tools to move things to a safe place. On Sunday, under sunny skies, a swap meet ensued to sort everything out. The Sunday show was canceled, and WSSCA members left with tales to tell.


The Harrisburg Kennel Club took on water at the 2011 washout. (photo by Crystal N.)

Beam me up

Stufield's Captain of the Enterprise ("Archer") earned his Champion ("CH") and Rally Advance ("RA") titles on Sunday, April 11.

Archer earned a yellow ribbon by placing 3rd in his RA, which is a fine accomplishment. In Rally Advance, exercises are performed off-leash; there are 12-17 stations with no more than seven stationary exercises; and there is a jump and calling your dog to the front (rather than to the traditional heel position).

Archer won his ribbon by demonstrating off-lead obedience and control. He also demonstrated "a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs." (AKC 2011)

In earning his Champion conformation designation, and over his career, Archer has won two "Major" events (which are determined by the number of dogs that he beats in the show ring) and accumulated at least 15 points (also determined by the number of dogs that he beats, even if he himself ultimately finishes behind some other dog in the breed).

Larsen and Archer are 1/2 brothers, with Mazie (Idlewild's Mazie Morning Dew) as the dam for both dogs. Archer's sire is Bentcroft Statesman's Emblem ("Felix").

Jamie handled Archer in the Rally ring. Congratulations to the team.

Archer focuses on Jamie during his third-place run for his Rally Advanced title.

Progress by inches

The nice, thick cloud cover at the start of practice this Sunday at Circle W burned off soon enough and lifted temperatures into the mid-80s.

Larsen and I practiced a sort of hunt-dead, where I showed him the bird at 20 yards, and made him fetch (which he loves to do). Larsen brought it within 6 feet and then put the bird down and otherwise fooled around.

I went up, put the bird in his mouth, commanded "hold", and then pipped him in.

Jeanne and Cathy thought that was fine but that I should not start to condition him to the drill in that form. So, I doubled down and when he dropped the bird, I put it in his mouth, commanded "hold" and then grabbed him by his ear while pipping him in, and in, and in. Sit. Hold. Soothing tones (good boy), and then asking for Larsen for the bird. What a good dog!

What I learned was that I was lunging for the bird rather than accepting the bird as the gift that it is. And also offsetting that with some firm directions. I also took Larsen to the field at heel and did not let him pull and tug on the line. All of this to reinforce control.

Larsen's quartering and retrieves improved noticeably. On his last turn or two, he brought much closer. Definitely Junior close and arguably Senior close. We are working for perfection in practice.

Later we did a hunt dead, which Larsen loves to do, and finished up with a water retrieve and a water blind - - all great cool fun for a spaniel.

Let's try this

Larsen has taken to fooling around with clip-wing birds that he is retrieving. He retrieves dead quail straight on. What to do?

Joe DeMarkis recommends the following exercise. Hup Larsen and walk out twenty yards or so. Let Larsen see the handler (me) drop a dead bird into cover. Walk back and send Larsen out on a hunt dead.

Do this twice.

Then on the third round, walk out and drop a clip-wing into the cover. Walk back and send Larsen on a hunt dead. Larsen should bring it straight back. If he doesn't: If he puts it down to play with it, pick the bird up, open Larsen's mouth, put it in, tap Larsen's jaw shut and command "hold".

In fact, Joe identified a training weakness of mine. I'd command Larsen to hold, but if he spit it out, I would not back it up by putting the bird in his mouth, tapping his jaw shut and commanding "hold". Larsen needs to understand that whether he is in the mood or not, he is obligated to hold the bird if I direct him to.

Sunday outing

Larsen and I met Cathy with Master Hunter candidates Zelda and Humphrey and puppy Bing for a little bird work at Danny's Circle W this morning.

I ran Larsen on clip-wings through both of his turns. We worked on turns and retrieves. We are regressing on his retrieves. Larsen wants to keep the bird and play with it. Even if he brings it to me, he'd rather fool with it at the end. And today, he was even deciding to go the other way before finally coming in.

We put Larsen on a hunt dead, and he brings that dead bird in straight away. It is the live squeaky bird that he wants to keep. I may have to ask some of the brain trust - - Joe or Kim - - about their thoughts on this.

Larsen also needed some correction when he continued hunting after I called him in. This got him a little trip to the principal's office. Same for when he was asked to stay while a bird was tossed and he decided to take off after it.

I think we need to be more diligent in our yard work. There are definitely some signs of slackness showing.

On a better note, we took a trip to Newnan after our hunt training. We hoped to see Susan and Jaimie in the ring with Tatum and Archer. Cathy and I got there mere moments after the Welshies had finished. We nevertheless had a nice time touring the grounds and fooling with the dogs. Cathy dropped off Bing with a handler for a month or two tour where she will hope to get Bing finished.