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Dogs for Game Hawking with Long Wings
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PETIMONASTER ENGLISH SETTERS - In 1997 we bred in
Scotland an oustanding litter By Tr. GUILLEMOT du PETIT MONASTERE out of
PETIMONASTER IVOLE. All the puppies proved from the very beginning to be top
class bird dogs, as most of the setters from these lines which trace to all
the very best working and "Grande Quête" Field Trial breeds in
Europe . One of them was exported to the States and proves himself very
successful working for the gun in Oregon and South Dakota. So we decided to
mate again GUILLEMOT to IVOLE and also to her full sister, KESTREL. These
three dogs are trialled on red grouse and work daily on wild born game ( red
grouse , wild pheasants partridge and woodcock ) either for the falcons
(mainly red grouse ) or for the guests of the sporting agency ( all these
birds ).Two litters are just whelped and some few puppies registered with the
British Kennel Club can be booked. Price : £400 plus cost of vaccination and
shipping. Henri DESMONTS Fax 44 (0) 1764 65 36 38 Phone 44 (0) 1764 65 30 16
Email :
HERE
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Arc de Triomphe " is also very small
compared to the number of horses born .It is those animals which are of
interest in a pedigree as they pass their high qualities to their offspring ,
but usually to a lesser degree, which makes these more adapted to the
ordinary man or woman . The quality of dogs bred for field trials has
tremendously improved on the continent during the last twenty five years , so
has their easiness to be trained and their understanding . With all due
respect to my friends who breed good pointing dogs in the Isles, I feel that
, except for Irish and Gordon setters , a falconer is likely to derive
satisfaction with a partner from spring field trials stock if his choice goes
for a Brittany or a G.S.P., or from "Grande Quête" lines if it is
to be an English setter or pointer .The fact that several of the continental
falconers who come every year to Scotland have preferred to go through the
trouble and high expenses of the quarantine to import one or more dogs -
English setters or pointers whose ancestors have been trialed in "Grande
Quête" - rather than to buy one in the Isles proves that this assertion
is not without ground . PUPPY - YOUNG DOG - OLD DOG Most want to take a puppy because they feel
that it will be easier to train to their own style of sport . Usually also
the strain on the wallet seems to be lighter than with an older dog . Here
again one has to think the question out . A puppy bought when two to four months old
will seldom take his first points before nine to eighteen months old . It
will not be reliable for the highly skilled work needed in order that the
falcon shall not be too often deceived before two or three years old. What do the field trials addicts do to have
good dogs ? They breed or buy from what they feel is the best stock . Instead
of sticking to a single pup , they keep and
train, more or less |
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not be taken out working where there is an other dog or more . Another drawback
for people who want wide ranging dogs is the fact that , sometimes but all
the same too often bitches become short ranging and less avid for game when
reaching four or five years old . What first dictates the choice of sex in a new
dog is the fact of already having a dog of the same sex at home . It is
looking after trouble to have dogs of different sexes , especially if the
breeds are not the same . If your case is not such , then I strongly
advise to choose a dog which is of a more regular mood and work and who can
be taken everywhere all year round . Quid if a bitch comes to live definitely
in your place ? Then I feel vasectomy is the only practical answer . If it were not for the necessity to breed
partners which will meet with my needs , I would only have dogs . In fact I
am currently training a young and very promising English setter puppy dog
which I just took to France from our kennel in Scotland . ABOUT THE COST A horsy friend of mine use to say that "
Horses are cheap but farriers are expensive ." A dog will live ten to twelve years , or more
; it will work properly from three to nine years old . The part of the
initial cost of buying a dog will be very small compared to the cumulative
expenses of keep , food , injections , vet fees , training etc ... These last
will be the same for a crack , a moderately good , and a not so god one - the
time and cost involved in training will probably be substantially bigger with
a moderately good or a not so good .One is more likely to find pleasure in
serving a long wing with a partner from the very best lines he can find and
afford. So it is probably a mistake to be tight when buying the partner who
will make or mar your falcons for at least six seasons …...END |
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partially , several ; and , after several
months or years , end with fewer - hopefully top class - dogs than they have
begun with . It is rather foolish to think that having only one pup the odds
are that , because it is yours , it will turn to be "the great
dog". A falconer who can keep and train several dogs
can do the same as do the doggy people : if his choice , dedication , skills
and resources are average to good , he or she will probably end with success
. On the other hand , if he is -or if his wife makes him be - a "one dog
only" falconer, choosing a pup will put him off practical dog for a good
while and will leave too much to luck . The YOUNG DOG bought when twelve to thirty
months old offers , in my opinion , better prospects. First , all disease and
trouble with growth will be avoided . The dog will be probably only a few
weeks or months before being able to work for the falcon . He will have been
properly shown working on game by the handler ( I did not write "shown
working properly" , it is still too young for that ) ...if the falconer
is wise enough not to buy a dog in a
poke . Of course it will not be finished yet ; it means that you and
him have a good opportunity to become real partners . If the young dog comes from a field trial or
practical kennel , it will be the "near to best", the one the
handler will have kept , partially trained and tried , before having kept for
himself the one he believes to be the very best. Providing you make only few
mistakes , you will have a chosen partner for a long while . Of course the momentary cost will seem bigger
than with a pup . Think about the cost of food , vet, travelling to and from
training ground , hire of training ground , time and cost involved in
training ; you will soon find that you could not produce a young dog out of
one pup for the cost of a ready |
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made young dog . The breeder or the handler
has all these ex penses for cheaper than you ever could and
pays them off with several dogs instead of only one . We should also have a good look at the
opportunity to find with a field trial addict or handler a six to nine years
old dog. It will be a good one , for sure , as it will have been kept so long
by an experienced doggy man or woman .It will probably have already more
experience of game than you could ever give it . It will be ready to work
hard for your falcon ... and will enjoy it so much, as , being mentally
turned towards the bird , you will not exert as much pressure on it as its
previous handler ; so it will work more freely . Also its cost might not be
(quite) so high as you could fear , as the vendor usually has to make room
for young stock and might be happy to see an old fellow going to a good home
. What about the "short" time it will
be in service ? This will certainly be the only drawback . But the problem of
the retirement of an elderly dog is the same with a "first class"
which will have shared with you some of the best years of his life as with a
plain one who will have spent all his life with you. You will have to face it
sooner or later . DOG OR BITCH As a breeder I am used to meet with numerous
and sometimes odd requirements . The most common is from people who do want a
puppy bitch . Usually I am asked two or three bitches for one dog . I feel that unless for people who are mad
enough to get themselves involved into breeding or for those who have already
a bitch at home , a bitch is not a good choice . They come into season twice
a year -usually when game hawking is legal -, are somewhat difficult to keep
at home during those days , might be a bit inattentive with game , and
definitely cannot and may |
