Imported to the U.S. in the 1870s, the IWS quickly became a favorite of waterfowl hunters in this country until, like many of the early retriever breeds, it was caught in the undertow of a tidal wave of Labradors that possessed the same skills, but, unlike the IWS, required almost no grooming.

The result was the relegation of the Irish water spaniel to “rare” status among hunters and pet owners alike—in 2012 the breed was ranked 154th on the popularity list of the 175 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Yet despite the breed’s low numbers, as is the case with other rare sporting breeds, there are people who wouldn’t consider having anything but an IWS as their personal hunting dog.

“Versatility is the main virtue of an Irish water spaniel,” says Russ Dodd. “They retrieve waterfowl on big water and in heavy marshes, flush and retrieve upland game and then curl up with the kids at night. Not as robotic as Labradors or as compulsive as springers, their versatility is perfect for people like me where the dog’s top job is to be a family companion during the week and then go after birds on weekends.

“Unlike a lot of jacks-of-all-trades, the IWS can actually master a few. They have great noses and prey drive. They can be great markers and persist on birds. If they detect a bird in heavy cover, they will stay on it until they make contact. If the bird is not quick to take off, they’re happy to trap it and deliver a wild bird. I get about six birds every year that never get off the ground and at which I have not fired a shot.”

Susan Sarracino-Deihl concurs. “The IWS has traditionally worked as both a retriever and a spaniel,” she says. “Because of their retrieving ability, keen noses and bird desire, they can work as a retriever and do upland work like a spaniel, which means the hunter has the best of both worlds. They are bigger than other spaniels, which means that instead of going under the cover, they go through it and naturally work close when quartering, so they stay in run range.

“They are highly trainable and thrive in an environment where they are challenged to work. They are good family dogs that have a relatively hypo-allergenic coat, which is a plus for people who have allergies and they do very well when they are trained by their owners.”

Says Elissa Kirkegard: “Irish Water Spaniels have excellent noses and they exhibit a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for training and working. They are smart dogs, which means they love mental stimulation and games. Mine have always had a great attitude and eagerness.

“Many people at dog events have remarked that the Irish water spaniels’ tails never stop wagging and I can attest that this is true whether they are hunting, training, trialing or at a hunt test. To an IWS, life is a party and all you have to do is show up.”

Breed Analytics 
While the IWS has many attributes in its favor, the breed also has a few drawbacks. “The coat is an issue for many of today’s hunters who want a ‘wash-and-wear’ type of dog,” notes Colleen McDaniel. “They’re also slower to mature than many of the other retrievers and they don’t tolerate fools for owners. They’re not particularly good kennel or backyard dogs. They need more contact than that with people.

“They are intelligent, but they’re also sensitive. They have an excellent nose that can find birds often missed by other retrievers, but that same nose will get them in trouble—they are inclined to tune you out if they have their noses tuned into something they feel needs their attention.

“They are also very capable of being creative if the situation calls for something other than just a straightforward retrieve,” McDaniel adds. “This can be good or bad, depending upon what you are trying to get them to do.”

Control can be a problem with this breed, according to Kirkegard. “Irish water spaniels have an independent streak and control can be a problem. They’re smart enough to know when they can take advantage of a situation and they sometimes believe a command is optional.

“Another problem, especially in hunt tests or field trials, is that they have such good noses they have a tendency to want to hunt on their way to a blind retrieve. It can take some convincing to get them to go straight until stopped and cast rather than honoring their noses.

“Something else to keep in mind is that they won’t give you much, if any, effort if they get bored with what you are doing with them,” Kirkegard continues. “You need to emphasize obedience and hold an IWS to a high standard. It’s important to get them socialized. The IWS also has some health issues. There is a lot of cancer in the breed and since the breed is so rare, we have a pretty small gene pool.”

Rudd Dodd adds, “On really long blind retrieves, an IWS has to be really confident that the handler knows where to send the dog or the dog will start hunting on his own. The IWS is also very social with humans and many don’t thrive with a professional trainer where they may be relegated to the kennel or the truck for most of the day. They love to train and work with their owners but they can get depressed or dispirited if left with a pro trainer too long.

“It’s been said that an IWS has a hard head but a soft heart,” Dodd says. “Once they get a lesson and understand the mission, it will not be forgotten. But they can crumble under pressure that doesn’t make sense to them. You can use an e-collar if your timing is absolutely impeccable and the lesson has already been learned. But if you are a bit late or the collar is being used to reinforce a lesson that is not fully learned, it can cause problems.

“I know of a couple of high-drive Irish water spaniels that simply gave up under the pressure of a training program for field trials and hunt tests. And these dogs were with highly qualified professional trainers. The breed seems to have a limit on how much pressure they can take and still have fun. For a family hunting dog this is no problem, but for the hunt test and field trial circuit, well, there’s a reason why Labradors dominate these events.”

Proper Pedigree 
As is the case with many of the less popular sporting breeds, you may have to wait for a pup, and that wait can be fairly lengthy. It is important, says Sarracino-Deihl, to contact a breeder who hunts with their IWS.

“In the past, there were a number of breeders who sold pups that were not suitable for the show ring as ‘field dogs’ whether the pup showed any ability or interest in field work or not,” she states. “When picking an IWS pup as a hunting partner, you want to look for a pup that has
the natural drive for birds when first exposed to them. You should also look for a pup that appears to use its nose well.”

“A pup that has too much drive and doesn’t require input from a human is a joy to watch but hell to live with,” says Dodd. “A dog that worships the ground you walk on is cute, cuddly and fun but probably will be hard to train. Finding a pup that checks in but shows prey drive is a nice balance.

“Many top breeders use impartial temperament testers for each litter because placing the right pup in the right home is good for everyone. Pedigree is an important first step but it doesn’t guarantee you will get the perfect field dog.

“They’re all so damn cute that the first lick on the face usually makes the sale and everyone is momentarily happy but if you get a great field dog, it probably was luck. Go for a balanced temperament!”

Finding a good pup is never an easy task and with a rare breed like the IWS, the job can be considerably tougher. A great place to start is the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America.

Dodd notes that IWS breeders are generally incredibly helpful and a pretty tightly knit group. “Because it is such a small breed and there is not a significant split between ‘show’ and ‘field’ lines, going to a major dog show can be useful because the handlers and breeders know virtually everyone in the breed and can steer you to other breeders, especially those who value field work.”

Kirkegard adds, “Go to the national or regional specialty and talk to owners who hunt and work their dogs in the field. They can help put you in contact with breeders who do field work and place their dogs in working homes.”

So we took our passion for great movies and came up with a list of the best dog films of all time. Not all of these flicks are “dog movies,” per se, but rest assured, there’s a pooch in every one of them. We also considered the watchability of each film—if we couldn’t get through it, it’s hard to expect you to. The result is our list of the 10 best dog movies of all time.

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10. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Will Farrell, staring in Anchorman, has a best friend/terrier named “Baxter,” that is, until Farrell’s character “Ron Burgundy” throws a burrito at motorcyclist Jack Black. Black responds by drop-kicking poor Baxter over the side of a bridge, sending Burgundy in a downward spiral that sees him lose his love interest “Veronica Corningstone” (Christina Applegate) and his job.

9. Back to the Future

“I have your car towed all the way to your house, and all you have for me is a light beer?” Yes, Biff Tannen is a dog, but we’re thinking of Doc Brown’s sheepdog, Einstein. He doesn’t play a prominent role in Back to the Future, but he is the world’s first time traveler, so you can’t deny his importance in canine history.

8. The Sandlot

Scotty Smalls’ first home run in The Sandlot was a memorable one—he smacked his step-dad’s autographed Babe Ruth baseball into the clutches of “The Beast,” a giant Mastiff. The cast of characters has to get the ball back, and tries mightily to do so, until the boys are at their wits end and knock on the door of the dog’s owner (James Earl Jones). Jones trades the boys his 1927 Murderer’s Row signed ball for Smalls’ ball, and “Hercules” becomes the team mascot.

7. K-9

Jim Belushi is pretty much resigned to singing the seventh-inning stretch and slugging down Wrigley hot dogs a few times each summer on Chicago’s North Side, but he also used to be a heck of a B-movie actor. K-9 will give you a few laughs though, like when Belushi sends Jerry Lee through the car wash for a bath in his convertible, and the German Shepard responds by eating his side mirror.

6. There's Something About Mary

“Puffer, stay away from the light!” Who can forget the scene in There's Something About Mary where Matt Dillon kills and then revives Puffer, Cameron Diaz's neighbor's dog, who “doesn’t like bad guys.” Puffer also attacks leading man Ben Stiller and ends up in a full-body cast. The Farrelly brothers will have you laughing in agony with this cult classic.

5. Lassie

Lassie has been re-made several times, but you can’t talk about Hollywood dogs without Lassie. A determined collie, who seems to be smarter than most Harvard undergrads, Lassie can get you out of any situation. Fall down a mineshaft? No problem, Lassie will run and get the sheriff so quick you will be home in time for that steak dinner.

4. Lady and the Tramp

A classic from Walt Disney, every kid should see Lady and the Tramp, a movie about a posh cocker spaniel (Lady) and her exploits with Tramp, a stray from the wrong side of the tracks. The most endearing scene is, of course, when the two kiss while enjoying a candle-lit spaghetti dinner.

Hardships abound throughout the movie, but there’s a happy ending when Lady’s owners adopt Tramp and the two dogs have a litter of their own.

3. Marley & Me

We think most Lab owners can identify with Marley & Me, in which a young couple (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) who adopt a yellow pup that turns out to be a terror. Nothing is safe when Marley is around, including a necklace Wilson buys for Aniston. The dog eats it and his owners must wait as it makes its way through his digestive tract. When it finally comes time to put Marley down, Wilson pets him as the dog’s given a lethal dose in a beautiful moment that captures how much we really love our pets.

2. Old Yeller

Old Yeller, the “best dog-gone dog in the West,” endears himself to the Coates’ family after father, Jim, leaves home to work a cattle drive in post-Civil War Texas. The stray blackmouth cur fights off wild boars and a wolf, which bites him, turning the family pet into a snarling beast that tries to attack Arliss, the younger of two brothers. Older sibling, Travis, is forced to put down Yeller. What a tearjerker.

1. Turner & Hooch

Released just three months after K-9, Turner & Hooch experienced more acclaim, probably because the star of the film (Tom Hanks) was an actual person and not the dog. But we do love the slobbering Hooch, a Dogue de Bordeaux, who ransacks Hanks’ home while the two chase down bad guys alongside Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) from the TV series “Family Matters.”

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“I mean, that’s it? She breaks and creeps when you walk past her?” I asked.

”That’s about the size of it,” he said glumly.

“Sit down,” I told him, “and brace yourself.” I ticked off the last half-dozen dogs I’d owned on my fingers, plus another dozen or so I’d trained, then looked at him. “I think every one of those dogs crept when I walked past them,” I said. “All puppies creep when you walk past them. When a pup doesn’t creep, sell everything you own, drive as fast as you can to the track, and bet on the long-shot to win, because sure as shootin’ it’s your lucky day.”

Creeping in that particular situation isn’t even a big enough problem to merit a stiff drink. It’s usually easy to cure (calculated, escalating corrections). But there are issues that rate considerably more hair pulling, many of which will surface during a dog’s first season. Fix them now and you’ve got a good chance of licking the problem for good; wait too long and they can become ingrained and much more difficult to cure. Knowing the difference between the two is critical.

I’m often surprised at the scant attention some trainers pay to the things I consider important, and how much sleep they lose over things that don’t really matter. Case in point: bumping birds.

Bird Bust 
I once challenged the judgment of my buddy Palmtree when he pointed out that one of my dogs had busted a bird. I corrected him. “He bumped that bird,” I said.
“Busted, bumped, no difference,” Palmtree said.

That got my Irish up, not a good thing to have happen in close proximity to an ex-cop who is 6-foot-7 and armed, but there you go. Be that as it may, I am not budging. Busting birds is a problem. Bumping birds is a mistake, one all dogs make, old and young, and often unavoidable. Young dogs in particular are prone to bumping birds when their excitement overrides their innate caution and they try to get too close to a wild bird before pointing it.

What’s the solution? Let ‘em bump. They’ve got to learn how close they can get, and the sooner they learn that, the quicker they’ll quit. Rebuking them after the fact may help, but I wouldn’t bet the ranch on it.

On the other hand, if your dog is working a bird and, for whatever reason, you think it’s too close and you give it a command to whoa, which it subsequently ignores, that’s a problem. Disobeying a command is an issue that segues directly into the realm of obedience training, and a basic grounding in obedience is the foundation of any good bird dog, or at least, any dog that’s a pleasure to hunt over.

Before a pointing dog reaches 2 years old (and ideally long before then), he should be grounded in fundamental obedience: whoa, recall to whistle and voice commands, heel, and if you’ve force-broken him, fetch. That those commands are necessary and important (we can quibble on “heel” and “fetch,” but “whoa” and “come” are inviolate), is rarely a matter of debate. Yet over and over I see trainers allowing their young dogs to disobey commands in the field that they’ve spent all summer hammering in the yard.

Why? I think the answer is simple: most guys hunt a couple dozen times a year, and by God they’re going to shoot something on the few days they get to hunt. If the dog doesn’t listen, well, they’ll deal with that later.

But allowing an impressionable young dog to disobey commands teaches him just one thing: that he can disobey your commands in the field with impunity. And once he realizes that, it can be hell to turn him around again.

Prey Drive
Dogs that chase birds after they’ve been pointed, flushed and/or shot at may or may not be a problem, depending upon how the dog has been trained. But allow me a bald-faced assertion: most dogs, given their druthers, would chase every bird they saw if they thought they could get away with it.

If your dog is one of those—and he probably is—the first question you have to ask is whether the dog was specifically trained not to chase. At the very least, that means he should reliably recall on whistle or voice commands so you can call him in; better still, he should be steady to flush, or steady to wing, shot and fall. When I get a puppy of my own, or take a year-old dog into my kennel to train, I spend the first few weeks putting the dog into birds, and if he chases them I don’t give it a second thought. If the dog has a weaker prey drive than I’d like, letting him chase will get him pumped to find more birds. If he’s already got a strong prey drive, letting him chase will lock it in.

But at a certain point, after whoa training begins, chasing stops. I train most dogs to be steady to flush: they hold point until after the gun is fired or they’re given a release command. By that time the bird is usually either on the ground or far enough away that the urge to chase is considerably diminished, and for those that do, a quick blast on the whistle—with my thumb poised above the button of my transmitter in case they ignore me—turns them around.

I learned long ago that hunting a young dog with older, more experienced dogs during its first season can be problematic, so I typically recommend against it. The problem is that many youngsters rely too much on the older dog to find birds and don’t learn to hunt on their own. But another annoying wrinkle is some dogs, and I currently own one, love playing with other dogs so much they won’t settle down and hunt.

Tango, my exquisitely bred, perfect-in-almost-every-other-way English pointer, has a serious case of grab-ass-itis. She worried almost every dog she hunted with to a frazzle during her first season, but during her second season, I’d had enough.

The minute she tried to move toward another dog, she got a nick. Tango is nothing if not persistent, though, and it was well into her third season before she finally settled down. Most dogs take only a few corrections before they’re good to go.

A final, and not uncommon problem is dogs that first point and then bust birds. This is an issue that relates directly to how well the dog has been trained to whoa. In my kennel, “whoa” means the dog stops until told to move, period.

Give a dog leeway to determine that on his own and he will—and he’ll either bust the bird or break the minute it flushes. So step one is to make absolutely sure the dog is reliably staunch on planted birds, in several different locations.

Step two requires putting down your gun and picking up your e-collar transmitter on a real hunt. This might take a few days; it might even take weeks. But take care of the issue now, during the dog’s first season, and—allowing for the occasional lapses that even well-trained dogs have—you should have a staunch, well-mannered pointer for the rest of that dog’s life. That’s an “issue” everyone can live with.

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Bernie the Brittany

Bernie, a bold, beautiful, birdy Brittany, is 3 months old and owned by Noah and Mindy Clark of Gresham, Ore.

Pup on the Prowl

This proud puppy looks like a noble lion on the prowl—one of the reasons we love the spunky character of young pups everywhere.

Dog Days of Summer

All went "swimmingly" with this photo shoot! This litter of Boykin spaniel puppies is owned by Bill and Dawn Crites of Blythwood, S.C.

Pick of the Litter

The spotlight is on the pick of the litter, LuLu! The cocker spaniel is owned by Nevena Martin.

Accessorize

Every girl needs a good bag, including Ellie, a Chesapeake Bay retriever belonging to George Vandel of Pierre, S.D.

Start 'Em Young

Sixteen-week-old Roba, a Weimaraner, is now an exceptional bird dog, according to Dennis Volpe of Wilmington, Mass.

Casting a Shadow

Casting a perfect shadow is Dakota, a 14-month-old English setter puppy owned by D.J. Clark.

French Import

Hiver de la Pierre d'Or (Evie) is a Braque du Burbonnais. Pictured here at 6 months, Evie is a French import that now lives happily in Michigan with owner Erin Feichtner.

Makin' Waves

Makin' waves! This lab pup belongs to Robert Knupp.

Autumn Greetings

Autumn greetings! These lab puppies are owned by T.J. and Mercedes Jones of Laurel Hill, Fla., and were photographed by family friend Shanna.

Zeus

Zeus, a German shorthaired pointer, is owned by Mario Notarfrancesco of Melbourne, Australia. He is pictured retrieving a grey teal and has a bright future ahead of him hunting ducks and quail "down under."

Proud Pup

This proud pup strikes a pose for the camera—yet another reason we love collecting pics from the cutest puppies around.

Doggy Daydreams

Twelve-week-old Sage, a Labrador owned by Gina Pfister, is undoubtedly daydreaming of hunts to come.

Puppy Bins

Bins full of puppies! This litter of English setters, on their first trip to the vet at 6 weeks, are owned by Dave Jungst of Morris, Minn.

All About the Attitude

Attitude—with a capital "A." English setter Kota has the heart of a lion when it comes to hunting, according to owner Diane Peterson of Wisconsin.

Working Man's Dog

This little firecracker was born on the 3rd of July. When not mowing the lawn, Major Winters, a vizsla, loves being in the woods and learning about hunting, according to owner Bill McGough.

A Good Chew

"Ropes and strings and chewy things!" Georgia de L'Etoile du Nord, a French Brittany, is owned by Kelly and Renae Kappes of Ada, Minn., and was photographed by their son, Ryan.

Baby Blues

Talk about a pair of blue-eyed cuties! Kym Lish's daugher Piper holds a German shorthair pup from their recent litter.

High Five

High fives all around—let's hunt! Baked in the Sun "Boise" Paw'Tater is owned by Caroline Fenton.

Just Chillin'

Popper is a deaf English setter puppy fostered for Ohio English Setter Rescue by Danica Barreau. He quickly learned hand signs, was adopted and now lives a spoiled life with an adoring family.

Nose to Nose

"Let's discuss this nose-to-nose!" Copper, a 7-year-old male English pointer, becomes acquainted with Todd, a 13-week-old female German shorthair owned by Ashley Stevens.

Dog Daze

This is GCH Truly A Daydream Believer JH when she was four-and-a-half months old. The Irish Red & White Setter belongs to Ed and Wendy Brockman of New Tripoli, Penn.

Romp in the Field

This pup took a romp in a field—one of the reasons we love getting reader photos of young, scrappy little pups.

First Bird

Seven-week-old Bryar, a German shortaired pointer, shows off his first dove retrieve. According to his owner, Jennifer Horan of Manchester, Penn., Bryar has become a bird hunting machine.

Win a 2013 Gun Dog Puppies Calendar!

Good news! We're giving away free copies of the 2013 Gun Dog Puppies calendar. Just visit our Gun Dog Snapshots page and upload your best puppy photos along with your name, email and a description. We'll pick our favorites and share them on our Facebook page.

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The point being, there are restrictions on the use of dogs in field work and also that I have exceptional self-control—especially when I have the crap scared out of me. (The dog is still recovering from the trauma of challenging gamebirds as big as him.)

We’ve had restrictions on dogs for decades—noise ordinances, vicious dog laws and puppy mill restrictions. If your dog bites the mailman, the dog goes to jail (one of ours did for two weeks). You have to get rabies shots (or the dog does, anyway). Perhaps you face restrictions on trespass by your dogs. You could be sued—as was the owner of the famous Missouri hound Old Drum—if your dog chases or kills livestock.

There is currently widespread worry among hunting dog owners over the possibility that bird dog breeding/training/hunting will face severe restrictions, possibly outright bans in the coming years. There are already laws on the books restricting dog breeding (aimed at “puppy mills”) and on hunting with hounds—California recently banned the use of dogs to hunt bobcats and bears.

My home, Missouri, long has banned hounds for deer, although this is legal in other states, and hounds are cherished and legal in the Show-Me state for foxes, coyotes and raccoons. Eleven states allow hound hunting for deer (in Maryland you can use a dog to track a wounded deer). Texas, which has the nation’s largest population of white-tailed deer, is among those states that ban dog hunting for them.

Victoria, B.C., actually has a list of breeds approved for use in hunting. There is a list for deer (eight new breeds recently, including the feisty Jack Russell terrier) and one for bird hunting dogs. But you can’t use more than two dogs of either type at a time. All in all, it seems confusing, but it also is in Canada, not the U.S. Still, it’s a cautionary example of what can happen when regulators get carried away.

Bonding Agent 
Puppy mills—those often disgustingly-run operations that produce dogs in volume—are something that do need regulation, but penalizing so-called back-yard breeders isn’t the way to go. I know because I’ve been one of those for years. Our son Andy—my hunting buddy since he was old enough to tote a shotgun—paid much of his way toward a degree in wildlife with the sale of Brittany puppies.

We never had more than one litter at a time, and our own hunting dogs came exclusively from breeding our own dogs. We screened potential owners before selling them puppies, and I still get letters from buyers dating back many years, often with the sad news that their beloved companion has died. Our puppies went to homes where they were loved, hunted, and—when the inevitable parting came—deeply missed.

We know how close the bond is between hunter and dog, but this is not understood by the anti-hunting animal rights crowd to whom the outdoor world is just a hazy concept. Just because they don’t understand the reality of tooth and claw doesn’t mean they won’t keep fighting for restrictive and ill-conceived legislation.

The potential is huge—upland hunters tend to think of dog use only in terms of Ol’ Streak’s penchant for busting points while bird hunting. But that’s only one facet of dogs as hunters. My father had a fantastic cocker-springer mix that treed squirrels for years. McKinley Kantor, a once well-known scribe, wrote the quintessential book about foxhound hunting, The Voice of Bugle Ann. I once followed coonhounds through a snowy, freezing night which was lifeblood for my hound enthusiast buddies, although it’s one I don’t care to repeat.

I have also hunted rabbits with beagles and waterfowl with Labs of various color permutations, all the way from Louisiana to the Dakotas. All these are legitimate, time-honored and valued dog-man associations and any attempt by the antis to put curbs on them would bring howls (sorry!) from the hunting community, and, you’d hope, from legislators as well.

Still, if California can ban dogs for use on some game it gives encouragement to those who would ban dog use on all game. The answer obviously is to take the issue seriously and be guarded. But the flip side is not to become paranoid and overreact. I can’t see, in my wildest nightmares, any lawmakers crazy enough to hamstring hunting dog owners in the Midwest, near West or the South. The hunting tradition is just too deep to let that happen.

Pigeon Shoots 
There is also the issue of using live birds for training, a time-honored practice. I’ve used them and so has every bird dog trainer I’ve ever known. There have been restrictions on the use of wild birds. For instance, it has been discouraged (if not illegal) to use live pigeons in some shooting competitions for more than 100 years.

As far as I know, no state bans live-trapping barn pigeons for use in dog training. Some states have elaborate regulations on the use of game-farm birds in training or field trials. Colorado has a long list of requirements for anyone wanting to use gamebirds to train dogs or run a field trial. But for much of the year, you can train dogs on wild birds, using blank cartridges.

It can get complicated if several governing bodies get involved—city, county, state and federal. Often it’s a city ordinance that complicates the situation. My old hometown put a cap on the number of dogs that can be owned within the city and levied restrictions on the type of housing. Most of those local laws involve someone creating a nuisance or a community threat. I know of a pit bull kennel in my old neighborhood that had the neighbors frightened.

The danger to hunting dog owners is government, no matter the level, will pass some “one size fits all” restrictions. Puppy mill restrictions can wind up making it impossible for backyard breeders to operate, hamstrung by high permit costs or other impossible burdens.

The antis are ever vigilant for an opening. Most people know that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is nuts. Their goofy campaigns usually earn them ridicule. The Humane Society of the United States is far more effective. HSUS is unalterably opposed to hound hunting and it’s a short jump from there to opposing bird dog hunting.

Listening to the hounds on a winter night is as time-honored in Missouri as gigging redhorse suckers in the crystal rivers for a gravel bar fish fry. I’ve been on a coon hunt and the most abused of the participants was me, not the coon. I was cold, bruised and tired. The coon holed up in a barn, safe from both dog and man, and we went home.

HSUS often is confused with the Humane Society which operates animal shelters. HSUS operates a money mill, soliciting funds from credulous donors and plowing none of it back into wildlife, wildlife management, shelters or any other outlet to benefit animals. Instead the money goes to salaries, advertising and fund-raising—allegedly only one percent of money raised goes to shelters.

There is no widespread legislative threat to hunting dog owners—yet. Most anti-dog legislation is local or regional and most concerns puppy mills, animal abuse, dog fighting or vicious dogs. But that doesn’t mean attacks on hunting dog owners and their dogs aren’t lurking in the
bushes.

To keep apprised of dog hunting legislation, please visit humanewatch.org, saova.org and the American Kennel Club.

This may give you some loose feel for the pup’s temperament, but so much depends on the pup’s maturity, the time of day, recent exercise, its previous handling/socialization, etc., that I say don’t hang your hat on it.

And, oh boy, the folks who really get me are those who claim they have the ability to perfectly match a pup’s personality with that of the potential buyer. They’re likely better at matching a price with the buyer’s billfold.

My feeling is this: Standing at the right whelping box when you choose your pup offers the greatest chance of increasing your odds in selecting a good puppy, and the right puppy for you and your family. In other words, do your research and choose your pup from a litter resulting from the selective breeding of parents with proven ability of the breed and type that fits your needs, your family and your style of hunting.

This requires some soul searching, so think it through and be honest with yourself. What do you primarily hunt? Do you want a longhaired or shorthaired dog? Do you want a big dog or a small dog, and will the dog live in the house? If so, which breed(s) will fit in best with your family’s lifestyle? Remember, you are making at least a 9- to 12-year commitment when you take that pup home, so take your time and be sure you’re zeroing in on the right type of dog, the correct breed and even the family group within that breed to fit your type of hunting.

This project isn’t as simple as reading about German shorthaired pointers and deciding that’s the breed for you. As with all breeds, there are distinct types of shorthairs, those bred for foot hunting, those for walking trials and hunt tests and those bred for horseback field trials. Even within these groups there are certain families or lines with specific characteristics you may or may not like.

That’s why I say you should think long and hard about where you live, what your primary type of hunting is, whether you’re interested in hunt tests or field trials, how and where you’re going to house the dog, etc.

Starting Points 
So, with those questions in mind, where do you begin? Well, if you’re going in cold, I’d say registry websites are a good starting point. Seek out breed clubs for general info and articles in Gun Dog or NAVHDA’s Versatile Hunting Dog. These and others are a great source of information and will also provide you with contact info for breeders.

On the flip side of the coin, I realize many of you long time hunters know exactly what you’re looking for and maybe even have friends planning litters from dogs you’ve hunted with or that you know from their success in field trials or hunt tests. And that is the key—you know and like the parents and grandparents and you understand that planned puppies from such lines have a strong chance of carrying those same abilities and characteristics. As we said earlier, this means you have a better chance of choosing the right pup.

Did I just say you might select from field trial or hunt test stock? You bet! I know the majority of you reading this are primarily hunters and may not be interested in sporting dog contests, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look there for a puppy. Please don’t get hung up on the claim that every “run-off son-of-a-gun” can be attributed to “field trial stock”, because it simply isn’t true. In fact, those same “run-off, self-serving bums” have no place in trials or hunt tests, either, so let’s talk a little about that subject.

Trial Lines 
Sporting dog contests, whether field trials or hunt tests, are structured to provide dogs with a setting in which they can demonstrate their inborn abilities along with how well they accept and advance in training as team players with their handlers in various simulated hunting scenarios. Granted, a high-end, all-age bird dog must show independence and confidence in hunting forward, but not completely on his own.

In walking trials and hunt tests, key aspects for evaluation are handling, cooperation and obedience. The greedy, self-serving, uncooperative or disobedient dog doesn’t finish regularly in any field trial or hunt test. So please don’t be afraid to consider a dog from walking trial or hunt test lines; in fact, I recommend the serious hunter go to these lines to improve his chances.

Choosing from these ranks come with benefits. Because of the standards set by most sanctioning bodies, you’re likely to find parents and grandparents with hip and other health evaluations, DNA certified, along with records of success, titles, access to scoring of key attributes, which includes evidence of bird finding ability, endurance, etc. All of this information increases your odds of selecting the right litter from which to choose your new puppy.

Now let’s fast forward to the point where you’re satisfied you’ve found the correct litter. Your next choice is deciding male or female. Forget about the macho stuff; females hunt every bit as hard as males. Your only concern is dealing with the female’s cycles if you don’t have her spayed.

Hopefully you can visit the litter once or twice before making your final selection. You might rule out the biggest and smallest of the sex you decided on, then take the remaining pups out one at a time to play with them and get a feel for the one or two you seem to connect with. At that point, listen to your gut, grab a pup and never look back, remembering that the odds are in your favor because you did your research, selected a breed and type you like and feel you’ll enjoy working with.

You’ve worked hard to find the right puppy, so please don’t forget how crucial proper socialization and the basics of training are to help your new pup reach his or her inherited potential. Have fun!

“By carefully examining an 8-week-old puppy’s body structure, a trained evaluator can predict a wide variety of physical traits that will consistently develop as the dog grows and matures,” Carney says.

The consequences of this physical evaluation for gun dogs can be far-reaching. “The conformation of any breed of dog will have a direct influence on that animal’s ability to perform in the field during training and exercise sessions and, of course, on a hunt,” Carney says.

The old adage of form following function is given direct application as Carney continues to evaluate all eight pups in the litter of Small Munsterlanders belonging to Jim Julson, owner and operator of Julson’s Small Munsterlander Kennels in Colman, S.D. “This is the third litter Bobbe has evaluated according to a system developed by Pat Hastings, an AKC show dog judge,” Julson explained. “Hastings has taken the conformation evaluation procedure used to judge show dogs for appearance and adapted it to judge the practical significance of conformation in sport dogs—gun dogs in particular.”

Hastings’ Methods
Though Hastings in the past focused mainly on AKC show dog conformation, her emphasis has shifted from conformation evaluation to enhance cosmetic appearance to evaluating conformation as a key factor in establishing, maintaining and improving a gun dog’s physical performance in the field during actual hunting experiences.

At the heart of the Hastings method of evaluating gun dog puppy structure is the theory that most hunting breeds have a general conformation standard that is used to measure and judge as well as guide the physical structure of individual dogs. “Most sporting dog conformation standards have been established through many years of breeding for physical structure designed for practical purposes—not just for cosmetic reasons to please judges in a show ring,” she says.

Hastings is the woman Carney credits for compiling and organizing her own version of the gun dog puppy conformation evaluation system. “Hastings used her experiences as an AKC dog show judge to develop her ideas on the relationship between canine form and function,” Carney says. “Where canine structure in dog shows tends to be focused on conformation for appearance’s sake, Hastings concentrated on conformation as a key to understanding, improving, and promoting the physical components of hunting dogs on a practical level.”

Practical Function  
As a long-time AKC dog show judge, Hastings has seen up close the consequences of using canine conformation mainly as a way to develop dogs for dog show purposes. “The ‘old’ news is that the emphasis in many breeds is on physical structure as a way to produce fashionable, in-style, and judge-pleasing appearances,” she says. “And while this approach results in prize-winning pretty dogs, this has also created dogs with body structures that are no longer very functional in the active physical sense. This is particularly a problem in many of the sporting breeds where form is vital to how a dog performs in the field on an actual hunt.

“The ‘new’ news is that what AKC show people know about show dog conformation, and we do know a lot about canine physiology, can be used to judge and improve the sporting breeds outside the show ring. That’s where my system of puppy evaluation comes into play,” Hastings says.

Structure in Action: The Makings of a Durable Dog, written by Hastings and Dr. Wendy Wallace, DVM, applies to all breeds of dogs that have physically active lives in such events as agility, herding, coursing and hunting. The theme of the book is that any dog breed with an active lifestyle can be a better performer if bred according to a well-planned and effectively administered concern for fully-functional physical structure.

The Puppy Puzzle is a DVD in which Hastings offers hands-on illustrations of her method for evaluating the conformation features of 8-week-old puppies. Every aspect of physical structure is considered from a puppy’s head to tail with emphasis on predicting a young dog’s future as a physically active adult.

Why eight weeks?
“This timeline offers a brief glimpse into any pup’s physical development,” Hastings says. “Why eight weeks? Though there have been no extensive or conclusive scientific studies on this question, our anecdotal experiences have indicated the eight-week period is the best time to accurately evaluate a puppy’s physical development and to meaningfully predict its future conformation as an adult dog.”

In the past 20 years, Hastings has evaluated 38,000 puppies according to her methods. “Though we can’t follow up on the development of each pup, those we have kept track of indicate an 85-90 percent record of accuracy in the predictions made at eight weeks,” Hastings says.

When an 8-week-old gun dog puppy is carefully examined according to the Hasting’s method, much of the youngster’s final physical development can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy. “Take a pup’s rib cage, for example,” Carney says. “Any rib cage on an 8-week-old pup that is too narrow, too deep, or too long can create physical problems in adulthood.

“The ideal rib cage will leave ample space for the heart and lungs to naturally operate without being squeezed, dropped, or juggled. An adult dog with any one or all of these forms or conditions will not necessarily be crippled, but most likely will be physically handicapped during highly active field or water work in training or on a hunt,” Carneys warns.

Likewise, the structural condition of a pup’s front and hind legs can have a major influence on the way the adult dog moves. “Hind legs that are too long or too out of proportion or front shoulders that are pitched too far back or forward can affect the running stride and trotting gait of the mature dog,” Carney notes.

“When evaluating a pup for these basic physical features, the idea is to look for an even balance of all the parts. If one element is out of whack, that imbalance can influence other components, so that a deficiency in the rib cage, shoulder area or hindquarters can result in a lack of endurance, a choppy running style or a predisposition for joint issues such as arthritis or even hip dysplasia in some instances.”

Other possible flaws in conformation can also be detected and judged in an 8-week-old puppy.

“When using an evaluation chart, a complete list of important physical components can be followed,” Carney says. “This includes such points of consideration as the correct and standard shape of the head, neck, and teeth as well as body parts such as withers, back, and topline, croup design and tail set, loin length, rib shape, pad, toe, and foot placement, and configuration of hocks and thighs.

“All the basic components of the eight-week-old pup can be felt or seen then judged in a composite fashion to predict how the adult dog will likely turn out,” Carney says.

Puppy Rankings 
The objective in judging the physical structure of 8-week-old pups is to rank each individual according to a conformation standard. This information can then be used to place the pups in their new homes.

“Those pups with the best balance of key physical parts might be the most likely candidate for going to a hunter who will use the adult dog in rigorous training and regular hunting trips on the water and in the field,” Carney says. “Of course, other important hunting qualities enter in the final placement decision with a good conformation rating as one of many criteria for what makes an exceptional hunting dog.”

Other pups with lower conformation ratings could go to homes where pet quality is equally significant to hunting ability. “That’s not to say these pups won’t grow up to be good gun dogs,” Carney says. “But the point is that the pup with the best balance in conformation will most likely be the most durable dog when experiencing extreme and prolonged exertion.”

Of course, some breeders remain skeptical of the validity of Hastings’ method. “I took a look at the Hastings DVD and read through some of her books but I have to say, much of this stuff is just too complicated to follow and too theoretical to put into practice,” an old-time Labrador breeder admitted after skimming the material. “Besides, I’ve been told by some of my customers and some other Lab breeders that our dogs meet the AKC standards for Labradors in general.”

This Labrador breeder’s reaction to the Hastings method of evaluating gun dog puppy body structure is fairly typical of many dog breeders when they first encounter her theories and practices. “Many gun dog breeders are only vaguely aware of conformation as a major element in a gun dog’s ability to be a fully functional and durable performer over a lifetime of hard hunting,” Hastings says.

“Part of the reason for the low level of concern for conformation in some breeds of hunting dogs is that other easier-to-see hunting qualities such as nose, prey drive, cooperation and other factors get a higher level of consideration,” Hastings believes.“The structural elements in any dog breed, however, are often more difficult to detect, can be more subtle in their influence and might be harder to promote as important in the breed’s development.

“Take a hard look at any of the sporting dog breeds and the need for improving structural integrity and the relationship of form to function are almost always apparent in varying degrees. So, evaluating the structural features of every litter of any breed sure isn’t going to hurt anything and should help all breeds in producing healthier and more functional dogs,” Hastings concludes.

“We have been using many of the puppy evaluating principles in Pat Hastings’ program for predicting, judging and improving the conformation of our line of Large Munsterlanders,” says Curt Shreve, who has been breeding, training and hunting Large Munsterlanders for nearly 30 years at Snowy Oaks Large Munsterlander Kennels in Prior Lake, Minn.

“A few other Large Munsterlander breeders and several producers of other gun dog breeds we know also apply many of the conformation standards that Hastings has emphasized in her seminars, DVDs and books. So in this limited respect, Hastings has not come up with anything totally original,” Shreve continues.

“What Hastings has done, however, is to take popular and common conformation standards and testing methods and put them into a methodical and practical format that any experienced gun dog breeder can understand and use to make better final canine products.”

A German shorthair breeder recently commented, “I wish I had never read the books or watched the DVDs by Pat Hastings on the subject of canine conformation. Now every time I look at my own dogs or anyone else’s I tend to see the weak spots and the serious flaws in their physical structure.

“Maybe ignorance was bliss,” he added. “But by knowing what I know now, I will be more careful in selecting any new puppy and more informed about using any adult dogs in a breeding program.”

“Anyone selling a litter of gun dogs at eight weeks of age or anyone purchasing a pup from that litter would do well to understand the purposes and conclusions of the Hastings program,” Jim Julson says.

“I have found that my whole breeding philosophy and application have gone through some major changes, and I have seen some major improvements in my breeding program since I started using the Hastings evaluation method. I am already seeing more satisfied buyers and better dogs.”

Recently, I had the pleasure of hunting with several great men and a whole pack of good bird dogs, and all of us, in one way or another, were starting new lives. I’ll get to that story shortly, but first… This column, too, will have to start from scratch.

I am not qualified to continue the inimitable work of a retriever icon like James B. Spencer. Few people have impacted the American retriever scene more than Jim. His experience as a trainer, official and hunter spans seven decades. His shoes are too big for me to fill, so I’ll have to go about this in my own way. But I’ve planned an inclusive approach to this column for the years ahead.

That approach will, hopefully, make up for my own shortcomings. I’ll feature the tactics and testimony of expert trainers, breeders, test and trial judges, all of whom aren’t me. I’ll tell the stories of interesting “retriever people,” cover current issues relevant to retriever breeds, perhaps throw in a dash of retriever history from time to time, and spice it up with stories from the hunt on a regular basis. So, let’s begin with a tale.

Wounded Warriors 
With 20 years in the Army, Chuck had only a few months left until his planned retirement when a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) hit the window frame of his vehicle in Afghanistan. He had been using the armored door as a shield while fighting off an ambush with his machine gun.

A small piece of the RPG, about the size of a BB, snuck under his helmet and went completely through his head. The rest of it went overhead and detonated a full case of grenades on his roof rack, sending Chuck 40 feet through the air and smashing him into the side of a stone building. He woke up three months later in a German hospital.

I met Chuck in South Dakota last October. He rolled up a sleeve to reveal three names tattooed on his left shoulder. They are the names of the men who died retrieving him from the side of the road. Until I heard Chuck’s story, I thought I’d had a bad year. But my divorce and unwanted career change suddenly seemed like minor bumps in the road, even though I did lose a good Lab in the divorce.

Chuck and two other Purple Heart recipients were the guests of Wounded Warriors in Action (WWIA), a charitable organization that shows appreciation to combat veterans and facilitates their healing through quality outdoor experiences. My longtime friends Brad and Julie Boisen of Grand Ciel Lodge provided the venue, while Rick and Andrea McConico of Old Oak Retrievers near Owatonna, Minn., provided the dog power.

And the dog power was considerable. We hunted over some of Rick’s outstanding Labs and goldens. One of those was Irish FTCH Rockenhart Voyager MH, a.k.a. “Sam.” Sam is the first European field trial champion ever to earn an AKC Master Hunter title.

Given his titles, it’s no surprise that Sam exhibits what I consider the ideal qualities of a Lab, whether British or American. Those are: compact size, a calm disposition among people and other dogs, athleticism, off-the-chart smarts and an extremely high level of birdiness.

Our party consisted of Brad, Rick, myself, John McDaniel and Dixon Gunther from WWIA, Brad’s assistant Joe Brewster and three American heroes whose names I’ve hidden out of reverence. That’s a large group in my estimation, but not by South Dakota standards (parties of up to 20 hunters are not unusual).

Black sweetness 
The standard South Dakota pheasant hunt basically amounts to a straight-forward march that covers a swath of territory 150 yards wide. I can think of no other form of hunting that involves such an utter lack of stealth. The objective is essentially to herd pheasants before the guns. Perhaps you can tell from my tone that this is not really my favorite kind of hunt. But in my opinion, retrievers are the ideal dog for this sort of hunting, so that redeems it a bit.

A retriever’s strengths are a hand-in-glove fit for large-party pheasant hunts. Big-party pheasant hunting is chaotic and loud. It is often conducted in high cover, including standing corn, which obscures your view of the dogs and the dog’s view of the hunters. Finally, we’re talking about pheasants, so the incidence of crippled birds is rather high.

All of these factors are hanging curveballs in a retriever’s wheelhouse. For these reasons, even Boisen—a pointing dog man and longtime breeder and devotee of the Braque Francais—keeps a few Labs around for this type of hunting.

Large scale pheasant hunts are conducted for two reasons: they’re highly social, and undeniably effective. Their effectiveness is measured in filled limits, and we managed to fill ours two days in a row at Grand Ciel, with lots of time left over for eating and fellowship.

The effectiveness of WWIA’s mission might fairly be gauged in the escalation of laughter through the course of our two-day hunt. Of course, it surely helped that our evenings were spent stroking retriever heads. Late on the second day, I turned around to see Chuck with a recently dispatched pheasant perched on his shoulder like a pet parrot. When wounded men horse around like that, you know they’re moving on.

At the end of our hunt, Brad presented each veteran with a Braque Francais puppy. At that point, Rick looked at Brad and said, “I think Emma would be a good dog for Chad.” And that’s all it took for Brad to give me Old Oak Emogene JH—a 53-pound, 3-year-old package of coal black sweetness.

She has two legs of her AKC Senior Hunter title finished, and we’ll pursue the remaining legs this spring. You’ll be hearing more about her in the years ahead. Emma is just the latest in Brad’s long string of generous acts toward me, and she has filled an empty space that was much bigger than a dog. Thank God for good friends, without whom the process of starting life over would be a lot more difficult.

Service Labs 
Another organization also knows that retrievers have the gift of healing for wounded vets. Paws & Effect provides fully-trained adult Labs as service dogs for persons with a variety of challenges, including veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other wounds. Puppies are placed with volunteer foster handlers, who raise and train the dogs for the first 18 months of their lives, after which the dogs are placed with veterans.

A good friend of mine here in Iowa participates in this program. Evelyn Johnson recently welcomed a yellow Lab puppy named “Del” into her home. Evie committed to an extensive training program for Del, since the dog will be placed as a personal assistance animal. She knows it will be hard to give Del up at the end of the 18-month program, but she feels honored to serve veterans in this way.

Evie is a South Dakota girl from a hunting family, and plans to include hunting in Del’s upbringing. Meanwhile, she takes Del absolutely everywhere with her, since that is part-and-parcel of a personal assistance dog’s training. Del goes to church and Rotary Club meetings and the store, and to the City Hall office where Evie works as an administrator.

If you take a look at the life of a puppy, it breaks down to two speeds—sleeping and all-out. Their lives are punctuated with periods of extreme activity followed by the need to rest. Adult dogs may come close to such behavior, but pups own the extreme peaks and valleys of activity and inactivity. Combine those bursts of rambunctious behavior and sedentary moments with the rapid growth of their bodies, and a formula for performance promotion becomes more important than ever.

Addressing nutritional needs in the first year of life is essential, but it boils down to more than picking up a bag of dog food marketed towards puppies. Truly offering your new four-legged cohort the upper edge in health and development requires an understanding of exactly what they need to ingest and what you need to do to monitor them throughout their growth.

This is not the time to scoop a cup or two of dog food into a dish and let the chips fall where they may, but is instead an opportunity to do right by your pup and reap the benefits of proper growth rates, brain and body development, and ultimately a better dog overall, whether that means family pet, outstanding hunter or—best case scenario—both.

Optimal Performance
Just like human infants, puppies have very specific nutritional needs. Brian Zanghi, research nutritionist for Purina, explains exactly what puppies need in order to optimize development and promote overall health.

“Puppies have several distinct nutritional needs that require a specific formula,” Zanghi says. “Primarily, puppies have a higher calorie and protein requirement to support their highly active growth rates. Nutrients like calcium and phosphorus need to be balanced to accommodate skeletal growth, and although not an essential requirement, puppies also benefit from healthy fats like omega-3s.

“Puppy-specific foods need to address all of the critical needs and need to be formulated with highly-digestible ingredients to ensure optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients.” Zanghi’s last comment should ring home with all dog owners. If you’re feeding low quality food, then it’s very likely that your dog is simply not gleaning the most nutrients it can, and performance and health will suffer.

This can be exaggerated in dogs under a year of age simply because of how important proper nutrition is to their development, but it should be taken into consideration no matter what the dog’s age or activity level.

When developing puppy-specific food, Zanghi also pays special attention to calories for a few very good reasons. “Our formulas are prepared with a slightly higher calorie count to make a more calorie-dense food that ends up containing 16 to 20 percent fat for calories. This is important because it meets a pup’s needs without the extra food volume found in lower-calorie adult formulas. The goal is to provide calories that promote steady growth, not maximum growth rates, which could be detrimental to skeletal development.”

A base understanding of just what a pup needs to ingest in the first year of their life will go a long way toward proper development and health promotion. Emily Lamprecht from Cargill Animal Nutrition (Loyall) had this to say about what puppies require in their first year of life: “Growth has the highest energy requirement compared to all other stages of life with the exception of lactation. At weaning, puppies require twice the amount of energy intake as their adult maintenance counterparts within the breed.

“Puppies also have increased protein requirements in order to build new tissues. Although protein is not the main source of energy in the diet, providing a high quality, highly digestible protein source, as well as providing food that has a properly balanced energy level to protein ratio, is essential for proper growth and development.”

Lamprecht broke it down even further by explaining how important certain vitamins and minerals are to a puppy’s health. “Vitamins and minerals are an important part of a puppy’s diet and should contain optimal levels while avoiding deficiencies and excesses. Vitamin E is extremely important.

“Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that serves as an antioxidant, which helps to protect the body against damaging free radicals and supports the immune system. Special attention should also be paid to calcium and phosphorous levels in the food because these minerals are integral in skeletal development.”

Essentially, a lot of thought goes into quality puppy foods in order to meet precise requirements throughout each stage of growth. This makes our job as dog owners much easier, but doesn’t let us completely off of the hook.

Growing Pains
As Zanghi pointed out, there are blanket needs that all pups possess. Those will not appreciably change with different breeds or activity levels. However, something he touched on that deserves further attention is growth rate, which dominates much of the puppy nutrition available.

It’s a common thought amongst dog owners that free-feeding puppies and allowing them to chow down whenever the mood strikes is a good thing. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and in fact, the opposite method of closely monitoring intake of quality food is much, much better for your dog.

According to Iams/Eukanuba Dr. Eric Altom: “If puppies are allowed to over-eat, they may consume too many calories, too much calcium, grow too rapidly, and even develop bone growth problems. In certain breeds, especially larger breeds, overfeeding can lead to an increased frequency of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), osteochondrosis (OCD) and hip dysplasia.”

In laymen’s terms, feeding your pup too much can lead to a disruption in bone growth that can result in malformation, lameness, pain and in some cases, serious clinical disease.

Altom further elaborated, “With large and giant breed puppies, it is important to aim for a slower rate of growth. Do not overfeed or try to push the growth rate too fast. Controlled feeding of a balanced diet designed specifically for a certain size of dog will facilitate skeletal development.”

It’s important to note that the overall size a dog ends up at is determined solely by genetics, not how fast it grows. Your pup will turn into whatever size of mature dog it is genetically predetermined to be. Your job throughout the growth process is to monitor growth rate and prevent health concerns associated with over-feeding or poor nutrition options.

It’s also important to understand that there is something of a growth curve concerning the first year of life.

“The most rapid growth for puppies occurs between three and six months,” Lamprecht said. “Around six months, growth rates gradually slow as pups get closer to their mature body weight.

“When this happens, their energy requirements slowly get closer to those of mature dogs. Depending on breed, they’ll reach maturity somewhere between nine months for smaller dogs and up to 15 months for large breeds. Once they reach maturity, they should slowly be transitioned to adult formula food that is appropriate for their body condition and activity level.”

Dokken Rules 
Both Zanghi and Altom stressed the importance of paying attention to a pup’s body to visually monitor growth. When I sat down with trainer-extraordinaire Tom Dokken, this was nearly all he could talk about. When someone who has trained countless dogs to near-perfection stresses a point, it’s best to listen.

“From a feeding standpoint, our baby puppies are fed three times a day. When they reach 16 weeks, we go to twice a day. At about the six-month age, we switch to a single feeding,” Dokken said. “Although the recommendations on a bag of dog food might provide a decent starting point, I’m a big believer in paying attention to what the pup looks like.

“Metabolism is everything and you have to watch to make sure you’re not overfeeding, but also underfeeding. I’ve seen pups that were starving because their owners were following the bag recommendations, just as I’ve seen pups that were extremely overweight. Both conditions are abnormal and detrimental to a dog’s health.”

An extra couple of pounds one way or the other can be a big deal, even though it might not seem like much. Even with giant breeds, five or 10 pounds can be disastrous to the health of a dog.

A simple rule Dokken follows is to look for a slight “tuck” in front of the back legs—the pup’s waistline, so to speak. No matter whether your pup is largely sedentary or is constantly on the move, that simple check will allow you to monitor the progress of your pup’s growth. This allows you to tweak feeding to ensure your dog stays in that sweet spot no matter the breed or activity level.

Expert Advice 
If you’re in the market for a new hunting companion and will be in charge of his nutrition in the first year of life, it’s best to pay attention to what the experts say. Paying top dollar for a purebred pup and then investing time and money to turn him into a bird hunting machine is commonplace amongst hardcore upland bird hunters, but specifically addressing an individual puppy’s nutritional needs is not so common.

Providing proper nutrition throughout a dog’s life is something we owe to our pets, but it is absolutely crucial in the stage between weaning and full-body maturity. More changes occur during that time than any other, and it’s a period that allows you the chance to do right by the pup or potentially do irreversible damage.

Choose food designed to meet the needs of growing pups and carefully monitor your pup’s activity and body shape. This is the best way to foster a dog that exceeds your expectations. Plus, it’s the right thing to do.

Brain Power
My wife’s uncle is a devout golden retriever owner, and he loves his dogs dearly. He’s also fond of saying that you can look right into a puppy’s eyes and see clear through to its rear end. He’s implying that there isn’t anything between a pup’s ears, which they often seem determined to prove during their first year of life.

In truth, pups learn a lot in their first year. Training and introduction to actual hunting situations during their formative months are extremely important. In other words, brain development is crucial and is another area where you can favorably tip the scales with your feeding choices.

“A puppy’s ability to learn depends on proper brain development, proper training early, and lots of loving care,” said Dr. Eric Altom. “Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is an omega-3 fatty acid that plays a vital role in central nervous system development for puppies.

“Healthy brains are about 30 percent DHA. To put it into perspective, 6-week-old puppies have acquired only 70 percent of their adult brain mass, while they’ve achieved 90 percent by 12 weeks of age.

“Our research showed that puppies nourished with high levels of DHA were found to have greater trainability than puppies with low levels of DHA. Other potential benefits we found from pups with high levels of DHA were better socialization, quicker grasping of training and obedience challenges, and reduced destructive behavior.”

Risking a cheap pun here, opting for high-quality food that is loaded with the correct amount of DHA is a no-brainer. Addressing such an important need sets up the foundation for a better companion and a better hunter, which is a win-win for all involved.

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Choose the Right Food

Correctly fulfilling your puppy’s overall nutritional requirements is made easier by choosing a properly-formulated food and closely monitoring intake and growth.

Monitor Intake

It’s common to free-feed puppies given their tendency to play hard and wear themselves out, but that’s not the best option. Instead, choose a quality food formulated specifically for puppies and closely monitor their intake to ensure they are not over- or underfed.

Expert Advice

If you’re in the market for a new hunting companion and will be in charge of his nutrition in the first year of life, it’s best to pay attention to what the experts say. Paying top dollar for a purebred pup and then investing time and money to turn him into a bird hunting machine is commonplace amongst hardcore upland bird hunters, but specifically addressing an individual puppy’s nutritional needs is not so common.

A Busy First Year

In truth, pups learn a lot in their first year. Training and introduction to actual hunting situations during their formative months are extremely important. In other words, brain development is crucial and is another area where you can favorably tip the scales with your feeding choices.

Monitor Body Condition

Dog trainer Tom Dokken pays close attention to the food he chooses for his pups, but is also adamant about monitoring body condition. He looks for a slight ‘tuck’ in front of the pup’s hips. This means that the puppy is gleaning the most from its feedings without over or under doing it.

Watch Food Intake

While no one can deny how cute a chubby puppy is, the reality is that paying close attention to food intake and monitoring body shape are crucial to overall development.

Quality Food in the Right Amount

The tendency to give in to a puppy’s every whim can have disastrous consequences concerning overall health, especially when it comes to nutrition. Quality food doled out appropriately is much better than free feeding.

Digging Deeper

Addressing nutritional needs in the first year of life is essential, but it boils down to more than picking up a bag of dog food marketed towards puppies. Truly offering your new four-legged cohort the upper edge in health and development requires an understanding of exactly what they need to ingest and what you need to do to monitor them throughout their growth.

Puppy Brain Waves

Brain development occurs at its highest rate in young puppies. Food sources with Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, foster smarter dogs that are easier to train and have fewer behavioral issues.

Protein Intake

Emily Lambrecht, of Cargill Animal Nutrition, said protein is a major need for growing puppies:

"Puppies also have increased protein requirements in order to build new tissues. Although protein is not the main source of energy in the diet, providing a high quality, highly digestible protein source, as well as providing food that has a properly balanced energy level to protein ratio, is essential for proper growth and development.”

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New Puppy Nutrition

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At the same time, pointing dogs were becoming more popular in Europe and a select group of French breeders set out to develop a breed that had the athleticism necessary to hunt hard all day and the instinct to point and retrieve birds. Using Spanish pointers and various European hounds as their root stock, these breeders began to develop dogs that embodied all of the qualities they desired.

The result of their efforts was the Braque Francais. The Braque became known for its keen determination and overwhelming desire to please its master. Careful breeding resulted in a dog that could be relied upon to obey commands in the field and hunt hard all day long, a dog that had intense prey drive and could also serve as a family companion, playing with the children, yet acting as a watchdog in the dark of night.

Among the many sporting dogs to come out of Europe, the Braque Francais has remained a relatively obscure breed. Even though the breed is still common in France, the Braque has never gained the worldwide popularity that many other breeds from that era and region have experienced. However, the Braque continues to have a loyal following of breeders and hunters that appreciate this dog’s intelligence, athleticism, drive and natural ability.

Breed Origins 
The term “Braque Francais” does not actually refer to a single breed, but rather two distinct breeds that are relatively similar in appearance and function, but differ in size. Originally developed in the 15th century, the emergence of several localized subtypes of the French pointing dogs became known by the region of their origin and included the Braque d’Auvergne, Braque Francais Gascogne, Braque du Puy and others.

This variety of breed types eventually led to the development of the two distinct strains, the Braque Francais Pyrenees and the Braque Francais Gascogne, in the mid-19th century. The Braque Francais Pyrenees, the smaller of the two breeds, is more common. This breed’s history can be traced back to the original breeders in the southwest of France and the Pyrenees Mountains that perfected the breed over hundreds of years.

This smaller French pointing dog was bred to be agile and capable of hunting in the high mountain terrain without tiring. The other larger breed is known as the Braque Francais Gascogne, and is still common in France but is rarely seen outside of its native land. Today, both the Canadian Kennel Club and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) recognize the Braque Francais Pyrenees, and the United Kennel Club recognizes both breeds, although the UKC refers to the two breeds by their original French names: the Braque Francais, De Petite Taille for the Pyrenean version and the Braque Francais, De Grande Taille for the larger Gascogne version.

The two breeds look very similar except for their size. Both are typically liver and white or cinnamon and white (traces of black are are considered disqualifications for Braque Francais in the major breed registries) and have a sturdy but athletic build and folded, high-set ears.

The Braque Francais Pyrenees stands from 19-23 inches at the shoulder. The Gascogne version ranges from 23-27 inches at the withers. The Pyrenees variety weighs between 38-55 pounds and is generally thinner and more agile than the larger Gascogne. The Pyrenees should also have a thinner, less blocky head than the larger Gascogne, although the muzzle of the Pyrenees should never be snipey. Both breed standards call for the disqualification of overly shy or aggressive dogs.

Only In America 
When today’s U.S. breeders refer to the Braque Francais they are generally describing the Pyrenees version, a smaller, sleeker dog with an intense desire to hunt and please. Despite the fact that they superficially resemble small German shorthairs, Braques are very different than their larger cousins (the German shorthair was also derived in part from Spanish pointers and various European hounds) and a new owner who expects a Braque to behave exactly like a small German shorthair is likely to be disappointed with the results.

Despite remaining relatively unknown and uncommon, there are breeders throughout North America who have turned to the Braque and would not consider hunting with anything else. This charming little upland dog has a personality and intelligence all its own, and that is what keeps loyal owners attached to their Braques.

Braque owners Mike and Karen Ercolano have enjoyed great success with the breed and they now operate Jersey Sporting Dogs in Nazareth, Penn. The Ercolanos had hunted with a variety of different breeds, including pointers, English setters, Labs and springers, but had not found the dog that suited their particular style.

Karen was considering a German shorthair but was afraid that such a big, powerful dog might be too much for her. Then in 1999, Mike brought home an issue of Gun Dog that featured the Braque. If everything claimed in the article was true, then it seemed like this French import might be just the dog that the Ercolanos were looking for.

The Braque was described as a breed with a high prey drive coupled with an intense desire to please the owner and a very high level of trainability. The Ercolanos began trying to find a breeder.

“At the time there was very little out there about them. It took a while, but soon I found a planned litter in Missouri and the waiting began,” Karen recalls. “Nine months later I had my first Braque Francais, a female named Angie. At 11, she is still with us and doing well. While she didn’t prove to be our best hunting dog (my fault, not hers), she started the fascination for both Mike and myself with the breed.”

Angie may not have been the best hunting dog the Ercolanos ever raised, but she won their hearts. Because of the breed’s French heritage and its recognition by the CKC, the Braque Francais has remained a popular hunting dog in eastern Canada. The Club Braque Francais Quebec (CBFQ) has a large number of members that hunt and selectively breed Braque Francais.

Busy Paws 
Mike and Karen traveled to Quebec and attended a Braque-only field trial and met with CBFQ members, discussing the breed, its temperament, effective training methods and how to raise Braques properly.

That trip to Quebec was the first step toward developing their own breeding program. The Ercolanos returned from Canada with a great deal of knowledge and inspiration and a Braque puppy named Chase, their first stud dog. Soon afterwards, they raised their first litter of Braques and were pleasantly surprised by the results of their very first breeding. Since that time, Mike and Karen have dedicated themselves to promoting and improving the breed.

“Our philosophy comes from breeding for health, temperament, hunting ability and conformation,” Karen says. “Nothing is too good for our dogs or our pups. We raise them in our home, not a kennel, garage, barn or basement.

“All our adults live in the house and sleep on the furniture. Believe it or not, they are well behaved. Our yard has an invisible fence and they do great with that. They know how to ‘turn it on’ in the woods or field and chill in the house.”

Since beginning their breeding and training program, the Ercolanos have enjoyed a great deal of success with their dogs and have proven that their dogs can succeed in rigorous testing as well as in field hunting wild birds. In 2009, Jersey Sporting Dogs received the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association’s Natural Ability Breeders Award. The Ercolanos have successfully hunted their dogs on Michigan grouse, Georgia quail and woodcock and pheasant in New Jersey.

Karen credits some of the success she and Mike have enjoyed to the breed’s relative obscurity. Unlike other better-known breeds, the Braque has remained largely what it was originally bred to be, a superior hunting dog that had the natural instinct and desire necessary to succeed in the field.

“Braque Francais have an above average ability to accept training,” Karen notes. “They are born with all the natural ability it takes to make a fine bird dog. They are a real people pleaser, and mature faster than many others. Being bred as hunting dogs only has kept that instinct strong, unlike many of the other breeds today bred for show or pet as well as hunters.”

Despite its success in the field, the Braque is not the perfect dog for every hunter. Before considering this breed (or any other, for that matter), it is important to understand the nature of the Braque Francais and to determine whether or not the breed is suitable for your life and hunting style.

“While much of what you read says they are calm, I say busy paws are happy paws,” says Karen. “They are energetic, sensitive, well mannered, affectionate and intelligent.”

Braque Francais do not respond well to heavy-handed training. Strong handling and aggression can cause the Braque to become shy and timid and may seriously delay the dog’s progression in the field. If you are considering this breed, plan to use minimal but effective correction and abundant praise in your efforts to reach your training goals.

Like many other hunting breeds, Braque Francais can suffer from hip and joint problems. Most breeders, including the Ercolanos, have their dogs routinely examined to insure poor genetics are not passed on to future generations, although joint problems do not occur as frequently in smaller sporting dogs like the Braque as they do in larger, heavier breeds.

Overall, the Braque is a robust, healthy dog with relatively few health issues. Braques are good retrievers on land and in the water, but Ercolano warns that if you plan to hunt over water in cold climates it is best to purchase a breed that was bred specifically for cold water retrieving. The fact that the breed was not lost to obscurity makes an important statement about its value as a gun dog. Like the original French wingshooters who learned to value the qualities of this rare European breed, modern breeders like the Ercolanos are working to insure that the Braque remains one of Europe’s best, if not best-known, pointing breeds.

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Train for the Best

Mike and Karen Ercolano breed the Braque Francais, which is fairly uncommon in the U.S. but is a highly effective upland bird dog. They first traveled to Quebec to attend a field-only trial and talk with other breeders, where they gathered information about how to properly raise Braques.

(Photos provided by Brandon and Kristy Bruner of Chequamegon's Braque Francais)

An Upland Master

The Braque Francais, though less common than other breeds, is an exceptional upland hunter. The Braque is described as a breed with a high prey drive coupled with an intense desire to please the owner and a very high level of trainability.

(Photos provided by Brandon and Kristy Bruner of Chequamegon's Braque Francais)

A Rare Breed

Despite remaining relatively unknown and uncommon, there are breeders throughout the U.S. like Mike and Karen Ercolano who won't even consider hunting with a breed other than the Braque Francais. The Ercolanos operate Jersey Sporting Dogs out of Nazareth, Penn., and train the dogs they breed.

"Nothing is too good for our dogs or our pups. We raise them in our home, not a kennel, garage, barn or basement," the Ercolanos said.

(Photos provided by Brandon and Kristy Bruner of Chequamegon's Braque Francais)

A Teachable Moment

Braque Francais are a very teachable breed and have an above average ability to accept training, according to Mike and Karen Ercolano. "They are born with all the natural ability it takes to make a fine bird dog. They are a real people pleaser, and mature faster than many others." Because the Braque Francais is bred for hunting only and not show or as a pet, it's hunting instincts have remained strong.

(Photos provided by Brandon and Kristy Bruner of Chequamegon's Braque Francais)

Braque Francais

The term "Braque Francais" does not actually refer to a single breed, but rather two distinct breeds that are relatively similar in appearance and function, but differ in size. From the region of France named the Braque d'Auvergne, the two breeds are known as the Braque Francais Pyrenees (the smaller of the two breeds) and the Braque Francais Gascogne.

(Photos provided by Brandon and Kristy Bruner of Chequamegon's Braque Francais)

Health Nuts

Overall, the Braque is a robust, healthy dog with relatively few health issues. Braques are good retrievers on land and in the water, but Ercolano warns that if you plan to hunt over water in cold climates it is best to purchase a breed that was bred specifically for cold water retrieving.

(Photos provided by Brandon and Kristy Bruner of Chequamegon's Braque Francais)

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Breed Profile: Braque Francais

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Check out the best reader submission photos in our latest edition of the Gun Dog puppy gallery.

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Bernie the Brittany

Bernie, a bold, beautiful, birdy Brittany, is 3 months old and owned by Noah and Mindy Clark of Gresham, Ore.

Pup on the Prowl

This proud puppy looks like a noble lion on the prowl—one of the reasons we love the spunky character of young pups everywhere.

Dog Days of Summer

All went "swimmingly" with this photo shoot! This litter of Boykin spaniel puppies is owned by Bill and Dawn Crites of Blythwood, S.C.

Pick of the Litter

The spotlight is on the pick of the litter, LuLu! The cocker spaniel is owned by Nevena Martin.

Accessorize

Every girl needs a good bag, including Ellie, a Chesapeake Bay retriever belonging to George Vandel of Pierre, S.D.

Start 'Em Young

Sixteen-week-old Roba, a Weimaraner, is now an exceptional bird dog, according to Dennis Volpe of Wilmington, Mass.

Casting a Shadow

Casting a perfect shadow is Dakota, a 14-month-old English setter puppy owned by D.J. Clark.

French Import

Hiver de la Pierre d'Or (Evie) is a Braque du Burbonnais. Pictured here at 6 months, Evie is a French import that now lives happily in Michigan with owner Erin Feichtner.

Makin' Waves

Makin' waves! This lab pup belongs to Robert Knupp.

Autumn Greetings

Autumn greetings! These lab puppies are owned by T.J. and Mercedes Jones of Laurel Hill, Fla., and were photographed by family friend Shanna.

Zeus

Zeus, a German shorthaired pointer, is owned by Mario Notarfrancesco of Melbourne, Australia. He is pictured retrieving a grey teal and has a bright future ahead of him hunting ducks and quail "down under."

Proud Pup

This proud pup strikes a pose for the camera—yet another reason we love collecting pics from the cutest puppies around.

Doggy Daydreams

Twelve-week-old Sage, a Labrador owned by Gina Pfister, is undoubtedly daydreaming of hunts to come.

Puppy Bins

Bins full of puppies! This litter of English setters, on their first trip to the vet at 6 weeks, are owned by Dave Jungst of Morris, Minn.

All About the Attitude

Attitude—with a capital "A." English setter Kota has the heart of a lion when it comes to hunting, according to owner Diane Peterson of Wisconsin.

Working Man's Dog

This little firecracker was born on the 3rd of July. When not mowing the lawn, Major Winters, a vizsla, loves being in the woods and learning about hunting, according to owner Bill McGough.

A Good Chew

"Ropes and strings and chewy things!" Georgia de L'Etoile du Nord, a French Brittany, is owned by Kelly and Renae Kappes of Ada, Minn., and was photographed by their son, Ryan.

Baby Blues

Talk about a pair of blue-eyed cuties! Kym Lish's daugher Piper holds a German shorthair pup from their recent litter.

High Five

High fives all around—let's hunt! Baked in the Sun "Boise" Paw'Tater is owned by Caroline Fenton.

Just Chillin'

Popper is a deaf English setter puppy fostered for Ohio English Setter Rescue by Danica Barreau. He quickly learned hand signs, was adopted and now lives a spoiled life with an adoring family.

Nose to Nose

"Let's discuss this nose-to-nose!" Copper, a 7-year-old male English pointer, becomes acquainted with Todd, a 13-week-old female German shorthair owned by Ashley Stevens.

Dog Daze

This is GCH Truly A Daydream Believer JH when she was four-and-a-half months old. The Irish Red & White Setter belongs to Ed and Wendy Brockman of New Tripoli, Penn.

Romp in the Field

This pup took a romp in a field—one of the reasons we love getting reader photos of young, scrappy little pups.

First Bird

Seven-week-old Bryar, a German shortaired pointer, shows off his first dove retrieve. According to his owner, Jennifer Horan of Manchester, Penn., Bryar has become a bird hunting machine.

Win a 2013 Gun Dog Puppies Calendar!

Good news! We're giving away free copies of the 2013 Gun Dog Puppies calendar. Just visit our Gun Dog Snapshots page and upload your best puppy photos along with your name, email and a description. We'll pick our favorites and share them on our Facebook page.

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2013 Gun Dog Puppy Gallery

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With so many great breeds, don’t you want to own one of every kind? With the 2013 Gun Dog Puppy calendar you can! Spectacular images of puppies in action from the fine photographers you see month after month in Gun Dog! Order yours from the InterMedia Outdoors Store today!