Ultimately the breeders of our dogs are responsible for breeding good quality dogs that resemble the breed standards. You must remember that bench shows and field trials have different objectives in their agendas. In the case of bench shows, their standards are directly related to the written standards that you referred to for the breed, and describe the "perfect" physical specimen. In the field trial world emphasis is placed on field work and bird handling ability.

At the national breed show for each hunting breed these two factions come together and an attempt is made to produce dogs that do well in both the bench show and field trial world. It does happen and you will find dual champion dogs in your breed. In several of the hunting breeds the field and show strains have drifted apart markedly over time with little resemblance between the two.

It is interesting to note that the GSP national club has just called for a vote from the membership on acceptance of black-coated dogs into the U.S. registry. I voted for it and feel that it will improve some of the watering out of pigment in the breed.

(Question)
My black Lab recently had cruciate surgery and the vet said it went as well as he had hoped. I have not had an opportunity to do any work with my Lab since he received the injury in an accident at only 10 weeks of age. He fell off the porch at my house and broke his leg.

He wore a cast for three weeks and after the cast was taken off the cruciate tear was more noticeable. I asked my vet what he thought about Jack being able to hunt with me in the future and he said with the way the surgery went, and if the dog recovers like he expects, he sees no reason why the dog will not be able to hunt with me. That is very good news.

A few new questions I have are general questions about how to get the dog ready to hunt.

I'm a college student and the dog has been living at the vet's office for four weeks now, but the vet said that it is likely that I will be able to get him back soon and take him back to school with me. He said that he would also give me a detailed rehab plan to make sure that Jack gets back in shape properly. In two weeks I will have a chance to go visit with Jack for a few hours at the vet's office. I was thinking about bringing a duck that I have in the freezer just so Jack can see and smell a duck.

I will obviously not be able to do any retrieving work while I am there but I thought just getting him acquainted with a duck's appearance and smell might be a good thing. Are there any recommendations that you could give about things I should do during this visit that could be helpful to Jack's future?
--RC

(Answer)
I would cook the duck and eat it. This dog is at an age when bonding with you is way more important than introduction to birds. I would concentrate on play and scent recognition between the two of you and worry about what he thinks of a dead duck in the spring after his leg has healed.

Tom Holcomb remains at htholcombdvm@qwestoffice.net.