Sportsmen on the far side of middle age may want to consider a closer working, easier handling dog for their bird hunting endeavors. Illustration by Lynn Bogue Hunt, courtesy of Remington Firearms.

(Question) I recently turned 55, and my knees are starting to go. I've been a lifelong setter fan, but I have to admit my days of following big-running pointing dogs are about over.

I'm thinking of getting a flushing dog, maybe a golden retriever (similar in temperament to my setters), as my next--and possibly last--gun dog. But a few years ago I hunted over a buddy's two springers and we really had to hustle to keep up with the dogs when they were on a bird. So I guess my basic question is, just how hard is it to keep a flushing dog in range all of the time? (Iowa)

(Answer) A wide-ranging spaniel or retriever, chasing birds into the air too far out to provide decent shots, is a disaster. It's as simple as that.

Dogs that flush birds before the gun must be close working. The desired hunting range for pointing breeds varies greatly according to conditions, game, terrain and the preference of individual hunters.

For some hunters, a gun dog that is stanch on point can't hunt too far from the gun. For most on-foot hunters a close to moderate range of 50 to 200 yards seems preferable.

But any flushing dog that frequently punches out 50 yards ahead of a hunter is at extreme range. Wild running and refusal to heed commands and signals results in exasperated shooters attempting impossible shots and a ruined hunt.

A bird flushed at 50 yards will be at least another 10 yards from the gun before even the most practiced shotgunner can swing through it and pull the trigger. In heavy cover, even "luck-out" shots are impossible.

But if anything is worse than a wild-running gun dog, it's an indifferent mutt content to walk along in his master's tracks. Self-hunting outlaws at least produce some game and occasionally a bird flies back over the hunter to be shot. A good spaniel, or retriever that hunts in the manner of a spaniel, must apply itself eagerly and hunt for the gun.

Short of the absolute control over a flushing dog that is demonstrated in spaniel field trials, how does a hunter quickly develop a hard-working gun dog that virtually guarantees birds in the bag--the kind of dog that's a source of pride and pleasure, not an irritating, blankety-blank nuisance? Yes, Iowa, you can do it...and have fun training your dog.

Start by selecting an English springer spaniel, cocker spaniel, American water spaniel, Irish water spaniel, Labrador retriever, golden retriever or Chesapeake Bay retriever puppy from gun dog or field trial stock.

Well-bred spaniels, from proven parents, should need little if any encouragement to seek game before the gun. A certain percentage of retrievers will also be imbued with strong, natural hunting instinct. But since retrievers have specialized for generation in picking up birds after the shooting is over, many will need encouragement to hunt in a manner natural to most spaniels.

Puppies destined to be molded into personal gun dogs are best acquired before the age of 16 weeks, the earlier the better. If you don't care to mess with puppies, you can find a mature, still young "field trial reject." It will be worth considerable time and money.