Thread: Partridge with my pointer Renata

i think putting food on the table was the main reason why it was and is still done, we seem to have taken a mixed approach to proper work with P/S over here.
the hare in the uk by tradition was the quarry of the hound or coursing dog but then pointers and setters are the dogs of the moors, hares and grouse.... in nz we have this misconception that the pheasant and quail is the rightful game of the specialist.
with our low game bird numbers should we not expect the same game manners regardless of the game flying or running away.......a good run and find and a solid point by the dog is worth walking the miles for, and for me if it wasn't for ole long those miles would be very long.

Fair call too. I had another pointer stay with me recently who had all manner of feathered game shot over him. One cold afternoon he went on point in some heavy grass, then went on to produce three turkeys one after the other. He handled them perfectly and was steady so I thought 'why not' and bowled them. Upon returning him to his owner, I sheepishly mentioned it to him, wondering what reaction I would get as some of the purists probably wouldn't agree with that, as you say pheasant and quail only. Luckily he took the same views as me!
Interesting how you mention misconceptions, seems pointers and setters attract them. I think maybe pheasant and quail are seen as the game of the specialist as its all we have that really holds (I won't say holds well...) for pointing dogs here

Interesting notes!! We have to remember of course the history of the breeds...if you were once upon a time wealthy gentry you would have had kennel comprizing pointers for the moors, the setters, a few flushers and a couple of retrievers and it would have been all so awfully jolly...I think we cleave in dark recesses of the cranium, the fact that in the colonies we are free to shoot hares once the utmost quarry of the upper classes. The Black Act of 1723 (England)was passed to repel the serfs and peasants from 'wiping out' hares (and therefore depriving the upper classes) poaching hares was an offence punishable by death...if the poacher was armed or masked!!...they (thems whose live in grand houses) only got to like the hare when they found out that the bloody peasants were eating them by the ton!! The development of the lurcher, the Epagneul Breton and other such peasant dogs seems even nowadays an obvious one... I would never ever presume to negate the wondrous works of trial dogs...that would be crass beyond words, but...it is about dog work, household economy...nothing fickle or fancy about it...hare tonight, and tomorrow night and the next night (that is how much meat there is on the animal)...who would not eat such beautiful game...?

Edited to addend...and it was around about the time of the act that many of the spooky old wifes tales etc about hares came into being...if one looked at you when you were pregnant your baby would be deformed and so on and so on...all a way of putting the lower classes off even thinking about nabbing one or two for the house.

Renata for the dog's name? Sure you are in Argentina and not NZ? Love those pointers . Top stuff.

great bit of history there Eeebees