[RobDar]

inspired by the I love to see dogs like this thread...

I have worked in rescue for more than a decade. When we first started in rescue ( we rescue Beagles and Coonhounds)...we hated hunters, hunting, and everything associated with it. Why? I suppose it was because all we ever heard was bad things...and because we were always exposed to the bad...
while I to this day have no want or like to hunt myself. The only shooting I want to do is with a 35mm lens of a Canon A-1...I cannot say the pictures in the love to see dogs post upset me...at least not like it did a few others. ( I think I would have transported the dogs a little differently but what the hey)
The hunting issue is always a sticky wicky with us...more so than rescues of other breeds...I think because we deal with hunters and hunting dogs quite often. I just want to say to those "disgusted" by the post...

First, alot of hunters are fine folks.
Second, there are still parts of the population that hunt to help support and feed their families. I know that seems hard to believe to someone who lives in suburbia or a city in these days of super marts and home deliveries...but it is a fact. There are still people in this country who rely on hunting to help support their families. I have met these people personally...my step brothers family is one such family.
Third, if you have never been out "afield" or in the field with a hunting dog doing its thing...or a herding dog doing its thing...or an earth dog...or a bird dog...if you have not been there and have not seen it personally...I suggest you do. If you own a sport/hunting/working breed...find a breed club and see your dog out doing what it was bred for!
Experience can change the mind of the most stubborn of men ( Mark Twain Quote)...and going into the field with a dog who is doing what it was bred to do...witnessing the passion, the exhilaration, the excitement, and the pure unihibited joy and exuberance of the dogs...if you have a sporting/hunting breed and truely love your dog and its breed... you will not be able to deny the experience! You have NEVER met a happier dog than one out doing what its blood tells it it SHOULD be doing. You may think your dog is happy at home on your couch...but believe me its contentment does not compare to the honest to goodness joy of a hunting/field dog doing its thing!

I prefer field trials because no animals are killed...and I think there are definately some refinements some hunters could use in the keeping and training of their dogs...but I cannot deny that, as far as the dogs go, I have never seen a happier dog than the times I have been in the field with a hunter and his dogs.
As a rescuer...I could never deny the breeds that I love so much the joy I have seen in them while out in the field hunting.

[lovemygreys]

I suppose not many people would consider a greyhound a "hunting dawg," but they have been used to chase down live game for thousands of years. So, I count them as a hunter LOL

I mentioned in the other thread that I know people who take their greys Open Field Coursing...where they basically flush jacks and let the dogs do their thing. Unfortunately, the state of California is trying to ban this sport. While it's not something I'd probably do with my own dogs (not enough control in the situation, potential for injury, etc...), I can respect that others DO want to see their greyhounds in action. The ability to actually run down and catch game is really the best and only *true* measure of a greyhound's ability.

I'm sure my dogs would love to do it were it not for my "weenieness" LOL Here's a short video of our Scout watching a TV segment about greyhounds open field coursing: Link. Tell me she doesn't want to get that bunny!

Of course, we live in the country and our dogs will have their own spontaneous open field coursing trial should a wayward squirrel or rabbit find their way onto our property during a turn-out

Lure coursing is an attempt to recreate that and the dogs simply chase plastic bags on a groomed course. Good enough for me and my dogs at the moment. Seeing your breed do what it was bred to do is nothing less than breathtaking!

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by lovemygreys

Here's a short video of our Scout watching a TV segment about greyhounds open field coursing: Link. Tell me she doesn't want to get that bunny!

That was GREAT! It just occured to me that I would love to have that many dogs wondering around!

[Laurelin]

Before we got involved with the conformation aspect and toys we owned a few hunting dogs. My father loves to hunt deer but especially birds. So we had a field bred retriever and a retriever/gsd mix. He grew up with English Pointers. Not hog dogs, but they sure enjoyed hunting. I'm not much of a hunter myself, but if I get into non-toys I'm for sure going to do what my dogs were bred to do. I'd love to be involved with sighthounds and do lure coursing. Dunno about Open Field coursing though.

[Shalva]

I do hunt my dogs..... to be honest I love ducks and geese and pheasants and pigeons and chukkars etc...... but I love to watch my dogs doing what they were meant to do.....
There is nothing happier than a flat coat in the field and if someone told me that I would have frozen chukkar Quail in my freezer I would have told them they were nuts.....
Shalva going from the field into the show ring..... nothin better than that...





continued......

[Shalva]

Her mother Meghan..... a top Flat Coat again going from field to obedience ring to show ring.....









For me it is very important that these dogs can do it all and hunting is just a part of that.......

[RobDar]

While going to a fishing tournament we came across a flat coated retirever club holding trials at a lake in the state park where our tournament was...we were so enthralled we skipped the tournament and stood there and watched and talked to the people for hours. There was one little pup that had us all laughing...he was SOOOO BAD at it....but tried SO HARD...it was a good time!

Unfortunately, the state of California is trying to ban this sport.

I have said it before and will say it again...California could slip off into the ocean and no big loss in my eyes! LOL! Nearly everytime you come across some crazy "save this" or "save that" liberal laws that seeks to trample on the rights of an individual...it has started in California!
California has absolutely no respect for individual liberties...but they sure are good at packaging up in a pretty little bow and making you think that giving up your rights is a GREAT thing to do!

[lovemygreys]

Great pics, Shalva! I agree with you, the field and the ring must go hand in hand. My personal preference is seeing dog work in the field