There are a number of fellow members, mainly living in the North as far as I can make out, who think that we who believe in precise training with scentshoes and tracking collars and such like are seriously overegging the pudding. That is putting it mildly!
The late lamented 6pointer was a case in point.
I think in certain cases they are right. That view may come as a surprise to some of you.
It is no different from learning a new language. For that there are two ways; either you study it throught books at school with lots of boring grammar and excercises or you go to the country and are put in a household that only speak that language.
By hook and by crook you are forced to learn it and after a few years you may not be able to explain the rules of grammar but you are certainly able to explain your views to the locals.
Jagare, do you agree?
Therefore those lucky enough to have access and time to seriously shoot deer, let us say an absolute minimum of 50 days a year, should be able to have a very good working hound in a few years of practice.
That hound might not know the finer points of tracking but with his vast practical experience he should be eminently useable in the environment in which he is used to work.
What I do not know if, if such a hound is placed in a totally different environment would perform. Would he be put off by cattle or a large noisy pheasant pen with birds all around him? And how about crossing busy roads?
So all in all I still prefer the training way but I am turning much more than a few months ago to the fact that these northern hounds not only have their uses but can be bloody good.
Or am I telling you that 2+2=4?
The late lamented 6pointer was a case in point.
I think in certain cases they are right. That view may come as a surprise to some of you.
It is no different from learning a new language. For that there are two ways; either you study it throught books at school with lots of boring grammar and excercises or you go to the country and are put in a household that only speak that language.
By hook and by crook you are forced to learn it and after a few years you may not be able to explain the rules of grammar but you are certainly able to explain your views to the locals.
Jagare, do you agree?
Therefore those lucky enough to have access and time to seriously shoot deer, let us say an absolute minimum of 50 days a year, should be able to have a very good working hound in a few years of practice.
That hound might not know the finer points of tracking but with his vast practical experience he should be eminently useable in the environment in which he is used to work.
What I do not know if, if such a hound is placed in a totally different environment would perform. Would he be put off by cattle or a large noisy pheasant pen with birds all around him? And how about crossing busy roads?
So all in all I still prefer the training way but I am turning much more than a few months ago to the fact that these northern hounds not only have their uses but can be bloody good.
Or am I telling you that 2+2=4?