Posted by Joe McKone on June 14, 1998 at 10:15:35:
In Reply to: Re: Any Pointing Labs in NE/IA posted by Stu West on June 12, 1998 at 11:03:06:
> Actualy there is quite a bit of difference between a trial dog and a hunting dog. The differences were greater when there were only wter trials (inthe 60s and 70s) but they still exist.
> Take, for example, a hunter primarily hunting pheasants. He usually wants his dog off point and under the fall to stop wounded birds from running. However, this causes huge penalties in pointing trailing. Unless the rules get changed the dog becomes VERY confused when it's run in both venues.
> Another example is the exclusive upland hunter. Why would he want a trainer spending 80% or even 50% of the training time on water retrieves, marked or blind??? Suer it's useful once a year to be able to give your dog a line to a blind on upland, but not too often.
> I've got dozens of other examples, but my point was that a trainer must find out the clients usage (trial vs. hunt) AND the bird the client is primarily hunting before he starts training.
> It's the only professional thing to do.
Stu, I guess it's the same reason so many city folk buy those 4x4 trucks & SUV's. They use it maybe 2 times a year but are glad they have it when they need it. It helps me keep my upland labs in shape year round as I don't know a better way to work a dog on those 95 degree Iowa summers.