Bird Dogs Afield host Paul Fuller is the gun dog columnist for Northwoods Sporting Journal. The Journal has granted permission to re-print Paul’s articles. Thank you Northwoods Sporting Journal.

The Call of the Wild

“…for the hunting dog, an overwhelming call they willingly obey given a chance. For this reason, I feel sorry for hunting dogs that never get a chance to hunt, that are chained to stake or pace up and down, back and forth, in a cramped apartment all day until the hunger for the wild dies in their eyes, their owners too domesticated to even notice.” Page 23, A Grouse Hunter’s Almanac, Mark Parman.

Every day I see or read something that reminds me of the above quote. I’m concerned about the number of dogs that are bred for the field that are ending up in apartments, condos and homes where folks live a sedentary life style. Due to their attractive appearance, the German shorthaired pointer is a good example.

When researching the shorthair, no matter what reference you use, there is always a statement similar to this: Extremely energetic breed; requires daily exercise. When pups are sold outside of the hunting fraternity, the results are often unpleasant. Posts on Facebook where new shorthair owners plead for suggestions on how to cope with their new German shorthair puppy are a daily occurrence. A daily occurrence are also Facebook posts that state: “Can no longer handle this dog…will sell cheap.”

The losers in this vicious circle are the dogs. They’ve done nothing wrong. Their genetics make them an active dog that requires daily exercise. A few weeks ago, I was leaving the vet’s office and met a young lady arriving with a young shorthair. I told her what a good looing pup she had. Her response: “Thanks! My father hunts with them and I’ve always loved the way they look. So, I brought one to college (we live in a college community) for my pet.” Bad move! A couple of months ago a couple approached me at our local recycling center. “Saw your dogs in the truck…aren’t those German dogs.” I responded that they are indeed German shorthaired pointers. “We’ve always thought they’re beautiful dogs and we would like to have one as a pet. Can you recommend a breeder?” I won’t print my response.

There are two parties to blame for the sad eyes of a dog living at the wrong address. First, puppy mill breeders who simply see a litter as a nice piece of income; and, secondly, buyers that are unwilling to spend the time investigating the nature of a breed. Well- established legitimate breeders typically have most of a litter sold before the pups are even whelped. Those breeders have a following amongst folks that truly understand a breed.

There is a class of non-hunting dog owners that I would like to commend. These folks fully understand a breed before buying a puppy and do what is necessary to make the puppy happy; they give the dog daily exercise. Many even go beyond just exercise. I’ve met many responsible non-hunting dog owners at training days for both the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC). These folks are dedicated to giving the dog a purpose (other than sleeping on a couch) in their life. Many of these dog owners are non-hunters and will never become hunters; however, they’re giving their dog a chance to excel in the field…and be happy. I commend and respect these dog owners.

Of course, my personal preference is to have a hunting dog in the truck and being heading to the woods come October. The bottom line: If you can’t exercise a dog daily, then buy an appropriate dog for your companionship.

Paul Fuller is host of Bird Dogs Afield TV, which may be seen in the Greater Boston area on WBIN (Comcast Ch. 18) Fox 21 in Duluth, MN and Fox 23 in Portland beginning in November and running through December. Previous TV broadcast episodes, and dozens of training and hunting videos and Paul’s previous Sporting Journal columns may be seen or read on Paul’s website which is www.birddogsafield.com. Paul may be contacted at paul@birddogsafield.com.