Labrador…not by chance

My passion for gun dogs is not a gift from heaven but as a result of living, observing and working with them: they have great sensitivity as well as spirit. This passion has been formed over the years through many unforgettable shared experiences. My first dog, a French Spaniel named Vickie, was given to me by my parents when I was 21 and had finished my studies. I was already hunting at the time and did not want to leave the choice of puppy to any random chance. I took great care to choose my puppy from a breeder with a good reputation in the South of France. Vickie was a splendid bitch, especially in my eyes: her pedigree was very good with her grandfather, Major, one of the most famous French Spaniels of all time.

Vickie was a great companion to me for 10years, during which time we spent many unforgettable moments together – especially when out hunting. Until I had Vickie my only experience was obtained from my bedside reading of “JE DRESSE MON CHIEN D’ARRET” by Godard Abbe. During our time together I discovered the existence of the various breeders clubs and the joy of exhibiting at dog shows; several times I returned home with prizes but at that time did not fully understand what all the interest was about. This experience appears rather banal, but it was not so: it made me realise how difficult it is to have in the same hunting dog the ability to search and the aptitude for being an ideal retriever.

These two different and sometimes incompatible qualities in the same dog taught me one of the basic rules regarding the study and breeding of dogs: The practice of these two “crafts” in one dog will only be a compromise between the two; the success of the blend depending on other parameters. If you are serious about hunting it will be necessary to choose two dogs, each specialising in one of the two qualities i.e. a pointer and a retriever.

Ten years of experimenting, during which time I sometimes had to eat humble pie, were necessary to convince me that the above rule was true. It is this logic that today makes me an unconditional lover of Labradors and of the German Pointer; these two dogs, I believe are the best in their discipline. They are very complimentary in the field and if you push the requirement to the extreme for hunting “English style”, i.e. with a pointer and a retriever at your heels, you will form a forever inseparable trio.

Patrick TALMANT

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