From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A black
Standard Poodle retrieving
Mallard. Poodles are rarely
used for retrieving any more, and are most commonly used as
companions
A retriever is a type of gun
dog that retrieves game for a hunter. Generally gun-dogs are divided into
three major classifications: retrievers, flushing spaniels, and pointing breeds.
Retrievers were bred primarily to retrieve birds or other prey and
return them to the hunter without damage. Although spaniels and some pointing
breeds routinely retrieve game, and many retrievers are skilled in
finding game, retrievers are distinguished in that non-slip
retrieval is their primary function. As a result, retriever breeds
are bred for soft mouths and a great willingness to please, learn,
and obey. A soft mouth refers to the willingness of the dog to
carry game in its mouth without biting into it. "Hard mouth" is a
serious fault in a hunting dog and is one that is very difficult to
correct. A hard-mouthed dog renders game unpresentable or at worst
inedible.
The retriever's willingness to please and trainability have made
retrievers such as the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever
popular as assistance dogs.
Skills
In order to work properly as a gun dog, a retriever should be trained to
perform the following tasks:
- Remain under Control Retrievers are typically
used when waterfowl hunting. Since a majority of
waterfowl hunting employs the use of small boats in winter
conditions retrievers are trained to remain under control sitting
calmly and quietly until sent to retrieve. This helps to avoid an
accidental capsizing, disrupting the hunters aim or the possible
accidental discharge of a firearm which could cause serious harm or
death to others in the hunting party or to the dog itself. A dog
that is under control is also better able to “mark” downed
game.
- Mark downed game Marking is the process of
watching for a falling bird or multiple birds. When the command
"mark" is given the dog should look up for incoming birds and
remember where each bird falls. Well trained retrievers are taught
to follow the direction the gun barrel is pointing to mark where
the bird/s fall. Once the game is downed the handler will command
the dog to retrieve the game. The dog’s ability to remember
multiple “marks” is extremely important and trainers use techniques
to improve a dog’s marking and memory ability.
- Perform a Blind Retrieve When hunting
waterfowl a retriever's primary job is to retrieve downed birds.
There are times when a dog will not see the game fall. In this case
retrievers are trained to take hand, voice and whistle commands
from the handler directing the dog to the downed game for
retrieval. This is called a “blind retrieve”. Precision between the
dog and handler is extremely useful and desired so as to minimize
retrieval time and limit the disturbance of surrounding cover. The
majority of blind retrieves in the field are made within 30-80
yards of the gun however a good retriever/handler team can perform
precise blind retrieves out to 100+ yards and better.
- Retrieve to Hand Although some hunters prefer
to have a bird dropped at their feet the majority of handlers
require that the dog deliver the game to hand, meaning that once
the dog has completed the retrieve it will gently but firmly hold
the bird until commanded to release it to the handler’s hand.
- Shake on Command Following a retrieve a well
trained dog will not shake off excess water from its fur until
after the delivery is complete. A dog shaking water from its fur in
a small boat at worst risks capsizing the craft in cold winter
conditions and at best will most likely shower hunters and
equipment. Also a dog shaking while still holding the game in its
mouth could damage the bird to the point of making it unfit for the
table. To avoid these mishaps trainers will use a distinct command
releasing a dog to shake.
- Quarter Retrievers are often used in a
secondary role as an upland flushing dog. Dogs must work in a
pattern in front of the hunter seeking upland game birds. The
retriever must be taught to stay within gun range to avoid flushing
a bird outside of shooting distance.
- Remain Steady to Wing and Shot When hunting
upland birds, the flushing dog should be steady to wing and shot,
meaning that it sits when a bird rises or a gun is fired. It does
this in order to mark the fall and to avoid flushing other birds by
unnecessarily pursuing a missed bird.
Although most individual retrievers have the raw capacity to be
trained to perform as a gun dog, a significant amount of thought
and effort is given to breeding in specific desired traits into
dogs from field bred lines that greatly enhance the training
process. When breeding retrievers for field work extensive
consideration is given to:
- Biddableness Because producing a well trained
retriever capable of performing the tasks outlined above requires a
significant amount of time and effort a retriever that is
intelligent, controllable and open to learning (biddable) is of
utmost importance.
- Desire & Drive This trait(s) covers a
broad range of behaviors exhibited by the “good retriever”. Most
notably they will demonstrate the desire to retrieve almost to the
point of manic behavior and will take on significant obstacles to
make a retrieve. They will also demonstrate an exceptional interest
in birds, bird feathers and bird scent which is termed
“birdiness”.
- Marking and Memory Eyesight and depth
perception are of paramount importance to a dogs ability to mark
downed game. Remembering each fall is also critical. While there
are special techniques that retriever trainers use to help a dog to
mark and remember downed game a good retriever is born with these
“raw tools”.
- Nose Dogs are led primarily by their nose. A
good retriever will use its nose to find downed game in heavy cover
and will use it while quartering a field to locate and flush upland
game birds.
- Soft-mouth A soft-mouthed dog is needed to
ensure that retrieved game is fit for the table. A soft mouthed dog
will pick up and hold game softly but firmly on the retrieve. Dogs
that unnecessarily drop birds, crunch on, chew or even eat the bird
before delivery to the handler are considered “hard-mouthed” or are
described as having “mouth problems”. While training can overcome
most “mouth problems” a dog with an inherently soft-mouth is more
desirable when starting the training process.
- Hardiness Waterfowl hunting is a cold weather
sport that is undertaken across a wide variety of locations and
conditions from thick flooded timber in the south US, to icy and
ice covered ponds in the mid-west to frigid seas along upper the
New England coast. A good retriever will willingly re-enter the
water and make multiple retrieves under these and other extreme
conditions.
Retrievers
include
-
This list is incomplete; you can
help by expanding it.
Other Dogs with retrieving skill:
The Boykin
Spaniel is most often worked as a non-slip retriever, though it
originated as a duck- and turkey-flushing dog. Many would
classify it as a flushing spaniel rather than as a retriever.
Similarly, the American Water Spaniel could be
listed in either category. Dogs such as the Poodle, which are rarely used in hunting today,
are difficult to classify, but their traditional job was that of a
retriever.
See also
References
- Fergus, Charles. Gun Dog Breeds, A Guide to Spaniels,
Retrievers, and Pointing Dogs, The Lyons Press, 2002. ISBN
1-58574-618-5
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