Field Gentlemen
posted in General |Bird dogs are really gentlemen of the field and should be treated as such, says Joe Noe, BCR outdoor sports columnist.
The Bird Dog is a true ‘Gentleman of the Field’
To the sportsman whose passion is the pursuit of upland game fields with a trained gentleman of the field, there is nothing more thrilling as seeing his bird dog freeze in motion as the scent of the pursued game bird fills his every muscle through his sensitive nose.
No other sight excites the sportsman, or thrills his soul as seeing his dog climax a late chilly November afternoon by slamming into a statuesque point. The grace, motion, vitality, desire, wisdom, speed, determination, and courage are exemplified only in a bird dog – the true sportsman of the field.
The owning and training of a bird dog has been a priceless heritage experienced for centuries by discerning sportsmen. A bird dog is an extension of his master, a gentleman in the field. He possesses an affectionate disposition, is tolerant and charming.
There is grace and purpose in his movements. Love radiates out of the soft, warm depth of his eyes. He is continually at his master’s service, eager to hunt his heart out, never wanting to quit even when the going is rough and briers tug at his soul.
As the late Henry P. Davis put it, “The greatness of any bird dog lies in his developed intelligence which is brought about by two things: attentive honest owners and trainers, and plenty of game to finish the dog on.”
A bird dog put down in the field is pursuing a scent that immobilizes his every muscle–a living statue. He will remain immobilized even after his master has flushed the bird and fired. A gentleman does not chase the prize.
He promptly and tenderly delivers the prize back to his master. A gentleman does not waste any game, for he is a true conservationist.
When another gentleman finds the sough-after fame, he honors his find. He does not wish to steal another’s claim to his masters praise. It is enough for him to acknowledge another gentleman’s fortune.
His nose is sensitive and powerful. He is able to tell the difference between feathers and fur. A gentleman does not lie.
The gentleman in the field is tolerant. For when his hunting companion fails to gather the prize he had correctly located, he will not mention his master’s mistake.
A bird dog is a wonderful, thrilling animal to follow. His sole purpose in life is bird finding, handed down to him through generations, each intensifying desirable characteristics through careful and astute breeding.
Your gentleman of the field is noble born, proud, sensitive and loyal. He deserves to be cared for like the gentleman he is.
Joe Noe
posted on October 26th, 2008 at 2:57 pm