Starting/Testing New pups - Exclusively Setters2024-03-29T05:00:46Zhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/forum/topics/865021:Topic:15959?commentId=865021%3AComment%3A16011&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI still think the food-test m…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2007-09-16:865021:Comment:166782007-09-16T07:08:31.025Zursula wilbyhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/mossby188
I still think the food-test must be pretty useless...unless you want the greediest puppy!<br />
A good nose is only part of a good hunting-dog.<br />
I would have thought the natural pointing was something far more important to test for.
I still think the food-test must be pretty useless...unless you want the greediest puppy!<br />
A good nose is only part of a good hunting-dog.<br />
I would have thought the natural pointing was something far more important to test for. I remember reading about simi…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2007-09-13:865021:Comment:161132007-09-13T12:11:50.407ZDušan Rauškihttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/Draushki
I remember reading about similar thing in a magazine for dogs and hunters we have here.<br />
Although slightly different – piece of meat was placed on a chair or something similar (but tall above puppies’ heads and out of their sight) and then the pups were introduced in the room. Allegedly the pup with the best nose will sense the meat first.<br />
I was trying to find that article right now and to quote it exactly but I couldn’t find it at the moment – sorry.<br />
(btw i really loved the picture of pup…
I remember reading about similar thing in a magazine for dogs and hunters we have here.<br />
Although slightly different – piece of meat was placed on a chair or something similar (but tall above puppies’ heads and out of their sight) and then the pups were introduced in the room. Allegedly the pup with the best nose will sense the meat first.<br />
I was trying to find that article right now and to quote it exactly but I couldn’t find it at the moment – sorry.<br />
(btw i really loved the picture of pup pointing above) I do test my puppies, but not…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2007-09-13:865021:Comment:160112007-09-13T04:58:34.061Zursula wilbyhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/mossby188
I do test my puppies, but <b>not</b> as far as hunting goes (I dont hunt).<br />
Neither do I sell to hunters.<br />
This is not due to me not liking them as a group, but rather I feel that if you want a dog for a specific purpose, you should get the one most suited. (From someone breeding field-trial-setters) My dogs are all bred from show-lines so i have no idea to their hunting ability. But I did once have a hunter who just insisted to get a puppy from me...<br />
He told me he would test the puppies and…
I do test my puppies, but <b>not</b> as far as hunting goes (I dont hunt).<br />
Neither do I sell to hunters.<br />
This is not due to me not liking them as a group, but rather I feel that if you want a dog for a specific purpose, you should get the one most suited. (From someone breeding field-trial-setters) My dogs are all bred from show-lines so i have no idea to their hunting ability. But I did once have a hunter who just insisted to get a puppy from me...<br />
He told me he would test the puppies and would be able to tell which one would be suitable. Now I have tested puppies regarding sound and confronting different new situations etc and was very curious as to how he would test.<br />
Well he turned up with his hunter-friend and started off by dragging a meatball along the floor to a specific point. We then let the puppies enter (I knew beforehand the puppy that would go for this...easy!!!! The greediest one!!!!!!)<br />
And I turned out to be right.<br />
She just stuck her nose down and followed that wonderful scent of <b>FOOD</b>!!!!!!!<br />
I can not say that I even at the time thought this test was anything to recommend.<br />
I still dont!<br />
But according to the hunter, this show setter was the best dog he ever had! And she was with him practically around the clock. He hunted everything from the traditional game to moose with that dog. And he would phone and tell me of her days in the mountain and how she just never gave up...and how she tried to retrieve wild geese of the boat (dressed in an old overcoat due to the below-freezing temperature...nearly drowning as she refused to let go of HER game) and it was one amazing story after the other.<br />
She lived to be 14 and hunted right until the bitter end.<br />
So, all said and done, perhaps you dont need charts and elaborate tests?<br />
<br />
At times a swedish meatball may be good enough.