Looking for hunting desire and intensity

[Thomas&Merete-Kennel Alvertoppen]

We are currently searching for a new field-bred IRWS pup, that we can train for Field Trials in Norway. The working abilities we are looking for are primarily hunting desire and intensity, which are the foremost abilities needed in a pointing dog to succeed in the heavy terrain in which Norwegian Field Trials are held. The other working abilities must also be present, but we are especially searching for irws with good hunting desire and intensity.

If you have any information, please comment!

[Christiane Lohmann]

I am pretty sure you know what is around in IRWS circle in Scandinavia ? Even I have heard about Gun Carmlands CRAIGRUA ROGUE's success in sweden.
Germany has so far one male with remarkable appearance in trial scene, who is imported from John Kerr's RUSHFIELD kennel in scotland. He is started on international trials (see FUGLEHUNDEN report of a norwegian judge about czech's Int. FT.) and is a very sound gundog indeed.
To me it is most important that - aside the HD and CLAD responsabilty - the IRWS must HUNT ! Not more or less than IS;-))) I have been judging at Kongsvold. Great country side. Wood trials at Trondheim have also been fantastic, but little birds. Nevertheless...passion and brains brings a dog to success everywhere !

Surely Terry O'Leary is somebody who can help you further. (Hey, Terry....did you already post your story about the trip to France ? Still waiting !)

If you like to give me your mail adress, I can send you some pictures.

regards
Christiane

[Thomas&Merete-Kennel Alvertoppen]

Yes Christiane, we are well aware of Sh CH Craigrua Rogue's good achievements, and I will certainly check up on the article in FUGLEHUNDEN.

Since you have been judging on Kongsvold you must know the working style and hunting desire required to compete in these FT's (especially during winter season), and what "(over)drive" we are looking for. Wood trials (and "low land") are another story, I think many irws could have a good chance at these trials. Unfortunately, the Highland-trials are the most common and popular trials in Norway, most because this is similar terrain to where most Norwegians go hunting for grouse during the hunting season. And also this is where the Derby and the most prestigeous Championships are held. So this is the "ultimate challenge", and what we are aiming for :)

[Wendy Bockman]

How do you measure hunting desire and intensity in a pup? I only have my own dogs to go by but although I see some differences between them how would one know if the pup would have the extreme desire for the type of trials that you do?

[Thomas&Merete-Kennel Alvertoppen]

The maybe best way is to look at earlier litters from the same parents, then look t the parents, preferably out in the field. In Norway we have something called Dogweb (through the kennel club, NKK) where all the scores from field trials are available (internet-based log-on service for members). Not only the placings, but full critics with index (from 1 to 6) for different working "features", such as hunting desire, sped, style, independence, cooperation with handler, quality of flushing, quality of pointing, number of minutes ran and other interesting information. For every FT the dog has entered. This gives a good description of the sire an dam, as long as they have been field trialled a decent number of times. The more FT's they have entered, the better quality of the data. Unfortunately, in Norway only 3 IRWS have been trialled in "Open class/adult dogs" (AK) so there is not much data. None have been trialler in the Winners class (you need a first in AK within the latest 3 years to qualify for the winners class) Do you have a similar data-system over there?

By just looking at the pup I think it is impossible to determine the working abilities. And we all know that in breeding 2+2 is never 4 :)

[Wendy Bockman]

I don't know of any similar system over here. I know there are some IRWS that have field trialed but not in AKC as we can't do that until next year.
It will be nice if we could build such a database but most likely it would have to be voluntary which would make it difficult to have it be accurate.