I thought that title might raise some interest, but truth be known my standard poodle, Sasha, hunts. Now, she's had no real training so most of what she is doing is instinct. Granted those instincts are not top notch but she gets better each hunt. This hunt started like any other, she runs ahead ranging rather far, runs all around like the goofball that she is, and then settles down into scenting and being more methodical. When she does get some scent she gets a bit more focused and starts working the cover better. She's not real big on plowing into the heavy thorny stuff and some birds would burrow in and hold there. Sasha raised 3 birds in about 2 hours and I was able to get two of them. The last bird caught both of us just crossing a creek, I was still mid air jumping over it. Of course my safety was on and I missed the last of that picture perfect trailing away shot. Sasha slept most of the ride home and most of the evening too. I was reloading and she was at my feet. Great close to a great day in the field.
Fantastic. I have always heard poodles would/could hunt but yours is the first hard evidence I see that they can. Great pictures too. Does she retrieve at all? does her coat pick up much in the way of burrs and seeds? Mike
Saw the title and knew that it was Roper & Sasha. Nice job! Does she look back at you when you miss with that "How could you miss that?" look. MB
Great report and nice looking bird. I've read that poodles (at least the standard variety) are very intellegent dogs and can be trained to do a lot of various tasks. Keep hunting her, she'll get better and better.
Thanks Mike, she doesn't retrieve but will run to the downed bird and make sure it doesn't run. Burrs...my goodness, she's like velcro for burrs, seeds, twigs, grass, you name it. A good hour of de-burring and a shower and she's like new.
Great report. I seriously considered getting a poodle for hunting. I think they are an incredible dog and I'm glad yours is coming along. I backed out on getting mine, opting for another Labrador. You have to understand what it would have been like in the duck club where I hunt. Those guys would have never let up. I couldn't have handled it. I'm gutless I guess. I hope you'll post more reports. If you are ever working your dog during the off season I would love to come watch.
Karl writes ....."If you are ever working your dog during the off season I would love to come watch" HA! What a great way to learn cover locations ..... I'll come too and bring my GPS, )) Hey Karl, I just opened up your blog for the first time and enjoy your writing style and musings, Have Bookmarked it and look forward to catching up on what you and the Grits have been up to. Good work. Peace Mike
Thanks Mike. To be honest, I was thinking about Roper working his dog in a field trial type area. I honestly didn't think about him working out in his covers. Duh. Sometimes I wonder where my head is. I really like the idea of the hunting poodle. I read somewhere that the clipping of the poodle started so people could differentiate their dogs from others at a distance. I also heard that the clipping style evolved to be imitate the British lion as an insult to the British Crown. Anyway, thanks much of the compliment on the blog. It's been a lot of fun. Roper, I really don't want to know where you're hunting. I'm not that kind of a guy. I just want to see a poodle at work in the field. Karl
Hi Karl-4:48 am! You must be an early riser like me (I'm on my way to the gym at 4:30am). BTW-I too like your blog-keep writing! Roper, I'm not proud and would love to learn where you hunt!:thumb: Rick
Gotta love it, guys! Poodles are the original bird dogs, courtesy of the French (unfortunately). Yes, they will hunt birds, but I can't speak for their retrieving qualities. I'm half French, and can say the following with authority: Pity the French couldn't put two barrels together like Joe Manton did, and create the side-by-side! Maybe that's why the mantle of bird hunting quickly passed to the English. I've always believed that other dogs thought Poodles were members of some wierd religious cult! Rick, you gotta have a ton of grouse, both ruffs and blues, up around Winthrop. You're not getting into them?
Alex-I was kidding about Ropers hunting areas. Yes I did well on grouse in September, and did very well on pheasant and sharptails in Montana a couple weeks ago. I do like to hunt pheasant and quail, but most of my WA haunts seem to be on a decline for those birds. Brewster/Bridgeport and Banks Lake areas have been really poor this year (according to my brother who was hunting opening weekend and also he was in the Chelan area last weekend with just a few birds in the bag.) We used to hunt the Othello and last year was so poor that we haven't been back this year. I may need to get down into the Pomeroy area, but that is a long drive from home. Rick
Common misunderstanding, they are Germanic in their origin, being "peudel" dogs. Old woodcut prints show hunters using them prior to having guns. The dogs would "herd" the birds to the hunters and they would throw nets over the birds. Granted, the French standardized the breed, but they also started breeding them as non-working dogs. The trend went way south if you ask me... In any event, they are a smart, joyful, endearing breed. And I'll likely continue to have them as pets and hunting dogs.
I was told it was a "hunting cut" designed to allow the poodles to retrieve from the water yet keep the important parts warm. Only decent reason to do that to a dog without someone calling the ASPCA :thumb: Glad to see her having some fun!
