Jerry wrote:

>>>Please forgive my ignorance, but can someone define for me the meaning
of a "rough shooting dog"? It's
not a term I'm familiar with here in the north-eastern mountains of the USA.>>>

 

"Rough shooting" is a British term for a way to hunt small game in the "rough", meaning very covered terrain with bushes and any vegetation that is difficult to force. Hard going working springers and cockers, but also other breeds that are not afraid of hard work that may hurt a lot, are used. The dogs have to search fast and "dive" for the game so that it does not start to run around in the cover but is forced to leave by flying up or escaping by foot and exposing themselves for the guns/dog handlers. In Britain (also in Sweden) they have different kind of bushes, like sloan berry that is impossible for the humans to penetrate. A good spaniel will either creep under it or climb on top of it and bore down to the game and get it moving. When the game escapes either by foot or wing it will offer difficult and fun shooting. Things happens very fast and the one is occupied by having deep discussions with his partner is not likely to shoot anything.

 

The dogs must be very obedient to your slightest signal. They must work under the reach of a shotgun. The retrieves must be very fast and precise, a wounded rabbit for ex. is eager to get underground very fast unless caught by a spaniel fast as lightning and a crippled pheasant can run at 30 kms per hour and vanish within seconds. The guns must shoot fast, still with great respect to safety. It is bloody fun and a great sport in other words )

 

The most important prerequisite to be able to have fun in this way is a lot of small game. That is what they have around the British shooting estates. Sonia perhaps knows more about the current game situation in Britain.

 

Torsti  (120 kms north.east from Stockholm, Sweden)