Lots Of Gundogs Are Suited To Rough Shooting, Spaniels for example
Many people who are interested in having a gundog, or are looking into getting a gundog, think of them in terms of field trials and hunt tests. I mean, isn’t that the only way that you can really work your gundog now a days. The age old, traditional use for gundogs is almost obsolete so owning and working a gundog has more to do with the competitions and trials that you can win, right?
The answer is, obviously, that gundogs can and are still being used in much the same way as they were at the beginning of the 1900’s, although a good number of them are happy family pets now.
One way to work your dog is through rough shooting. If you are not aware of it, rough shooting is when one or a group of people get together to go out shooting with their dogs. Generally, if you are out rough shooting alone, you will walk through woodlands and fields with your dog working by your side hunting for live quarry.
When you are rough shooting with a group, you form a line and walk straight ahead through the terrain. Guns should be kept at a right angle and there is always careful watch to make sure that no one is moving into a shooters line.
What rough shooting means to a gundog is simple. A gundog that is used for rough shooting should be able to work alongside his handler when there is live ammunition and quarry.
Generally, a rough shooting gundog will run ahead of the line, taking cues and commands from his handler as to where to go ahead of him. The main purpose for this is to find and flush out quarry for the shooters behind the dog.
Many different gundog breeds can be used as rough shooting gundogs but it is important that they are properly trained. In addition, any shooters that are working with the dog should also be trained to avoid any accidents.
When a rough shooting gundog flushes out a bird or rabbit, the dog should react to the command, or training and drop to the ground out of way of the shooters. This is commonly referred to as “dropping to shot.” The rough shooting gundog should remain in this position until you give the command to either retrieve the animal or you call him back.
At one time, many rough shooting enthusiasts would work with several dogs and use them for different reasons. Spaniels were very popular for flushing the quarry from hiding while the retrieving breeds were kept back and only sent forward to retrieve when the quarry was shot.
Today, you can find rough shooting dogs that are used in a similar manner but more often than not, the rough shooting gundog is trained to both flush and retrieve, making it a versatile hunting companion.
Although hunt tests and other gundog activities can be a lot of fun, it is important to decide on whether a rough shooting gundog is really right for you. Training is important for all aspects of gundog activities, but a gundog that is trained for rough shooting should be well trained and able to follow through on commands quickly.
Rough shooting can be an exciting activity and it can also be nerve wracking as you watch your dog run ahead in front of shooters. For many, the excitement pales in comparison to their worries for their dogs so make sure that you are certain that you would like a rough shooting gundog before you put the time, money and effort into training a versatile, rough shooting gundog.