A gundog’s task is to find game for its hunting master, not catch it, herself. These dogs were developed long before guns came along, and at that time, they worked with falconers, not shooters.  Everything old is new again, sang Peter Allen, and falconry is making a comeback.

In the UK alone, there are some 2,000 “hawking” dogs today, mainly Brittanys, spaniels and pointers, but we’ve come across articles from falconers who have worked with a Large Munsterlander, Airedales, Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers and Dandie Dinmont Terriers.  The decision about which dog breed to use is an individual choice for each falconer.

Dogs and birds work as a team (traditional and modern falconry can also involve horses), and most birds quickly learn to work with a dog once they realize that a dog increases their chance for a “good slip” or their own hunting. We came across one blog that showed the falcon resting on its perch in a living room next to the family dog, the bird as much a family member as the dog. Other sites, however, insist that a falcon is not a pet and sneer at those who have a “family falcon.”

The sport is a serious commitment, or as Ted Benzon, administrator for the falconry program for South Dakota’s Game Fish & Parks Department has said, “Falconry is not a hobby; it’s a lifestyle.” In the United States, falconry is the only one that uses a trained wild creature. Finishing an apprenticeship takes at least two years, and becoming a Master falconer takes at least seven. The hawk requires a significant amount of time –  every day, 365 days a year, and a bird in training calls for substantially more time. Competent falconers follow sound conservation principles, while the federal government’s environmental assessment has states that falconry has “no impact” on wild raptor populations, one incompetent, careless participant can do a lot of harm.

Needless to say, the subject has its detractors and advocates. With this post, we are just presenting information.

Image: “Hawking” by James Howe – 1834