By now, NPDD veterans know that much of what we know about dogs comes from the world of horses. In that world, “horses for courses” is a phrase used by old horsemen about breeders who chose their competitors based on the track to be run, and similarly, dog breeders produced dogs tilting toward the faster end of the range within their breed when considering field trials.
All sound dogs have a range of gait that includes a walk, trot, gallop, and sprint, but something about pointing dogs from the European continent makes them able to switch gears and match their gait to the terrain they’re on, and the game they’re pursuing. A trot is the preferred gait in the show ring, but most working standards indicate that the gallop is the preferred gait. It suggests a dog on a mission: Find the bird this minute.
Wirehaired Vizsla by James Bartholomew is available here.
I imagine that most pointing dog breeders wouldnt consider an Irish Setter as a pointing bird dog….but actually they are. What’s more they are easy to hunt behind because they “quarter” the field in close…you don’t have to walk for 30minutes to finally find them on point ! I know because my husband and I competed in many field trials in different parts of the country with our Irish Setters..We belonged to Multnomah Irish Setter Club,Portland,Ore. My female. Spring Breeze won Irish Setter Gun dog of the Northwest.And I was privileged to be one of the first woman field trial judges in the Northwest.. Its a great honor to run all pointing breeds..but our hearts are with our Red heads ? Jan and Duane Ross,,Rosmoor Irish Setters