dropped in front of him. He didn't move until he heard his name. Hazel's dummy throwing ability improved, marginally. Scout never went for a retrieve before he was sent. Although Hazel never took to shooting, her perception of dogs (Springers at least) changed forever. Scout would retrieve for Hazel all day if she wanted to throw dummies that long, even though they were the simplest of retrieves. "It was a great joy to see a dog like Scout, who could rip a hedge apart, but as soon as he flushed game, he reliably automatically hupped." Scout's enthusiasm and excitement for work seemed to build steadily. I thought that one day his head would explode with excitement. He will go completely crazy. Often, when a dog goes from working with the mentality of a puppy to working like an adult dog, he tests the handler. Firmness needs to be increased; otherwise steadiness and control may be lost. I guess it is a bit like an adolescent rebellion. Although Scout moved from working like a puppy to that of an adult dog at a very early age, his steadiness never wavered. We did occasionally have disagreements about other things, but steadiness was always automatic, whether it was a pheasant, woodcock, rabbit, hare, or dummy. Saighton's Spitfire Spitfire always amazed me by her ability to work day after day from dawn until after dusk without tiring. What amazed me the most with Scout was he could work with such high levels of enthusiasm and excitement without going crazy - even for a while. Virtually every time I took him out from the time he was 12 months or so, until he was sent to Jess at nearly two years of age, I wondered, "Is this going to be the time he finally goes a bit crazy?" It was a great surprise to me that he never did lose his cool. It was a great joy to see a dog like Scout, who could rip a hedge apart, but as soon as he flushed game, he reliably - automatically hupped. Shooting over him was tremendous fun. I will always remember one day not long before I was shipping Scout to Jess. I had taken Scout to the farm across the road from the kennels. The field was being left for hay and the grass was a bit longer than normal pasture. I thought I would work Scout on his quartering. I knew I had better enjoy him while I could. I was beginning to dread the day he was to leave. I had my gun with me in case a hare, rabbit, or wood pigeon offered a shot. Scout was running flat out when suddenly he hupped. He was looking intensely like I should be sending him for a retrieve. When I looked in the direction he was looking, the only things I could see were some seagulls flying several hundred away. I could not figure out what had caused him to hup. I called him in and cast him off in the opposite direction from where he was looking. Just as I sent him off, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye from where Scout had been looking. I turned to look Page 5 | Spaniel Journal | Previous Page | Next Page |