The Rise of the Pointer in America
Hunting Dog Confidential
Craig Koshyk, author of , explores the unlikely story of how the Pointer rose to fame over the English Setter in America. At the time, this was something no one in the field trial circuit ever imagined possible, and before long, the Pointer dominated trialing. This is a story of culture, changing times, and America's continued efforts to advance everything they put their hands on.
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A Quick Update on HDC
Hunting Dog Confidential
Don't adjust your sets - we are back with a brief update on all things HDC! We've been getting lots of questions about the podcast, the magazine, and what other projects we have in the works. Craig and Jennifer are here to answer those questions and let you know what's in the pipeline for Hunting Dog Confidential!
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Episode 32: Drahthaars, Langhaars, Bretons, and Other International Breeds in America
Hunting Dog Confidential
We’ve been talking about the role of “place” in the history and culture of hunting dog breeds, but not every breed fits neatly within geographical boundaries. There are several breeds in North America who have a foot in two worlds: the parent country (often Germany) as well as North America. We explore breeds such as the Deutsch Drahthaar, Deutsch Langhaar, and Deutsch Kurzhaar which are known by their German language names in order to differentiate from the German Wirehaired Pointer, German Longhaired Pointer, and German Shorthaired Pointer. Even though the names directly...
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Episode 31: The Modern Era of Bird Dogs in North America
Hunting Dog Confidential
The end of World War II saw thousands of American servicemen and servicewomen returning home to the United States and Canada, many of whom brought home new dogs they’d met while in occupied Germany. These “new” dogs were unlike the setters and Pointers that dominated the bird dog scene in North America. Defying labels, these dogs could search, point, retrieve, and track. Some of these dogs fit in well with the American field trial culture and found success alongside setters and Pointers. Others, however, struggled to find success in the competitive environment that favored fast,...
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Episode 30: The Golden Age of Hunting Dogs in North America
Hunting Dog Confidential
Up until the late nineteenth century, the use and breeding of hunting dogs in North America was rather chaotic. Dogs were used in a variety of different ways, whether it was market hunters using Setters to retrieve waterfowl or big game hunters using Pointers to track and hold wounded elk at bay. There was no consistency in the breeding, either, as different types of dogs were often mixed and matched at will. Before long, though, some of the same concepts from the industrial revolution found their way into dog fancy. In order to achieve consistent results, fanciers knew they needed to...
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Episode 29: Early America, Part 2
Hunting Dog Confidential
We continue the history of hunting dogs as a function of place and time, resuming our discussion about dogs in North America in the colonial era. When Europeans arrived on North American shores—whether it was the Spanish, the French, or the English—we know that they had dogs with them. Early writings and paintings from this era depict a variety of dogs that accompanied the colonists for purposes of protection and hunting.
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Episode 28: Early America, Part 1
Hunting Dog Confidential
This season of Hunting Dog Confidential will explore the history of hunting dogs as a function of place and time. We begin in North America, starting with the earliest evidence of domesticated dogs from about 10,000 years ago. This episode brings us right up to the end of the pre-colonial era in the fifteenth century. We’ll continue our exploration of North American hunting dog history in the next episode.
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Episode 27: A Sense of Place
Hunting Dog Confidential
We are back with a sneak peek of season three of the Hunting Dog Confidential Podcast. Craig and Jennifer catch up on what they’ve been up to since the last episode (hint: they’ve been hunting with their dogs) and what’s new in the Hunting Dog Confidential world. This season will explore the "where" of our hunting dogs, not only the geography but the time in which they were created and developed. The story of dogs is intertwined in the fabric of human culture and we can't wait to dive in even deeper.
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Episode 26: Hawking and Bird Dogs with Anthony Williams
Hunting Dog Confidential
Anthony Williams is the epitome of versatility when it comes to the bird dog world. Growing up in Queens didn't dissuade him from his goals of hunting, running bird dogs, and flying a hawk. His initial exposure to birds was raising pigeons in New York, followed by his first experiences with falconry in an overgrown junkyard. This led him toward bird dogs, where he developed a love for the versatile breeds. Now, he has wirehaired Teckels, a Drahthaar, and a wirehaired Vizsla in addition to his hawks.
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Episode 25: Conservation and Forestry Management in Germany with Nadja Niesner
Hunting Dog Confidential
This episode is the continuation of the discussion we started last time with German hunter and hunting instructor, Nadja Niesner. We discuss how dogs are used to hunt various predators and invasive species such as raccoons and foxes. Before we get into the conversation, though, we address a listener question regarding the colors of hunting dogs.
info_outlineOur exploration of the history of hunting dogs has led us to North America, where we uncover the earliest origins of the retriever breeds. In this episode, we discuss whether the Labrador Retriever is really a North American breed, or whether it’s a British breed that owes its roots to the back-and-forth trade between England and the new communities on the eastern coast of North America.
For the purposes of this discussion, “Retriever” is meant to refer to the breeds that were specifically bred to specialize in retrieving: the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly Coated Retriever, Flat Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Many other water dogs share similar characteristics, and of course continental pointing dogs and spaniels are also expected to retrieve game. But the Retrievers were truly designed to be specialists in the new landscape and the new hunting techniques found in North America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Our story begins on the east coast of what is now Canada, in the province now known as Newfoundland and Labrador. These coastal communities were known for their near-mythological fishing grounds, so early contacts are suspected to have been made by the English, the Portuguese, and perhaps even the Vikings. Over time, at this fishing outpost, the various cultures and their dogs combined to form a land race called the St. John’s Water Dog. This wasn’t a specific breed of dog, but rather a particular type that was commonly found in the area. These dogs were described as having a short thick coat, rudder-like tail, high endurance, and a great love of swimming. All modern retrievers eventually descended from these dogs.
The St. John’s Water Dog was a favorite of fisherman and hunters alike. They could be found all over the island of Newfoundland. They were used in the water to fetch lines, waterfowl, and even dive for fish that escaped the nets. Hunters used the dogs in a method of attracting waterfowl known as tolling, where the dog played along the shore and lured the curious ducks to within gun range. Early writings describe highly intelligent and capable dogs used in this manner to help the hunter put food on the table.
These dogs were frequently being sent back to England with the fishermen and merchants that traveled back and forth across the Atlantic. In England, the St. John’s Water Dog was crossed with other dogs to meet the demands of the pet and hunting markets. Eventually this land race of dogs split into a much larger variety, what we now know as the Newfoundland Dog, and a smaller variety that led to the formation of the Labrador Retriever. But that’s a story for the next episode.
Tune in to hear more about the earliest origins of the Labrador Retriever and, by extension, all of our modern day retriever breeds. As always, we thank you for listening and hope you’ll continue to share the great feedback about this series. We can be reached at [email protected] with your ideas, comments, and questions.
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