Bird Field Fundamentals

Deserving or not, most dog owner-hunters pride themselves on their bird dog's performance. If you want to be invited back, or maintain a friendship, keep these dog protocol tips in mind:

quail Ask before you correct or direct someone else's dog. Check with the handler before praising, too. Never offer food treats to a dog without permission from the owner of the hand that feeds him all year.

Dogs like my wirehair Buddy will work for anyone in the line, but often a handler wants all retrieves to come to him. Help out by turning away from a retrieving pooch so he brings that ringneck to the boss.

Ask the owner before the leash comes off: do we shoot birds your dog doesn't point/flush? How about birds where he breaks point and chases?

Never shoot low birds - you should see plenty of blue sky below the bird - to avoid any perception you're shooting high-running dogs. Don't shoot rabbits for the same reason. And try to get in front of the dog so he's not taking the brunt of the muzzle blast because dogs go deaf, too.

Offer to help doctor, groom, water and feed the dog, and keep your eyes open for a limp or a head shake that could indicate injury.

Don't criticize a dog's performance. If your dog was better you'd be hunting behind him, not your friend's/guide's/host's.

And while you should seldom offer a dog anything without permission from the owner, it goes without saying that a 12-year-old single malt proffered to the dog's owner will certainly be welcomed.