How do they know

I suppose all animals are amazing when it comes to their instincts, but I’m wondering how bird dogs and particularly chukar dogs know where to go. On a recent hunt, my gun hand wasn’t working too well so I spent time just watching while cradling my over and under in my arms. I watched the dogs more, instead of relying on my Alpha to tell me where and what they were up to.

At one point I watched Grady suddenly cross the canyon and sprint to the top of the far ridge. Normally I would have given him a tone to return because he was getting close to the 300 yard range and I wanted him on the same hillside as I was on. But I let him go and wondered why he was on such a bee line. As he got to the top of the ridge a large covey of chukars busted. There was no attempt to a point. He just seemed to know they were there and was going to scatter them. I’m sure that the covey of chukars we had recently encountered flew far down hill from where these birds were so it couldn’t have been because he saw them go there.

Maybe he heard them but usually when he hears chukars he approaches more stealthly. But not this time. He seemed to go there with a mission of busting them. We had a little more action and some good dog work but soon it happened again. I mean a bee line in a direction I didn’t want to go and a flush of another covey. Both of these coveys were very large so maybe there was some kind of noise I couldn’t hear but why doesn’t he do the same thing on other covey’s. Why does he hammer on point one time and than bump those three hundred yard points?

Does he sense that I’m not in the hunt mode at that time? Does he think that maybe he can chase them my way? When I think back, it seems like all of my shorthairs have done that from time to time. Kind of makes me wonder how many times that might happen that I’m not aware of it. I guess it doesn’t matter because of the many times they point the birds for me to shoot. They do that far more often than bust the birds.

As they age it seems to happen less and less. Jake very rarely travels beyond 200 yards and spends most of his within 100 yards. He very rarely lies. When he says there is a bird, there usually is. But he has developed an unusual habit the last few years. If the birds are running he puts his nose to the ground and starts yipping as he trails the scent. Maybe he has lost his confidence in holding the birds and is letting me know, get ready. At 11 years old I don’t really care anymore but it alerts Grady who soon is right besides him and some times the honor is not quite what I want. But I refrain from any kind of intervention. Jakes hunts are getting fewer and he has done to many great things for me to be discouraged. He’s still trying to make me happy. Could it be his hearing? Losing one of your senses could definitely cause a loss of confidence when you are so dependant on them to know the location of your partner.

He definitely hears the sound of the gun and picks up the pace when it comes to the retrieve.

Quite often he doesn’t hear the flush of the birds but hears the report of my gun. He has too much confidence in me. He searches like crazy for a downed bird while yipping even when I didn’t hit one. It’s hard to convince him that I missed but he eventually goes back to hunting.

There are lot’s of questions on why our dogs do what they do. I guess it doesn’t really matter. They do so many right things to keep us happy and enjoying the hills. I don’t know about the rest of you, but mine are almost perfect. In fact they are my reigning chukar champions and they provide some fine table fare. Even when the gun handler can’t handle a gun very well.

On a more somber note. Be careful with your canine partner out there. They probably have become a very important part of your life and an accident can quickly tear a big chunk of your heart out. Just yesterday, I called a good friend of mine to invite him on a chukar hunt. When he answered I could hear the tears in his voice. He was very broken up. Just two hours before I phoned he was hunting quail and his dog fell into a hot pool. He tried to get her to the vet but lost her. She was his champ and a huge part of his life.

God bless you Pat, and know that your star had the best life anyone could have given her.