Jump to content

What dog


Konnie
 Share

Recommended Posts

Why is it whenever someone asks this question they ask about a rare and unusual choice? Go out on any well shot marshes and you see Labs dominate with a good number of ESS (as their owners likely beat or rough shoot). A few Goldies and a dew Chessies, an odd HPR, Duck tollers I have yet to see personally. Why make things hard and expensive?

The breed club will likely tell you they do everything and are born trained

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may be totally wrong here but are duck toilers not more of a herding dog, think they were trained to be used with big commercial catching nets (like the 1 at slmbridge? now, they still use a duck toiler ) the dog was trained to go out and sort of round/scare the duck to swim into these big hanger like nets that cover a hole channel. Think it works as they look similar to a fox.

 

Didn't think they were proper wildfowling dogs, ie geting out and swiming for duck and gesse all day, possibly small for handling geese anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may be totally wrong here but are duck toilers not more of a herding dog, think they were trained to be used with big commercial catching nets (like the 1 at slmbridge? now, they still use a duck toiler ) the dog was trained to go out and sort of round/scare the duck to swim into these big hanger like nets that cover a hole channel. Think it works as they look similar to a fox.

 

Didn't think they were proper wildfowling dogs, ie geting out and swiming for duck and gesse all day, possibly small for handling geese anyway.

 

Used by the old commercial fowlers across the pond as you suggest but also with the gun as and when that was the plan for the day. None the less historic. The gene pool here in the UK must be tiny and I doubt the majority even see wildfowl in the wild let alone work them

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi - mate had one, fantastic temperament, slow but brilliant for retrieving trouble was when it had enough it would just stop, could be after 2 or 10 retrieves??...couldn't keep it out of water though - bit too unpredictable for my liking - atb

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They seem a decent trainable enough dog , a few clips on youtube .

Not sure if you would be able to get one from a decent working line over here though or if it would be suitable for the foreshore , then I guess Nova Scotia is as cold as we will experience !

 

I am sure Konnie is only asking out of interest as I know he has some nice Labs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfSHx1SRR8A&feature=player_detailpage

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi - mate had one, fantastic temperament, slow but brilliant for retrieving trouble was when it had enough it would just stop, could be after 2 or 10 retrieves??...couldn't keep it out of water though - bit too unpredictable for my liking - atb

 

That's a desire trait (both speed and quantity quitting), often seen in show blood Labs also.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks for the info, often wondered if the show labs would be any good, that's answered my question...was a nice enough dog the tolly, sure he got it from somewhere near Poole if im not mistaken....know it took him all day round trip to get her.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Konnie, if you look up Borough Fen Decoy you may get to see one of these dogs in action. Borough Fen is not far from us (Newborough/Peakirk) near strangely enough a pub called The Decoy. Its the country's only 8 leg decoy. They were used to trap duck for the markets using funnel type nets and a dog that weaves in and out and jumps over reed hides. The dog is always a foxy colour and its intermittent presence attracts the ducks down the pipes. The dog is historically always named Piper. If they still have the working demonstration days its well worth the visit.

 

See the link...be mindful this is not this years agenda ..http://pglcambs.homestead.com/2012Festival/DecoyFarmJune2011.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would also suggest that perhaps to original blood came from the UK/Holland in the form of the old 'piper' dogs that were used on the duck decoy ponds for enticing duck down the pipes.

 

 

Used by the old commercial fowlers across the pond as you suggest but also with the gun as and when that was the plan for the day. None the less historic. The gene pool here in the UK must be tiny and I doubt the majority even see wildfowl in the wild let alone work them

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would also suggest that perhaps to original blood came from the UK/Holland in the form of the old 'piper' dogs that were used on the duck decoy ponds for enticing duck down the pipes.

 

 

it could well have gone over on the Mayflower or the like OR been created there, I doubt the early settlers ignored the decoy if they had them in their homeland. we will never know the answer for sure

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Toller type and colour is similar to what I have read about regarding the old decoy (originally a dutch word, although I'm sure you know) dogs.

 

 

it could well have gone over on the Mayflower or the like OR been created there, I doubt the early settlers ignored the decoy if they had them in their homeland. we will never know the answer for sure

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...