VERSATILE HUNTING DOG A Publication of The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association • Volume XLVIII • No. 10 • October 2017 THE PICARDY SPANIEL IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU THAT OF THE TOP 100 SPORTING DOGS* EAT THE SAME BRAND OF FOOD Would you ask what it is? HELPS OPTIMIZE 30% PROTEIN / SUPPORTS HELPS KEEP OXYGEN METABOLISM 20% FAT IMMUNE SKIN & COAT FOR INCREASED HELPS MAINTAIN SYSTEM IN EXCELLENT ENDURANCE LEAN MUSCLE HEALTH CONDITION proplansport.com SOLD EXCLUSIVELY AT PET SPECIALTY RETAILERS *Based on 2016 National, World & Invitational Champions and Purina Award Winners. The handler or owner of these champions may have received Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors. Purina trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Printed in USA. VERSATILE HUNTING DOG Volume XLVIII • No. 10 • October 2017 NAVHDA International Officers & Directors David A. Trahan President Bob Hauser Vice President Steve J. Greger Secretary Richard Holt Treasurer Chip Bonde Director of Judge Development Jason Wade Director of Promotions FEATURES Tim Clark Director of Testing Tim Otto Director of Publications Steve Brodeur Registrar 4 The Picardy Spaniel • by Craig Koshyk Tracey Nelson Invitational Director Marilyn Vetter Past President 8 Three California Chapters Hold Youth Event • by Jim Bellmeyer, Shelly Oliver, Phil Swain Versatile Hunting Dog Publication Staff 12 Thin Sole, Thick Soul • by Mitch Lindberg Mary K. Burpee Editor/Publisher Erin Kossan Copy Editor Sandra Downey Copy Editor 14 My Rocky Road To The Invitational • by Pamela Patton Rachael McAden Copy Editor Patti Carter Contributing Editor by Richard Cirincione Dr. Lisa Boyer Contributing Editor 19 Transition From Labs To A GWP • Nancy Anisfield Contributing Editor/Photographer Philippe Roca Contributing Editor/Photographer Wight Greger Women’s Editor Dennis Normile Food Editor Maria Bondi Advertising Coordinator David Nordquist Webmaster Advertising Information DEPARTMENTS Copy deadline: 45 days prior to the month of President’s Message • 2 publication. Commercial rates available upon request. All inquiries or requests for advertising should be Ask Doctor Boyer • 16 addressed to: NAVHDA Full Circle Fare • 18 PO Box 520 The Forum • 20 Arlington Heights, IL 60006 Voice 847/253/6488 • Fax 847/255/5987 Kennel Registrations • 20 Email [email protected] Classifieds • 21 Web www.navhda.org NAVHDA Test Results • 22 See our web site or call for current rates. Calendar Of Events • 32 Please submit all articles for and questions pertaining to the VHD to [email protected], with ATTN VHD Editor in the subject line or by mail via the postal service to NAVHDA, PO Box 520, Arlington Heights, IL 60006. 8 © 2017 The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, Inc.• All Rights Reserved. KEVIN BILLY © 2017 Printed in the USA The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association does not discrim- inate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities, or in its hiring and employment practices. The Versatile Hunting Dog is published monthly and is the official publica- tion of The North Amercian Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA), a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to fostering, improving, promoting and protecting the versatile hunting dog in North America and to the conservation of all game. The basic annual membership dues are $60 (US Funds.) Membership benefits include a monthly subscription to the Versatile Hunting Dog mag- azine, decal, participation in all NAVHDA events (at membership discount rates) and full voting privileges. All contributions are tax-deductible. 12 A copy of NAVHDA’s most recent financial report can be obtained by contacting: NAVHDA, 120 W. Eastman St, Arlington Heights, IL 60006- 5950. The Versatile Hunting Dog reserves the right to reasonably edit or refuse all material (including advertising) submitted for publication. Articles or TM opinions herein expressed are not necessarily those of the publication staff or of The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, Inc., its officers or Directors. The material contained in this publication is intended to provide accu- rate and authoritative information on the subject covered. By their nature, the articles and columns contained herein cannot provide the complete and detailed guidance required by every individual in every situation. The material is thereby offered with the proviso that it is not the intent of the publisher, the editors, or the authors to render professional counsel on the matter covered and said person(s) cannot be held liable for any use thereof. If specific assistance is required, the services of an expert authority should be sought. The Versatile Dog denotes that this feature or story is an original article by a NAVHDA member. The Versatile Hunting Dog magazine (USPS number 016-491, ISSN: 1099-0577) is published monthly for $60.00 per year by the North Amer- ican Versatile Hunting Dog Association, 120 W. Eastman #302, Arlington Hts, IL 60004-5950. Periodical postage paid at Arlington Hts, IL and addi- Visit the Versatile Hunting Dog magazine online at tional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NAVHDA, POOctober Box 520, Arlington2017 Hts, IL 60006-0520. Versatile Hunting Dog • www.navhda.orgwww.navhda.org 1 President’s Message By Dave Trahan Deerfield, New Hampshire What We Train For Thanks to the volunteers who helped at the 2017 NAVHDA Invitational. Tracey Nelson and her crew did a great job. Chip Bonde, along with his fellow judges, gave their time in the field and at the water from the time of set-up to take-down of this year’s event. Thanks to the Buckeye Chapter for pulling off a great event again. Congratulations to those of you who passed and received your Versatile Champion title! I was unable to attend this year’s event due to a car accident, but, with good leadership, things work like clockwork. Fall hunting season has begun. Training season is over, but it’s time to focus on the drills and skills that we need in a hunting dog. Our versatile dogs are bred to do all parts of the hunt. We train them to develop their abilities. We also train them to work with us as a team—that’s where the cooperation and obedience come in. Now, as hunting season opens or has opened across the country, we can focus on our goal: enjoying safe, pro- ductive days in the fields, woods and water with our great dogs. So, let’s all pack our bags and gear, and go hunting. After all, that’s what we trained for all summer long. Gone Hunting, Dave maps for Astro dog tracking systems now cover more states. Get exclusive BirdsEye Satellite Imagery and TOPO U.S. 24k mapping with more detail, including public/private land boundaries for 32 states and more. 2 Versatile Hunting Dog • www.navhda.org October 2017 When you see better, you hunt better. HuntView maps for Astro® dog tracking systems now cover more states. Get exclusive BirdsEye Satellite Imagery and TOPO U.S. 24k mapping with more detail, including public/private land boundaries for 32 states and more. October 2017 Versatile Hunting Dog • www.navhda.org 3 About The Cover Story and Photos by Craig Koshyk Winnipeg, Manitoba The Picardy Spaniel n the classic book of dog breeds “Le Chien et Ses Races”, Paul Mégnin wrote about a family of dogs he had seen in the 1880s at the home of a hunter in the IArdennes region of northeastern France. Mégnin called the dogs Épagneuls Français, (French Spaniels) but from the description he provides and from illus- trations published a few years before, the dogs he described would today probably be called Épagneuls Picards – Picardy Spaniels. ...at the home of Mr. Lamy we met another family of very pure Épagneuls Français that had been kept in the family for 30 years and improved by selection only in terms of their search and endurance for work. These dogs, kept for the personal use of their owners and never bred for commercial purposes, were absolutely remarkable. They had a good nose; a solid, majestic point; and a fast search, but not the frantic search of English dogs. Their endurance was incredible, for with his dog, Do II, for example, Mr. Lamy hunted every day during the first month of the season for ten hours a day, on average, and that dog never tired. The ears of these dogs, although a good length, are perhaps a bit shorter than those of the French Spaniel from 80 years ago, and attached a little higher on the head. The tail is slightly curved like that of the old spaniel. The coat, grey-brown, is long and relatively course, like that of the old épagneul. The head is pretty and energetic, the nose is brown, the claws black, the bones strong. “These are not show dogs,” wrote their overly modest owner, but they are good dogs that do very well in this region where game is wily and scarce. 4 Versatile Hunting Dog • www.navhda.org October 2017 The dog Mégnin wrote about, Do II, was actually featured on the cover of the mag- azine L’Éleveur in 1890. But Do was list- ed as an Épagneul Ardennais (Ardennes Spaniel), and some of the dogs owned by Mr. Lamy had a different coat color from the traditional French Spaniel. “...the bitch belonging to Mr. J. Lamy of La Chapelle is white and orange, not white and chestnut, as the catalog says; she would have been more at home with the orange and white Setters.” It seems that Mr. Lamy also bred Pont-Audemer Spaniels. The pups announced for the end of April by Mr. Lamy’s Do II out of Cora I are not by Do II, Épagneul Français, but by dodo, Épagneul de Pontaudemer [sic] out of Cora 1, Épagneule Espagnole [Spanish Spaniel].