By Land or By Sea: Versatile Dogs on the Retrieve – Background
Nancy Anisfield
Working on By Land or By Sea presented the dilemma I’ve faced many times writing about versatile dogs. The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association recognizes 30 breeds as versatiles. Most of those breeds were originally developed to multi-task on land and water. Several others were – and usually still are – bred as single purpose pointing dogs although some lines now are building in versatility with water and retrieving skills. My problem lies in wanting to add a disclaimer that not all dogs officially designated as “versatile” will have equal talents. Pointing is a given, but strong water drive and retrieving are not.
Nevertheless, anyone, myself included, who has witnessed truly versatile dogs perform a variety of tasks designed to produce and deliver game can’t help but be astonished. My challenge in selecting photos was to find images that convey these dogs’ energy and work ethic. It’s not just about proudly holding a downed bird. It’s about the athleticism and pure joy that shows through the dogs’ movement and expression. I chose to focus on ducks and pheasants because they can present more of a difficult retrieve with longer distances and heavier game. Then again, a versatile dog’s ability to find and retrieve a superbly camouflaged woodcock in autumn leaves or track down a crippled ruffed grouse over ledge and through thick northern forest plays no second fiddle. It’s all pretty impressive.
I was pleased to have the photo included of my shorthair Scratch posing with his sister Tiza and their pheasants. Scratch is a great hunting dog, but on point or retrieve, he has a naturally worried expression that just doesn’t tell his true story.
