Adopting a different view on rescue dogs

The number of dogs in rescue centres is soaring and the gundog world could benefit by tapping into this resource, writes Ellena Swift

- Ellena Swift

The elegant phrase ‘you cannot polish a turd’ is used a lot when it comes to dogs, particularly when it comes to any form of serious competition. It relates to the fact that breeding and nature can have a big influence on the success of the dog in question.

Some litters, purely based on the breeding lines and genetics, will have waiting lists before the bitch is even mated, let alone got puppies. However, as most experienced dog trainers will know, excellence can come from unknown, and often unexpected, lineage. The slogan of ‘adopt, don’t shop’ is one pushed by many and for good reason with the number of dogs in rescue centres.

Short-sighted

When clients approach me about getting a working dog, I have to admit that looking at rescues is not the first thing I’d suggest. But perhaps this has been a bit short-sighted of me. The vast majority of working dog owners do not wish to compete in field trials and working tests, or breed, so Kennel Club paperwork is not essential.

If you go on any shoot in the UK, it is highly likely that you will see various breeds working, not only your typical retrievers, spaniels, and hunt, point and retrieve types. On our home shoot, there are two terrier crosses and it wasn’t long ago that my entire picking-up team comprised two non-Kennel Club-registered German shepherds.

It is clear that good breeding and consistent lines will certainly help, but as I have always said, no good dog is a bad breed. So is there any potential in rescue dogs?