Paul Fuller and his wife Susan, from Durham, New Hampshire, are impassioned and accomplished bird dog trainers and widely traveled upland game bird hunters. Paul, for many years, has written a monthly column, On Point, for the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He also hosts Bird Dogs Afield television and YouTube shows.
A new book, “21st Century Pointing Dog Training,” is Paul’s latest contribution to the upland hunting community. The subtitle of the book is “Understanding & Loving Your Dog.” The book contains 12 chapters and covers it all, from Understanding Your Dog to Puppy Selection and Training to Upland Hunting Tactics and, my favorite chapter, Understanding Bird Scent.
V. Paul Reynolds, Outdoors Columnist
In the interest of disclosure, you need to know that I review this book with a personal bias. I admire people who possess passion and purpose, people who embrace an avocation and dig deep methodically for understanding and detail. As a former gun dog guy, who still misses his English Setter, Sally, I am also partial to those gun dog owners who consider their dogs as pets, as well as hunting dogs. Paul Fuller personifies all of the above.
His DNA would never allow him to ever complete a book that was anything less than outstanding.
The foreword of this book sets the tone. Fuller writes, “Understand how your dog thinks, how it communicates and how much it loves you…if you give love also. We’ll talk about creating the bond that is a must for a quality hunting partner and member of the family. If you understand and love your dog, the obedience and field training will be easier for both of you, the owner/trainer and the dog.”
I once knew a man of means who purchased a top breed gun dog and had it field trained by a pro. The hunter/owner apparently spent little time getting acquainted with his acquisition, except when it was time to go afield. The dog and the owner did not click, and neither hunting partner seemed to enjoy their time afield. Correct, there just was no bond between dog and man.
Whether you aspire to own a gun dog, are a new gun dog owner, or are a seasoned upland hunter, this book gives you carte blanche access to Paul’s boundless knowledge and insight into gun dogs, their psychology and their training.
Chapter Ten, Understanding Bird Scent, is worthy of an Emmy from the Ruffed Grouse Society! It is divided into four sections: The Bird, Scent Diffusion, The Dog’s Nose, and The Dead Bird. Any upland hunter who has watched an English Pointer or a German Short Hair work a woodcock’s scent in an alder cover will find this chapter’s scientific and physiological explanations eye-opening and insightful.
There is, for example, a scientific reason why a running bird dog can detect a bird scent on the wind that it would not detect standing still. The phenomenon is called the Bernoulli Effect.
You’ll find the explanation for this and much, much more in 21st century Pointing Dog Training by Paul Fuller, published by Bird Dog Productions. The book is available for $24.95 from www.birddogsafield.com.
V. Paul Reynolds is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal, an author, a Maine guide and host of a weekly radio program, “Maine Outdoors,” heard at 7 p.m. Sundays on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. Contact him at vpaulr@tds.net.
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