I've used a dog in my falconry for almost 45 years and in my early years they were used more to flush or relocate game that had previously seen. As time went on I began to utilize and see the true full potential of our dogs and my falconry is so much better for it today.

I am not a dog trainer, however I manage to get my dogs to do what i need them to do in order to achieve greater success in my sport of falconry, primarily hunting upland game birds and ducks. Over the years I can say the dog work has become as rewarding as hunting with my falcons. Initially a young pup comes to us full of energy, enthusiasm and mischief and they depend upon us. In time we come to depend so much upon them.

Aside from fantastic hunting companions, they are loyal loving members of the family. Renowned dog trainer Gene Hill once said "that no one can fully understand the meaning of love unless they have owned a dog. A dog will show you more affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes" . Indeed a dog is the only animal on earth that loves you more than himself.

The short video is a compilation of clips taken during the course of a day out hawking partridges using my German Wirehaired pointer Griff and my english pointer Mylo. You will see Mylo catch scent of a covey of partridge from over 130 yards away and line up on them until he had them pinpointed. I would never have found those partridge if it were not for my dogs. Such is their value to my sport.