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| DOING IT DIFFERENTLY! |
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| Lagotto |
There are hundreds of dog breeds, most with special talents which man has encouraged for their ability to make his life a little easier. Some are just companion dogs- doggy foot-warmers, others hunt vermin, some retrieve game, round-up sheep and cattle, pull sleds etc. But then there are those who do things a little differently.
Tell someone that you own a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and they are almost certainly going to respond with "A what?" but tell them that it was developed to play silly games and attract ducks and they will be sure to think you are joking!
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, affectionately known as Tollers, were developed after hunters saw foxes use play behaviour to lure ducks within range, although it is recorded that for hundreds of years European hunters used this method also.
When working, the "Toller" retrieves a stick thrown by the hunter, but instead of returning it, plays with it in the shallows. This play behaviour arouses the curiosity of the ducks which are then lured within range of the shooter's gun. "Tolling" is an early word for "luring".
One of the strangest jobs for any canine is the task set for the Lagotto. The Lagotto is reported to be the only breed which specialises in finding truffles which are, weight for weight, one of the most expensive foods on the planet. The white is the finest and tartufi bianchi can cost well over $3000 a kilo.
Truffles are a fungi that grows underground and is located by scent. Obviously a good truffle dog is highly prized. While working it displays passion and efficiency, using its excellent sense of smell. The instinct for the chase has been bred out of the breed so that it is not distracted from its truffle searching by chasing game.
Another of the unusual reasons for development of a breed can be claimed by the Portuguese Water Dog.
The breed was developed along the coast of Portugal by fishermen to aid them in their work. The dogs dived into dangerous seas to retrieve fish, which escaped when the lines were being pulled in and nets which, broke loose. Cylinders were also attached to the dogs necks and the dogs were used to carry messages between boats, or between boats and shore.
When the fleet was in the harbour the dogs curled up on deck and guarded the boat. So valued were these dogs that they had a right to a share of the fish as rations and twenty-five percent in money of the earnings of a crew member.
The Finnish Spitz was originally known as the Finnish Barking Bird Dog. Eagerness to hunt is a characteristic of the Finnish Spitz. The dogs move fast and silently and, by their keen sense of smell and hearing, can locate birds on the ground. The alarmed birds take flight and settle in nearby trees. The dog locates the birds in the tree and vigorously barks at them with it's muzzle and gaze directed at the bird and it's tail wagging. The appearance of the dog distracts the bird and also directs the hunter to the quarry.
Hunting trials are held each Autumn in Finland for the dogs to compete against each other, and the title "King of the Barkers" is bestowed on the winner. |
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| Petcare Information and Advisory Service Australia |
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| Last Update: 14/01/07 00:01 |
Views: 2338 |
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