Pointers in hawking

We spent an interesting evening at the picturesque Norfolk home of Ted and Donna Macdougall, owners of the once very successful Adstock Pointer line. Donna is a retired veterinarian, and both she and husband Ted still retain an active interest in field work with their dogs. Situated amongst 25 acres of countryside and woodland their farm provides a fantastic natural habitat for a variety of gamebirds and wildlife.

Before he met Donna and began his lifelong association with the Pointer breed, Ted was an avid falconer. He sought a breed suited to work with his Peregrine falcons, and the Pointer's steady and focused outlook ticked all the right boxes. Today the Macdougall's keep 3 Peregrines, each one hand-raised from the time of hatching so as to ''imprint'' to its keeper. This type of early socialization makes for a much more reliable partner in the open field. Ted explained how hand-reared birds were also easier keepers as they felt a sense of calm in their surroundings in the aviary.

Ted described the incredible excitement of being in the field alongside his faithful Pointers, and the moment a bird is discovered. While the dog remains frozen on point, the falcon is released skyward to climb for its final descent.

It was a reminder of the many ways in which dogs have been bred to aid their human counterparts, and a real credit to the breeders of bench show champions who still insist that their dogs retain the talent and working drives that they were bred for generations ago.

A falconry blog can be found here.