The Futures Bright
In the Spring 1994 edition of the “Falconers” magazine, there appeared an article by David Rampling on his Border Collie “Amy”. This article fascinated me as I have always been a Border Collie fan, but had never worked or owned one.
This was to all change in December ’96, when 1 purchased a !@#$%^&* Border Collie puppy at 20 weeks old, for £60.00. In the summer months 1 am employed at a small country park, displaying and flying birds of prey. Also at the park amongst other animals are lots of sheep.
The plan was to acquire a Border from the correct source and use the dog and sheep for display work, after the flying displays had finished. “Katie” as she was named, came from working parents who worked a hill farm in Southern Ireland, so hopefully all the instincts would be in place. It was another 4 months before the park would be open, so Katie was allowed to do her own thing and her sheep herding training could begin. It was during this time that several things became clear; her nose was excellent and she had a passion for rabbits.
During our long springtime jaunts across the Somerset Levels or Mendip Hills, Katie would flush and chase rabbits with excitement, a few even appeared on our dinner table.
She would pick up the scent of a rabbit several yards away and then creep in and flush or grab her prize. This went on all summer and due to her rabbit finding expertise, 1 decided to work her with my male Harris Hawk. This was very easy as both hawk and dog had developed a close bond; they would share the same vehicle loose and Katie would lay down beside the hawk on its bow perch and go to sleep. The hawk on occasions would stand on Katie,s shoulders to see out of the Landrovers side windows. Unfortunately the hawk was electrocuted on a power pole soon after. I was devastated – this was just two weeks before the ’97 annual field meet in North Wales. Thankfully, Dave Jones offered me his female Harris to fly. It wasn’t long before Dave’s Harris and Katie had also built up exactly the same relationship as the previous hawk. Fruitful hawking trips soon followed, Katie would find and flush, she was learning fast, working both to hand signals and whistle commands. The Harris would follow Katie everywhere and several kills followed very quickly. If Katie flushed when I was in control I could stop her and let the hawk chase, but if she flushed out of sight then she was off, full pelt, neck and neck with the hawk after the quarry this annoying and dangerous habit would have to be addressed. Events now took a giant step forward – Katie started to point quarry.
One day out hawking, whilst working a hedgerow, I watched Katie stop alongside the hedge, swing in and then come rock solid still, on point, one leg up, tail out. I ordered her to “stay” and crept in to look, a hen pheasant was hard down in the bush. I called the Harris into the tree above and sent Katie in; the pheasant flushed, Katie was stopped and the hawk chased and missed. I was well chuffed.
It was now Christmas ’97 and Katie was a year old. I purchased a male Harris from Chris Brown and Donald Moseley, again Harris Hawk bonded well and within two months both dog and hawk are working together. The pointing has continued and she will hold it for several minutes. I can hold her on point if I see her on point and if I work her close, this is not a problem. The problem of flushing and chasing when not in sight is still there, but she is now only 15 months old, I can work on this problem through the long summer months ahead. Katie is a joy to work with – her enthusiasm and stamina is limitless, but beware! Leave her to do her own thing and the Border Collie traits return, large open spaces are out ran, stock will be herded and play time begins. I firmly believe that she could herd, if trained, hawk and course when required. Without doubt, the Border Collie is well placed to be trained for any job, they are the dogs to beat at agility competitions, sheep dog trials need no introduction, they can now even be found in police sniffer dog kennels.
The Border Collie may not be everyone’s first choice for a hawking dog, but before you spend several hundred pounds on a G.S.P. if you have a Border in the homestead, try this one out first. It may save you a lot of money. Ask David Rampling – he worked two dogs, a Border and a G.S.P. He sold the G.S.P.
Katie has now attended several W.H.C. field meets and others. Her pointing has amazed some members, but not all. Some have witnessed this before with other Borders, perhaps more Collies will be seen on the hawking field in the future.
I am not an expert, I am not even a dog trainer but I am having fun. If my experience and observations on working this dog with a hawk will be of benefit to anyone else, then I shall be more than happy; perhaps I’m biased…….end
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