English dogs become American pets

"Master, this is Thy Servant. He is rising eight weeks old. He is mainly Head and Tummy. His legs are uncontrolled. But Thou hast forgiven his ugliness, and settled him on Thy knee ... Art Thou content with Thy Servant? He is very comfy with Thee." When Rudyard Kipling wrote this verse introducing the poem "His Apologies," he was presenting his readers to a puppy coming to its new home. While better known for his books Gunga Din, The Jungle Book, and The Man Who Would Be King; he often used his pen to express his lifelong attachment to his dogs. I doubt that he and I had anything else in common, yet I believe that we may have gotten along famously. Dog people tend to be that way, proud of our canine prodigies regardless of their fumbles and flaws. Those failings often include brawls with cats, damp carpets, short nights and replacing good shoes. While experience has left me forewarned, I continue to set myself up to repeat these same aggravating situations. This week, English cocker Bramble arrived at her forever home. Yes, all those things are going to happen — and likely worse. I also know those pleading brown eyes will melt any threat of discipline I might utter. The little spaniels have a long and interesting history. It started on the European continent with some scholars tracking the spaniel linage back more than 500 years. Early in the spaniel's breeding history, there were two basic types, water spaniels used to work waterfowl and land spaniels for more terrestrial game. By the early 19th century, those land spaniels were divided again. These became the "springers" and the "cockers." Springers were larger dogs used for "springing" or flushing game birds from their hides. Their prey was often pheasant and partridge that preferred more open and rough terrain. The larger springer was thought to have more stamina for this type of cover. The "cocker" variety was smaller and was used in denser forests and lowlands where their size helped them maneuver more effectively. Using the same flushing tactics, their targeted species was quite often the woodcock; hence, the name "cocking spaniels" or simply just "cocker." Up through the middle of the 19th century, springers and cockers could be chosen from the same litter. It all had to do with their size. Breeders, including the Royal Kennels, began choosing smaller dogs for cocker breeding programs to develop a reliable line of the smaller dogs. Even so, most springing and cocking dogs were being chosen from the same litter based on their size. As dog shows became popular, many wanted to show the dogs separately. This resulted in more concentration of specific breeding for size. In 1892, the English springer spaniel and the English cocker spaniel were separated into their own breeds. Of course, Americans have always been a bit of a vagabond when it comes to European culture. It wasn't any different with the English cocker. Soon, American breeders had developed their own formula for a cocker spaniel. A shorter nose and somewhat smaller stature were bred into the dogs and by 1946, the American cocker became its own breed. It remains the most popular cocker in the U.S., but the English variety captured the rest of the world. The one caveat is with American hunters. Hands down, they prefer the English cocker since its linage was solely devoted to hunting. I couldn't agree more. English cockers are the mini-me version of English springers. Their temperaments tend to be similar but there are some notable differences. Springers will tip the scales at up to 50 pounds and stand about 20 inches tall. Their smaller brethren run 25-35 pounds and 15-17 inches. The springer's wavy coat includes a variety of colors, but primarily shades of brown, liver, black, and white, most often in a patchwork pattern. The English cocker can be curly or wavy and can be patched, solid, or blazed in brown, black, blonde, red, white, liver and cream. Briar is black with a white chest blaze and Bramble is brown with a white-crossed chest, toes and center crest between her eyes. One special difference is their life expectancy. Springers will live on average 10-12 years while English cockers may stay till 15. The English cocker tends to be a very intelligent and biddable breed. With a bit of luck, Bramble will learn her commands, to sit quietly on a dove field's edge, and how to quarter and flush hiding woodcock. I especially hope that she learns something about training me from 11-year-old Briar so that I don't disappoint her. As I watched Briar and Bramble interact for the first time, I could see suspicion in the older dog's eyes and hear it in a soft warning growl — a real fear of becoming less. She doesn't understand that such a thing just isn't possible. I guess that's another of my new jobs. The other matter that prodded my heart as Briar inspected her newly shared world was also expressed by Kipling in his poem. "Master, pity Thy Servant! He is deaf and three parts blind, He cannot catch Thy Commandments. He cannot read Thy Mind. Oh, leave him not in his loneliness; nor make him that kitten's scorn. He hath had none other God than Thee, since the year that he was born!" "No man can follow a rollicking, bungling, and over-joyous pup all day without laughing a lot and crying a little." – Havilah Babcock Along the Way Anglers interested in learning to fly fish are invited to participate in instructor-led classes at Castalia State Fish Hatchery in Erie County. Classes will be held during September on a half-mile section of Cold Creek. Both beginner and intermediate classes are offered. Beginner programs are for those with little to no experience fly fishing, while the intermediate is for anglers with casting experience or who have taken a beginner program in the past. The beginner program is scheduled for Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., or 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Instruction by Division of Wildlife staff and volunteers focuses on understanding the needed equipment and learning to cast. Intermediate classes are held on Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with 60 spots available. These classes focus on advanced casting techniques and fly tying. Attendees of both the beginner and intermediate classes can test their newly acquired skills by fishing for the abundant rainbow trout found in Cold Creek. Fly rods, reels, and flies will be provided, but you may bring your own equipment if you wish. Each angler may catch and keep up to three trout during the introductory class, and one trout at the intermediate class. A medium-sized (40 quart is ideal) cooler with ice is recommended to transport harvested fish. Register on the Wild Ohio Harvest Community registration page at wildohio.gov. Because of the popularity of this event, individuals may only participate in this class once every five years. All anglers age 16 and older are required to have a valid Ohio fishing license. Fishing licenses are available for purchase at participating vendors, wildohio.gov, or on the HuntFish OH mobile app. Step Outside •Goex, the U.S.'s only manufacturer of black powder, ceased operations last year. Estes Energetics has announced it has acquired the assets of the Goex brand from the Hodgdon Powder Company, including the only remaining commercial scale black powder factory in the United States. Goex traces its roots back to 1802 when E.I. Du Pont de Nemours broke ground on his original black powder plant along the Brandywine River in Delaware. A sister company of the famed model rocket brand, Estes had previously used Goex products in its rockets. Expect deliveries of the new powder to begin in 2023. •2022 Deer Seasons: Archery: Sept. 24-Feb. 5; Youth Gun: Nov. 19-Nov. 20; Gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4; Dec. 17-Dec. 18; Muzzleloader: Jan. 7-Jan. 10. •Today: Ohio's Statewide Deer Archery Season begins. •Tomorrow: Nostalgia 50-Bird Trap Shoot for Vintage Shotguns, traps open at Noon, program at 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. Eligible shotguns include Winchester Models 12, 97, 101, Super X1; Remington Models 10, 11, 17, 31, 32, 3200, 870, 1100; Browning Superposed, A-5, Double Automatic, B-2000; Ithaca single barrel trap, 37, Parker and LC Smith single barrel trap and any side-by-side. •Thursday-Friday: Trap and Skeet, open to the public. 5 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com