Wirehaired Retrieving Turtle Hound
 

Add to the idiosyncrasies of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (we call them wirehaired retrieving turtle hounds) their ability to locate and either point or retrieve Box Turtles. The other day Fish, our 2 year old brought me 2 while we were out training. Arcas, our 7 year old, prefers to point them.
So far no run-ins with Snapping Turtles.

During the early season our dogs would also occasionally retrieve turtles, especially when bird encounters were scarce and the dogs got bored. An old trainer told us that it was about the similarity of scent. Not sure how he knew how turtles smelled :) but there may be something to this. Snakes also get pointed (never had a snake retrieve, but snakes are not as "nugget like" as a turtle). There is speculation that birds and reptiles have some common ancestry (hey, don't we all?), and that the scales on birds, turtles and snakes is an indicator.

Part of the mysticism of being owned by dogs I guess. So, maybe it's just Griffons and Gordons...who knows.:rotf:

I just want a Gordon to retrieve a woodcock from across a stream like yours do, Chris.:bowdown:

Always concerned that turtles might have a similar scent to snakes and we definately don't want them messing with snakes around here.

And those Gordons are amazing bird dogs! The first bird I ever saw pointed was by a brace of Gordons. I'd never even seen a Gordon before. One was on a rock solid set and the other was backing about 20 feet away. I was a youngster but I knew that someday I wanted to hunt over pointing/setting dogs. And there's something about the setter breeds. They don't run...they kind of float and bounce. So graceful! Not sure I've ever read an accurate description of what they look like when they're working...except they always look good even when covered with mud and burdocks!

My setters will point box turtles, particularly in the spring when running the dogs.

On our Easter Egg hunt in our back yard this year, my wife's frou-frou dog Charlie (Cavachon, = King Charles Spaniel x Bichon Frieze) plunged into the woods followed by our 3 grandkids and "pointed" a beautiful mature Eastern Box turtle. First one we have seen in c. 3 years; like many wildlife they used to be everywhere in our surrounding 3 woodlots; now a real event! Downside is their dwindling numbers; upside is we haven't seen one squished on the road in c. 10-12 years. Hope springs eternal!

Our first Setter, Deacon, pointed a box turtle in the front yard when he was about 5 months old. He held that point as the turtle did too, for almost an hour. I have a picture somewhere??

As for snappers, we get big ones and they become soup. Love snapper soup. Sammy has the original Bookbinder's recipe. Truly the only good thing that was produced in Philly!! :rotf::rotf::corn:

The look on that face: "Sorry, but..."

Always wanted to try snapper soup. Can't imagine how much work it was to prep them!

Nothing like trying to open them up and get the meat out with legs and claws gouging your arms even though you took the head off the monster an hour ago!!

That's it, keep throwing little jabs. We can take it in Philly. I've got a proposal we'll discuss in person.:whistle: