This is how Medieval poachers would hunt game birds.
They would have their spaniels or just good random-bred dogs force the birds to take refuge in the trees. Then, they’d pick them off with their archery skills.
Because they were hunting in heavy cover, they didn’t attract a lot of attention to what they were doing.
This golden isn’t putting so much pressure on the birds that they take off, but it is putting enough pressure on them that they fly up into trees.
In some parts of the country, this type of hunting isn’t considered “quite cricket,” but it is different.
I particularly liked it when the dog tried to climb the tree to get first bird.
it doesn’t look that easy. Thanks for finding and posting this!! It also indicates that a dog with a calm, quiet temperament was desireable — as you said, enough pressure to send them into the trees where a shot could be made, not so much as to send them flying away. I find in herding that a lot of sheep and cattle folk don’t really want a “hot” dog. They want a dog that is calm but confident and with staying power — not so much what’s wanted in many trials.
Peggy Richter
Sssshhhh… trialists think they are “sheep folks” making a living as a lifestyle farmer. Actually, Chris commented on this conflic4 between ranchers and trialists before: http://littleheelers.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/bring-her-home/comment-page-1/#comment-648