There has been a legitimate question about the Ryman "Dual Setter."
If you do not "field trial" or "show" the Setters, how can we claim to be "Dual Setters" and, if the Setters are not placed in competition with other dogs, how can we claim that we have "outstanding" or even "good" gun dogs.
The term "Dual Setter" was used by George Ryman and others to describe the difference between his Setters and his setter standards from either show or field trial setters to the general public. George Bird Evans advocated the term "Belton Type" to describe the same type of more substantial, natural, aesthetically beautiful Gun Dog Setters and differentiate them from either extreme group. Others, including Carl Calkins, Ellen Ryman's second husband used the term "Gentleman's Shooting Dog" to describe the differences.
 The Ryman standards for field behavior, personality, and appearance were articulated by George Ryman and are outlined on our website at DecoverlyKennels.com
The appearance standards were dividing well before the turn of the century even though many trial setters were placed in shows. Some of this may be because the early field setters could often be more substantial animals, particularly the early Llewellyn imports which were of mixed pedigrees and varied from 40 lbs. to well over 60 lbs. Count Noble of field trial fame was a 65 lb. setter. The show judges also appear to have had varied opinions and some were looking for a more athletic, working type setter and would place a working dog. There was an attempt to set a field standard for appearance but it did not last as neither group would compromise. There was a short period that both classes were available to sportsmen and George Ryman's Sir Roger DeCoverly II was best setter in the field trial class for five straight years at Madison Square Garden. George Ryman occasionally entered his gun dogs that had a good deal of AKC breeding in shows into the late 30's. As late as 1937 he had setters invited into the prestigious Morris and Essex show. Show stock that met the demanding Ryman standards for field ability have been used occasionally in the breeding program from the beginning.
There have been Ryman/Decoverly Setters shown successfully by owners occasionally but the kennel has rejected the notion that appearance is the most important criterion for evaluating quality. There has been a movement within the AKC show setters to use hunt tests and AKC field trials to evaluate their setters. This is a move in the right direction but they have accepted the FDSB criterion for bird dogs and we tend to reject those behavior and "style" standards as acceptable for a Gentleman's Shooting Dog. Most of the owners have little background of shooting over gun dogs, and if they have some gun dog experience, it is with very few dogs. They have little of the wide experience that is available to most shooting sportsmen. This does not mean that they all have poor gun dogs. Most sportsmen make the assumption that the hunting instincts have been bred out of the AKC setter, and that is simply not true. It may take more effort to find acceptable gun dogs but there a re some fine shooting dogs available from the show circuit.
The advantage of using some of the show criterion is that the AKC hobbyists have real insight into efficient movement and athletic endurance. The fact that those functional structures also make an attractive setter is also very true. So, even though we reject the show assumption that appearance alone is primary, we would be negligent to ignore their very real contribution to the breed.
The best statement that I have seen on the positives of using athletic structure as one of the criterion for gun dogs was by Bob Wehle, and even though he was concerned with English Pointers the statements hold true for any gun dog breed.
You may say, "Well, I want a dog for shooting and I'm not particularly concerned about his looks." My answer to this is, number one, your dog should conform to a good standard to be physically capable of doing the many things you are going to ask of him. For instance, you will probably expect your dog to have endurance and hunt several hours a day, maybe several several days in a row. In order to do this, his body must be constructed correctly. You will want him to have a fast, smooth, graceful gait. Again, he has to be made right. You will expect to get many years of hunting from him. If his feet, legs and body are properly formed, he should fulfill this expectation.
A second reason why the dog should be good looking is simply for the sheer pride and joy of ownership. Most sportsmen I know have a pretty good idea of what a bird dog should look like and they are quick to recognize one when they see one. Not only will you get much pleasure from watching such a dog perform, but you will get much food for your vanity in owning such a prize. Also remember that a common looking dog eats just as much as a good looking one. Do not believe that poppycock about a dog being beautiful but dumb. That is no more true with dogs than it is with people.
Bob Wehle -- "Wing and Shot"
The Ryman Setters were entered in field trials through the early 1930's, and they were very successful in the short course eastern events. The only English Setter to ever win the National Title three times, Fegin's Mohawk Pal, had a Ryman grandmother but by the mid 30's the field trials had evolved to such extremes that the kennel could no longer use them as a quality criterion.
 One example of a trial criterion that actually interferes with a quality bird dog's development is the demand that a bird dog remain stationary after establishing "point." Much more is expected out of a truly great bird dog.
" ...he should remain stationary until the bird moves on. If he is a really good dog he will then move ahead, carefully, until he has again located his quarry. If he does not do this, he lacks either experience or common sense."
Grouse Feathers, Burton Spiller 1935
Spiller and I also blame the immature handler, who has read too many training books, for much of the lack of development in bird dogs. Most of these books are written by handlers used to field trial bred gundogs. This is the man who is constantly yelling "Whoa" to his dog when it is obvious to any competent observer that the dog no longer has scent. Let him learn his craft. It will cost birds early but result in seasons of chills up the spine and many more birds in the bag for the patient handler.
"To stop a dog under the false impression he is not staunch, when he is doing Grade A work of this type, is a crime"
Grouse Feathers, Burton Spiller 1935
The big misconception about field trials is the assumption that they are designed to evaluate good bird dogs for the general public. This may have been the original intent but time has moved the competitions far from that beginning. It is the American way. An example could be the game of Sporting Clays. It began as a game for gunners to use their field shotguns in a clay game that imitated hunting conditions. It has evolved into a specialized game with extreme shooting stations that demand constantly changing chokes and heavy shotguns with long barrels. The game no longer resembles hunting conditions and those competitive shotguns would be useless to carry or shoot with for a day in the field.
 People deep into the field trial sport make no pretense about their game. Henry P. Davis the author of many books on field trials and long time editor of "The American Field" the weekly paper that is the bible of the sport is very clear.
"Field trials were not instituted for the purpose of developing a class of dogs suited to the needs of the average shooter whose only intent is to fill the game bag."
Henry P. Davis "How to Train Hunting Dogs"
"The dog must give a showy performance in the way of sensational speed, remarkable range and superb stamina; otherwise the spectacular part of field trials is not achieved. Remember that field trials may be classed as a race to the birds. The successful performer therefore must possess unusual pace so that he may cover a large amount of country in the short space of time allotted to him."
Henry P. Davis "How to Train Hunting Dogs"
As the split between field trials and shooting dogs began to widen, many of the experts on shooting dogs began to question and then reject the field trial criterion for behavior and finally the breeding that produced those characteristics.
"I also believe that the breeding for the requirements necessary to win field trials on quail is gradually eliminating many of the qualities which are absolutely essential in a good grouse or woodcock dog."
Grouse Feathers, Burton Spiller 1935
Today's "cover dog," "walking shooting dog" and "shoot to retrieve" trials are a step in the right direction. But, those trials are being judged by people ingrained in the "Field Trial" criterion of speed, range and "style" plus the dogs are out of field trial breeding. If Spiller was right, and for many of us, he was very right, there has been little change.
 A current walking field trial experience involved a present owner and his DeCoverly Setter. The gentleman had no experience with trials but thought that it might be fun. His Setter hunted fine and had four or five clean "finds" in the bird field. His brace-mate was seldom seen and had no contacts in the bird field or anywhere else. The first presentation of awards was to his brace-mate for third place. His immediate reaction was to think that he was "in the money" at his first trial but shortly shocked to find that his dog had not been placed at all. When he inquired about what happened, he was told... "We know that your dog can hunt and find birds. We want to see him run." He met people that he liked and he was well treated at the event, but he will not be back.
George Bird Evans had a wonderful gift for words.
"Breeders of field trial dogs will blandly tell you that their culls make good dogs to shoot over. Try telling them that one of your culls will make them a good field trial prospect and measure their reaction in decibels. Neither statement is worth serious consideration. That shooters use field trial bloodlines is not from choice so much as availability." "If most trial bred dogs made comfortable grouse gun dogs, what is all the fuss about when one of them does? And why the dissatisfaction expressed by grouse and woodcock gunners with the dogs they are trying to shoot over?"
George Bird Evans "Troubles with Bird Dogs"
We are all prejudiced in favor of the setters that have worked for us but it would be a real mistake to discount all breedings from show or field trial stock. There are wonderful Setters available there and no serious breeding program should ignore the accomplishments of others, whether they happen by plan or accident. It is fine to reject the criterion used by either show or field trial as long as neither is completely ignored. The vast majority of English Setters in the USA are bred from these widely diverse approaches to breeding Setters and each has been very successful within their competitive requirements. George Ryman never isolated his breeding program and neither does DeCoverly Kennels today. The moment that the knowledge, expertise and accomplishments of others is discounted, the tendency is to become self righteous, and kennel blind. A serious breeding program cannot afford that type of prejudice.
Ken Alexander |
 Clipper and I have had a busy year to say the least, and I'm entirely to blame for the delay of this newsletter. In addition to me starting a new job and all that goes with it, Jenn and I were blessed with a new baby for Christmas. Our son Will was born December 20th and came home during the holiday. Needless to say Clipper has been a true gentleman about having to share more of our home with yet another baby. Will is just starting to move around and I have a feeling he, Caroline and Clipper are going to have fun playing together once the kids are big enough to chase Clipper around the yard.
Clipper has adapted so well to life with children. I swear he can hear a spoonfull of applesauce hit the kitchen floor from out in the yard, as he is always right there to clean up after a meal. He did try to take a pizza crust away from two year old Caroline last week, and she said "No, no, no Clipper! You will not eat my pizza, you will stop being a boldy!" I think she's already off to a great start as a dog trainer.
 Clipper and I did manage to squeeze in a few grouse hunts in January and got into a fair number of birds. We also got out in February and March and put down some miles while scouting new covers for this fall. Other than that, the best laid plans of preserve trips and out of state adventures were all for naught this year. With life settling down a little this year, this fall is going to be our time to get back on track. For now the summer consists of 5:00AM walks before work and an occasional run on a weekend if the temperature cooperates. It's tough to be a hunting dog during the summer, but fall is right around the corner.
Bill Sordoni
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...to Bridget with her young Labrador "Will" on placing 3rd and 4th in his classes, at the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, the largest Labrador Specialty competition in the world!! Will also placed in his classes at a specialty competition in Massasschutess and recently went Winners Dog for his first points toward his Championship.