Art was involved with the early days of the Antelope Valley ESS Club and as that club's current secretary, I had numerous conversations with him over the past ten years. He came to most of our trials during that period. He was also generous in his donations and always provided something interesting from Springer history for our FT catalog. One contribution two years ago was song lyrics for a ditty to be sung to the tune of "Home on the Range" that some of the early members had written regarding the Sirius dog. An earlier ad submission was his philosophy on dog training (see below) He had some interesting ideas and his ability and willingness to share them through his later years was memorable. I hope that "Punky" is keeping up with "Dancer" in a FT in the sky! (Art and Dick's dogs, respectively, as mentioned by Dolores about the Green Valley trial last March).
Diane Zablit
Following is an open letter from Art Perle:
To Antelope Valley SSC Friends and Members: In memory of those who were the foundation of this field trial and the Sirius Dog Training Club, later Sirius Land Corporation, at Sirius Ranch. During the period after the end of WWI, the English Springer Spaniel became re-born in Southern California. The Springer Spaniel was already forging ahead in the Sporting Dog breeds in the Washington, Oregon states, the Stockton Club and the Central California Club were setting a scenario for the true sportsmen and women by the 1950s. The folks in the Stockton area put on field trials second to none. We and others of us who hunted Tulelake and Lower Klamath Refuge a the Oregon border planned our hunting trips so as to include the field trials at Stockton. You knew when you put your dog down in front of the judges, they were, in fact, qualified sportsmen and women, who hunted and knew what “a day in the field – in a more nearly perfect manner” meant. There was no such thing as “we will give you two bird contacts.” You knew if you entered, you were going to be given a fair opportunity to demonstrate actual and potential abilities, rather than the negative opinions of judges “who knew not, and know not they ‘knew not.” Even an obvious “lack of control,” as long as it was not interfering with a bracemate, or flushed more than its birds. A “passed bird” is not a plus, but it is not a reason to drop a dog from judgement, when there is no evidence which would be proof of a fault which has been proven by other facts which adds weight to, or in proof of the contrary. In spite of the word of some, that retrieving is not of a paramount importance, the facts are, the flushing dog is to find, flush and retrieve to hand. There is only one time when a Springer Spaniel is required to “sit or hup”, to be “steady” to flush, shot or retrieve. That is: after the retrieve to hand. “It will then sit or hup at the handlers" place on the line. This is “line manners,” and is certainly more important than the springer spaniel which does not sit or hup, as it watches the flight and fall of the game, while not interfering with the shot. If the dog shows a tendency to “break” to the fall of the game, and refuses to respond to the handlers cue to cease,it then may be considered out of control – and dropped from further judgement. Under circumstances where dog flushes a bird, which is one which has been previously shot, and not retrieved is one where more often it is an error of judgement when the handler tries to stop the dog, and the dog fails to respond. As far as the dog is concerned, that was a bird he was taught to pursue.
There has been much talk and writing about the show and the field springer spaniel.
United we rise, divided we fall.
With appreciation and Gratitude to all.
Life with Springers And Friends in the Fall.
Less than that, Is no life at all!
... Art Perle
