GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn. — Tom Davis got his first German Shorthaired Pointer nearly 60 years ago. His initial interest in the breed was linked to its ability as a hunting companion — powerful, agile, with a keen nose and disciplined skills. With the proper training, the breed is one of the best at performing in the field.
But what sold Davis on this dog was its short, thick, coarse hair — you could hunt all day with a German Shorthaired Pointer and not be faced with two additional hours pulling burrs from their coat.
“I had hunted with long-haired setters, and it took a lot of time getting all of those burrs out,” Davis said. “I thought a short-haired bird dog was a better choice.”
It ended up being a perfect match. Out there in the field, the bond between handler and pointer was built and renewed, year after year. Not too long after owning his first German Shorthaired Pointer, Davis became interested in competitive field trial events, and worked with his dogs to build champions. He was the skilled conductor, giving direction to a virtuoso that had a nose for birds, a docked tail, and that strong instinct to point.
Recently, the accomplishments of this retired educator and German Shorthaired Pointer aficionado were recognized when Davis was inducted into the Bird Dog Hall of Fame for his field work with that breed. The ceremony was held at the National Bird Dog Museum, where the legacy of sporting dogs is both celebrated and promoted.
“It was never a goal of mine to be in the Hall of Fame. When I started working with dogs more than 50 years ago, there was no such thing as a Hall of Fame,” Davis said. “It’s a nice honor, because it tells me that my peers have recognized all of the miles and the hours and the investment of my own money in this. I’ve won a lot of championships and awards, but I’ve also served a lot, and I think that makes a difference.”
Davis has been frequently called on to judge field trial competitions and been a part of the leadership of several organizations that support the training and performance of bird dogs. But the half century worth of credentials that Davis has accumulated are highlighted by his champion dogs.
They were known by names such as Tip Top Oliver, Checkmates Quicksilver, Krabby Creeks Grand Illusion, Grand Illusion’s Final Edition, and Cutter’s Last Testament. His German Shorthaired Pointers won championships in all three major organizations that sponsor such events, and Davis was the first person to pull off that trifecta.
Davis learned to hunt quail and pheasants while hunting with his father, and as a senior at Bedford he bought a shotgun at a downtown Toledo pawn shop for $20. He spent a summer working at Yellowstone National Park and then attended the University of Toledo, where he went on to receive his master’s degree in history, before starting his teaching career at Bowsher.
He joined the South Side Sportsman’s Club and hunted with the German Shorthaired Pointers he owned, and eventually, Davis began entering his dogs in field trial competitions. Field trials are events where hunting dogs compete and are judged on open ground for their ability, intelligence, and other skills.
After five years at Bowsher, Davis moved to Washington Local Schools, specializing in American history while also working as a coach, athletic trainer and equipment man, and helping out at sporting events. As an educator, Davis had the summers off, and that allowed him to pursue his burgeoning passion for working with his dogs.
“I would spend a lot of the time training dogs, and did that for five or six summers,” he said. “At that point, there were probably a half dozen professional dog trainers within an hour of Chicago, and I got to listen to them and learn a lot while I was growing into this.”
Davis said he got to the point where he could raise a Shorthair from a pup, break it in, and have it on the championship path, before turning it over to a professional “to do the polish work on them.”
“It takes a tremendous commitment of time and patience,” Davis said, “but the finished product is pretty rewarding, just watching them work. The most important thing I learned is that you had to be a little smarter than the dog.”
Unlike many championship level dogs, the German Shorthairs raised and handled by Davis were not pampered and given a life of leisure.
“My dogs have been house dogs, and I’ve always hunted with my dogs, but most of the dogs that go to field trials today have never even seen a real wild bird,” Davis said. “I’ve had some darn good field trial dogs that were also house dogs and good hunters.”
Davis said the connection between the dog and its owner/handler makes the eventual loss of that animal so much tougher.
“You don’t just pick them off a tree someplace – you have to invest a lot in these dogs, so when you lose one, the separation is extremely tough,” Davis said.
He recalled leaving one of his dogs that was receiving heart worm treatment with the veterinarian while Davis was traveling to Chicago, and then receiving a call en route, telling him that the dog had died.
“I pulled off the Turnpike and bawled my eyes out,” he said. “Anybody that hasn’t ever cried over losing a dog isn’t a real dog owner.”
Davis was both honored and humbled that his work with German Shorthaired Pointers merited induction into the Field Trial Hall of Fame, which is part of the National Bird Dog Foundation’s Hall of Fame.
“When I gave my acceptance speech, I told them it took me 50 years to get there, so I planned to hold the floor for a while,” he said. “I also told them that I wanted to thank those who supported me, and those who tolerated me.”
His strongest connection has always been with the dogs.
“I just like their traits, and they are outstanding hunting dogs, outstanding companions, and outstanding pets,” he said. “They are pretty affectionate and they quickly bond with you.”
Davis is currently raising and training five German Shorthaired Pointers at his Sylvania Township home, and he also keeps horses for field trials work and pigeons for training dogs in the field.
“One of my five dogs is probably getting to the championship stage now where he can compete,” Davis said. “This won’t make sense to anyone outside the field trial ranks, but last year was the first time in 30 years that I didn’t have a dog capable of winning a championship. I’ve had some outstanding dogs over the years.”
First Published March 24, 2019, 11:00 a.m.