Gun Dog Forum

IDHunter

IDHunter There are dogs that in spite of how hard we try as breeders, just do not have a lot of point. Some dogs just like to chase. Dogs that chase car can't do much with one if they catch it. Some will spend there whole life trying. Usually they eventually get ran over. The problem with the "chas...

IDHunter

Thanks all. This is my first pointer so I'm about as new as possible when it comes to this. I will absolutely be enlisting the help of more seasoned trainers this spring, at a minimum for consultation and assistance, but possibly up to and including having them keep him for a period of time and work...

IDHunter

slistoe,

I hear ya, and I'm trying to keep that in mind every time we go out and have these experiences. Probably getting into my own head a bit too much on this. Thanks

IDHunter

Perhaps back to the check cord and steady the dog. It sounds like he has chased plenty of birds and bumped more than enough. You might try carded pigeons or chukar and get him pointing reliably and start taking the chase out. You may be on the way to having a great flusher and not much of a pointer...

IDHunter

You have a great dog chasing birds at that age. I have seen other dogs that are not as near in prey drive what you have on that young dog. You have to understand that your dog is pretty young and sooner than later those chukar are going to teach your dog to be more careful when " the light comes on...

IDHunter

I think a financial investment in yourself would do you a ton of good at this point. Find a method that you like and use it. I would recommend Hunsmith or Perfection Series. Then buy their training DVDs and books, watch/read them, then do it again, then do it again, and then for good measures to it...

IDHunter

Going to revive this post a bit as there is some good info in it, but I have been seeing a change in my pup that warrants a further question here. I'm not really worried about steadiness at this point, I need help at a step even before the steadiness... because my 11 month old GWP seems to have made...

IDHunter

I read 2 of his stories and was impressed. After reading your comment I looked at some social media posts and I agree a little off putting. No doubt, he's an above average writer. And I do like that he is pro public lands, of course. Some of his political antics don't sit well with me, especially c...

IDHunter

He has some cool hunting outings, but personally I think he seems like a d-bag based on some of his social media post ups. Never met him though, so this is purely based on what I've seen online.

IDHunter

Chukar hunting has been tough this year. I have been walking about 2 miles per covey. Got rained out today but looks good for tomorrow. I have been hunting alone all season, the one bright note is my two young dogs are starting to act like pros. There are quite a few huns this year and I have kille...

IDHunter

I have the Pro 550+ and the Alpha 100 (recently aquired). The Pro 550+ is nicer to carry, and easier to use in the field for sure. I carry my phone with OnX, so the mapping on the alpha isn't really a selling point for me. The only thing I do really like from the Alpha so far is the dog stats. If th...

IDHunter

If the wind is from the cover and the dog hunts it when there's scent and doesn't when there isn't, there's really no reason for him to enter it. He'd be hunting barren cover, a waste of his time and yours. I hear ya. My question/dilemma is for those days when either there is no wind (which we got ...

IDHunter

Makes sense, of course. For the cover that I'm typically hunting for pheasants I feel like 10-60 yards would be about perfect, so i guess I'll just have to work harder on setting that boundary for the pup and see how long it takes him to catch on. Related to this, does anyone know if the Alpha 100 h...

IDHunter

Ah that's the worst. My dog did the same exact thing chasing a crippled quail in October. Looks like the injury was in "bleep" near the same spot as well. It's kind of scary how much blood can come from an ear until you realize that they aren't going to die from it. by the time I got my pup cleaned ...

IDHunter

Seems I pheasant hunt as much or more then most here so...... I handle my dogs. A little handling that produces birds and the association between cover=birds is made. Once that happens I handle way less. Pheasants are not like bobwhite you cant run big find a covey then work singles. Ain't going to...

IDHunter

My 10 month old GWP has been doing something when hunting thicker cover that I'd like some opinions on. We routinely hit some WMA land where pheasants are released throughout the season, so there is a decent number of birds and a heck of a lot of old scent as dozens of birds are killed in these area...

IDHunter

I'd have no trouble believing it. If it were a small coyote and a big dog... I could see the dog handling it for sure. Seems extremely reasonable if it were a breed with high fur drive like some of the DD's.

IDHunter

I just let them run through barbwire starting from 8 weeks when we starting working them. They figure it out and we dont have issues. Yep it doesn't take long for them to figure it out. Although I had a Lab cross that would hit a barbwire strand so hard that he actually popped some staples out of a...

IDHunter

IDHunter: How does Idaho have a liberal season and Cheap tags when the wolf is on the federal endangered species list. We can not shoot one that we caught in the act of killing livestock. I think it makes more sense for the states DNR to deal with the Grey Wolf. We had a season on them before they ...

IDHunter

I got an 8 wk old GWP at the end of July this year. She make and honest retrieve on a pheasant at a local WMA on Friday. My Lab/GWP, Puck, put two roosters up in a thick brush patch. (I'm not sure how much pointing was involved but I'm glad I didn't have to wade in). I shot both of them (I know mir...

IDHunter

Wolves have hurt the big game population in Idaho. When I lived in Montana, early 70's, Idaho tried to talk Montana into re-introducing the wolf. They got told no! In the end Idaho did it and the wolves have simply spread out from there. As I understand it, all the wolves in Montana, Washington, Or...

IDHunter

I really wanted to try a WW as i had heard good things about them but for the life of me could never time or find out they were taking orders until after the fact. I’ve inquired several times when they anticipate opening but as there site says, they will not respond..... All that to say I went with...

IDHunter

You guys are a lot more generous and trusting than I am. If I'm putting thousands of dollars into a dog (which happens pretty quickly) I'm not sure I'd borrow that dog out to anyone. Maybe down the road I'll view this differently, but for now my dog only goes if I go. For what it's worth, no one tha...

IDHunter

Thanks. Haven't checked out Final Rise, but I'll take a look at them. Would love to support the company that is 2 hours from me (WW), but can only wait so long for them to decide if they still want to be in the vest game.

IDHunter

If no one else has said it yet I will... I'm very jealous of the amount of time you get to spend in the field! I think you log more field time in a week than I will in a month. It's fun reading about your progress with Tubbs. Best of luck as it continues.

IDHunter

Anyone on here used the Hunt REDI line of strap vests? Curious to get some opinions or reviews. Considering one as an alternative to Wingworks, since Wingworks hasn't been producing vests for close to a year and has no projected date to re-open.

IDHunter

The value of launchers is using them to present a training bird as close to a wild bird as possible. Most people don't get that. I use launchers when my puppies are young, prior to their first hunting season to teach caution and bring out the pup's natural pointing instinct. I introduce the launche...

IDHunter

You would be farther along come december if you ran the dog on wild birds once a week vs 3x a week on pigeons. If you have wild birds available, that's all I would use. Pigeons and launchers are for when you dont have wild birds, your breaking a dog to W&S or your working on backing. EVERYTHING els...

IDHunter

Ryan's post is my thinking also. If you have a good supply of wild birds, forget the launcher. He might be easily intimidated by the launcher and it is easy to have a malfunction. You don't need to circle out along ways just make sure he can see you , maybe 5 yards or so. Attitude and body language...

IDHunter

I wouldnt even worry about steadying that dog. If its pointing and looking back at you then there are more issues that need to be resolved than getting the dog steady. At this point I would let that dog bump and chase as many birds as you can out it on. You need to get that drive and desire up. Mak...

IDHunter

Interesting, thanks for the input.

IDHunter

It is a sign of too much pressure being put on a dog. A dog should have 100% on the task at hand,that task is pointing birds. He is not making sure you know he is pointing. Sorry if this seems like a crazy basic question, but what kind of things would be likely sources of pressure for a dog in that...

IDHunter

I wouldnt even worry about steadying that dog. If its pointing and looking back at you then there are more issues that need to be resolved than getting the dog steady. At this point I would let that dog bump and chase as many birds as you can out it on. You need to get that drive and desire up. Mak...

IDHunter

I'm new to this as well, so take this with a grain of salt. Maybe if he truly felt lost today and he didn't like that feeling it will reinforce that he needs to keep better tabs on you, which it sounds like you want. Some of the stuff I've read about letting a dog range suggests that one of the best...

IDHunter

I carry a dog stapler in the truck. Never had to use it. Same with me. My big first aid kit is in the truck, just essentials in the field. What essentials do you carry with you in the field? Gauze, vet wrap, booties, Benadryl? That's basically what I'm thinking for a bare bones kit... perhaps minus...

IDHunter

Thanks all, some good feedback and kind of reaffirms what I was thinking. Will give it a go and will have to hope for some luck as well. To my other part of the topic, do any of you carry anything like quick clot in your first aid kit? And more generally, what does your dog first aid kit consist of...

IDHunter

Thanks all, some good feedback and kind of reaffirms what I was thinking. Will give it a go and will have to hope for some luck as well.

To my other part of the topic, do any of you carry anything like quick clot in your first aid kit? And more generally, what does your dog first aid kit consist of?

IDHunter

So by training for fences you're basically just exposing them to the fences and letting them figure out that they need to look for a good spot to go under? Do you do any type of correction/reinforcement if they go through in a way that you don't want? I was thinking of using check cord and later an ...

IDHunter

Combo topic here, as these two things are going hand in hand for me right now. 1. How do you guys train barbed wire aversion, or at least barbed wire "saftey"? My 8 month old blockhead has dinged himself pretty good a couple times on it, and doesn't seem to be naturally picking up on the fact that h...

IDHunter

For you guys who limit or skip feeding on the morning of a hunt, do you do this with all ages? Or do you wait until a dog is more physically mature before you do this? Would you skip the morning feeding for a dog that is sub one year?

IDHunter

Garrison,
Thanks. Everything you said makes sense. I was just curious as much as anything, both because of what the employee was saying about it and because the ingredient list and macro numbers did look good. But you're right, he's doing good on Purina so no logical reason to make a change.

IDHunter

I know PPP sport is the standard for most guys, and that's what I've been feeding my 6 month old GWP. However, when at Petco today to get more I got into a conversation with an employee who was pushing the Acana dog food pretty hard. So, curious to hear from those who have tried it (or looked into i...

IDHunter

For those of you who track miles run/hunted by your dogs on a daily/yearly basis, do you find a justifiable or beneficial need for it? I know it makes great brag board material and makes for some great stories, but I'm curious if there is a more practical use. Do you set a mile limit for your dogs i...

IDHunter

I deal with bulk feed ingredients for all kinds of animals and pets. I would strongly advise choosing a high quality food from a specialty dog food company. I would avoid the generic and major brands like the plague. There really is significant differences in what goes into different feeds. However...

IDHunter

NEHomer, you're right I did get a chuckle out of reading your old post. And I'm sure I'll have a similar story to look back on in a few years. Just since starting this thread I've seen my dog's confidence continue to grow on our daily excursions into fields and cover. Between the daily progress and ...

IDHunter

You're pup is doing fine at that age. Just relax and enjoy. Before you know it you'll be worrying about where the dog is. :) (Start saving for a GPS.) When I got my first GSP I figured she'd be a Champion by 12 months. I had it all the steps worked out. :roll: I learned that dogs progress at their ...

IDHunter

Searching...searching for what? As far as they know they’re just out for a walk. Have to turn on their switch so they see what the purpose for being out there is. Plant a few birds and watch the intensity change. If they don’t find birds they don’t know what their purpose is. I guess to clarify, I'...

IDHunter

Thanks for the input folks. We'll keep on doing what we're doing and watch for progress as he grows.

IDHunter

Curious what people think reasonable searching looks like in a young dog. Specifically in this case it's a male GWP, 11 weeks old. Having not been around one before I'm not sure if what I'm seeing is normal or not. We have some good local areas that we take him to get him in hunting cover... pasture...

IDHunter

averageguy, Thank you for that detailed response. That is extremely helpful information for me, and frankly confirms some of what I was thinking, which is that the books might be taking me down a different path than I want for me and my pup. The approach you take sounds much more similar to what I h...

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