Search found 3296 matches

by RayGubernat
Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:14 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Kennel Upgrade
Replies: 9
Views: 1051

Re: Kennel Upgrade

Two lessons I learned the hard way. Make sure the hose and everything else is is far enough away so the dogs can't reach it with their paws and that the latches are high enough so the dogs can't reach them with their nose. Cj Good advice. I have replaced more than a couple of hose ends over the yea...
by RayGubernat
Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:23 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Eastern GSP Trainer
Replies: 3
Views: 432

Re: Eastern GSP Trainer

It might be a little outside your desired driving range, but I would check out Bruce Shaffer at Almost Heaven GSP's. They are in Springfield WV which is about 4 1/2 hours from Virginia Beach. He breeds, raises, trains and handles GSP's. Her also trains other bird dog breeds. I have personally seen s...
by RayGubernat
Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:22 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Kennel Upgrade
Replies: 9
Views: 1051

Re: Kennel Upgrade

Garrison-

That is an AWESOME two dog setup. Your dogs should be happy to spend time out there.

RayG
by RayGubernat
Sun Jan 28, 2024 3:39 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Memorable moments
Replies: 10
Views: 2028

Re: Memorable moments

When the dog I was running in hunt tests points a bird while making a retrieve. There is no way to get out of that situation without breaking the rules.....Cj cJ- Don't know what the right thing to do is in that situation. It sucks when the dog does everything right and the rules make it wrong. Clo...
by RayGubernat
Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:27 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Memorable moments
Replies: 10
Views: 2028

Re: Memorable moments

Over the years I have had quite a few...most really good and a few ...not so terrific. One of the worst was when my first dog Jack was chasing a flying pheasant and went off a railroad embankment that was about 20 ft. straight down. I ran to the edge, saw him laying there, dropped my gun and got dow...
by RayGubernat
Fri Jan 19, 2024 11:49 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Conformation.......
Replies: 7
Views: 878

Re: Conformation.......

morningrise - That is an impressive looking shorthair. Be advised that I DO NOT to conformation events, just hunt and field trial with pointers. However, I will say that I certainly wouldn't mind watching your dog in the field. Based on what little I have seen of conformation show shorthairs, they a...
by RayGubernat
Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:17 am
Forum: Training
Topic: In Ground Fencing and E Collars
Replies: 6
Views: 905

Re: In Ground Fencing and E Collars

Interloper - Welcome aboard. I do pointing dogs, so I can't help much with a Boykin other than to say that basic obedience is pretty similar regardless of breed. I do have two neighbors that have e-fences and they seem to work for their dogs. The dogs involved are mostly herding types, a Great Pyren...
by RayGubernat
Sun Dec 31, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Beautiful Portrait of my Llewellyn
Replies: 9
Views: 3501

Re: Beautiful Portrait of my Llewellyn

NEhomer -

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Happy holidays to you and yours.
by RayGubernat
Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:52 am
Forum: Please Welcome New Members - Introduce Yourself Here!
Topic: Newbie
Replies: 6
Views: 1511

Re: Newbie

Backlash -

Welcome neighbor. Brittanys are fun dogs.

RayG
by RayGubernat
Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:36 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Alpha 300
Replies: 15
Views: 3263

Re: Alpha 300

Dan - Can't answer for others but I use the vibrate feature in training for the most part. I have the collar on the dog's flank with the prongs situated on the top of the back(at least initially...it does tend to slip). I do most of my bird training with remote release launchers, so I can control th...
by RayGubernat
Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:06 am
Forum: Hunting
Topic: Thunder chickens
Replies: 5
Views: 3013

Re: Thunder chickens

Many years ago, when I was in my twenties, I knew fellow who had trained his bird dog(shorthair) to take exactly one step on command when it was pointing and then resume a staunch point. I saw him move the dog in on a pheasant, step by step until the bird flushed out the back side of a clump. He was...
by RayGubernat
Tue Nov 14, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Looking to add a pup….
Replies: 11
Views: 3031

Re: Looking to add a pup….

bduke - I have seen dogs of both those breeds that comfortably run in front of a walking hunter AND I have seen dogs of both those breeds that can fade to the front in front of a horse. On occasion they are even the same dog. As mentioned, most good dogs have an elastic range...tightening up in heav...
by RayGubernat
Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:20 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Am I Stressing Too Much?
Replies: 24
Views: 6568

Re: Am I Stressing Too Much?

Ontariofella - The short answer is Yes you are expecting a lot from a very young dog. From your descriptions, it would seem that she is a lot of dog, and that kind of dog is going to push the envelope. The good news is that once she figures it out...you will have one heck of a hunting partner. My on...
by RayGubernat
Sun Oct 08, 2023 5:58 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Supplement for weigh gain?
Replies: 23
Views: 7996

Re: Supplement for weigh gain?

When I ran my first dog for several days in a row, no matter how much he ate, he would get down to bones. I started giving him a 1/4 lb. of pure beef fat, chopped up, in with his kibble, during the run up to the season when I was working him hard every day. i would continue to give him the fat, in a...
by RayGubernat
Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:59 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Training- New to this
Replies: 10
Views: 4613

Re: Training- New to this

Rookie- Welcome. The two books you were recommended are both excellent. I advise you to get both and read through both. They are two different approaches to training, but they have many similarities. Paul Long's book is more old school which starts out with a good bit of yardwork and repetition, wit...
by RayGubernat
Fri Sep 22, 2023 9:08 am
Forum: Training
Topic: New dog advice needed
Replies: 2
Views: 1257

Re: New dog advice needed

Let me say that having a dog for 20 years is truly special and you have my sympathy for your loss. I think you will be quite pleasantly surprised with how things will go with your new companion. First things first. Transitioning an adult dog from a kennel life situation to indoors should be a relati...
by RayGubernat
Wed Sep 20, 2023 6:29 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Pedigree help
Replies: 2
Views: 2616

Re: Pedigree help

Just did some checking and you might do a search on the NSTRA site(records) and the gundog central site. Found all of the dogs you listed with at least a sire and dam, except one. No idea if the pedigree info listed is accurate. And it is "The Total Package" apparently. I don't know if UKC still doe...
by RayGubernat
Fri Sep 15, 2023 8:08 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Creeping
Replies: 15
Views: 12242

Re: Creeping

Sanders - One piece of training advice you will probably not find in any book. It is pretty old school and must be done carefully. If the dog is on point, position yourself alongside, up by the front of the dog. If it moves a foot...even a little... step on the dog's foot...just a little, but enough...
by RayGubernat
Mon Aug 28, 2023 10:11 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Young Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer and intro to birds
Replies: 2
Views: 1624

Re: Young Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer and intro to birds

Have zero experience with that breed, but a puppy is a puppy and a bird dog is a bird dog. Many continental breeds are expected to seek multiple types of game, both feather and fur. That can mean that they may have a less intense initial response to gamebirds than your typical American bred pointer,...
by RayGubernat
Thu Aug 17, 2023 5:11 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Creeping
Replies: 15
Views: 12242

Re: Creeping

Sanders - Just saw this. You might be interested. https://www.njwoodsandwater.com/forums/forum/121-gun-dogs-~-hunting-training-events/ A poster put up two LCS launchers, a 209 primer pistol and a bird bag for $400. I'm not a fan of LCS launchers(I like Dogtra), but a cheapie primer pistol goes for $...
by RayGubernat
Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:38 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Creeping
Replies: 15
Views: 12242

Re: Creeping

Sanders- A remote activated launcher is always a nice tool to have and a pair of them is even better. Stop to flush drills with remote launchers is one of the best ways to staunch up a dog that I know. However, there are a fair number of things you can do without one. Yardwork, starting with the dog...
by RayGubernat
Fri Aug 11, 2023 8:59 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Always a hard choice.....
Replies: 15
Views: 6876

Re: Always a hard choice.....

Well , I called it a hard choice this time because if I had the money( $6000.00 + ) I might have saved him. Sometimes money is a part of the decision too and that is never easy. Sharon - We do the best we can...for as long as we can. Our four legged friends do not ask for more than that...and in fa...
by RayGubernat
Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:38 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Always a hard choice.....
Replies: 15
Views: 6876

Re: Always a hard choice.....

Sharon-

We all hope it never gets easier to make that decision. I have said goodbye to three of mine over the last couple of years. They were all up there in years and were on the downslope, but it still hurt.

Never say never. Peace be with you.

RayG
by RayGubernat
Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:50 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Pup is eating birds.. pls help!
Replies: 15
Views: 6141

Re: Pup is eating birds.. pls help!

Gonehuntin said it well. A quick story.... I lost my only dog some time back and was able to purchase a field trial reject for hunting. This was long before I got into trialing. Belle was an awesome bird dog who found and pointed literally hundreds of birds for me and my son. She had two flaws. She ...
by RayGubernat
Thu Jul 13, 2023 9:45 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Pup is eating birds.. pls help!
Replies: 15
Views: 6141

Re: Pup is eating birds.. pls help!

Ontariofella - I am not big on retrieving becasue I typically trial my dogs these days and really would rather not have them want to retrieve. However, I have had, in years past, two dogs that developed "hard mouth". I detected this on the first one when it chomped on shot birds and detected the "te...
by RayGubernat
Sun Jun 11, 2023 8:19 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Vehicle Choice
Replies: 16
Views: 4568

Re: Vehicle Choice

I have gotten myself into trouble with a 4X4 becasue it CAN go places other vehicles cannot. That also means that you CAN get stuck where only another 4X4 can get to you and help. Just something to consider. A 4 ton comealong and a few lengths of 5/16" trucker's chain, as well as a lithium ion batte...
by RayGubernat
Mon May 15, 2023 9:42 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Training gold mine or training fiasco?
Replies: 3
Views: 1980

Re: Training gold mine or training fiasco?

I think your plan to do training this summer is a good idea. You do however need to come up with a detailed plan, based on the dog's current training level and where you need/want it to be next fall. You appear to have a year old dog that has never been properly steadied. That will take some time an...
by RayGubernat
Thu May 11, 2023 7:53 am
Forum: Training
Topic: 11 month old gsp dropping tail on point
Replies: 9
Views: 3540

Re: 11 month old gsp dropping tail on point

I would do some drills in the yard for a month or two. I personally do heel/whoa drills in the yard with a pigging string, starting when they are about 4 months old, but for you...that ship has sailed. Have the dog stand on a barrel, bench, table...whatever and stroke them up. Let the dog stand ther...
by RayGubernat
Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Chasing Ducks and Other Birds
Replies: 11
Views: 4129

Re: Chasing Ducks and Other Birds

Considering that your training regimen on game is pretty hands off, I would suggest that you externd that practice to any "off game" encounters the dog may have. In other words, I suggest that you "actively" disregard the dog's interest in ducks, tweetie birds and such by walking away and urge the d...
by RayGubernat
Thu Mar 02, 2023 7:50 pm
Forum: Wild Game Recipes
Topic: Best Way to Eat Pheasant?
Replies: 6
Views: 27962

Re: Best Way to Eat Pheasant?

What's the best way to eat pheasant and how do you prepare it? Find a good recipe for chicken cacciatorre and substitute pheasant. I especially like pheasant thighs for this because they are full of flavor and not as dry as breast. Leg meat is also good, but the tendons make for messy eating. I usu...
by RayGubernat
Fri Feb 17, 2023 10:26 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Do you always stay with the same breed?
Replies: 17
Views: 8646

Re: Do you always stay with the same breed?

Put me down as a one breed dog owner. I have had pointers since I was a teenager. They always did what I needed them to do in the field, pretty much the way I wanted them to do it. I grew up hunting over fiercely independent dogs that were driven to find birds and that is what pointers have always d...
by RayGubernat
Sat Feb 04, 2023 10:36 am
Forum: Training
Topic: false pointing
Replies: 7
Views: 3750

Re: false pointing

Thanks for filling out the unknowns about your dog. It helps to paint the picture. Some dogs are pretty careful and will opt to point at the first whiff of scent. I think that scenario is far more common than the dog coming in hard and fast...freezing the bird. Over time and with more experience, th...
by RayGubernat
Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:23 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Next dog
Replies: 23
Views: 9462

Re: Next dog

I have always had pointers, and always will. In my younger years I had some good ones out of horseback shooting dog stock. A few had too much range for the foot hunter but some of them were very good about keeping in touch during the hunt. I currently have two dogs out of horseback shooting dog line...
by RayGubernat
Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:49 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Switching dog food
Replies: 18
Views: 5898

Re: Switching dog food

Dayla -- I have fed a bunch of different 30/20 feeds over the years and most were well tolerated by my dogs. I never fed Purina becasue it was always too pricey for me. Feeding four to six dogs is a whole lot different than feeding one. I generally used a moderately priced quality feed from a major ...
by RayGubernat
Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:31 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Older Dogtra RRD transmitter
Replies: 5
Views: 2999

Re: Older Dogtra RRD transmitter

Alex - Sounds like there might be something wrong with the transmitter. I would check the anenna to make sure it is not corroded and frmly connected. I would also open up the transmitter and look carefully if to see if there is a broken connection somewhere, especially the connection to the antenna....
by RayGubernat
Wed Nov 30, 2022 12:16 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Dog bedding
Replies: 7
Views: 2654

Re: Dog bedding

I get wood flake bales for my horse stalls and use the same thing for the dog kennels. It works quite well for the moderately cold weather we have here. When it gets down to the teens and single digits, I tuck some grass hay in their kennels. My hay these days is mostly orchard grass and timothy. It...
by RayGubernat
Sat Nov 12, 2022 7:56 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: 1 year old GSP busting birds and not holding point
Replies: 21
Views: 7489

Re: 1 year old GSP busting birds and not holding point

I read through your original post a couple times before I posted anything and then read through the comments you received. It seems tha your youngster was doing it right at a relatively early age and then was allowed to regress. That being the case, I think some gentle measure of discipline is in or...
by RayGubernat
Thu Oct 20, 2022 8:42 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Outdoor Kennel
Replies: 8
Views: 3305

Re: Outdoor Kennel

I have found that the principal area of rust on my outdoor chain link kennels has always been where the metal leg sits on the base. Constant moisture and continuous contact promote corrosion. Years ago I started putting a female/female PVC coupling on each leg. It adds about and inch and a half to t...
by RayGubernat
Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:15 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Couple of Questions
Replies: 11
Views: 3777

Re: Couple of Questions

My dogs have always been kenneled outside, so no help on the first part of your query. As far as benches are concerned, lots of things can work. What you are doing is getting the dog off the ground which creates a bit of uncertainty for them. A picnic table works, as does a picnic table bench. The k...
by RayGubernat
Sat Sep 17, 2022 9:31 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Registered Dog Name Help
Replies: 4
Views: 2694

Re: Registered Dog Name Help

I know that lots of folks go to great lengths(literally) with registered dog names. Many try to incorporate sire or dam lines in the name. I typically don't. When I enter a dog in a field event, I have to write the dog's registered name on the entry form and to me, less is better, especially when I ...
by RayGubernat
Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:56 am
Forum: Hunting
Topic: First Hunt - Looking for Tips
Replies: 14
Views: 4381

Re: First Hunt - Looking for Tips

BG - A whole lot depends on what YOU want from your dog as a hunter. I am also in the camp of shooting whenever the dog finds a bird...but if the dog rips a bird, I will shoot...and miss. Then I will call the dog back in, set it up and make it stand, where it should have, and make it stand for a cou...
by RayGubernat
Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:36 am
Forum: Hunting
Topic: Is a GPS collar necessary
Replies: 34
Views: 12542

Re: Is a GPS collar necessary

AZ - I am a little late to this discusion, but here's my 2 cents. I agree that you should not need a GPS collar right away. A French Britt "TYPICALLY" is a fairly close working dog breed and a youngster"TYPICALLY" will want to stay close to its hunting partner until it gains confidence. I am not a f...
by RayGubernat
Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:52 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: WHATEVER IT TAKES
Replies: 6
Views: 4345

Re: WHATEVER IT TAKES

Thank you for posting this. It is a reminder to all of us that our four legged companions will hunt their hearts out whenever and wherever we ask them to and they depend on US to keep them safe. WE are supposed to be the brains of the outfit. I too have failed my friends on occasion in that regard u...
by RayGubernat
Thu Aug 25, 2022 7:56 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Looking at puppies
Replies: 23
Views: 6005

Re: Looking at puppies

It always cracks me up when the breeder tells you first pick at 8 weeks then someone else gives some sort of a sob story and suddenly your forced to pick early. If a breeder agreed to give me first pick at 8 weeks and then reneged on that agreement, I would be very temped to just walk away. I have ...
by RayGubernat
Thu Aug 25, 2022 7:48 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Looking at puppies
Replies: 23
Views: 6005

Re: Looking at puppies

For anyone who is looking to evaluate puppies there is a technique and a process that can be quite helpful.. It is called the Volhard Puppy something or other, but it is a multi faceted evaluation of a puppy's responses to situations. Interestingly, Gonehuntin's evaluations are basically two of the ...
by RayGubernat
Tue Jul 26, 2022 8:02 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Advice for gun dogs with chickens?
Replies: 12
Views: 5226

Re: Advice for gun dogs with chickens?

Two of our three neighbors have had all their chickens killed by the third neighbor's shepherd and cattle dog. Our 3 acres is fenced and we have relatively little issues with wandering dogs. Anyway, we are caught in the middle as we still talk with all the neighbors. Quite the hard feelings exist i...
by RayGubernat
Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:45 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: AKC Hunter titles: JH/SH/MH
Replies: 66
Views: 27574

Re: AKC Hunter titles: JH/SH/MH

An AA FC title in a pup's pedigree would not rule him out for me, but for many it would. They sell for half what a well bred MH or NAVHDA Pup sells for. Most family pet/hunting dog foot hunters have no use for 400 yd dog..........Cj To have high standards or expectations of a dog doesn't mean they ...
by RayGubernat
Fri Jun 17, 2022 8:05 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Brittany Puppy Training/Bird Exposure
Replies: 16
Views: 5321

Re: Brittany Puppy Training/Bird Exposure

Thanks Ray, I appreciate the info. I need to let the dog tell me when it's ready to train. Right now to her sparrows, robins and butterflies are just things that exist in the world and not any sort of game. Patience is a virtue and one I need to work on developing. I purchased training with Mo as I...
by RayGubernat
Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:30 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Brittany Puppy Training/Bird Exposure
Replies: 16
Views: 5321

Re: Brittany Puppy Training/Bird Exposure

IMO if the pup has good genetics it is highly likely trhat it has all the "birdiness" you will need ...already in there. Most well bred bird dogs come out of the birth canal with more than we can harness. Most new bird dog owners have the same concerns you voiced, and think that a large part of it i...
by RayGubernat
Sun Jun 12, 2022 9:23 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: So how did You get started with dogs and hunting?
Replies: 21
Views: 6692

Re: So how did You get started with dogs and hunting?

Great topic...interesting reads from several contributors. Here's my tale... My Dad hunted with his brother and neigbors as a child...rabbits, pheasant,squirrels, etc. His father usually had beagles, but back then we actually had snow on the ground for weeks at a time soyou could run beagles on rabb...