Gun Dog Forum

Will

I used Evan Graham's method on my GSP pup when he was about 5mo old. The pup had been well conditioned to the "here" command since 8 weeks old. This formalized method worked great...it was fast for my pup...as he responds well to pressure and understood quickly how to turn it off. I have recommended...

Will

http://10squaredracing.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TSR&Product_Code=DPSREV&Category_Code= I use this when conditioning or running in warmer conditions and when traveling and hunting hard several days in a row. I don't know about the science behind any of it...but this stuff makes t...

Will

My personal opinion on treats during hunt tests - Our dogs should be completing all phases of the hunt test because of natural ability, desire, and this is what we have asked of them and trained them to do. I think treats in this venue or any other type of venue are ridiculous. I want my dog to perf...

Will

I agree with all...but...if there is "birdiness" there...you probably won't have to teach them anything like quartering...let their desire grow and watch em go.

Will

Awesome weekend!!! Congrats and keep em rolling!!

Will

Congrats...good job!!

Will

My Top Gun pup "Rock" finished his JH yesterday with a nice run in some nasty hot and humid conditions while my 3yr old Top Gun dog "Cash" started his hunt test career in Seniors with two passing legs this weekend....off to a good start!! He ran both braces at Master broke level so hopefully can get...

Will

Thanks guys.....and thanks especially for helping the kids. I think we've had some positive influences on some kids over the last few years with our youth events and we really want to keep things going. This event not only helps fund our youth hunts and other events, but is just another opportunity ...

Will

My Pheasants Forever chapter is hosting Steve Ries from Top Gun Kennel and Native Dog Food and his team of pro trainers as they conduct a hands on pointing dog training seminar on Saturday June 26th, 2010. We are promoting the event as a youth/mentor event, however everyone is invited to attend. For...

Will

Congrats Sean. She looked good out there!!!

Dewey

Will

Let them grow their flight feathers back in....get them homing...and then tease him up with one..toss the bird and let him chase....birds come back and you can keep using them for training. If he's already high prey drive on birds you should be able to quickly move to planting birds for him....only ...

Will

Rabbits Hurt My NECK!!!! I might add that you could impliment a command such as "leave it" during this...can come in VERY helpful as they encounter other things you don't want them nosing around in...garbage...dead animals...stuff like that.

Will

Personally, I only introduce gunfire with birds...wait until the dog develops enough prey drive to chase....have a helper fire a cap gun or blank pistol from 100yds back and closely observe the dog's reaction. If he stops or turns around at the sound...STOP and work on making him more bird crazy. If...

Will

I use Native coupons I gathered at our Pheasant's Forever banquet and get an additional $4 off per bag. It's not a lot but every little bit helps. I manage to scrounge up enough to last the whole year. It's particularly nice for when we travel through where there is a larger retailer of Native as so...

Will

3 months is pretty young for birds...but not completely uncommon either. I doubt there is anything to be concerned about as you have plenty of time to let this pup grow up. What does the pup do around birds now?

Will

I should probably consider switching to level 2 (other than the pups) now that the season is over. Not to hijak the thread but do you all switch to a lower protein formula durring the lower activity periods? In the Eukanuba days I just fed the performance level stuff year round. Really depends on t...

Will

Been feeding Level 3 for a year with great results. 3yr old male on 3 cups per day with moderate activity...4 cups during hunting season keeps him very well. 9mo old puppy been on Level 3 since weaned and does great on it also. He is up to about 3 cups a day during hunting season. Good food for us.....

Will

Thanks all. I have come to love the honor/back as much as the point with my boys. Both were natural backers...I wish I could say I trained it but I'll take natural over trained any day. I especially like to see the older dog backing the puppy!! I gotta get some pics of that as it doesn't happen quit...

Will

For those who have used this program, did you use the book or video? Which did you like? And did either provide different or better details, etc.?

Will

In my opinion, very little. I do like to see a pup willing to explore but also watching where you are if you can take it to an area it has never been to before. But I would also pick a pup marked and colored like you want if you can't make up your mind any other way. Ezzy Pick the breeding and a go...

Will

Thought I would share a few pictures of our day afield on New Years Eve. The dogs worked nice and the kids had a blast. I think they gave new meaning to "run it dry" as we had to return to the truck for shells half way through. Cash on first find of the day with Rock honoring: http://i593.photobucke...

Will

Awesome!! Go Coal!! It's great to see a young dog turning on and doing what they were meant to do....and loving it. Thank you for sharing.

Will

Labman - what program are you using if I may ask? I will be force fetching my first dog come spring and maybe going over it again with my adult dog also....I was going to buy Smart Fetch at the many recomendations from this board.

Will

You should be able to figure out how much to feed by keeping an eye on your dog. If he is losing weight, increase the amount. If he is gaining, cut back on the food. It is really that simple. You may have to adjust the amounts during different seasons and/or activity level. When you get him looking...

Will

I'm new to DSLR cameras so still learning. The camera itself is probably pretty good for what you want to do. However, the lens it comes with is very small. You won't have much zoom with this lens. If you're wanting to walk up on your dog while on point and snap pics it'll be great. If you're wantin...

Will

Oh I thought you needed to use steel on pheasants. My mistake. I use 2's on ducks (what little I have gone) with good luck. I'm sure it would be perfectly fine for pheasants also if you can make the shot....and if you can make the shot on passing ducks...well I'd say no problems then!!

Will

My son used the same load you're using with good luck. Wouldn't hurt to try #2's but you're really starting to limit the amount of shot you're putting out there. Please let us know what you liked best.

Will

I started my puppy on adult food on the breeder's recommendation. All went and is still going well. I've fed the PMI Exclusive in the past and my dog at that time did well on it. It seems to be a good food. I too experienced loose stools and chubby pups on puppy feed. Could be a coincidence, but I l...

Will

I have 2 Dog Den 2's with heaters and use grass hay for bedding. We keep the kennel out of the prevailing winter winds and the dogs do well in them. They are easy to clean and replace bedding as the tops come off. We like em.

Will

I have access to as good a private land as there is where I live...but that ain't saying much these days...thus we hunt public as a necessity to keep from over hunting our private land.

Will

Now that's takin' care of business!!

Will

The e-collar is not for training? Does that mean you believe it is a tool for punishment? Please do tell.

Will

A 5mo old is a pup for sure and should be allowed its puppy time afield. However, a 5mo old should also come when called without question in my opinion. She is not to young for basic obedience such as "here" or "stay". I also agree not to give commands the pup doesn't know yet.

Will

Get her e-collar conditioned and start using it. Make this a priority. Never give a command you can't enforce.

Will

We had a Rem 1100 20ga LT as my oldes boy started shooting and hunting. It was pretty reliable but quite heavy for a youth/ladies gun. I believe the biggest difference in the two is that the 1187 should take at least 3" shells and the 1100 probably only takes 2 3/4" shells. This can be quite a diffe...

Will

Very similar set up to mine and mine do well. The heated mats typically run at 104deg...slightly above a dog's normal body temp. They are placed under the floor and the dog must be laying on it to get full benefit...thus it doesn't heat the ambient temp in the dog house...but keeps that pup nice and...

Will

I have a 7mo old GSP also and he is on a slightly different pace than yours. We have been shooting pointed birds over him for a month now and he does a good job on them. He doesn't find a bunch because he is typically down with an older dog, but when he does he does well. Depending on the cover, he ...

Will

And they refer to him as "expert". All I can say is ....C'MON MAN!!!!!

Will

Rob, Rock is a Henry x Di pup but I am fairly familiar with the breeding Katy is out of. Both Ace and Hemi are highly regarded as very very nice dogs that breezed through their Master titles pretty easily. I didn't know they were that close in age, however!! It's amazing what these pups can do if gi...

Will

Here's a couple more pics of my pup Top Gun Let There Be Rock. He will be turning 7mo old at Thanksgiving and has about a month and a half of pheasant hunting under his belt already...including a week in North Dakota. It's been so much fun watching him come along. Rock is now hunting independently.....

Will

Chip - I know how you feel...we've made the trip to South Dakota three times now with minimal success. First trip we did pretty ok on private land...2nd trip it was over 70deg with lots of standing corn at Thanksgiving time....3rd we hunted public and brother it was tough hunting late in the year. L...

Will

+1

Dog should relate gunfire to a dinner bell of sorts. Gunfire should mean falling bird for her to pick up.

Will

Have never had the Tractor Supply as an option here. They've never carried it. Have to either order through the Do-It Best website for delivery to a local lumber yard or buy from a hardware store about 45 minutes away. Last time I was in Iowa I got it on sale at Thiesens and stocked up.

Will

Ah the most painful thing about the thorn was the vet bill!! He was his usual goofy self the next day but I kept him kenneled for a few days before running him again. Cash was in a good groove today. He had a really nice run. Something about putting multiple dogs down just turns him up a few notches...

Will

I took the pup out for a hunt with "the boys" today. "The Boys" are a great group of buddies who got me back into bird hunting a few years ago after a several year affair with deer hunting. "The Boys" also includes our kids and grandkids (for those older boys). For the most part we've left the shoot...

Will

Wanted to share a nice picture and give a big thank you to this forum's own "lvrgsp" for bringing Jack down to help guide at our annual Pheasants Forever Youth/Mentor Hunt at the end of October. Chip was great with the kids and Jack put down a great run...helping to show the kids why pheasant huntin...

Will

Saturated cotton balls and rub it on or I've put it in a butter dish and set their foot down in it. Both pretty easy.

Will

Love the wonder lead. Has made polite ladies and gentlemen out of many unruly pups. No cons in my opinion.

Will

Thought I'd share this picture of my 6mo old Top Gun pup pointing a hen in North Dakota last week. He was in very short cover along the edge of a harvested sunflower field. Nobody could see her sitting there so we don't know if the pup sight pointed her or had her nailed on scent. He was staunch and...

Will

How do your dogs handle the running birds? Are they pushing them also? Are they learning to "manage" the runners? My best advice would be to enter the field very quietly....let the dogs work...everyone being as quiet as possible....keep the dogs as near gun range as you can....and see if they can ge...

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