Gun Dog Forum

Timewise65

Wow, folks really come through on this post! Since I do much of my upland hunting in Kansas I can assure you that most of this is spot on! One thing I want to mention is that many of the hunters on the public properties do not have dogs, when compared to private/leased properties. This also helps as...

Timewise65

I am not real familiar with how 'whistle commands' are used with upland game. I have always had Golden Retrievers and as you probably know, gun dogs retrievers almost always are whistle trained for all field commands. If you watch any 'herding' dogs work, they too are trained almost exclusively to o...

Timewise65

I bought a Vinci 12gage Camo for waterfowl hunting in 2010. Prior to that I used my Remington 1187. Both guns are good waterfowl guns. I bought the Vinci because it has less recoil even with a 3 1/2" shell (for Geese). My Remington is not chambered for a 3 1/2" shell it also is not camoed. I hunt wa...

Timewise65

I did not mean to suggest that public hunting areas were free from other hunters, obviously they are not! This is true in all states I have hunted in...You mention the military managed properties. They take reservations and therefore have less pressure. If you can get on one take it, they consistent...

Timewise65

I live near Kansas City and hunt waterfowl, quail, and pheasants. I have three field trained Golden Retrievers that I use as flushing dogs for upland and as retrievers for waterfowl. As I watch some of the field reports for the upcoming season, by state, I have read two that say Kansas is having its...

Timewise65

In our area the State of Missouri prepares 100's of dove fields that are open to hunters on the start of the season. These fields are built by planting a very large variety of sun flowers, which in turn provide lots of seeds for dove. The state starts cutting strips of these sunflower seeds down, th...

Timewise65

All of my Golden Retrievers over the years have been introduced to dove's and dove hunting first. When pups I would bring home birds after a hunt and let them get a nose full around the yard. Nothing more than a smell and maybe allow them to pick up the bird and run with it a bit. Never more than th...

Timewise65

The biggest mistake 'buyers' make is to go and see the pups, before all the homework on pedigree, breeder contract, breeder reputation, etc. is complete. You will enevetabliy bring a pup home with you (or agree to buy one)….it is hard to walk away from a puppy.... So do your homework first....same a...

Timewise65

Not only is this unethical and dishonest, it is probably illegal. If you can prove that they OFFERED the pups at $1,000 and you ACCEPTED that offer by laying down a $200 deposit you then have a legal binding contract! The elements that make a legal contract are the offer, acceptance and consideratio...

Timewise65

I lived in Colorado when I first learned how to hunt dove. Back then in CO, no one prepared ground or fields for dove. Therefore, you had to find your own spots and hope landowners would let you hunt them. Then I moved to Virginia and attended my first 'real' hunt for doves with a group of friends. ...

Timewise65

Great advise given in these posts above! If you do not completely understand how to train a dog on an ecollar, you can actually ruin a dog with an ecollar. The dog has to learn that by following the commands, he already fully understands , he can stop the 'discomfort' (Not pain) that he feels when h...

Timewise65

I have three field trained Goldens and I would never hunt them in a group of hunters that I did not personally know and have hunted with them before. My experience in those situations is that people that are not very experienced hunters and/or have worked with dogs while hunting, tend to shoot low, ...

Timewise65

That distance only happens in AKC Retriever Field Trials, which are competitive. The long distances and complex diversions are necessary to separate the true top performers from the very good performers. They do not focus on imitating hunting conditions, but finding the very best dogs to be champion...

Timewise65

Carolina gundogs..... No doubt that you and most of us have fed high carb foods to our dogs for years! Heck, most dog food manufactures don't even list the carb content on the packages.... But, just from a common sense point, looking back, over time, at canines in general. they had limited access to...

Timewise65

Newer health science, as I understand it, tells us to focus less on caloric content and more on Carbohydrates! Most overweight people and I suppose dogs eat extremely high carb loaded meals...(i.e. all grains, all fruits, all sugars, all root crops, etc. etc.)...another reason to go grain free!

Timewise65

Now you have a 'Water Dog'! He is just the right age and seemed to enjoy the fun. Our last Golden had a real weird swim position also, when she started. She would hold her head up high, with the bumper and swim with her front legs splashing and real legs under her butt, a pure vertical swim. I worri...

Timewise65

If you are flying your dog with you, that is good. If you are sending your dog to someone, I would never do that during the hot summer. The airlines have had problems with loading, unloading pets in the summer where they get left out in the heat at the airports to long. This is especially risky if t...

Timewise65

'California Gundogs' said it right! Getting a good female to breed with your male will be difficult, as they always look to 'improve ' the breed on every breeding! That requires proof of full health testing on the stud and performance titles. That is the only way a breeder can prove their litters ha...

Timewise65

I know you Field Trial folks have trouble with Hunt Test dogs/titles...but for a guy like me, who uses my dogs primarily for hunting companions, as opposed to competing for titles...

For me training and running hunt tests is ideal, as those dogs can hunt too!

Timewise65

Most breeders I have known look for dogs with heavy performance titles from AKC Hunt Tests or preferably Field Trials. Usually they look for these on the stud line and on Parents and Grand Parents....doesn't mean you will not find someone, but it may be difficult. Below is the pedigree on my younges...

Timewise65

Very sorry for your loss, it is always hard! I too have a 14 year old gun dog (Magic Maddie or first Field Bred Golden Retriever) her hips are going and she has had two mammary cancers removed over the last 4 years. But she is still happy and playful, just a bit slow....I am dreading the time we los...

Timewise65

My wife and I were at a hunt test (retrievers) being held in Sedalia, Missouri. A lady had driven all the way from Denver with two Standard Poodles (Over 14hrs.). She was running them in the Junior Hunt Tests. These tests consisted of two controlled marks and retrieve to hand on land and water. The ...

Timewise65

Appalachian Turkey dogs have been bred from a mixture of Plott hounds, setters and pointers. I have personally never seen one of these dogs, but I did see a film on their training and how they are used to hunt wild Turkey. They are used primarily to hunt Turkeys in the Fall Season. In the fall the ...

Timewise65

Three Golden Retrievers....spread out age wise so I always have one 'at the ready'!

Timewise65

Good dog on that bird! That dog 'does' hunt! What breed is that pup? I have a small red Golden Retriever that looks like a twin.....see below Stormy is a Red Setter. Amer Fld version of the Irish Setter. Lot smaller, less hair and lot of speed and style. Real pretty dog! Have you run her in any tri...

Timewise65

Good dog on that bird! That dog 'does' hunt!

What breed is that pup? I have a small red Golden Retriever that looks like a twin.....see below

Timewise65

I hunt waterfowl here in Missouri. I own three Golden Retrievers all gun dog trained. Two of them are now semi retired and I limit them to warmer weather hunts. My newest girl is a very small hard driving red Golden. She has usually short hair for a Golden, see below, even so she is a SH and WCX can...

Timewise65

My dogs have spent time with Trainers off and on! They always come back in great shape and look a bit thin, but they gain it back when at home because I cannot run them every day. I always use the general guidelines on the instructions on the food we are using. I then over time make minor adjustment...

Timewise65

Some things my trainers taught me.... Pick a name that has a short version, e.g. Maddie = Dee, Sprint = Boo the short version is the call name used to train the dog. two syllable call names should be avoided... Do not name a dog with a name that sounds like any of your commands, e.g. Fearless/ Here,...

Timewise65

An e-collar, when PROPERLY used, only stimulates a dog that is disobeying a command that he/she already has learned ! Timewise, with all due respect for your prior experience with retrievers, that ain't how the e-collar is used in contemporary programs. 'Cause stimulation for disobedience ain't the...

Timewise65

I have only bought one puppy that I air shipped. The only reason I did it is because we live close to an airport and the California airport they shipped from had a direct flight to where we live. So, it was limited risk and was less than 3-hour flight. I have never heard any limit to time for a pup ...

Timewise65

Probably one of the most common errors made in training dogs is using an e-collar on the dog, when you as the trainer have not been trained on the proper use of the e-collar as a training aid! So be very careful here, improper use can ruin a good dog! First you need to understand that using an e-col...

Timewise65

An e-collar, when PROPERLY used, only stimulates a dog that is disobeying a command that he/she already has learned ! Using it on a dog that has not already been trained to specific behaviors, will likely ruin a good dog. The level of stimulation is never enough to provoke a 'jerk' or worse yet a ''...

Timewise65

Deer antlers do an amazing job on tartar but I still do a bit of cleaning my self with tools I got from my dentist. Grant I thought the same thing until one of my dogs had a puffed up face caused by a broken tooth from chewing on Deer antlers! That cost us to have the tooth extracted and antibiotic...

Timewise65

Number one rule for new pup's crate training, is 'make sure the dog only has room in the kennel to curl up and sleep!' Dog's generally will not pee or pooh where they sleep , so they quickly learn to hold it! That is fundamental to house breaking using a crate. I usually put a box in the end of an o...

Timewise65

I learned a long time ago that proper use of a 'prong collar' is a very effective way to teach a dog to heal, sit, laydown, recall, etc. I learned how to train with a prong collar many years ago working with a professional gun dog trainer. Any collar that constricts on a dog, thus choking him/her re...

Timewise65

I agree with everyone about your vet, their response was not correct... But, getting a vet to clean you dogs teeth is not cheep! They usually have to knock the dog out to do it properly. If your dog chews on bones, antlers, or hard Nyla-bones it is likely they have a broken or cracked tooth. A good ...

Timewise65

My Golden's, I have three now, started to love bath time after I purchased a Booster Bath. They are the perfect solution for bathing and grooming dogs. They have 3 sizes and the XL runs just under $200. The dogs behave well in these and it saves the owners back! :mrgreen: Do a search for Booster Bat...

Timewise65

Your husband will do fine, just focus on yourself. Someday, I too will need a new knee....just not quite yet! Hope all goes well.....Good Luck! I just had an umbilical hernia repaired, it is amazing how far they have come in medicine. Especially, the drugs and recovery thereafter..... Work hard and ...

Timewise65

I used a Sport Dog for a while, but it shut down and I never purchased another one. I use Tritronics and as long as I can keep getting replacement batteries and support from third party suppliers I will continue using them. They are proven to be top quality products, although since they were sold to...

Timewise65

Yes, and Yes! Expensive, but if you have a good quality dog, an experienced professional trainer will bring out the very best in that dog! For retrievers you can expect around $500 per month. To get down the basics, on average a dog will take around 60-90 days (Junior Hunt Test Level). Then if you w...

Timewise65

FF usually prevents this from happening!? So I agree that it is back to the table with FF and use a few birds....be very strict on the 'hold' command! No mouthing, no movement at all, just hold!

Timewise65

Lots of DD people do just that, take the dog bird hunting, he points a pheasant, they shoot it, points a rabbit, kill that too, bumps a coyote and they kill that too...I see enough pictures to believe it. My main concern in a dog that gets a fur fetish is cutting a hunting trip short because I have...

Timewise65

Your question is like asking guys what manufacture of truck should they get! Everyone has an opinion.....bottom line you have to make the call! Whatever dog you get, be sure to search for a breeder that breeds dogs for the 'field'! Many breeders focus on show dogs not field dogs....your odds of gett...

Timewise65

I have had Goldens for over 25 years. Our basic obedience is done working with a trainer we meet with twice a week, other dogs are also in the classes. We like this trainer because he believes in using a pinch collar to train with. I know many disagree with this, but if used properly it speeds up th...

Timewise65

I own three field bred Goldens and have been running Goldens in hunt tests for years. I would never start that young of a dog on marking bumpers in any kind of cover. Not until he shows exceptional consistency in running 'marks'. This includes running in straight lines consistency.... If he is doing...

Timewise65

Thanks for the insight Timewise. She had a really good night last night and this morning with no accidents and little whining. I think we may be on our way to covering some ground in crate training. That's a 'breakthrough'.... Some dogs just 'get it' fast....others not so much! Be consistent in the...

Timewise65

My last pup was out of her X-pen in two weeks....she cleared all 48" with ease, no climbing just jumping! They are a waste of money for Field Bred Dogs....

Crate training is critical to house breaking and to provide a means to transport the dog and take it overnight anywhere....

Good Luck

Timewise65

? This would need a whole thread on it's own for me to get my head round :roll: I completely understand your comments.....from what I know about the way you hunt in Scotland, I would need more than a 'thread' to get my head around that also....and if we start talking about Retrievers....double that...

Timewise65

As a guy who hunts and trains retrievers....I would never "shoot" over one of my dogs! They are trained to "release only on command"! This training is primarily for waterfowl hunting. We retriever guys know that shooting over a dog that 'breaks' on shot will in time result in a dog that cannot hear!...

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