Gun Dog Forum

Featherfinder

Couldn't agree with you more Gonehuntin! Over-cooking game meats can really make them less palatable - in some cases downright in-edible.
Re the sharptail, I had the same issue with woodcock many years prior - too livery (OK if you like liver). Now....OMG.....delicious!

Featherfinder

Easy fix. Lose the cat.

Featherfinder

I appreciate what your saying Gonehuntin but a big part of what you eat is what they eat. Around here, they're called sky card for a reason. Now, if you get the chance to hunt them on the prairies or the central mid-west for example when they've been feeding on grain....that's another thing all toge...

Featherfinder

The reason I asked for clarification is that some of the late season waterfowling on large bodies of water (tall waves) can be very hard even on Labs. In certain applications the Chessy is the preferred breed because of it's toughness in that icy deep water. If you were to hunt a GWP, WPG, DD or PP ...

Featherfinder

Well Rick, we are going to go around the gamete yet again with a broad request like that. Typically, many answers will come from folk justifying why they have what they have rather than what you might need. A pointer...?!? A GSP...?!? For cold weather duck hunting....!?!?! So, let's try to better id...

Featherfinder

To say that I do things "differently" is an understatement. Young pups can be taught basic obedience (and natural retrieving skills) starting right at 8 weeks of age. Retrieving is at the forefront of my whole training process. Why? Because I have yet to work with a dog that I couldn't get to point ...

Featherfinder

Thanks Sharon. Hey...others might do things their way and get still get around the course. Some dogs are trained to need that singing. It's their conduit to the handler. I see no need for it what-so-ever for a capable gun dog . That said, there are far too many hunters that seem to need to hear them...

Featherfinder

More-often-than-not, I would only "sing" to my dog as required, only. For example, there may have been a "Y" on the course and I needed my dog to turn one way versus the other. I once had a dog in a trial disappear in dense cover. She had been missing for some time and so I had to either find a dog ...

Featherfinder

As mentioned there is no set time for achieving milestones with pup. The challenge with having a pup as I see it is that folk impose unrealistic expectations on pup (anthropomorphising) and then on the flip side make excuses for a young dog's overt/blatant misbehavior. Last fall I had a dog here tha...

Featherfinder

Wouldn't waste a shell on Snow Geese. We call Canada Geese "sky carp" around here.

Featherfinder

I have to agree. A Spinone or Bracco might be OK for me when I'm 87....if I'm still here. Watching either of these dogs work is a bit like watching paint dry.
They might make decent "meat dogs" but I don't hunt because I can't feed myself or my family.

Featherfinder

I add that I have seen far too many folk spend 2 times the $$$$ for 1/2 the dog! Just because you CAN afford the purchase, it doesn't guarantee a better acquisition. You still need to do your homework.

Featherfinder

Well now Bustingcover, I have to disagree with you there. If you're saying you CAN spend the $$$$ but chose not to, you're making a mistake IMO. What I am saying is you should endeavor to get as much value for your investment (not just where dogs are concerned). I've seen more folk burned simply by ...

Featherfinder

There you go. Bustingcover is making the point I made. Some folk simply WON'T spend that purchase price...period. And, who says they have to spend much more $$$$ afterwards? Feed your dog table scraps mixed with the occasional economy dog food and Bob's-your-Uncle. Take pup out back and run him on t...

Featherfinder

The other dynamic about this video is that Mr. Higgins did not immediately reach for the bird. I share this with most novices as well. I ask them, "How long do you think it will take your young dog to figure out that if he/she brings you the bird, you will rip him/her off for it ?" I noticed Mr. Hig...

Featherfinder

As I see it, there are lots of folk that have a budget that won't support a well-bred blue-blooded whatever. In-other-words, there is a market for those "mutts". I get it. We all have a budget. Just look at those that hunt upland with a Purdey SxS versus those with a ____ pump. If you ask the guy wi...

Featherfinder

Well, crossing has been going no for ages and still does to this day. Here is the only thing I struggle to understand. If you want a Brittany to run like a pointer, why wouldn't you just get a pointer? In my experience, that Brittany X pointer cross will be less dog than a good pointer X pointer. In...

Featherfinder

Although I tap my dogs to send them, I occasionally use "dead bird" to quick-release my dog(s) on wild birds. They must remain steady...period. It is rare that I lose a bird that I stone however a poorly hit bird brings with it it's own challenges and a expedited release can help. I personally enjoy...

Featherfinder

That is a nice looking dog you have there averageguy! Thanks for the pics. Remember, we all have our own preferences which include where we hunt, how we hunt, what we hunt, etc. Just think of those three entities and you realize how wide a spectrum of responses you can elicit from coast-to-coast! Co...

Featherfinder

mrelite, first off....that is a very nice dog you have there! You are dead on when you mention that you need to have good hunting partners. You'd be surprised how challenging it can be to get partners that understand/respect your goals for you dog. Some just want to kill things so their primary rule...

Featherfinder

Welcome, Merry Christmas and wishing you all the best with your GSP going forward! Your sons are lucky young men!

Featherfinder

I met Craig while he attend a local event to gather pics some years ago - delightful chap. The book is interesting however his photographic skills are nothing short of artistic!

Featherfinder

I agree with Gonehuntin and Polmaise's earlier words of wisdom. Consider that, if a dog's fabric is such that it is a sensitive dog in general, noise may also be something to be careful about as well. True gun-shy's are most often created and if you have an honest owner, he/she can tell you exactly ...

Featherfinder

There are a number of dynamics in this post as I see it. The first being what you could call steady to wing, shot and fall or steady until released. If you are going to trial and hunt your dog, this is not an option. It is required. The distinct two views are that a dog that releases itself after th...

Featherfinder

I don't think the question is about someone stealing, killing or molesting. Would I do it? Absolutely NOT! But, he wouldn't be the first or the last and I'm not here to judge. Actually, I thought about some crosses myself. Thought about crossing a Bull Terrier with a Shih Tsu. I'd call it a Bullshi_...

Featherfinder

Love the expression in your young dog rkappes! Very nice.

Featherfinder

Wow, very nice dogs DonF! ....fancy. Have they got Grouse Feather blood?
Yup, I'm just a youngster. Not 64 for 5 months yet!

Featherfinder

Well said Mountaineer. Or, as we like to say, "It's hard to tell the depth of the well by the length of the handle on the pump."

1- Cover dog setter or pointer,
2 -All the others.
And that's coming from a long time Brittany owner. Just means I'm a "thick" study.

Featherfinder

Quote: I think it proves that loud noises have no correlation to gun shyness or to helping prevent it. ezzy333, IME you are 100% on the mark! That is why I no longer do the gun club thing (desensitize). I stopped many years ago. The fix is in the field/hunting and that's why the preferred way to int...

Featherfinder

Come on Mountaineer...you just took my suggestion and added your name! Then, you expect me to buy you a Tim Horton's?!?!? Sorry, but as I see it you only got a small, not a large. That's coffee - just want to be clear...

Featherfinder

I spend MANY hours afield and far too many in nasty weather because I can't always wait out better weather. Cordura, whether as a pant panel or even a hunting boot is fine for the weekend warrior but not for the serious hunter or outdoorsperson that spends many hours afield in nasty terrain. The wor...

Featherfinder

If you're a hunter, you want a hunting dog. Your return on investment (ROI) is reasonably high. If you're a trialer you can hope/work towards getting a competitive trial dog. Your ROI percentages can be appreciably lower. Know that trialers breed top notch champion sires to top notch champion bitche...

Featherfinder

I have to add that Mountaineer's contributions are a tremendous source of entertainment for the most part. LOVE your input!! I can use a chuckle now and again as most of us could, I'm sure.
Thank you Mountaineer.

Featherfinder

Make the actual transportable catch cage you use to release birds a part of your holding pen. Make an opening in one corner of your recall pen and insert the transportable cage with the trap door open. Herd the birds into the corner, slide down a trap door to seal the opening, drop the flap on your ...

Featherfinder

I had Britts for over 25 years - and darn good ones too. A couple were open field trial champions - one a multiple champion. I was successful competing with those same Britts in horseback trials dominated by pointers and in covers trials dominated with setters. All my Britts were decent hunters too....

Featherfinder

I have to agree with Mr. Jacobs. This is not a strategic time to acquire yet another pup, regardless of the motivation . I also concur that neither breed would be my personal choice for a dog that called TX home.....absolutely no way. That said, I'm sure their are some down there. Heat tolerance is ...

Featherfinder

Sorry Sharon, to answer your question: Sire was Ziggi's Grouse Magic - "Auggie". George Tracy had him on his string and really like him. The dam was my Tina. She was a Smith bred setter. Tina and I never hit it off so I sold her to a chap in WV. He contacted me one day and asked, "How could you ever...

Featherfinder

Thanks Sharon. Both dam and sire have passed - sire passed about 5 months ago. Emma is going to be 14. She is very frail but still hanging in there.
Thanks for asking.

Featherfinder

This is what I use which keeps the truck cab (crew cab) reasonably clean and available for hunters and equipment.
Sorry I don't have a better pic of the truck with all 4 dogs. We typically take 4 dogs with us in the truck box shown.

Featherfinder

Ooops...got the order wrong.
The great ones seem to age even faster.

Featherfinder

ezzy, I'm not pro Europe but I'm not sure I understand your comment. I appreciate that we have the freedom to do as we please however I have seen many litters that should NEVER have been. Are you saying that the profuse number of litters means that in numbers, there is bound to be something that is ...

Featherfinder

Line-breeding can accent certain genetics. It has no discrimination towards positive or negative aspects. They can enhance those you like but also those you don't like. Breeding is a science all of it's own and should be left to those that truly know their stuff. There are a lot of breeders out ther...

Featherfinder

Your 100% correct Gonehuntin'. No, it isn't necessarily smarter.

Featherfinder

Oldbeek, it is my opinion that dogs LEARN not to respect planted birds, be they quail or pigeons or whatever. Dogs aren't born not respecting one species over another. In fact, young pups will often chase song birds, sparrows, robins, butterflies, etc. I believe that whether through bad experiences ...

Featherfinder

That's right Slistoe. At least, that is the intent I believe.

Featherfinder

JONOV, I would have to disagree with you. The judges in trials typically, have walked the walk for years. Further to this, they have tallied an admirable number of wins/champions. In-other-words, they normally have invested years of trialing into the sport and clearly understand the expectation. You...

Featherfinder

I forgot to mention one other salient aspect of trials. Your dog may have found 3 birds and another dog found just one. Yet, the dog with the one find, depending on those other attributes I mentioned above, may in fact win or place over your dog.

Featherfinder

RayG, thanks for sharing. You may have identified a problem I'm having with my 320/DC30 system. Much appreciated Sir.

Featherfinder

PERHAPS, what the judges were looking for was a dog that runs to the front hitting intelligent objectives. This can mean running lines - the vernacular within the sport that really translates this way, "The bird planter(s) will likely plant birds in places that will have objectives (a place to hold ...

Featherfinder

While it might be a bit early, I'd like to wish everyone here and their family a very Merry Christmas keeping in mind the real reason for the season. Have safe travels if joining family/friends. Lastly, may 2018 bring with it profuse opportunities to make memories afield with your canine buddy!

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