Gun Dog Forum

RayGubernat

mac78 - Any dog can be trained. You can hunt behind any dog you want. I have seen folks go afield with German shepherds, mutts of all descriptions and once a toy dog, a cockapoo, I think. Guess what, they all found birds or rabbits or whatever and provided their hunter with sport. It all depends on ...

RayGubernat

If you only use a blank pistol for one dog, once a month or so, I recommend that you buy a $20 cheapie. At that rate of usage it will likely hold up for several years and if you lose it or it breaks...so what? I have a Kimar 209 primer pistol that I use a lot. Actually I am on my second one, having ...

RayGubernat

Sharon - All things considered you are probably better off, just as you are. If I were a woman I probably would have figured out that I could go to Home Depot and buy a length of threaded rod, have them cut it to size for me(for free)and not have to do all the work and while i was right there get th...

RayGubernat

I fabricated two chaingang stakes from two pieces of cold rolled steel, 3/4" diameter and about 28" long. No welding required. If I were to do it again I would use 5/8" steel rod instead. 5/8 " is plenty for a 7 dog chaingang. I threaded one end with a manual thread cutting die and screwed on a mach...

RayGubernat

Travis - I believe the answer to your question is yes. The high is probably the same on both and the low is the same on both... They are, after all essentially the same basic unit just with different control switches. BUT why guess?? Call Tritronics and ask them. Their customer service people are ex...

RayGubernat

Nebraska - That looks exactly like the collars I have been using for years. I find that they hold up quite wel lasting, in most cases, the dog's entire adult life. I like the double ring design because there are some places where you are required to keep a license tag on a dog and the D ring facilit...

RayGubernat

GSP Kota - Read the books you think will help and watch some videos. If at all possible, hook up with an area pro trainer for a day or two of coaching. Once you have seen a few different ways to go from here to there(and as you have already seen there are many ways), you need to decide which ONE way...

RayGubernat

Grant - If you are going to use a backing dummy...Please...please plant a bird or even two in the vicinity of the plywood dummy. At the very least, have a pigeon in a bag and toss it for the dog. It is a bad idea to have a dog point a backing dummy, or other dog for that matter, and not get rewarded...

RayGubernat

Blake - That may be true(maybe not...depends on whom you talk to), but I learned a fair bunch of things the hard way. It wasn't easy on the dogs either. I also had some very knowledgeable dog men help me over some of the rough spots, for which I will be enternally grateful. Much of this was before t...

RayGubernat

Mike - I have made just about every mistake you can make with a bird dog. Fortunately, the dogs were better than I was and were able to get to where they needed to be, in spite of my efforts. A clear vision of what you want to have in the way of a dog when you are done, is crucial. That is your goal...

RayGubernat

Mike - For what you want, I do agree with topher. It is a good, low pressure way to go and both you and your dog will learn a lot this year. I would like to use your experience, as you related it, top make a couple of points, hopefully to help both you and others to aviod the same problem in the fut...

RayGubernat

Rick - My bad. I was looking at it from a completely different point of view. I guess you are right. Most hunters may indeed care more about the bird in the bag than the quality of the dog work. I guess it depends on where your focus is. I do not often think along those lines anymore. Thank you for ...

RayGubernat

Luke - I would agree that more often than not, running a fully broke dog with a dog that is not steady will result in that broke dog's performance slipping. By fully broke I mean a dog that has demonstrated over a couple of seasons that it will not creep, will not break at flush or shot(or fall as t...

RayGubernat

Unless you consistently lose... That is an easy one...don't lose! Not ever! That is right up there with: "Don't give a command that you are not in a position to enforce." and "Don't pick a fight unless you are pretty sure you can win." (Unless the engine is running and you are close to the door) RayG

RayGubernat

Pakratt - I have always roughhoused with all my dogs. Not just as puppies either. I will mess with a dog of any age. if it is playtime and it wants to play, I go for it. I will bait them, tease them, run toward them, run away from them lay down and wrestle with them, play hide the ball and whatever ...

RayGubernat

If he is anywhere near you, Tom Tracy has demonstrated the ability to train Brittanys to the very highest level. His website is:

http://cedarvalleyfarms.com/

I reported a trial that he was judging and I got to listen to him, observe him and talk with him. He knows a dog.

RayG

RayGubernat

I could be wrong, but it seems that you have put yourselves on a schedule. Unfortunately the dogs seem not to be on the same schedule especially the female. You need to back off. Put the gun away, put the quail away. Go get yourselves some pigeons. Take a bag of pigeons into the field with one of th...

RayGubernat

What Blake said. Excellent advice. I would certainly give your female a break from birds. At least a week, perhaps longer. She is sending out very definite signals that she is feeling pressure. If you continue as you have been, she may start to blink aqnd then my friend, you are in real trouble. Som...

RayGubernat

Greg -

I completely agree. I also have started my pups with a "dimestore" cap gun.(Guess I just gave away my age...again)

I do also have a .22 and I use Fiocchi or Flobert acorn crimps with youngsters. They are just a little bit louder and sharper than a capgun.

RayG

RayGubernat

Gar-dog - I used to live in NJ, so I am acquainted with their asinine(and may I say totally ineffective)gun laws. The answer to that, as you already know, is ABSOLUTELY NOT. You do not need a pisto purchase permit. You may need a firearms ID to purchase primers in NJ because they are an ammo compone...

RayGubernat

Gar-dog - A blank gun is NOT a firearm. If it is incapable of producing a projectile it does not fit the definition of a firearm. That is an ATF designation. Therefore, gun laws do not apply to solid barreled blank guns Anyone, in uniform or not, who maintains otherwise, is in error. That being said...

RayGubernat

No problem there Chris.

I hope I can always take a bit of good natured razzing. I occasionally even need it especially when I get carried away. Hope you are around to oblige

RayG

RayGubernat

Chris - For what it is worth...Based on the posts of yours I have read, I'd say there are some things I could learn from you. I just wanted Brian to exercise a littel caution and discretion regarding internet dog advice. You will note that I made a point of including myself in the group whose advice...

RayGubernat

Brian - A clump of trees or scrub 75 yards off an edge would be an example of an objective. So would a slough or depression. An objective, is any small piece of terrain or cover that might be more likely to hold game than the majority of the rest of the cover or terrain. I have to say one thing to y...

RayGubernat

I have a TT Flyway Special that has 18 levels of momentary and 6 levels of continuous stim. I tend to use momentary stim much more often than continuous in my training so the Flyway Special configuration works great for me. For all intents and purposes my unit is on level 1 or 2 unless the dog is ch...

RayGubernat

I have had very good luck with the command lead. My dogs seem to take to it with little fuss or muss. Actually I use a pigging string which can be bought for about half the price of a command lead, but the mewthod of operation is the same. If the dog is sensitive and easily intimidated...I would NOT...

RayGubernat

Wfk - I can only telly what i do and what seems to work for me. On the pups first encounters with birds, I most definitely ascribe to the theory of less is more. If the pup does it perfectly on their first bird...that is all the birds they see that day. If I have to correct a chasing dog and it stan...

RayGubernat

I agree with Chris - My youngsters are whoa broke in the yard before I put them on birds. I finsih whoa breaking them with a prong collar and checkcord and proof them with it in the yard. When they are very relaible in the yard, typically 9-12 months of age or older, I introduce them to birds in the...

RayGubernat

Todd - When you dog is off running on its own, it is learning things. Mostly I'd bet it is learning it doesn't need you around. It is also getting into things and you have no clue as to what it is getting into. Some stuff out there can be deadly. Both of the above would bather the heck out of me. I ...

RayGubernat

If I could go back and undo a training mistake... Wow, that would be a long trip beccause I have made just about every training mistake it is possible to make with a bird dog, often more than once. If I had to narow it down to one mistake that I would wish to undo, it would have to be the mistake th...

RayGubernat

Sharon - I very rarely use the flank for anything, but the reason for using a flank collar around birds is apparently that the dogs do not react as negatively as they sometimes do with stimulus onthe point of contact on the neck. You also need very, very little stimulation on the flank, so if a dog ...

RayGubernat

Cindy - I agree with Brenda on the fact that it can take a loooong time for V's. I have a friend with Vizslak, who is still working with a dog that is five years old, trying to get it reliable around its birds. without losing intensity. He is a magnificent animal and has shown me flashes of absolute...

RayGubernat

Cindy - It may well be stubbornness on the part of the dog. It may be fear of correction, it may be a lot of things. The cure is most likely still the same. Take the dog off birds for a couple of weekms and do yardwork drills. Then, plant or fly ONE bird in your training field. Run the dog, with che...

RayGubernat

I have done it with all my dogs. I too use treats, but i use the little tiny puppy "milkbones". I have a poclketful and when the dog(s) ae playiung in the backyard and not paying attention to me, i drop a handful her and there. Then i stand near a "drop zone" and holler "hunt dead". They come arunni...

RayGubernat

Michael - I bought a TT Flyway Special about 15 years ago, maybe longer, and have used it to train and hunt several different dogs. It has both momentary(18 levels) and continuous(6 levels) stim. I use mostly nick type stim during training, but for discouraging fur chasing and such, continuous is wh...

RayGubernat

Gar - dog - I agree completely. The more you ignore Ginger's antics with chipmunks, the more she will understand that they are not what you are interested in. I'd just keep walking and maybe call her with a little disgust dripping from your voice. When you walk away and keep on walking, she will hav...

RayGubernat

Cahrlie - That is truly awesome and you are certainly welcome to brag on your dog Bullett a while. It is also most certainly a further recognition of your continuing breeding efforts. Well done both for you and for Bullet. I would encourage you to finsih off his FC, both for his sake and for the sak...

RayGubernat

sjohnny - What kind of collar do you have and more importantly, does it have a nick function or is it only continuous stim? For what you appear to be experiencing with your dog a momentary nick would seem to be the appropriate correction, at least at first. I do not think you need to go too crazy ab...

RayGubernat

Doug - I have found that slow roading against resistance can indeed gradually improve the performance and heat tolerance of a dog, if it is done carefully and thoughtfully. Sled dog reseach has documented improved heat tolerance in dogs that were conditioned. The key is doing it in a gradually incre...

RayGubernat

Keith - I will road dogs as young as 6-8 mos. old, but I only road a dog slowly, against resistance. I want them to pull hard aginst the resistance, to build up the sprint type musculature and the endurance to drive forward for extended periods. With a youngster, I almost always road on foot with th...

RayGubernat

I have used bags from Lion country and several other suppliers. Only one bag was roomier than the Dogs Afield bag and that supplier is long gone.

I have had good luck dealing with Lion Country as well as Dressler's. Excellent service.

RayG

RayGubernat

Best bird bags I have come across are those carried by Dogs Unlimited. I have used them all just about. It comes with three different sized openings, 8, 10 and 12" I have fat hands and have a heck of a time with the bag with the 8" opening, especially with gloves on and a plump quail. The 10" openin...

RayGubernat

Cindy

The book I keep going back to is "Training Pointing Dogs" by Paul Long.

RayG

RayGubernat

Gary - There are any number of very nice folks who run Brittanys, especially at the Setter Club, but I run pointers, so... no, it was not me. I used to live in central NJ but currently reside in central DE. I have cross registered my dogs and will run in AKC trials but my main focus is AF amateur ho...

RayGubernat

JordiLa - Couple of books that might help: Training Pointing Dogs by Paul Long Hunt Close by Jerome Robinson Best Way to Train Your GunDog(Delmar Smith method) by Bill Tarrant Some additional informative reading: Wing and Shot by Robert Whele Pointing Dogs Their Training and Handling by Earl Crangle...

RayGubernat

gar-dog - You are correct. The current cap opn membership is 150. The setter club is a very nice place to run a dog, as you already know. They make efforts to have release birds(quail) available for dog training in a reasonably challenging manner for the dog. They have several release/call back pens...

RayGubernat

I would be very suspicious of anything under $1500 and would expect to pay somewhere around $2500 -5000 for a smooth strong, safe and sane registered TWH gelding with field trial expereince. An older horse might run towrds the lower number but a younger horse might very well get up around the higher...

RayGubernat

You can restrict a dog's range through training, but I disagree that range is mostly a product of training. The short answer is..."It depends" I agree that you can make a dog run but it ain't hunting...its running. There's a difference. Range is one way to characterize how a dog handles in a given s...

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