Gun Dog Forum

There is no doubt, a slam dunk that goes through the net is always two points, but the same slap on the wrist is not always a trip to the foul line. In baseball strike zones vary, in football a holding call can be different on every down. Subjectiveness permeates the borders of anything judged...or ...

I am confused about the argument that field trials are flawed, by what standard? There is nothing I can think of in competition or life for that matter that isn't flawed depending on the point of view. In days gone by, hunters saddled up their horses and followed their dogs for miles and miles. For ...

Any sport where you don't keep a measurable score is subjective and even some of those have rules that are open to interpretation. I think we all become emotional about our dogs and as was said earlier out of thirty dogs there can be only one winner. A person who enters into the sport of trialing tr...

There is a similar problem with a Setter in another post. You sound like the pups savior....that is great. I would do a lot of things to boost confidence. The first step with me would be getting the dog in a walking mode. I am plagerizing this analogy from The Dog Whiperer but have you ever noticed ...

I am assuming that at some point you consulted your vet for a physical check up? Is there any history of this behavior in the breeding where the dog has come from? If there isn't something physically wrong causing some type of neurosis it sounds like the dog has been too isolated. If that is the cas...

Doesn't the guy blowing his whistle and hollering have more of a training problem than a dog characteristic problem? I would acquiesce that dogs have different personalities, brains and pre-disposition to learning but their propensity to manners is largely a result of their training? It has been my ...

Birddogger makes a good point to consider with your puppy Blueweim....different people do things differently. Dogs learn via association and repition and choosing a common pro method readily available in videos and websites is a really good idea. It allows you to be consistent in your yard work and ...

I think Ezzy is correct in his assessment that dogs largely perform better on empty. I never let a trial dog run with anything in he or she. I spend time prior to my braces trying to insure that they tend to their business otherwise its assured that they will do it during their run. In longer hunts,...

no...let her bite it, maul it, whatever she wants. Just limit the time to a few minutes and don't let her eat it. As I mentioned previously if she is really wound up she may not drop the bird and if you pick her up gently by the flank then she will drop it. You can then pick her up or the bird up wi...

Blueweimer, I am an ex-hound guy myself and your experiences will help you along the way. In bird dogs you will find that the challenge is greater discipline must be applied without losing drive and intensity. We cut a hound loose and count on drive and instinct for a great deal of the training. Wit...

We got rid of the bus ... too hard to chain up in the winter

Well..they do run some, but we never have to use blockers...

I prefer to feed the higher protein and fat food (30/20 blend) than the lesser foods. In less active work times for my dogs I find that I feed considerably less. For the average dog owner food cost can be over blown, (in my opinion). For example, If an average dog eats three cops of food a day and w...

I have Brittanys and feed once a day. The amount depends on the dog, their level of current activity and weather extremes (cold weather and daily hunting can actually double the intake). There are several arguments for once a day feedings. The first is that in the evening a dog has more time to stab...

all of the above...plus, stake out chains, table work, clicker training (shaping behaviors) and tons of time on walks in different hunting terrain.

30-40 mostly chukars and valley quail. I hunt pheasants a day or two...start to hate the running ^$#@&(*%##@ and go back to the desert.

I lied one more post in response to the rack...I did try it but only to lengthen my Britts tail as I wanted to run in American Field...still couldn't get a placement

Kato and Sanka, I was sure trying to give you the benefit of the doubt for awhile...but you are so obstinate that you render reasonable discussion useless. Congratulations for turning an effective forum for gun dog owners who like to share their ideas into your own useless reality show. There is no ...

My goodness...this entire discussion could use an e-collar correction. So many who have commented have tried to respond intelligently to the question as asked only to have it spun to a circular if not entirely emotionally based argument. Domesticated dogs and wolves share 98% plus common DNA markers...

I think the question as to why use the e-collar in the practical application of hunting has been sufficiently answered....and any village idiot can use a boot, stick or any other type of brute force as easily as they can an e-collar. Why use an e-collar at a dog park (in a moment a slanted opinion o...

Seek an open flat area and put down bait without a trap to see if they will eat. Try to trap in an area as isolated as possible, prop the doors open and let them eat out of the trap for a full week. If they are not eating the bait it isn't a feeding area and you should try and move the trap elsewher...

Hi Mattyc, It sounds like you are off to a good start with the kids and the dogs the latter being infinitely easier than the former. Following one program is your best bet, two commercially available methodologies that i have found effective are from George Hickox and the Smith family, I have found ...

I believe Mike is correct in his assessment and clarification, it isnt an alpha roll to a puppies back that is appropriate here. My post refers to lying the dog on its side and helping it get out of a frenzied state. There is a difference between typical puppy play, that is grabbing pants legs, biti...

I would tend to agree with Ezzy..it's probably not a structural problem unless you notice pain or an extreme lack of coordination. I would bet in a flat out run you will not notice the problem. If the puppy is in bird chasing stage get a pigeon and release it in front of the bird and see how it runs...

I had a similar situation with a brittany pup once that turned out to be one o the easiest going dogs that I have. I would avoid any and all rough play with the puppy. No tug of war, or wrestling between a human and the puppy at all. When the puppy get in a crazed mode, I would pin it; the neck is a...

Clicker training is not necessarily transferred to the field, learned behaviors however are. The Hickox methodology is not markedly different than Smith methodology or a plethora of other professional trainers. The concept is that stress in dogs, horses, humans et al is manifested when there is a la...