Gun Dog Forum

CDN_Cocker

Yup use large breed formula. It's easily corrected.

CDN_Cocker

The end result is never necessary if the dog is compliant. Some people don't use any of those other tools so your running shoes are the only solution you can apply. I use them early in training so the dog never gets to the point later on where blowing me off is a consideration. Online though lots of...

CDN_Cocker

Some dogs are wound tighter than others. And some legitimately have ADHD. You'll have people that try to make u feel like it's something that you've done wrong in training or that you don't set boundaries but that's garbage. I've had quite a few dogs and they're all different. My current 2 are polar...

CDN_Cocker

Thanks! So you are using vibrate as an enforcer of a verbal or whistle recall command, what happens if vibrate doesn't bring him in? Vibrate is the last resort on the collar if he doesn't respond to whistle/voice/stim before that. If that doesn't work then you need to move to the next tool you have...

CDN_Cocker

I conditioned mine to here with vibrate but only use it if he blows me off. The vibrate function puts more pressure on a dog then stim. People think they're being kinder by using vibrate instead but it's the opposite. However it's justified if the dog isn't responding to recall. There's no wiggle ro...

CDN_Cocker

At 16 weeks I wouldn't worry about feeling you need to get him on live birds. I did with my guy at that age (perhaps younger) and while I did end up with an obsessive bird crazed dog I know with my next one I will focus more on bulletproof obedience first and wait to introduce birds till later. If h...

CDN_Cocker

I am a strong believer in force fetch or the trained retrieve. But it's not necessary to get a dog to retrieve and any well bred gun dog should want to retrieve. That being said it sounds like that drive hasn't been nurtured in your 3 year old dog. What you need to do is start building that desire j...

CDN_Cocker

Sharon probably cheaper to buy online for people than through a vet marketed for dogs. I just buy mine down the road on the Rez... lucky to be 5 mins away from the dispensary capital of the province lol. I'm sure the Ontario Cannabis Store (online store for legal cannabis) has it, although probably ...

CDN_Cocker

Vibration is much more pressure than a nick. Remember that. You're not being kinder by using vibrate.

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CDN_Cocker

Yeah whatever this new host is, it's horrendous.

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CDN_Cocker

Good post polmaise

CDN_Cocker

No one can fully train a bird dog in 3 months. 3 months will give you the basics... no more. I don't care who you are.

CDN_Cocker

I don't know... I've competed with with my dog. Fun and all but I don't have the time nor the money to focus on that at this stage in my life - my kids' sports fill up that void and financial drain. He goes when he is told to go.. . every time. Maybe we're miscommunicating. Or maybe we just disagree.

CDN_Cocker

Well I could be wrong, I often am. But i know with every new dog that comes into my life I use a lot less force in general training than the dog prior. I would hope that's due to understanding dogs better and not worse...

CDN_Cocker

I have given it to my dog since it's been legal up here for some time and even before that was easy to get. I was hoping for it to calm him a bit since he's very high strung. While it doesn't do that I do notice it really helps him recover from hard hunting. He doesn't get soreand bounces back quick...

CDN_Cocker

Sounds like a typical puppy. That being said, compliance is required to have a functional partnership as an adult dog. You need to anticipate what the dog is going to do before it knows what it's going to do and be prepared to reinforce whatever command you give it. The tool you use is up to you (le...

CDN_Cocker

The "St. Francis " guy you mentioned is on his own personal pilgrimage to persuade more people to convert to "Positive Only." I generally agree with most of what he posts although obviously I don't agree with PP, our thought processes aren't that different. However I did believe he was talking out ...

CDN_Cocker

We have tons of black bears. If I only wanted to hunt or train where they aren't around I would have to stick to my basement. I also hunt bears. I would not worry about them other than sows with young Cubs in the summer. Bears will stay away from you and your dog.

CDN_Cocker

I have pigeons... not exclusively for dog training as I only use culls for that. My passion for racing pigeons is just as strong or stronger than my passion for dog training. Even though I have a ton of pigeons in the loft I rarely use them. I am fortunate though that I can walk out the back door an...

CDN_Cocker

I believe most people train their dogs to change directions with a whistle and not just hand signals. At least retriever and spaniel folks do...

CDN_Cocker

I don't have any personal experience with either of these breeds; but from what I have read, these dogs seem very similar to one another. The only real difference I noticed was that a Brit is more of a pointer, while the Springer is more of a flusher. I might be splitting hairs, but does anyone wit...

CDN_Cocker

Garrison wrote:Just get all three, Next!

I would but I can't really afford a divorce lol

CDN_Cocker

My boy just turned 6 years old a week ago and it's got the itch starting to start researching my next dog. Jake, my FBECS, is my first bird dog and he's been one heck of a ride. His natural bird finding ability and keen retrieving is second to none. He's first and foremost a grouse dog but we hu...

CDN_Cocker

How would you contrast a male versus a female strictly for hunting, not for breeding? I might still be able to change my puppy request to a male, depending on what I learn on this forum. Gender has zero effect on hunting ability or capability. If it did, everyone would only buy males or only buy fe...

CDN_Cocker

Yep. Pretty hard to expect a dog to perform well if it hasn't worked all year. It would be like going for a walk around the block once or twice and then signing yourself up for a marathon.

CDN_Cocker

Have you ever hunted deer with dogs? I'm guessing not because that is the most absurd question I've ever heard... and I've hunted deer with dogs literally all my life. No they don't herd them. No wild deer in its right mind would be "herded".... they are not domestic sheep. I feel like maybe you pos...

CDN_Cocker

I had a German shepherd once that was outside only until roughly the same age. Crate training helped and then just treating it as you would a puppy. The bonus is you don't have to take it out every 20 minutes lol. If you're taking her out every 2 hours and still having messes then shorten the time. ...

CDN_Cocker

2 things:

1) start as a pup in the thick stuff... throwing retrieves etc
2) plant birds in thick stuff. The dog will learn that's where to find them

CDN_Cocker

3 months minimum. That's a good price. Most are higher plus birds are more

CDN_Cocker

Trash breaking and collar conditioning are 2 separate things. If trash breaking just go ahead and stimulate him without saying anything. He'll associate the negative pressure with the deer. Collar conditioning is for using the collar as a positive means of keeping contact with the dog.

CDN_Cocker

Doesn't need to be collar conditioned to use a bark collar. Bark collars are intended to be aversive as they're stopping a behavior. I wouldn't hesitate to put one on if that's what you're dealing with. I do like the idea of the vehicle as well. At that age he can handle having consequences to his a...

CDN_Cocker

They need to be big enough to walk a bit without being tired or you'll make them resent it. My daughter is my oldest and she's turning 11 tomorrow. Last year was really the first time I started taking her with me. Only very short grouse hunts where I'm mostly focused on her and not the birds and sti...

CDN_Cocker

What does exceptionalism have to do with getting a dog altered?

CDN_Cocker

I think your problem is pretty easy to figure out. You "just noticed" it doesn't pick up birds on land and "have only had it out hunting a few times". A dog requires training. You can't just take it hunting and expect it to know what to do. Get on the basics and start doing dry land retrieves. I'd a...

CDN_Cocker

Your dog has got more negatives than positives. Nothing good has came from that stay. Hopefully the damage isn't permanent.

CDN_Cocker

Sounds like you need to find a new trainer. Way too many red flags there... hosing the dog down to cut a bark collar off? I wouldn't wait till Monday to get the dog.

CDN_Cocker

Started can mean many things from having birds shot over them to just knowing their name and sit. Good idea to ask the seller what the dog's capability is at the time.

CDN_Cocker

I keep a bit of dog food in my bag in case he gets hypoglycemic. Nothing special.

CDN_Cocker

Completely unnecessary and not overly hygienic. Concrete is fine and keeps nails short as well as easy to clean. You're not housing an exotic tiger. There's a reason the top guys keep it simple. It works.

CDN_Cocker

Very good advice given by Ezzy.

CDN_Cocker

I hunt near barbed wire all the time. The dog jumps over or through it constantly if it's on either side of a trail etc to hit preferred range. Makes me nervous sometimes but he's never got hung up or cut. They figure it out.

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CDN_Cocker

You'll probably have to cage the dummy in her mouth with your hand gently but firmly till she gets it. Then she'll be a holding machine. [img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201809 ... 06ddec.jpg[/img]

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CDN_Cocker

Gently show her what you want.

CDN_Cocker

Sounds like a normal young dog. It may overrun it's nose from time to time but it will learn from it

CDN_Cocker

If the dog is a fetching machine; why would you want or need to force fetch? Or maybe you don't understand the term "force fetch" It can be pretty extreme and not fun at all. Don't forget the number one command to learn is WHOA. Once your dog will lock up solid to this command all else will follow....

CDN_Cocker

Steel? hat do you have? Steel bars? I've got a small one outside a couple nest's mage from wood and 1" chicken wire, birds do go in it from time to time. But the one that really get's used a lot is the big one out back. About 16' x 20'x 6' on the edges and about 7' in the center. Trap back into the...

CDN_Cocker

Never ever use frozen pigeons. Thaw first. All frozen pigeons do is cause mouth issues.

CDN_Cocker

You might look at the ford Eco boost it is a 6cyl. crew cab has lots of room, lots of power, rated to tow 13,000 lbs., and when not towing get real good gas mileage. At least drive one before buying anything else. :D Forget that. I just bought a brand new 5.0L. They're a 10 speed automatic transmis...

CDN_Cocker

I only use a 12 gauge as that's what I shoot. Initially I will have it fired quite some distance from the pup when it's distracted by a bird and gradually move closer. A .22 is more traumatic to a dog than a shotgun as it has a sharper pitch. Eventually I do introduce a .22 as I use a dummy launcher...

CDN_Cocker

Mine lays on the floor on the passenger side. Just bought a new truck though a month ago and haven't worked up the courage to let him in it yet lol.

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