Gun Dog Forum

RayGubernat

It is a differnt breed(sort of according to some!!), but I believe the sentiment is relevant here.

A good pointer cannot be a bad color."

I'd say the the same thing holds for shorthairs, as I have seen some dandy ones that were very different coloration.

RayG

RayGubernat

I read about raw dog food, that its much better to feed my dog in this way. I Also found this typo of food: Dehydrated raw dog food from this company: https://gorocketo.com/ Have anybody of you guys try this out? Maybe know difference between it or any recommendations? P.s my dog is French bulldog ...

RayGubernat

Ammo was mentioned and deserves a comment. 28 Ga. ammo has always been quite pricey and not available everywhere. They have been, typically around $15 a box for high base pheasant loads while comparable 20 ga. loads were in the $10 range. However, in recent months, I have seen ZERO boxes of 20 ga. #...

RayGubernat

Several of the items on your list tend to dictate different "ideal" choices in shotguns. Most folks would also opt for the improved killing power of the 12 gauage, but masses of hunters do just fine with a lighter 20 gauage. It may sound silly, but a box of 12 gauage shells weighs about a pound more...

RayGubernat

Get the smallest bell you can and put it on him in the yard. If he is an inside dog...put it on him when he goes outside to do his business. Put it on him every time he goes outside. It is just a matter of him getting used to it. He will. If you ignore it, sooner or later he will too.

RayG

RayGubernat

Personally, I don't think a dog has to like you for you to train him. He does haveto respect you. I think it would be best if you don't try to encourage her to get all excited when she sees you. Calm is always better. I don't see why you would havea problem with using treats especially for obedienc...

RayGubernat

sns2 - I have not listend to the Perfection Kennels tapes, so cannot really comment there. I also have not done the Huntsmith seminar thing, but have read Bill tarant's book on Delmar smith's training method. I have also read Martha Greenlee's book "Training with MO". Over the years I have probably ...

RayGubernat

K9 - I'm thinking it would be safer to securely mount a slab of 3/4 plywood to your back rack. This way you can size the plywood for your crate and know that it won't shift, once it is secured to the plywood.You could then drill and install mounting rings, exactly where they are needed, with fender ...

RayGubernat

I train alone for the most part, so i have had to deal with this. Most of the previous advice is right on and helpful. The belly hitch is a good stopper when you are holding the check cord. I also use an e-collar , set on vibrate on the flank. As I walk about in front of the dog, I tap the transmitt...

RayGubernat

He is a super nice pup, and shows promise already. Overall I am happy with him, however for trialing, the tail is a downfall. My expectation when buying a pointer, especially from an all age line, is a straight tail. But, that seems like the luck of the draw, nothing he did to determine that, and I...

RayGubernat

As we get older, I think many of us(myself included) need to strike a balance between the dog that "goes after it" and one that stays close. For me and for where and how I hunt as long, as the dog is in sight most of the time...I'm good with that. If it circles back toward me as I call, I'm really g...

RayGubernat

I have been thinking about one of these. https://snowpawstore.com/collections/dog-scooters/products/pawtrekker-dog-scooter That scooter looks an awful lot likesome of the better scooters that the Amish folks use down by me. If you have an Amish community nearby, you might check into availability. I...

RayGubernat

PMW - Unfortunately, ckirsch is probably spot on. A sickle tail , especially one that curls over to the extent that it touches the dog's back is not something that is likely to straighten out, if it has not by the time the dog is 8 months of age. I do not believe there is anything you can do, short ...

RayGubernat

I've had both and have had good dogs of both sexes and not so good dogs of both sexes. My dogs are all outside dogs so the housetraining thing...I can't really comment. I only had one dog allowed in the house and that was an adult male (he was about five, I think when my Mom asked to have him brough...

RayGubernat

Texstucker - I can speak to pointers in particular and will say that most all of mine over the years had a very definite "off" switch. Most all of my dogs were outside kennel dogs but were quite mellow once they go their run around the back yard and I am quite sure they would have been fine in the h...

RayGubernat

Puppies go through growth spurts. When they do, they will go from chunky to skinny fairly. First...don't panic. This is kinda normal and will happen in cycles until the dog is about 18 months old or so. Second, just because you can see ribs when you are up close, that ain't necessarily bad, especial...

RayGubernat

Welcome.

What type of hunting are you considering?

RayG

RayGubernat

Where does one purchase marsh hay? How long does it last before breaking down? I used to purchase it locally and change it weekly. Marsh grass can be difficult to find. As I understand it, most marsh grass is purchased for use by landscapers and is treated with herbicide, so you don't want that. If...

RayGubernat

If you want kennel covers that fit, I think the fellow suggesting the canvas place is on the mark. There are plenty of places in NJ that specialize in making boat covers, especially down the shore. I'd call a few and ask. I'd bet you will find one that will cut and sew a cover fitted to your existin...

RayGubernat

You're going to get a lot of different advice, filter what works for you and your dog. A common quote often seen . Sounds good in text ,and comes across with high moral value . ... Here is the thing ? What does the Novice know what to filter out until they try it ? ...The bad bits First ,or the goo...

RayGubernat

Mike - You may not need this, but if you are having issues with the dog sitting as a default to pressure, this is another way to work through it. What I am suggesting is a heel/whoa drill after the manner of Paul Long. The beauty of the drill is that any and all pressure that gets applied is complet...

RayGubernat

I also go with time as opposed to distance. You are right to be concerned, as exercising any dog in temps above 75F nedes to be done with care and the higher the temps the more attention needs to be paid. I am typically more concerned with endurance in the heat than distance travelled, because my do...

RayGubernat

My breeder advised me to stay away from cedar...... she suggested straw or pine shavings. ive used straw as i said before and like it but it seemed to hold ticks and fleas. has anyone used pine shavings or should i just get crate covers? As I said previously, I have used cedar chips in my dogs bedd...

RayGubernat

I have an old Frisbee around somewhere. That is what I used to use.

I also have a camelback bladder with a bite valve. If I put it at the dogs mouth and squeeze, they wind up with most of it where it needs to be.

RayG

RayGubernat

First let me say that a well bred setter that is one year old WILL want to go after birds. It is in their blood, it is in their bones...it is what they were born and bred to do for the last couple hundred years or so. Soooo, you are going to have your hands full for a good bit of time...I suspect at...

RayGubernat

I’m going to go with the ribbons I think just wanted to make sure it didn’t effect there noses or respiratory system Just a word of caution. Not all dogs are the same. Just because my dogs do not react to cedar chips.... Cedar does not rot. That is because there is stuff in there that keeps the bug...

RayGubernat

I use both hay and cedar chips. I think the red cedar helps to knock down the bugs. But, I also had occasional issues with bugs in the hay. I now spray the hay with a bug spray( I use a horse spray) and let it sit in a large plastic bag for a few days at least. I also use the same horse spray on the...

RayGubernat

As far as e-collars are concerned, my thinking is that you "need" only continuous stim with about 6 levels, from very slight to max. momentary stim capability is nice, but can be approximated by quickly pressing and releasing the button. I actually use the momentary stim on my unit much more often t...

RayGubernat

mrelite - There are a lot of good suggestions already mentioned. I would like to give you my 2 cents as well. I would seriously look into the glycocharge. If given to the dog within 1/2 hour of cessation of activity, it can replenish the dog's glycogen levels(ready energy), almost completely, by the...

RayGubernat

I’ve been in the process of breaking the chase out of my Setter. He’s 15 months old. He’s been through a season of grouse and woodcock. He made 1 single honest point throughout 18 days of hunting. He chased about a dozen and a half. I’ve met all other major milestones... heel, recall, quartering, w...

RayGubernat

Mav - I have, and use, a TT Flyway Special that I bought about 25-30 years ago. It is essentially a Pro 200 without the tone feature. The battery on the unit croaked about 10-15 years ago and when I called them they said to send it in. They said they would upgrade it to the XLS model for a small fee...

RayGubernat

You could incorporate some of the names of past archery personna, like Howard Hill, Fred Bear or Ben Pearson. You could incorporate some old bow names like Hoyt Pro Hunter or Bear Tamerlane. You could incorporate some old broadhead names like Super Hilbre, LaFond Lightning, Black Diamond or Razobak....

RayGubernat

Ray that breeder has since stopped due to family health issues. I already tried that. Yes I am aware of backyard breeders and craigslist and backpage and all that. I was just simply curious about the cost was all. Maybe I got very lucky before with my previous purchases. I understand about good bre...

RayGubernat

what you are saying is basically the same as George Hickox Method. The dog is not taught the command with the collar. He is taught the command first and learns that he can avoid the collar by obeying the the command . The problem is if the dog does not learn that he can avoid the stim by obeying th...

RayGubernat

maverick351 - Why don't you contact those same breeders you used before? If you were pleased with the pups, why not go back for more of the same? In all candor, that is what I would do. Breeders set their own prices for their pups. FWIW, My BIL used to charge $1000 per pup for Brittanys that he bred...

RayGubernat

E collar training is pretty much all avoidance training. If you jolt the dog because he does not obey your command, he obeys to avoid the jolt. If you fry him to make him quit chasing deer, he quits to avoid getting fried. Why does Ray's dog Stay by his knee at heel? Answer: to avoid the shock from...

RayGubernat

Thanks Cj... that makes sense. I appreciate the explanation. I'll absolutely get the Hickox ecollar DVD before introducing the ecollar. I have plenty of training to do before I get to the point of correcting, so I assume I have a few months to go. I'm (at this point) planning on going with Bill Wes...

RayGubernat

Buckeyesteve - Shags is right on the exposure to birds. When I get a pup, it sees a pigeon or gamebird once at about 12-16 weeks. All I want to check out is the dog's drive and whether or not it has a useable nose. After that...it does not see or smell a bird until it is pretty much ready to be brok...

RayGubernat

What I do might be a little old school, but it works for me. I have probably posted this a few times, but here goes anyway: I do heel/whoa drills in the yard after the manner of Paul Long. I use a pigging string(poor man's Wonder lead). I start the process when the pup is quite young, like 16 weeks....

RayGubernat

Ray, just a thought, but IIRC your dogs aren't house dogs. "sit" is pretty invaluable for a house dog. What if my wife's Grandmother comes over? Dog better know to put its bottom on the ground and get its ears rubbed. Grandfather-in-law loves dogs, used to run and breed cockers, but is confined to ...

RayGubernat

Successful NAVHDA dogs would probably be expected to be pretty good at water retrieves and pretty persistent in water searches. NSTRA dogs are not typically bred, trained or tested for those particular skills.

RayG

RayGubernat

Thanks. That's what I was thinking If you are going to start one puppy, a $35 starter pistol is probably going to be just fine. It actually looks reasonably well made. It might last you two or three puppies. If so, it is a HUGE bargain. A good quality starter pistol can cost $250 and more. I bought...

RayGubernat

Buckeye Steve - The danger with teaching a pointing dog to sit is that it may become the dog's "safe" place. In response to pressure, a dog will generally want to go to its "safe" place. When you are working on getting a dog staunch or steady...there WILL be pressure. if the dog responds to that pre...

RayGubernat

I am located near Harrisburg, PA. She is a Drahthaar. Primarily we will use her to hunt pheasants, etc. and maybe ducks. Very cool. Sounds like a very good choice for your intended use. Navhda can be a very good resource, but not all chapters are created equal. I would go to your local chapter and ...

RayGubernat

Nmhuntr - You have been given some solid advice by previous posters. We all do things differently, but one thing is the same with every single accomplished dog trainer. The DOG is who determines the pace of the training. All "schedules" and such are merely approximations in time and all depend on so...

RayGubernat

How old a pup :?: And what do you want it to learn?? I wouldn't think of sending away a pup for anything unless it was over 6 months old. Or are you after bird introduction & gun introduction or :?: ---just trying to find out more of what you are after :D She is 5.5 months old right now. This is ou...

RayGubernat

Again To the people learning to train their dog. Get some yard training on your dog before you put him in that situation. Get a reasonable recall that you can enforce with reasonable stimulation, which you should have if your dog is wearing a collar in the field. I have seen dogs trained like Ray a...

RayGubernat

For the people asking how to whoa train their dogs, don't do that......................Cj If you enjoy the prospect of watching your dog getting run over, then I agree...don't do that. The point is...if you do the obedience work thoroughly and have the dog responding...instantly... to a command, yo...

RayGubernat

RayG, as light as the stim is, dogs tend to move away from the point of contact. I would not put the prongs on top of the flanks, myself. The way I use a neck collar if absolutely required is to turn an ornery dog. Having a dog turn and having a dog stop in his tracks from the same source is just.....

RayGubernat

Most trainers I know currently use the EC on the flank or belly as it were to aid in steadying a dog to wing and shot. One trainer makes a consistent effort to locate the prongs of the e-collar on the upper part of the dog's back, near to the spine, into the large muscle of the back leg, especially ...

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