Gun Dog Forum

Featherfinder

I agree with most here. Speed on wild birds especially is an asset. The only time this can be a detriment is when trialers of short-tails push hard for run. In this regard, I have seen dogs "out-run their noses" on occasion. I don't believe this is the case with you/your dog. Your dog will learn fro...

Featherfinder

X2 re birddogger2. The thing is, whether it's a choke collar, a CC, a slip lead (Smith or other configuration), e-collar, etc., they all remain an extension of the trainer at the helm. You can injure/abuse a dog and not have any equipment on him/her. Further to what birddogger2 stated, getting to kn...

Featherfinder

I'm not a proponent of the choke collar either but that isn't because they don't work. I have other methods that I find more palatable. You have already received a good deal of utile info. One of the underlying suggestions in a number of recommendations (although not as evident in some) is that you ...

Featherfinder

Any cordura products I have worn have all had very disappointing performance (sorry birdogger2). The pants (of a known brand) for example: When hunting in grouse/woodcock habitat where thorns are part and parcel of where "I" find grouse/woodcock, hawthorn and the likes just LOVE to hitchhike a ride ...

Featherfinder

I think a dog becomes a product of his/her environment, good or bad. Hopefully, your dog's marbles weren't too messed up earlier on? Given time, patience and the right experiences, you might be surprised what you end up with. I'd start by not thinking of him as a rescue but more of a training challe...

Featherfinder

Polmaise, that is well said re "whoa". If you like a whistle, you should use a whistle. The terrain we hunt in this great continent provides for a significant variance in habitat. Hunting the prairies is at the opposite spectrum of hunting the east coast. Perhaps a whistle or verbals are something y...

Featherfinder

I have in the past stated that I do not use "Whoa". I must confess. I have in fact used it on RARE occasion. It went something like this: - Zeus (see avatar) had a find WAY out in the wheat stubble field, - I hustled the 400 yards to get to him, - I was about 10 yards past Zeus when a covey of Huns ...

Featherfinder

I never use a whistle with my upland bird dogs. Inevitably, folk end up over-handling and I can still hear their whistle at the end of the day - sometimes into the next day! Not sure why you need a whistle for upland hunting with a trained bird dog anyway but..... That said, where can I order a case...

Featherfinder

Polmaise, I don't think saying "banana" is nuts at all. ……a bit fruity perhaps but not nuts! Place has it's place. :| Many versatile breed owners like to waterfowl with their dogs so in the duck blind, a place/sit/stay command can be useful, in my opinion. A slightly elevated platform in the blind c...

Featherfinder

We have a bird feeder that houses wild bird seed mix of which sunflower is the real attractor to doves, as JONOV already mentioned. I buy wild bird seed mix on sale. They can like it or....

Featherfinder

OMG.....!! Did you say you live in heaven? What a stunning piece of property. I wish I was a bit closer to you Sir. I would LOVE to share in an experience that both my dogs and I would salivate over. What a kind offer! We have a lot in common. I consider myself a hard core "conservationist". :wink: ...

Featherfinder

Wow!!!! Welcome and what a fancy GSP you have there!

Featherfinder

Great stuff Compton and I'm looking forward to the reports. I believe you will end up with a wonderful dog because of who you are. You processed the options, made a choice and your commitment will serve you, I'm confident.

Featherfinder

Well stated JONOV. The connection to the launcher is a trainer - someone that launches the bird. That is where the fault often lies. Occasionally it's a technical malfunction. Either way....not good. Not insurmountable either, just not good. I don't promote launchers in the development of young dogs...

Featherfinder

Parkite, let me start by saying I'm not a breeder. I have purchased dogs over the internet whose genetics I found promising/intriguing from reputable breeders. I personally don't shy away from trial bred dogs but I do understand the reticence some might have. It is not unfounded. The typical require...

Featherfinder

I re-iterate, "Launchers can ruin decent bird dogs." So, if you wish to include yourself in that group Averageguy, have at 'er. As for your counsel, I'm not saying it WON'T work. I'm saying there are better ways. The obvious difference between you and I is that you are holding dearly to methods that...

Featherfinder

There you go attacking me personally. You should do exactly what you do, like I already said. There remains MUCH better processes. All truth passes through three basic stages: - first it is ridiculed, - second it is violently opposed, - thirdly, it is accepted as being self-evident. Arthur Schopenha...

Featherfinder

Averageguy, perhaps you struggle with letting go? Perhaps, you are fighting change? Perhaps Mr. Higgins methods won't work for you, your demeanor, your personality. I HAVE employed a few of his concepts successfully although they are not that much of a leap from what I was doing. Perhaps that's why ...

Featherfinder

Glad you got a launcher Compton! Happy b-day too. I'll start by saying, "I do things differently." 7 months is not too early to expect a reasonable performance from your pup. Dated methods mean you should definitely wait before pressuring your pup. Kick cages, tethers, card board, garden hoses, laun...

Featherfinder

That simply gives me the shivers! What an exceptional performance exuding savvy, cautious bird finding skills! I'm counting the days!!
Thank you for sharing Sir!

Featherfinder

Have worked with a WIDE variety of pointing breeds and some retrievers/flushers. I see that certain breeds of dogs have their advantages. Further to that, species, habitat, hunting styles even typical weather can play into a selection. Some are simply preferred for personal reasons such as, "My Uncl...

Featherfinder

Jon, I wish for you to find the true meaning of bird hunting first and foremost. It does not mean shooting your limit, nor finding hundreds of birds in every outing, nor filling the freezer. At least, not for me. For me, it is about the dance my dog(s) and I do in the arena that is utterly breathtak...

Featherfinder

As Sharon said, do not post the breeder! He can pm interested parties.

Featherfinder

I'm with Jonov, CJ, et al which is precisely why I see this as an opportunity . "Somebody" is looking after your back! Go back to the breeder and be clear, "You (the breeder) unilaterally changed our agreement. You can give me my deposit back or I suggest you get a lawyer." And NO, you don't want th...

Featherfinder

I have to disagree Ray/Jonov/ezzy3. Setters and pointers do have an advantage at the top levels of horseback and cover trials. The results support the numbers rather than the other way around. Like I said, good setters/pointers have to slip up for a short-tail to get a piece of the action. It is wha...

Featherfinder

Aaaahhh…very good Averageguy! Sorry, I missed that.

Featherfinder

I'm with CJ and Trekmoor, if someone wants to hike to price, I see nothing wrong with that for the remaining unsold pups BUT any commitments you have already made to customers stand as they did from the on-set. You don't just decide you want to change the price after-the-fact. It's a matter of integ...

Featherfinder

I'm not sure what the video is for? Averageguy pretty well summed it up. In the early stages, the only variable is how far pup is from you when you fire the gun. The further the better (within reason) at the get-go, as long as pup is still chasing.

Featherfinder

I can tell you are new to the sport. We all were at one time or another so....it's all part of learning. You got away with what could have been a BIG mistake, I believe. As already mentioned, it does convey that you have a very nice pup there. One of the most salient suggestions came from Bobman, IM...

Featherfinder

DonF, setters and pointers dominate the cover trial venue and it's not because of the length of their tails. GSPs, Brittanys etc. are at a distinct disadvantage. It is what it is. For most "short-tails" the goal is to run like a pointer/setter. Even when they do....they aren't 1/2 way there. That's ...

Featherfinder

I had delightful Brittanys for over 25 years. I did compete against setters in cover trials with my Brittany. I actually won first on a number of occasions and placed in more. She was an exceptional Brittany though, with Beans Blaze and Rimarda's Trademark breeding. As Ray mentioned, the cover trial...

Featherfinder

Excellent post Rinker!

Featherfinder

I hunt wild birds with 1 other friend. Why? Because as I told my son after his friend took 5 buddies to my son's private spot , "It's harder to find a true hunting buddy than a wife." Every time you add one hunter to the group, your odds drop significantly. JMO That excludes family hunts with grandp...

Featherfinder

Had a pointer here that chased deer. He ran through all I had on a freshly charged Dogtra 2502! I put 2 2502s on him. Saw deer over a hillside. Set the dog free. He chased. I hit him full pop with one collar. He never missed a stride. I hit him with full power X 2! He staggered his chase and relucta...

Featherfinder

This hiding from a dog thing works....if the dog has any interest in finding you.
With other dogs/pups, you may sneak a peak just in time to find you ain't got a dog anymore!?!

Featherfinder

No....he's not too young. Ensure the dog is actually chasing. If he is....use what it takes to deter future considerations. Do NOT connect yourself in any way to the stim. It has nothing to do with you in the dog's eyes. If the dog returns to you skulking, sulking or whatever, look at the horizon, k...

Featherfinder

VERY nice! Choppy or not, you won't need to go get your own bird in the chilly fall water!
Congrats.
Yes, he will line out and somehow having a somewhat weighty bird (even a pigeon) can help him smooth out his swim. Nothing to worry about.

Featherfinder

OMG!!! Funny, the things we take for granted.
Thank you so much for sharing.
God bless you and yours - especially those less fortunate!

Featherfinder

The main thing is you and your dogs are alright. Hoping things get back to normal expeditiously!

Featherfinder

Mike, I appreciate where you're coming from. It just so happens that a forum has novices as well as more experienced contributors all in one melting pot. It can be frustrating being told you might want to try a better way. It can also be disappointing offering sincere well-intended suggestions only ...

Featherfinder

Kovan, thank you for your candid report Sir: My lab still bites like crazy and my arm is all scar up. I have used the butt slap and holding the muzzle and also walking away...he comes back more aggressive when I hold his muzzle even bites harder . A slap in the butt seems to work better then holding...

Featherfinder

DougB...that's hilarious. I got a truck with crew cab too....because of the grandchildren. The eldest (5) got to ride in my truck for the first time last week. Guess what? It works...booster seat and all! I've seen auto harnesses for dogs too. My dogs ride in the truck box so.......N/A. I am trying ...

Featherfinder

Sorry....where was I :?: Oh....Tibetan quail are better eating than feral pigeons too. That I can't argue - as long as you've had your quail OFF medicated, electrolyte boosted, growth hormone induced feed! That was the other aspect of the conditioning pen. I wanted wild bird seed mix + crushed corn ...

Featherfinder

And there you have it! Buyers must do their homework - now more than ever - before acquiring a pup - whatever the breed.

Featherfinder

I reread your posts Polmaise. I think your offering that resembles mine didn't make it?
Good grief!!! Are my eyes failing me too?!?
I think you and I need to sit down over a wee dram of 18 year old Bunnahabhain. I'd rather not but what choice do I have?

Perhaps we should invite Trekmoor?

Featherfinder

Sorry Polmaise did you say something remotely like that????
I have to go back now and see. I guess I'm getting old?

Featherfinder

It sounds like I use a similar process as averageguy, minus the launchers/tethers/kick-cages/cardboard/pieces of garden hose/etc. That said, you CAN use pen-raised birds and get results like most of us did at one time but they are still not nearly as good as wild pigeons. Also, that might further in...

Featherfinder

CJ, I couldn't agree with you more, for the most part. The thing is CJ, trials are a huge part of the bird dog world in some states! Within that venue, there are trials and there are trials. There are AA horseback trials. There are cover trials. There are "US Complete" trials, etc. etc. Just read wh...

Featherfinder

Issy, you stole my thunder! I was going to ask if you are using a plastic bumper? Some dogs hate the texture of plastic and/or the offensive stench! I had to re-train a dog that found "a hole" after being successfully FFed!! (A story for another day.) I took some time to study this dog before embark...

Featherfinder

Ditto for me Shags. That's exactly what I do - Astro + Dogtra 2502. The Dogtra responds marginally quicker to a find which can play into the strategy depending on what wild species I'm hunting. ( I run the Dogtra on point-only mode.) If my dog has been gone for an extended period and I can't hear th...

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