Gun Dog Forum

Thornapple

Does anyone have a proven technique for getting a new (to me) three old male out from under a hunter's feet? The former owner took it for walks off lead, but the dog never strayed away from them. I am trying to get this dog to want to push out. I am aware hunting over running cock pheasants can help...

Thornapple

JwNissen and Mountaindog,
You are both right. Underneath my existing crates and rear cargo floor matts were the tie downs. I had not noticed them before.
Thanks, Thornapple

Thornapple

ACooper, JWinessen, Buckeyebowamn,
Are you speaking of tie downs to the back of your pick up or an SUV? Pickups have locations in the bed for tie downs, but the SUV appears to be more problematic. What is your experience with this?
Thornapple

Thornapple

How do you secure your dog crates in the back of your truck or rear of your SUV? How do you tie the crate(s) down so they will not move in case of an accident. I am not speaking of custom crates that are expensive. I am simply writing about off the shelf crates (plastic, aluminum or wire). I am putt...

Thornapple

I am considering getting two aluminum dog crates that fit in the rear of my SUV. My concern is visibility for what is behind my vehicle. I am more interested in the aluminum crates than any alternative, and all that I have researched prevent the rear view mirror being used. Does anyone have a simila...

Thornapple

Buckeyebowman, I agree, watching yours or a friend's dog on point is one of those specail moments we all want to savore, no matter how old we are or how many times it has happened. As all can tell circling a bird is a special and unusual talent dog's pick up. Non of mine have ever develped the talen...

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ezzy, I understand clearly where you are coming from and what you are saying. In fact I agree with you on all points, except one that I have found difficult to deal with training dogs. Not that I disagee with your points, but I have found the approach you take (and many take) does not always fit the...

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Ezzy, Yes I do ask a lot of questions, some people might find that offensive, but that is the way I and many folks learn. And no, I do not question others motives or techniques, far from it. By asking questions I and others also learn, because the answer might offer something different that I might ...

Thornapple

To, Fordabirds "My idea of obedience is a dog that does what you want because the dog is self-motivated to do it" and Charlie, ........., and the rest you might read this column After arriving at a point 62 years after gunning over mostly excellent dogs I finally decided to hunt over and train a “fi...

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ezzy333 wrote: "Obedience starts the day the pup comes home and never stops. I do not agree that it is the base that you build on with a pointing dog." Ezzy, I agree with Whoadog. How does one start with Obediance the day it comes home and then not build on it? A problem with the word "Obediance" an...

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I chose this subject because I notice many questions that dance around this subject in these forums, but it is little understood and even less practiced properly by many. I came to a point recently of recognizing a basic and fundamental truth a few of you more accomplished dog trainers clearly under...

Thornapple

Hattrick, Thanks for the heads up. In fact I was looking at the N/A testing and realized I had to get with the program given my puppy's age. We will test this spring and are starting training now. I find the subject of not preparing for the N/A as many say, as it is supposed to test the innate abili...

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Will-Kelly, I do not know if you played sports in school, but for those that have there are the basic fundamentals that all of us lived by. I mention this because from Pop Warner football to Little League, to high school or college our coaches taught us to “Watch the Ball,” or the fundamentals of “B...

Thornapple

UpNorthHuntin, Thanks. Your experience is what I was told by a retailer who tested it out. I really like the features of the Garmin Alpha and think if I were younger I would absolutely get it! Even though I am still in pretty good shape the days of my walking miles of terrain or running to a point a...

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UpNorthHuntin,
Have you usethe Alpha GPS for close in work? How far and if so what was your experience?
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Jim,
I just tried Googling Flewelling Bells and could not find a source for them. Do you know of an outlet that sells them?
Thornapple

Thornapple

Jim, when I go to purchase the new e-collar I will test out the Alpha based on your recommendation.
Thanks, Thornapple

Thornapple

Brian, Thanks for the beautiful shots of your dog and the area you hunt. I am still going to consider the Alpha as I can see its value as you have well expressed. In the interim I will probably pick up the Dogtra as its reciever and beeper are one in the same unit. It would be nice if Garmin/Tritron...

Thornapple

Brian, I wrote elsewhere on this forum that my concern for the Alpha is accuracy for closer in contact work. It sounds like you hunt open fields of CRP, hay, corn, etc. I hunt mostly thick cover and my dogs do not range more than maybe 250 - 300 feet or so from me. If you have hunted grouse or woodc...

Thornapple

Grant, I do not know if you are still on this email thread, but if you are not and there is someone coming to dog training for the first time or even with some expeience, the advice on this thread is outstanding. Read it, and if you do not understand write and ask a question. Here are three items th...

Thornapple

Mn Bonasa, Thanks for writing back. I am going to see how this fall season is with the dog's performance in the back country up your way, where I now do most of my bird hunting. The purchase of the Dogtra as I mentioned is as much about location identification (the locater beeper) as it is the abili...

Thornapple

MN Bonasa,
I meant how do you find the Astra that you purchased? Just as importantly where do you use it, under what conditions, and why did you buy this model of Garmn's?
Thanks, Thornapple

Thornapple

Mn Bonasa, I not sure about "Old Timers" resisting new technology, but I am curious. You write you purchased the Garmin Astro. I also note your sign in name which I would assume means you are a partridge hunter (what we New Englander's still call grouse) that hunts your home state. As I also enjoy h...

Thornapple

To: Art Hubbard From: Thornapple I am looking at the Dogtra 2502. Is this similiar to your 2500? My question is two fold. I will be running two dogs, one experienced the other not. The experienced dog has been conditioned on a Sportdog 1825, the other dog is just getting started on his training. Fir...

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Pointer, Last evening the Mason Dixon German Short Hair Club had its annual dinner and I asked this same question from a recent transplant from Kansas. He has several GSHPs and wanted to know if he had experienced this or better yet knew of anyone that trained for it? In fact he did, and this is how...

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Now y'uve got it! There is nuth'n finer, well all most, but I am too old for that anyway! When Mr. Evans was asked what were some of his favorite memories, he said, "All just fading mermories these days." He forgot more than I will ever know, god bless his soul and the men like them!
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Thornapple

A big grin happens when you have had a good day in the woods, your dogs did a great job finding birds, they and you are tired, you have a nice Robusto, and three fingers of Jack and branch.
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Brazosvalleyvizslas, It seems Crappieguy and I hunt the same type of terrain. However I am coming to the realization that for all the time cost of birds, training, etc. I put in on my pals the cost of a GPS on them is worth it. I am not in favor of bells and this is simply one stemming from my youth...

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trekmoor, It is interesting the replies to the intial question of how to train a dog to circle. In fact I have seen Brittany's, Lewellyn's and GSHP's circle more than any other breed. Not that this mean anything other than that has been my experience. I am sure theer are others, but those that we ha...

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Mike13w, I find this site like popcorn; you can not have just one! You must keep coming back for more. The reason? We all love our dogs and what we do. Before I continue I think it wise to say I have learned never ever to believe everything one hears or reads. I have learned to be prepared to find o...

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Crappieguy, Same darn thing happened to me a week ago. I forgot to turn off the beeper and then this loud hawk screech reverberated throughout the car. Of course turning it off was another matter as I was then on a highway, had to pull over, get out and open the rear of the SUV. I should have known ...

Thornapple

Mountaineer, The solution is do what I did. Get in that old truck of yours and head north. No skirmish lines, just wolves and porcupines, but lots of grouse. Most of the fellows you write about would not travel that far for a little no account bird with a fan tail or a long beak anyway. They come fo...

Thornapple

As I do not hunt the prairies, so I can not attest to whether it exists there or not. My sense is it occurs eveywhere, but that is just a guess. Circling is something some dogs learn, many do not, as you will discover in this string of posts. Flushing occurs when a dog decides to push the bird for a...

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cjchills, You are correct; some cock birds in particular will simply get up and run, and will give a greyhound a run for their money! It happened to me Sunday, and my puppy is fast but lost that race. The situation is best created when you have a bird that has not started to run yet. Sunday here in ...

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Mountaineer, " Hunter additivity covert-wide and in areas where the grouse decline is advanced is an issue." I do not think you meant what you wrote, or at least how I interprited it. And it is important. I agree about the RGS, but not the fellows like you and the many on other dedicated partridge h...

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Mathew, I am begining to sense from all that have written and have experienced a circling dog apparently learns from relocating at first and then picks up the idea of a pincer movement in the process of relocating. Hunting wth dogs for some 59 years it never ceases to amaze me how much smarter dogs ...

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Ruffshooter, Yes I understand how you like to hunt with your dogs. I have a bunch of old timer (lord, I can not believe I just wrote that, but I guess it is true!) pals in New England that have been hunting birds (like the South calls quail "birds", the same is true with the older Woodchucks of New ...

Thornapple

Smitty, what sort of birds do you hunt and in what conditions? Also, how long did it take for you dog to learn this trait? Did you notice the first time it happened, and what was the circumstance? Do you recall?
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Thornapple

There is good news and bad with what you just expressed. The good is given the number of bad shots I experience – me included - , (notwithstanding Andy Duffy who enjoys making a game of killing as many grouse as he can so he impress the high rollers at the Ruffed Grouse Life members Invitational), t...

Thornapple

Blinking is a man-made problem. The most common cause of blinking occurs when the dog associates finding birds with being corrected. That is why a good trainer will advise you never to use your e-collar on a pointed bird. You can give him the wrong message when you correct him for crowding (roading ...

Thornapple

Bird Cooperate? Yes, with grouse in particular it is best if there is a fairly long point, then a long end run and come in from the other side. The only problem with a dog doing this is, if done before you get to the bird, there is a risk of a premature flush. How many times have you seen grouse coo...

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All I raised this question with another on this forum, but I would be curious if anyone of you have knowledge of, or experience with this. Is it possible to train a dog to circle a bird? For those of you not familiar with this trait the dog runs around the bird and pins the bird coming opposite to y...

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Mountaineer, Agreed on all counts. Mountaineer, have you ever known anyone to train a dog to circle a bird? I know the standard repy over the years has and still is, "The dogs have to learn it themselves." However, I am curious if it can not be done. My Ryman setter learned only because he got tired...

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Dave,
May I ask you what it is you are kneeling over in your photograph? The tail is immense and so is the animal. It looks like a red fox on steroids and then some. By the way, the photograph of pheasant taken is impressive. Nice work to all involved!
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Will, Red is absolutley correct. Pheasants are the last bird any experienced dog trainer uses to teach "birdiness". there are a number of reasons for this principally is they can intimidate a new or young dog. Try quial or pigeons first as Red suggests. In both cases have someone show you how to loc...

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Sorry, I Don't Want to Shoot An Elephant, by Babcock
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Mountaineer, Most of the old writers were not well paid, but did it out of love of the bird, dogs, and an occasional human; if one ever came there way. Most are now gone. Being difficult, irrascible, and independent was the trademark of these fellows. Only one, Havihla Babcock ever was known to be a...

Thornapple

MN Bonasa, I appreciate your reply in many ways. I have been mulling over the expense of the Alpha or Sportdog's version, but I think I will go with the Alpha on your recommendation. It is not the e-collar (I use a Dogtra for that), but just knowing where the dog is that will give me comfort. You ar...

Thornapple

Mountaineer, I agree with most of what you wrote, with one exception. Frequently when I discuss grouse hunting to those used to the Kansas or South Dakota prairies and CRP, or fields down in Georgia or South Carolina, etc. the word cover has a different meaning. You are right, from the little I have...

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Steve, A good grouse hunter is like traversing the jungles around Dong Ap Bia in Vietnam. it requires stealth, quiet, and using all your senses! Your attention is on the task at hand and you must have a dog that understands this, not like open field shooting. #1 in grouse cover you are surrounded by...

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