Gun Dog Forum

bonasa

Rich, What you are thinking of is a "kit box" used mostly for rollers , I'd close up 3 out of 4 sides. Put in 6 v-style perches and you should be ok with 6 young birds (homers). Let them acclimate for 2 weeks. Loft fly for 2 weeks then you can use them after that. http://www.roller-pigeon.com/board/...

bonasa

I have (2) that I have used a whole heck of a lot. No problems. Only called lcsupply for help when I lost the transmitter and had to buy a new one. Batteries last a long time, range is good as I never used them past 200 yards.

bonasa

There shouldn't be a difference in manners with wild vs. pen birds, a bird is a bird is a bird and the dog should want to hold them all. A cautious dog makes a good grouse pointer. Run them on wild bird in the beginning then break them on pen birds. When you are breaking on pen birds you are doing s...

bonasa

I don't want a dog to circle I want him to point !! Well said. Only thing that gets my goat more than a bumped bird is if I walk up one on my own! A dog that circles a bird and pins it between handler and dog sounds a lot like a dog that is unsure of itself and lacks confidence. Being that the dog ...

bonasa

Garrison wrote: Bike seem to be burning through the brakes pretty quick!

Same issue running 2 dogs at a time. I actually have been "footing the tire" like I did when I was nine. No beads or cards in the spokes this time though.

bonasa

Training with Mo is a great read. The dog is a pointer, use the tool for the design it was meant to do. Although I've used the back of a screw gun as a hammer, many times I end up with a ruined screw gun.

bonasa

Chasing and catching after the point and flush is one thing. Running right in and grabbing the bird without pointing is completely different. Your situation isnt all that bad. The pup is hunting, finding birds , pointing birds then chasing birds. Your post says "planting". Are you dizzying the birds...

bonasa

Ten to twelve weeks. Trapping/netting in barns or overpasses. Otherwise, craigslist is a good place to start. Pick up a dozen yb's next month and you should be good.

bonasa

No check cord needed for this one....One note- I usually start stop to flush by dropping pigeons after whoa'ing the dog, that way you remove the scent on the ground and no bad associations can be made if Timing isnt right. That said done right with scent on the ground should have no issues anyway. ...

bonasa

I agree with winchey on the 30 min to 7 hours. Woodcock on the early ends and grouse on the long days. On average 2-4 hours on the ground not counting covert travel.

bonasa

If you go the quail route get them when they are a couple months old and put them in the johnny house. Give them a week then fly a couple at a time am/pm then use them the following week. I'd only put a dozen in there or so at a clip and let out several at a time when you do plan on using thems. You...

bonasa

Had the same issue rise up with my young female.Every time she went outside she would urinate, walks in the woods maybe 8-10 times. Thought it could have been a UTI then thought maybe diabetic, she then came into heat shortly thereafter. Have not had the issue come up again. If it still is occurring...

bonasa

A good training program is crucial to success. Although I do not like quail for a young dog, they have their place. For "bump and chase" pigeons in launchers are great as you won't have to do much handling of the dog and you can rest assured the dog wont catch it. Don't pressure the dog at this poin...

bonasa

I skijor, bikejor, canicross with my two pointers. I rigged them up with two harnesses and a two dog clip (1 foot) to the back of the harnesses with the lead to that, I also have a clip going from flat collar to flat collar (1 foot) . The lead I use for skijoring is 15' and the 6' bungee lead as it ...

bonasa

I used a wing clipped quail planted for the dog. We were already at the point of having the belly band (e-collar around waist) in place for steady training. She would establish a point and I would flush the bird/fire a shot. If she looked like she would break at the flush or shot a verbal whoa and a...

bonasa

The best I have found for grouse hunting is 1 hunter and 1 dog, then 2 hunters and 1 dog, lastly 2 hunters and 2 broke dogs. I have seen broke dogs stand while a young dog rips the bird, although I have seen it the opposite way more often.

bonasa

You did dizzy them too much. The hooded trick (baby sock) works well, launchers are great also.As for planting pigeons without the hood or launchers, I spin them for about 3 seconds or so, enough to get them disoriented then tuck the head under the wing for areas under bushes. If you have taller gra...

bonasa

Weather patterns, diet and time of day could each or all play a role.

bonasa

We use launchers and check cord in every phase of training from starting a pup to a finished dog. Launchers give you control of the bird, CC control of the dog. With all training timing is the key. jmo Well said; and again a sound training program or time with a trainer will save you a great deal o...

bonasa

Rose hips, birch catkins and assorted leaves?

bonasa

Plan B. If I were you I would not shoot any birds that are close enough to your home to train on during the week. I keep training spots and hunting spots. Don't shoot wild flushes that the dog hasn't pointed and/or held, i.e. birds that you walk up. As far as birds that the dog points and holds, if ...

bonasa

Ryman and old hemlock setters mature a little more slowly. Were those 25 all the birds contacts ever? When did you begin the birdy walks? All training methods build upon each previous step, there is no time limit,when the dog is ready advance to the next step. I strongly recommend choosing a method ...

bonasa

Congrats on developing a grouse dog! Does your dog check in with you every so often? Are you letting him have his run and occasionally decide he is "too big"? If he is checking in with you change directions on him more often than not. If you are letting him have the initial run, try hacking him righ...

bonasa

Yes . At first the bell will, if you don't make a big deal over it, neither will the dog. It could take one hour or one week for the dog to get used to it. leave it on the dog all the time. It is actually funny at first that the dogs will try and walk without making the bell ring, sooner or later th...

bonasa

JIM K wrote:why he continues to pee inside is beyond me other than maybe his bladder is not holding

Could be either diabetes or a urinary tract infection? That much (every 15 min) urination for that long (up to midnight) seems abnormal. JMO.

edited as I asked the sex of the pup

bonasa

[/quote]Many trainers call this "taking the chase away". Only stimulate the dog to a stop when the bird is in the air. Huntsmith has a article on this I think. To stimulate when the bird is on the ground will create a blinker dog.[/quote] +1 on that. I stimulate when the bird is in the air in sight ...

bonasa

Late spring and through the summer I always condition 4 times a week and bird work twice a week; with that said roading 2 times a week and a day of handling without birds and a day with birds is probobly all that is needed. Keeps the mind and body sharp.

bonasa

I'd take the advice and focus on recall and independence for the time being over the next 6 months.Handle the dog in the fields/woods on recall, if you run into wild birds great! Since we are on the topic of bird work; 100% remote launcher and homers. Pen reared birds don't react enough like wild bi...

bonasa

Were these the pups very first birds? How far was the gun from the dog on ignition? To much to fast. Id go back and focus on establishing the bird drive for the time being. I wouldn't be in a rush about introducing the gun yet until she is hunting birds as it is her job.

bonasa

If you have gotten some solid scent points and a bunch of relocate/road in on the bird it could be environmental issues. The heat can play a major problem, especially if the wind is swirling and shifting direction. The scent cone will be going up like a dust devil instead of skunking along the groun...

bonasa

Generally it is used to create continuity, going from using a half hitch on the flank to teach whoa and then transitioning to the e-collar on the same point of contact.

Makes a seamless transition so the dog understands what you want.

Also good for stopping creeping.

bonasa

Some pup training before the hazy, hot and humidness sets in.

bonasa

I'd rewind a bit. How is her recall? If it is good , plant the bird/launcher and hunt it dragging the cc, not holding. If the recall is not so good I'd focus on that. When she gets to within 45 feet of the launcher, whether it be upwind/downwind/crosswind/no wind; pop it and let her chase...for now....

bonasa

Start early and you can get it all done, birds/conditioning/yardwork; wind permitting on the birds. Here it is in the low 60's and gets to the low 70's before 0900 enough time to get what needs to be done several times a week for a few hours.

bonasa

Some times you can get a very good buy on a 4 to 6 month old puppy that has had gun and bird experience and all his shots. this can cost less than a cute puppy. Certain times of the year people will literally throw pups at you for free. Keep your eyes and ears open. My opinion is most of the hard w...

bonasa

I use revolution on my (2) pointers and have few ticks. Where I hunt and run the dogs the area is loaded with ticks, spring and fall being the worst. The vet mentioned and pushed to wear the tick collar, my young son loves the dogs and hugs/cuddles with them all the time. The vet confided in me that...

bonasa

Fishvik that is a very effective way to trap ruffs in the spring with a mirror trap. We use clover traps in the fall, pretty simple trap and ruffs would rather walk than fly over obstacles so we capitalize on that and get a good number for telemetry studies each fall.

bonasa

He begins to favor the right wrist and shortly develops pain in every joint. Is very cautious when he gets up from being bedded and winces going up and down stairs every 4 to 6 months. Like night and day with doxy. Sharon-Let us know how it turns out , best of luck to the dog Birddog- Is your tick p...

bonasa

It will work out with a lyme test. Usually they test for Lyme, heart worm and erlichiosis when they do a blood test. My male comes up positive for Lyme every 6 mos and I do a month of doxy. He gets better within a week and is good for 4-6 months. Did you have a lyme vaccine when the dog was a puppy?...

bonasa

I never said everyone should be paid equal regardless of location/education/skill. I was responding to : Can you justify paying a plumber with a master degree twice what you would pay another plumber for the same job? Doesnt that sound like the poster wants everyone to make the same? Sounds like tha...

bonasa

Sounds like you want everyone to be equal and earn the same regardless of location, education or skill set involved in accomplishing the task at hand?

bonasa

Seems to be a lot of people are going on about how much teachers earn. Teachers in the NY area paid their dues. Earning a masters degree isn't cheap, nor is taking a 2, 3 or 4 year job in a city such as Albany/NYC or such places attempting to teach kids that do not want to be there and do not want t...

bonasa

Pointers are athletes and need to run it off. My young female 13months more so than my 5yo male. He gets roaded 40 min 3 or 4 days a week and free run an hour two other days. The young one gets free running and various exercises about an hour a day, everyday. Both are in the house and "catlike" curl...

bonasa

There are pros and cons with the education system, mostly it falls on the parents lack of teaching as it isn't a free daycare. Its perfectly fine not to go to college if you believe it will fail you in the long run. It's your choice to not educate yourself and yours alone. There are plenty of people...

bonasa

Pigeon is good. Pluck, brine, roast. Not a city rat but a respectable barn/silo pigeon is good eats. Something different, I like it.

bonasa

For starters instill a good recall or "leave it" command. That should get them to break from trailing other dogs, chasing deer, chasing rabbits and mousing. If it becomes a habit "trash break" with the e-collar. Most important get the dog crazy about birds and they usually won't do the above mention...

bonasa

birddogger wrote:Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours?

Charlie

Actually I was a bit of a momma's boy and I never ate much at my friends house.

bonasa

Hi Mark. I believe it is cover related, at least back east. I have flusher friends that can't bear it to see (hear) a pointer be out of sight and the only life line you have is a bell and whistle. I have had my pointers pin grouse no problem even in late season and the bonus March training we have b...

bonasa

+1 on the 1-2 oz per bird
+1 on the game bird feed
+1 on full feeders during nesting/rearing season

bonasa

Toms are only "henned up" for a few hours in the morning then around 10-11ish they are alone. Have patience and be in the area of the birds, pop up blinds are great as you can sit all day but still fidget and not get busted. Light yelps and content clucks to hook any passer by tom. Also if you do ha...

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