First bird folded over new pup............

Post Reply
User avatar
GrayDawg
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 712
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:14 pm
Location: New England

First bird folded over new pup............

Post by GrayDawg » Wed Oct 24, 2012 6:35 am

Okay- I have to share this with you all because I find it both hilarious & fascinating.......

I picked up a FDSB registered Pointer pup in early September and he has been balls to the walls
since coming into the house. A very affectionate pup, but very bold in every sense of the word.
He was challenging (in a playful way- not aggressive) my 3.5 year-old female GSP two days after
I brought him home for chew toys, prime spot on the dog bed.... etc....

Bodhi has continued to show me over the last 6 weeks that he was way ahead of any percieved development
plan I had in my head regarding his training/development. He pointed Woodcock (3 times) when he was
9 & 10 weeks old. These weren't flash points- rather he 'stuck' these birds and didn't move until after the flush.

He would watch from a distance as I would work my GSP on quail and I would fire my .209 blank pistol and all Bodhi
did was stand at attention with a 12 o'clock, poker straight tail. Even my wife, (who doesn't hunt) was impressed
with his attitude when she watched Bodhi's reaction to a flushing Quail & blank pistol shot.

So I started bringing Bodhi along (for the ride) with Katy & I when bird season opened earlier this month. I'd take Katy
out, hunt her, then put her up and take Bodhi out for a run with his bell on. I put my gun away and just handled him into
areas where I thought we could encounter birds. The second time I did this, he stuck a pheasant. I didn't have a gun
(not even my blank pistol), but I flushed the bird and Bodhi stood there for about 8-9 seconds then he realized he was
missing the party and gave chase with a high, cracklin' tail.

Fast forward to yesterday...... I took Katy out and we folded a rooster in fairly short time. I had noticed another
rooster running into some cover when I sent Katy for the retrieve, made note of it and proceeded in another direction and
hunted her for another 30 minutes or so. I went back to my vehicle, put Katy up, put my 12ga. away, broke out my 28ga.
and took Bodhi out.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING:
- I don't advocate doing this with most 14 week old pups, but given the absolute boldness this pup had shown to date,
I felt very comfortable going out with a 28ga. gun shooting 3/4 oz. custom loads with very little gunpowder.
- If the bird flushed & swung around over the dog, I WOULD NOT HAVE FIRED.
- If the dog broke on the flush and moved in front of me, I WOULD NOT HAVE FIRED.

That said, I broke Bodhi away, hunted him for about 20 minutes and then worked our way over to the area where I saw the
second rooster run into. He immediately caught scent, and then locked up- with his 12 o'clock, tail. I walked in from the side,
located the rooster, flushed him and the bird oblidged, flying straight away- I was between the bird and Bodhi (and Bodhi was
~9 yards behind me). I quickly mounted the 28ga. and dispatched the rooster, he was dead before he hit the ground. I then
heard movement beind me, Bodhi was charging past me on his way to the bird. He tried to pick it up, but the bird was too heavy
for him, so he dragged it back to me! I was laughing and praising him at the same time, then loved him up huge when he finally
made it to me.

We took this picture once we got home. I can report with confidence that this little pup was not adversely affected in any way, shape
or form from a single shot of a very light load from a 28ga. shotgun. I AM NOT ADVOCATING PEOPLE DO THIS WITH MOST 14 WEEK OLD PUPS! Bodhi was the alpha pup in a litter of 11 and has never, ever shown any signs of being timid or frightened. Any/all loud noises in the house only seem to peak his interest & attention. I gradually ramped him up to his exposure, albeit accelerated, but there was a deliberate & methodical process of getting him to yesterday & it was driven more by his personality/temperment than anything else.
RobBodhiPhez_smll.jpg
Rob
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by GrayDawg on Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
May all your dog's points be productive & your arrows avoid all timber

User avatar
SHORTFAT
Rank: 3X Champion
Posts: 510
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:25 pm
Location: northwest Pa.

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by SHORTFAT » Wed Oct 24, 2012 7:26 am

Nice! I really like that pup! 8)
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
- Mark Twain.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
-Abraham Lincoln

dead mike
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 119
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:39 pm
Location: The Great White North

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by dead mike » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:03 am

Nive pup. whats the breeding?

User avatar
campgsp
Rank: 3X Champion
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 11:05 am
Location: illinois

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by campgsp » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:07 am

nice looking pup.

User avatar
GrayDawg
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 712
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:14 pm
Location: New England

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by GrayDawg » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:08 am

dead mike wrote:Nive pup. whats the breeding?
Click on the "Hoppy's Bullbreak Icehawk" link in my signature.

His Sire just won the New England Open Championship last week. His Dam's full brother was named Runner Up.
http://region1fieldtrials.blogspot.com/ ... -open.html

Rob
May all your dog's points be productive & your arrows avoid all timber

User avatar
ultracarry
GDF Junkie
Posts: 2602
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:30 pm
Location: Yucaipa, ca

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by ultracarry » Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:51 am

Very nice Rob! Sounds like you could almost hunt them together.

User avatar
Ruffshooter
GDF Junkie
Posts: 2946
Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 7:28 pm
Location: Maine

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by Ruffshooter » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:20 am

Rob: That is great. Love hearing the story and seeing that pup proud of its bird and reading your enjoyment.
What a great way for a strong pup to start.
The best part of training is seeing the light come on in your little prot'eg'e.

Rick

User avatar
Vonzeppelinkennels
GDF Junkie
Posts: 2107
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:14 pm
Location: Amelia,Ohio

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by Vonzeppelinkennels » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:28 am

Big thumbs up Rob :!: :!:He is a Very nice lookin pup even though his tail is TOO long. :lol: :P

User avatar
GrayDawg
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 712
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:14 pm
Location: New England

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by GrayDawg » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:38 am

ultracarry wrote:Very nice Rob! Sounds like you could almost hunt them together.
I'd never do that to Katy. Bodhi will have to earn his stripes..... Just as she did! :wink:

Rob
May all your dog's points be productive & your arrows avoid all timber

User avatar
GrayDawg
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 712
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:14 pm
Location: New England

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by GrayDawg » Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:58 am

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:Big thumbs up Rob :!: :!:He is a Very nice lookin pup even though his tail is TOO long. :lol: :P
LMAO at that one............. I knew it was coming- eventually. One of my friends who owns GSPs called me a traitor (in jest).

Rob
May all your dog's points be productive & your arrows avoid all timber

User avatar
ultracarry
GDF Junkie
Posts: 2602
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:30 pm
Location: Yucaipa, ca

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by ultracarry » Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:11 am

GrayDawg wrote:
ultracarry wrote:Very nice Rob! Sounds like you could almost hunt them together.
I'd never do that to Katy. Bodhi will have to earn his stripes..... Just as she did! :wink:

Rob
Lol I know what you mean. My puppy is outside and Kimber sleeps on my bed all day. I guess she earned it.

User avatar
birddog1968
GDF Junkie
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:40 pm
Location: Wherever I may roam

Re: First bird folded over new pup............

Post by birddog1968 » Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:34 am

Another convert in the making? :lol:

Nice lil pup.....got to love little smart naturals.
The second kick from a mule is of very little educational value - from Wing and Shot.

Hunters Pale Rider

Hunters Branch Jalapeno

Post Reply