Steady to wing and shot with a bird launcher and a dummy?

[TheLukai1100]

I was wondering if it would be a good idea to teach my dog to be steady to wing and shot by getting a "dokken's deadfowl" and using bird scent around the launcher and when the bird is launched i shoot a blank and do the normal procedures of training for steady to wing and shot. I will have a friend doing all the blank shooting and controlling the launcher. while I work with the dog.

The dog will of course by introduced to birds and will have worked with birds in the launcher before I attempt this.

any opinions on this?
I'm pretty new to this, so I'm not sure sure if this is just a insane idea or not.

[topher40]

Nothing can replace a bird in training while giving you the same results. You stated that the dog will have been on birds before you start this so you must have access, so stick with the real deal.

[RayGubernat]

I would caution against using scents, especially in conjunction with launchers. The dogs know the difference and you are setting yourself up for problems.

Pigeons in launchers can work quite well.

When the dog is indeed reliable, I see nothing at all wrong with tossing a Dokken in the air and firing the blank gun with the dog pointing a live bird in the trap. This way if the dog moves, you still have the option of launching the bird in the trap.

RayG

[rinker]

Scents are useless, there is no substitute for birds.

[Hattrick]

As long as ur training go for it, but i would ditch the sents its a waste of money.

[DonF]

Rather than throwing a dummy, why not just throw a dead bird? I don't even have a retrieving dummy any more.

[blanked]

Use a live pigeon with a tether attached to the birds feet and tied off to the launcher. Launch the bird, when it flys off to the end of the tether fire the blank. Down goes the bird