Gun Dog Forum

What’s your favorite training method and why? I’m taking a poll for my amusement. I have a deposit in on a pointer cross early 2023.

I am currently using Dave Walkers method with my pointer pup. I really have had a lot of good success.




Happy Sunday and 4th of July

God Bless


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Hickok and Perfection. Both pretty much match how I train. A training program has to fit the trainer more than the dog. Any dog can go through any program, it's the TRAINER that is the wild card.

I think Walker was a disciple of the West/Gibbons method. Mo lindley is also a follower of the same method but has tweaked it somewhat to use launchers and homers. I lean towards his method because he doesn't utilize a helper as much as some of the others.

cr

I do believe you are correct. I just finished Mo’s book and I really enjoyed it. Can’t beat the “Meat on the Table” video either. Since I started using their method everything is going great. Again, prob because it’s easy for me to understand what’s happening.


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I use the old school West/Gibbons method.
Walker did spend time with Bill West. West wrote the fwd for Walkers book.
It is not uncommon for people who adopt the West method to spin an idea and it gains popularity. Mos launchers use is exactly that. A spin born out of necessity ( problems with carded birds getting hung up in heavier vegetation back east) that he made work for him and others have adopted the spin.
More power to Mo for it.
I remain an unrepentant carded birds die hard.

For my money, The Delmar Smith Method. My first few were done according to the book but at some point I vered off and added stuff to suit myself. What you will find out in the end is one method will trip your trigger and the key to success willn be reputation, meaning they will all work! The secret is reputation!

DonF wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 1:36 pm

For my money, The Delmar Smith Method.

First couple of dogs I trained were using Delmars book. On a chance encounter while living in Phoenix ran into Bill Gibbons and Bill West. Upshot of that, I spent 4 years around that method learning from them. West retired in that period.
That period "spun" my training in that direction and Ive never looked back.

Wanted to train dogs for a living, until it dawned on me that training dogs is a mighty poor way to make a living.

So, I keep a real job that pays better, buy pups as cheap as I can get my hands on them, raise them, train them and sell them.

Once I finish them, my fun is over and I start advertising them with video. I suck as a salesman, less I talk the better they sell. So far they tend to go fairly quick.

My wife finds it hard to fuss about a hobby that more than pays for itself.

I still force break using Delmars method. Tried several other ways over the years, for about two dogs I was all in love/lust with using an ear pinch.

Alas, Delmars way of force breaking suits me the best.

I tried using a collar to FB replacing the toe hitch with a collar, that plan is a hair shirt to me. I do not claim it does not work. That way just does not suit me.

P.S. I still call it happy timing. Some things just stick...

Idylwyld wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:36 pm

I tried using a collar to FB replacing the toe hitch with a collar, that plan is a hair shirt to me. I do not claim it does not work. That way just does not suit me.

Perfection Kennels has a new Trained Retrieve Video that uses the e-collar in place of the ear or toe pinch. His method targets those that are not comfortable with the more traditional methods or the hand strength to apply the proper pressure to the toe or ear. After the initial "hold" process he introduces the e-collar to re-enforce the "hold". Then he transitions the from the "hold" to the "fetch" command. If using only the e-collar to apply pressure I think the earlier the dog understands how to turn off that pressure the better.

cr

@coveyrise64 how old was your dog when using their retrieve program. My pup retrieves well naturally but will drop it on top of my shoes every time. He is 9 months.


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Elhewramblinman wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 11, 2022 5:24 pm

@coveyrise64 how old was your dog when using their retrieve program. My pup retrieves well naturally but will drop it on top of my shoes every time. He is 9 months.

I had one of those. Didn't think it was a problem till I took 2 nephews hunting pheasants and they just winged every one. Pup dropped them at my feet and off they would go running. Had 3 at one time running all over. Decided I had to train HOLD.


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Elhewramblinman wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 11, 2022 5:24 pm

@coveyrise64 how old was your dog when using their retrieve program. My pup retrieves well naturally but will drop it on top of my shoes every time. He is 9 months.

My dog was about 8 months old. To develop a natural retriever I like to start with "Hold" to avoid any mouth issues then progress to a walking "Hold". Another overlooked component of the retrieve is a solid Recall.

The Perfection Kennels video also has a part dedicated to developing the natural retrieve.

Coveyrise if you want to sell the dvd let me know.


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Elhewramblinman wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 12, 2022 9:44 am

Coveyrise if you want to sell the dvd let me know.

Sorry, I borrowed the video from a friend.

cr

Elhewramblinman wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 12, 2022 9:44 am

Coveyrise if you want to sell the dvd let me know.


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Standing Stone on u-tube is a good free video. they call it trained retrieve.