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#1
05-17-2005, 06:34 PM
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Training pups
I was woundering what was the most efective way to start a young pup on birds? I normally strt them on wing clips but i am open for new ideas to kinda give each dog something new??
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10 gauge master 
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#2
05-18-2005, 10:44 AM
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Go get yourself some pigeons from the local sale barn or trap them, whatever, and use them. Plant them (slightly dizzied) in some light cover and let the pup bump and chase to start until he thinks birds are the best thing on earth. Set him up for success, in other words, make it easy for him to find the birds to start. When pup thinks birds are the best thing, after a few weeks of this, you can start formal training. Make it totally fun for him. One other thing, when you do any training, end on a good note and keep the pup wanting more. In other words, stop training after two or three bump and chases, just when you think you and pup are doing great. This makes him always want more.
McPat
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#3
05-18-2005, 11:23 AM
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I can't think of a better way than what McPat told you. He pretty much nailed it. You can ask 10 different dog trainers and they will give you ten different ways, but the key here is to keep the pup interested. It also makes a differece on how old the pup is. I notice that you left that out.
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Bird Dogs and Hunting If you're betting against God, you better be right. "When a dog dies they take a piece of your heart but leaves you a piece of his, and humans always make out in that deal. " Mark Twain. Larry Miller
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#4
05-22-2005, 05:51 AM
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The only thing I would
do different, is to let him catch one of those pigeons first. Pull all of the primaries out of that bird so he cannot hit the pup, tease that pup with the bird, then let him catch it. It teaches the pup he has power over the bird and will make him bolder around birds. Don't worry, he will learn soon enough that he cannot catch the birds, but getting a few in their mouth at an early age is a good thing.
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#5
05-23-2005, 12:35 AM
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I don't know DS, I would be scared that he might think that he doesn't need the hunter's help to catch birds. I know you think he will learn otherwise in the long run, but I am not too sure about that.
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The pond, waterfowl, and yellow labs...it don't get any better. Last edited by fabsroman; 05-25-2005 at 04:13 PM.
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#6
05-23-2005, 01:23 AM
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Wrong area Fabs but in return of your question = I have worked alot of dogs and not worried about this one or it would not have hit this site.
This fella also had a 5 year old GSP that came in with it and when this dog was taken to the field there was no problem in fact that dog was well over a $400 dog by a long way. It was adopted out on the first outing ! and yes it was a runner with the other one.
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Game Bird hatchery/ACO "It is not the kill anymore it's the Quality of the hunt"
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#7
05-25-2005, 04:15 PM
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Right area Nulle, just had the wrong person at the beginning. I should have said DS. My comment was about letting Killzone's dog catch pigeons. I have no idea why I thought you were the poster on DS's post, but it was probably late at night when I saw it.
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The pond, waterfowl, and yellow labs...it don't get any better.
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#8
05-26-2005, 09:55 AM
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How is your dogs obedience? I like to have them solid on obedience before I ever show them a bird. My reason is this. If they have some obedience issues and or problems and you give them birds which are the ultimate reward you are enforcing the OK to not be obedient. The dog will do fine on birds if it is a well bred dog. You will save your self a lot of trouble by trying this first. Hope this is making sense.
Dave www.vomroyalshorthairs.com
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#9
05-27-2005, 10:58 PM
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DS is absolutely correct. Heck, I was just thinking about field work and forgot about the preliminary yard work when I first posted. That is actually how I start. At first I would take a pigion, holding the wings down, and let the dog get a good snootful of it while talking exitedly and getting the pup all riled up. Then I move to holding it by it's wings and teasing the dog with it. That way the bird can't slap the pup with his wings, but has some movement. Then move to holding the pigeon by the feet and teasing the pup. That way if the pup gets inadvertently hit with a wing, he is already bold on birds and really excited about them. Then clip the primaries so the bird can just kind of flutter above the ground and let the pup can chase it and maybe catch it. It doesn't matter if the pup does catch the bird for the reasons DS already cited. As for obedience (stay,heel,whoa, or sit) I have had luck teaching that soon after the pup is excited about birds. Really, I teach birds and obedience at the same age, but never in the same training session. Also, kennel and no are taught as soon as I get the dog-gently though. Inceidentally, each step of the training process is done over time. The things I discussed here about bird work may take two to three weeks to accomplish if worked for ten or fifteen minutes twice a day each day.
McPat
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Hybrid Mode
