Basic Gundog Training

Drop to flush

feeds@yuku.com (Dogger) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:36:14 GMT

Hi all.
Quick question on flushing live game: When a spaniel disturbs game while bushing, when would you expect it to drop to flush?
The reason I ask is because I've been working on teaching my year-old cocker to drop to flush (a little difficult due to sparsity of willing game in my vicinity at the mo!). Having spotted a rabbit disappear into brambles while out the other night, I sent the pup into investigate. I could see that the rabbit was back-tracking and that the dog was...

Quick delivery

feeds@yuku.com (Laura) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:10:06 GMT

When you start training a young retriever how would you act to learn the dog to be speedy with the delivery? I always seem to have problems with this and after several dogs I must admit that the fault must be with me and not the dog! My breed is golden from working stock and even if a golden is a "prey-freak" they seem to be able to run fast out and again in. I am not angry with my dogs, I do not take things from them, I "pribe" them with an extra dummy but still... I...

Bushes are more interesting!

feeds@yuku.com (fergus2) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:50:41 GMT

Hello everyone. I am a novice to gundog training and have recently started training my first dog, a Lab with a working pedigree. He is now 16 weeks old and I have begun basic obiedience training. I started when he was 13 weeks old, he has 3 or 4 short sessions a day. All that I am working on is 'sit' and 'here'. He is usually pretty good when I can hold his attention but I find that I cannot hold his attention for very long (more than about 3 or 4 attempts at each command...

The way things were

feeds@yuku.com (Windem Bang) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:57:44 GMT

I have just begun reading a book called Charles Morgan on Retrievers. An American book published I think in 1968. The author trained and trialled retrieving breeds back as early as 1935. I have been finding the books old fashioned outlook on the physical correction of dogs refreshingly honest. Up to present in the book I have read no mention of the e- collar. It must have been in its infancy or not yet invented..

The authors view of the dogs that ran in the U.S. trial system was...

Zippy the Wonder Dog

feeds@yuku.com (WAB3) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:47:40 GMT

Yesterday my wife was reaching into an overgrown flower bed when our little Jack Russell jumped into the lantana disappearing a few seconds and then jumping out with a writhing twisting 3 foot snake. The dog shook it like a rat slapping my wifes legs with the big snake. In a few seconds she had it in about 3 pieces spraying snake innards over my wife and myself before she started eating the poor serpent. The dog doesn't have the greatest manners and you'd never want to kiss her on...

First Gundog.

feeds@yuku.com (JSC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:50:34 GMT

Hello all.
I am picking up my dog around the middle of August, she is an English Cocker bitch from working lines on both sides and I have a few questions!
What I would like to do is train her for a little bit of beating, walk up shooting, maybe a bit of rough shooting and to take with me when I clay shoot sometimes.
This wouldn't be every week, just maybe a couple of times of each of these throughout the season and she would also be a family pet.
My first...

Taking directions..

feeds@yuku.com (pinkfoot) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:27:15 GMT

How do you go about teaching your labs to take directions?

bonding

feeds@yuku.com (minty) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:08:57 GMT

hi i,m thinking about getting an older pup maybe 6 to 9 months old maybe some of the basics done...what is the best way to bond with it...spend every second of the day with it...or little and often??..

How do I get an optigen test done?

feeds@yuku.com (Severn Bore) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:17:27 GMT

How do I go about getting an optigen test done? I have a young lab dog that is growing on me and would like to confirm if he is clear. Is it as simple as getting a blood sample from the vets and sending it to optigen.com? Anyone done this before? Thanks Darren

House to kennel

feeds@yuku.com (fergus2) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:16:10 GMT

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and this is my first go at gundog training. I have a 14 week old Labrador puppy who has lived in the kitchen of our house up till now. I have installed a kennel and run in the garden and I am trying to get him used to it. I feed him in it and have put some dog toys in with him and have been leaving him for short periods at first and now I am increasing the time, he is still sleeping the kitchen at night. He whines terribly for about 25...

Dropping dummy for another

feeds@yuku.com (Mark 2911) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:30:07 GMT

I have a young dog I am bringing on. He is 2 and a bit and I am very happy with him so far. I would say he is effectively fully trained , barring live quarry experience. I took him on about 6 shoot days at the end of last season and just let him watch, giving him no more than one retrieve each day. I have been doing a bit of dummy work with him since the end of the season, but only once or twice a week and have taken him pigeon shooting a couple of afternoons. He has been rock steady and I...

Dirt Clod Drill

feeds@yuku.com (dawgman) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:12:22 GMT

Dirt Clod Drill (aka Cow Chip Drill, etc.)

This valuable little drill has a number of applications depending on the need. I'll focus on your dog in this explanation, and that is de-switching. A dog prone to switching lacks discipline about diligently hunting a fall to the extent that they will readily leave a hunt to go and hunt...

My pups going off to camp

feeds@yuku.com (WAB3) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:20:57 GMT

Its a tough decision but I think its the right one. I'm sending my pup north for the rest of the summer months to beat the heat we have here. Through basics til now at 15 months he's done great with me training him (we worked through the spinning issue in the winter) but I've faced the reality that I'll never be able to safely prepare him to run trials this fall in this heat. He leaves this weekend for the Dakotas. I'll be having a lot more time for work and chores...

Bird Launchers

feeds@yuku.com (ackalack) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:35:45 GMT

I saw the post on bumper launches and wondered if many trainers in the UK use "bird" launches with thier training. Below is a post that I put on a Canadian forum this afternoon. Comments and critiscms of my amatuer techniques are appreciated. Maybe the auto sensor on this forum will turn the **** back to shit and then censor out the Geordie.
This is my sitting to flush training. I have previously spent a good 8 weeks tossing birds and tooting my whistle. But not more than a...

Obedient but crazy ESS..........

feeds@yuku.com (sa1monid) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:25:53 GMT

Hi there after a bit of advice on my 17 month old ESS bitch. ………………………………………………..

She's very obedient and will sit, stay, drop to whistle, thrown dummy etc and does all the basics well and efficiently. Retrieves to hand and good with basic blinds. I've been meticulous and trained her for 10mins per day 4 -5 days a week since she was 8 months old....

Dummy Launcher and Dummies for sale

feeds@yuku.com (Eric Begbie) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:57:55 GMT

Quest Dummy Launcher for sale. See Here.
(I can't advertise the .22 blanks on Ebay but can include about 150 with the sale for an additional fiver if requested)

Also a couple of unused throwing dummies. See Here
...

having read the other help topics

feeds@yuku.com (Lola5353) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:01:57 GMT

i have read the other topics of mantaining obedience and eric you've suggested that everything should be built up gradually however i get to the point where the pup is fantastic on the lead and on the check cord however the next step is the step i can't seem to get unfortunatly i haven't got accesses to the size training area i would like. i have the choice between to big or too small how do i make the transition from on the check cord to off in a big field. bearing in mind...

contacting Ireland by phone

feeds@yuku.com (WAB3) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:43:15 GMT

Hope some of you might can help. I am trying to get information on a dog originally from Ireland from Shangarrilyn kennels. The phone numbers listed on their website did not work with me calling from the US. I may be calling wrong. Exactly what combination of codes is required? I also tried using an international operator with no luck.

Any help would be appreciated...

Bill

Bumper boy launchers

feeds@yuku.com (lab1969) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:52:05 GMT

Hi

The question is, I'm looking to purchase a bumper boy launcher to aid in training by 2 labs for the forthcoming season.

Which is the best one to start with two or a four launcher?

Any help will be much appriciated

Kind regards

David

Enforced Hold.

feeds@yuku.com (thommo073) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:45:31 GMT

Hi everyone.

I have returned from serving overseas for a few months and have got back into training with Harris. My pregnant wife has done a sterling job with the dogs whilst i have been away, working on Harris's lead work and steadiness. However, it is now time for him to work on his retrieving. I have worked on his steadiness with dummy's which has been pleasing. The problem is that he started to drop the dummy at my feet, if i am lucky i manage to get my hand to it, as he...