Awwwww she's a cutie - I grew up with a Labrador as a kid who was the most loyal and friendly dog I have ever had What age do you start to take them out hunting with you?
Already started training. Never too young to start. She has a good hunting bloodline so I can tell the instinct is already looming large in her. I'll take her out this fall. She will be about 6 months. We will dabble around with some woodcock and grouse around the house. If she does well then, I'll take her along on my big pheasant hunting trip. Main thing is to have the basics mastered like come and sit and to make sure she hunts within range. Nothing worse than busting a bunch of pheasants up and they are all out of range.
Alot of them are they same. They have to master the basics like sit, stay, come. Then they have to learn how to quarter a field to sniff out birds and learn how to retrieve and bring back to your hand. I also teach them hand signals so they know to go left, right, back when searching for a bird on a blind retrieve.
Yep. We teach them by playing a game called baseball with them. Put them on the pitchers mound facing you at home plate. A dummy is placed at first and you point right for them to fetch it. then move on to 2nd base which is pointing straight up for them to go back and then third base. Then you can put dummies on all the bases and give them a hand signal for which one you want them to pick up. Comes in real handy when duck hunting when alot of the time they don't see the bird go down because they are in the blind. Send them out to fetch the duck and guide them with hand signals.
All very interesting stuff, they are basically just miniature humans aren't they but without voices and hands. Amazing how they can instantly pick up on human emotions and read our expressions just like a person, they know straight away whether you are in a good mood or not and what a smile means lol Have you thought of a name for her yet?
They are like little sponges when they are puppies. They are soaking up new stuff everyday that is why it is so important to start training right away. No big expectations yet, it is all fun and games right now. We call her Kota.
Do you have to teach them not to bite the bird heavily or is there nothing you can really do about that? I guess they already have lead shot in them that has to be removed.
The thing you have to be careful with is not to play tug of war with the puppy. That usually develops a hard mouth on them. I have been fortunate that all my dogs have pretty soft mouths when it comes fetching. Sometimes if a bird is still alive and flopping and kicking they may crunch down on it to kill it though but once it stops moving they are gentle with it.
I bet she is already looking a little different!
Doubled in size I think
PropheticWookieWhat a puppy, white, beautiful. I am sure that he will be a good friend and assistant on the hunt.
how beautifull u are! sweet one!
PropheticWookieLike a cute puppy, congratulations on your new family member. Grow big and healthy :).
Awwwww she's a cutie - I grew up with a Labrador as a kid who was the most loyal and friendly dog I have ever had
What age do you start to take them out hunting with you?
Already started training. Never too young to start. She has a good hunting bloodline so I can tell the instinct is already looming large in her. I'll take her out this fall. She will be about 6 months. We will dabble around with some woodcock and grouse around the house. If she does well then, I'll take her along on my big pheasant hunting trip. Main thing is to have the basics mastered like come and sit and to make sure she hunts within range. Nothing worse than busting a bunch of pheasants up and they are all out of range.
PropheticWookieAnd what is the difference in general terms between hunting training and basic training for young dogs?
Alot of them are they same. They have to master the basics like sit, stay, come. Then they have to learn how to quarter a field to sniff out birds and learn how to retrieve and bring back to your hand. I also teach them hand signals so they know to go left, right, back when searching for a bird on a blind retrieve.
PropheticWookieOOO. this is interesting, you need to try it with your dog, for development. Anyway it sounds very interesting, thank you!
Really - they can follow hand signals can they?
Yep. We teach them by playing a game called baseball with them. Put them on the pitchers mound facing you at home plate. A dummy is placed at first and you point right for them to fetch it. then move on to 2nd base which is pointing straight up for them to go back and then third base. Then you can put dummies on all the bases and give them a hand signal for which one you want them to pick up. Comes in real handy when duck hunting when alot of the time they don't see the bird go down because they are in the blind. Send them out to fetch the duck and guide them with hand signals.
PropheticWookieAs you described, cool game, I think very useful for the development of the dog. It seems to me not only hunting, but also ordinary.
All very interesting stuff, they are basically just miniature humans aren't they but without voices and hands. Amazing how they can instantly pick up on human emotions and read our expressions just like a person, they know straight away whether you are in a good mood or not and what a smile means lol Have you thought of a name for her yet?
They are like little sponges when they are puppies. They are soaking up new stuff everyday that is why it is so important to start training right away. No big expectations yet, it is all fun and games right now. We call her Kota.
That's a great name actually, very original
Do you have to teach them not to bite the bird heavily or is there nothing you can really do about that? I guess they already have lead shot in them that has to be removed.
The thing you have to be careful with is not to play tug of war with the puppy. That usually develops a hard mouth on them. I have been fortunate that all my dogs have pretty soft mouths when it comes fetching. Sometimes if a bird is still alive and flopping and kicking they may crunch down on it to kill it though but once it stops moving they are gentle with it.
PropheticWookieAnd why can't you play tug-of-war with a puppy. Did the cynologist advise us to do this with the bully?
They want to play tug when retrieving birds and it chews them all up.
PropheticWookieAh, now I understand, thanks for explaining.