A New Dog Story

[BritChaser]

I got a new Brittany last summer from a rescue organization (NBRAN) when he was about nine months old. Gus is definitely a hunter but he hunted for himself early in the season, wandering away from me and going in the wrong direction -- always into the wind of course -- all on account of my shock collar being on the fritz. Later in the season he got better and then one day while we were hunting alone he redeemed himself and then some. It was a cold winter day with some snow on the ground. We approached a plum thicket on the edge of a milo field that looked promising. I was on the west side of a shallow draw and Gus was on the east as we headed south to the thicket. Pheasants started flushing from the thicket in all directions. My first shot connected but the bird just dropped a leg and flew out of sight over a hill. My second shot knocked a bird down into the bottom of the draw. I had no clue as to the first bird so I tried to keep my eyes on where the second bird went down. After about a minute of searching I found it. Before I bent down to pick it up, I looked around and could not see Gus. When I straightened up here came Gus trotting around the bend in the draw with the other bird in his mouth! A double by dog work.

After my shock collar was repaired, I took Gus on a late season reserve hunt that was well worth the money just for the dog fine tuning. He started to chase a rabbit and got a good jolt for it. I quit shooting at pheasants to concentrate on chukars and he got a jolt when he chased a free flyer. Two lessons learned and learned well. But mostly he pointed and retrieved over and over on every bird we bagged, three pheasant and nine chukar, as well as pointing the 10 or so pheasants will let fly away.

I am so happy with Gus, my rescue Brit. Thank you NBRAN.

 

[Houston54]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

My first GSP was a rescue dog and although he was advanced in years and had no formal training his instincts did kick in. That was a rewarding hunt to see a dog come into its own and enjoy the "work". I always use a collar as insurance but I invested time and money into having my current GSP whistle trained. It has increased his enjoyment in the field and mine.

Welcome to the site.

 

[BritChaser]

Gsp

Thank you, Houston 54. That is a great shot of your GSP hard on point. BTW, all my shocks are preceeded by a whistle or two or a whoa or two which are usually sufficient.