Everyones Input Please

Upland4Ever

Upland4Ever

New member
So today we went hunting on a game ranch to get ready for next weeks opener. Same people we always hunt with. Well they released 18 birds. I shot 2, but where im getting at is a guy that I have been hunting with for years had his 4 yr. old lab, 9mth Gsp. The Gsp listen well but the lab took off down the shelter belt we were hunting about 90 yards out a flushed up 6 birds. As the guy was yelling at his lab, my dog stayed close and listened and hunted close. When all said and done the guy said his dog took off out of excitement. I just told him well my dog just worked his tale off, and for what reason? Your dog just chased everything gone. To me a 4 yr. old lab should listen excited or not. I felt real bad for my dog and the others. When we got to the truck I made it clear if that's how he hunts I won't be doing it anymore. What do you all think?
 
Hmmm - nothing like an untrained dog to screw up a hunt. Sounds like your friend needs to invest in a good shock collar and obedience classes.

On another note: I had an opportunity to visit with a professional trainer - we discussed quartering and ranging too far.

He said:

1. dial up the collar.

2. give no warning buzz; if the dog doesn't respond, give a buzz.

He used to handle dogs for a very large and expensive lodge in SD.. Often he would shock a dog 50 times because they were so hyped and anxious.

Your thoughts?
 
Not sure I agree, or disagree with the dial a buzz but I have always worked to make sure the dogs knows what I want before he gets it. I think it comes down to knowing your dog and what they are going to do initially. My to GSP's are excitable to say the least so when we get out of the truck is 5 minutes of whoa, heel, etc work to let them calm down. I also over handle them and keep them really tight initially so they don't get the free running spirit and I think it helps the calm them.

If your friend isn't using a collar, I would think about finding someone that does, there is nothing more frustrating than a dog blowing up birds, a bumped bird here or there happens but uncontrolled field destruction is unacceptable to me
 
Watched that happen last season with a 200+ wild bird flush after pinching these birds into a food plot for over an hour. Frustrating to say the least.
I understand this happening with a young dog. 3-4 yr old dog not so much.
Agree with Johnyb with the stimulation and the warning buzz. Dont know about the 50 times. I dont know if i have hit my dog 50 times in 5 years.
I make my dog work very close in these situations...15 yards close. You can just tell by the body language what is waiting toward the end of the cover.
 
Upland,

I won't hunt with guy's that can't control their dogs. Either the dog stays in the truck or they both can leave. Obedience is not that hard to teach. Johnny, shock it 50 times on an extreme setting? :eek:. I think he needs to spend more time with his dogs working on obedience. I have a pretty high energy dog, but we work a lot on obedience. He does wear a shock collar, and I use it a couple times a trip at most. I don't think frying a dog is the way to do it. We often hunt without the collar, and I really don't think he needs it. Main reason he has it on, is he checks in on beep. That keeps me from doing it verbally.
 
jonnyB said:
Hmmm - nothing like an untrained dog to screw up a hunt. Sounds like your friend needs to invest in a good shock collar and obedience classes.

On another note: I had an opportunity to visit with a professional trainer - we discussed quartering and ranging too far.

He said:

1. dial up the collar.

2. give no warning buzz; if the dog doesn't respond, give a buzz.

He used to handle dogs for a very large and expensive lodge in SD.. Often he would shock a dog 50 times because they were so hyped and anxious.

Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

He had no e collar on the lab cause its his prized dog. His Gsp well better behaved then the lab.
 
Upland4Ever said:
So today we went hunting on a game ranch to get ready for next weeks opener. Same people we always hunt with. Well they released 18 birds. I shot 2, but where im getting at is a guy that I have been hunting with for years had his 4 yr. old lab, 9mth Gsp. The Gsp listen well but the lab took off down the shelter belt we were hunting about 90 yards out a flushed up 6 birds. As the guy was yelling at his lab, my dog stayed close and listened and hunted close. When all said and done the guy said his dog took off out of excitement. I just told him well my dog just worked his tale off, and for what reason? Your dog just chased everything gone. To me a 4 yr. old lab should listen excited or not. I felt real bad for my dog and the others. When we got to the truck I made it clear if that's how he hunts I won't be doing it anymore. What do you all think?
Click to expand...

You hunted with the dog before? Hunting the game farm was a tune up right? Sounds like the dog needs a little work. Better now than next weekend.
I think your buddy probably understands......if he doesn't, well.....

I'd give him another chance, unless he has already used it.
 
I think if youve hunted with this guy for years and with this dog in the past you shouldve known what the outcome would be. You were hunting a GSP and a Lab together? Recipe for disaster except for the best of the best. Its unfair to light up the dog because the owner didnt train him.

Dont take life so seriously is my take on it. Yours will vary
 
hunt input

I agree that is difficult to experience. One could say it is a tune up and let it go. Should another hunt be scheduled I would inquire if the Lab's issues have been worked out.
You indicated you have hunted with this man the last four years therefore you know more about him than just this hunt. Did he have the Lab in the past and how did it perform? Not having been there I can only venture a guess but since the GSP was new and young his presence may have produced jealous behavior and the lack of obedience.
 
murphya said:
Did he have the Lab in the past and how did it perform? Not having been there I can only venture a guess but since the GSP was new and young his presence may have produced jealous behavior and the lack of obedience.
Click to expand...

I think you nailed it. The lab and young gsp probably shouldn't be on the ground together until issues are resolved.
 
I have hunted behind a pair of robots Labs, GH champs both. it was a intimidating mainly when I would miss, and get the stinkeye from a dog. But my Lab knew if she didn't listen to me, in the cage she would go and I wouldn't talk to her at all. After the first time she behaved very well, and if other dogs were getting screamed at she would come to a heal spot as if to say it wasn't me daddy. I really miss that dog.....
 
UplandHntr;154252 You were hunting a GSP and a Lab together? Recipe for disaster except for the best of the best. [/QUOTE said:
Agreed.

Tell me what you expecting when you run two totally different styles of dogs together. The only time I ever ran my lab and pointer together was when the lab was too old too hunt, but would stay at heel until the beeper collar went off, then he would hunt to the beeper. Pointer got to point, and the retriever got to. Retrieve.

Only way I can see this working out it to hunt your own direction, behind your own dog. Trying to hunt them together, won't affect the lab,but it will do nothing but bad things for the pointer if they're on huge same bird.
Click to expand...
 
jonnyB said:
Hmmm - nothing like an untrained dog to screw up a hunt. Sounds like your friend needs to invest in a good shock collar and obedience classes.

On another note: I had an opportunity to visit with a professional trainer - we discussed quartering and ranging too far.

He said:

1. dial up the collar.

2. give no warning buzz; if the dog doesn't respond, give a buzz.

He used to handle dogs for a very large and expensive lodge in SD.. Often he would shock a dog 50 times because they were so hyped and anxious.

Your thoughts?[/QUOTE
your so called pro and self.proclaimed.expert is an idiot...if what he was saying is fact..remember.to be a pro you have only accept one (1) dollar from.someone for.training....sounds.that he did so with that method he was over paid..JMO
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Input Please

If I thought my dog was going to behave that way, I'd have taken him/her out by myself and tuned him up/calmed him down. To have my dog do that in front of other hunters would be embarrassing as hell.... Plus running/controlling two dogs at once is always makes the situation more intense. But it was a tune-up and better now than opening day......if the dog and owner learned from it.
 
quail hound said:
I think you nailed it. The lab and young gsp probably shouldn't be on the ground together until issues are resolved.
Click to expand...
If the lab works well solo this may be the reason, if however the lab gets excited and chases birds out of the country when he is the only dog on the ground it's time to go back to training camp. I am no expert nor a professional but I am extremely reluctant to shock a dog in the presence of birds. In my opinion (however worthless it may be) the risk of the dog associating bird contact with the shock is too great. Just like us, dogs have good days and bad days and maybe this was a rare event but as much as I depend on my e-collar it is not a magic wand or quick fix. It allows me to silently stay in contact with my dogs and it allows me to enforce a command at a distance. I realize a week before the season opens the last thing a hunter wants to hear is that he needs to put in more time training his dog but that sounds like what is needed.
 
UplandHntr said:
I think if youve hunted with this guy for years and with this dog in the past you shouldve known what the outcome would be. You were hunting a GSP and a Lab together? Recipe for disaster except for the best of the best. Its unfair to light up the dog because the owner didnt train him.

Dont take life so seriously is my take on it. Yours will vary
Click to expand...

The Gsp listens well, and my dog is also a lab and when the Gsp points my lab with lock up behind him, this is only the first time my buddies lab has done this, but the dogs have all hunted together before. I don't know what drove the lab to take off it's a first for me.
 
Had similar experiences. A non-pointing breed that goes beyond range is a 100% negative. You're be better off without it afield.
 
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BritChaser said:
Had similar experiences. A non-pointing breed that goes beyond range is a 100% negative. You're be better off without it afield.
Click to expand...

Well in that situation yes but not always.
 
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