Has your dog ever had a bad day?

[Live2Hunt]

I could give some advice after hunting uplands with pointing dogs for 40 years- there are others who can say and intruct much better- I never said anything about his dog- all youngsters can be a handfull-

tell me where I said I've never had a bad bird dog day-

what do you consider a bad dog day-

starting 2 4 month old Britt pups in pheasants with jackrabbits and cottontails in big open country without shock collars- was challenging

Re read your original post. Second paragraph starts with the word "you" Now since this thread was started by one individual and everyone who has posted up to that point was referring to that one individual and how they have dealt with their dogs the word "you" sounded and still sounds to me like you (Shadow) are referring to the author of this thread.
If you (Shadow) did not mean the original author of this thread, then whom are you referring to in that sentence?
I never said you have not experienced a bad bird dog day. I made the comment with sarcasm intended because this thread was a forum member asking a question about a young dog in snow. Your post made no mention to the author how to attempt to deal with his problem. Hence the sarcasm.

What I consider a bad dog day is when a trained bird dog does not do what its training and instinct tell it to do.

This particular breed of dog that this post was started about does have a tendency to mature later than other bird dogs.
I have owned and hunted over several different pointing breed dogs and a few versatile breed dogs.
I have a 5 year old of this particular breed of dog. My dog started out wonderful in hunting but in his second year, he did more wrong then correct.
In his fourth year, he was constantly out performing the black lab in the duck blind I use to hunt (fyi to who it may concern. do not let your dog out perform the owner of a duck blinds dog. you will not be invited back)
Now in his fifth year he has started to quarter out and around a running rooster. In a sense blocking the bird from running any further then pointing the now confused rooster.
My point being that although this is a slow to mature bird dog breed. I am hopeful that hockeybob will read my posts about a Small Munsterlander and perhaps talk to other owners of the breed. If he does it may give him the encouragement to continue to work with his dog.

Given that you have 40 plus years of experience with pointing dogs perhaps you might have some word of encouragement or advice to hockeybob on how to assist in training his dog

I am being very sincere since I still recall trying to train dogs and I also recall some helpful hunter/trainers I have known along the way.
:thumbsup:

 

[oldandnew]

I think we are all making to much of an isolated instance in the case of the original poster, if this behavior continues, then we have a whole new discussion. In the "snow factor", theory, I think everybody is right. In icy crusted snow that's been down awhile, to the point the birds have adapted to life with the white blanket, then I think they mostly run like devils, if you can push them into holding cover, where there's no option but run across a bare field or flush in the open, they hold like ticks. In the first soft wet snow, they freeze and hold, hoping the dog misses them, and the hunters walk by. Nice picture Shadow, I almost feel sorry for that bird, almost, but pheasants have made a fool of me so many times, I don't give passes like that. Besides, what would the dogs think!

 

[Shadow]

I think we are all making to much of an isolated instance in the case of the original poster, if this behavior continues, then we have a whole new discussion. In the "snow factor", theory, I think everybody is right. In icy crusted snow that's been down awhile, to the point the birds have adapted to life with the white blanket, then I think they mostly run like devils, if you can push them into holding cover, where there's no option but run across a bare field or flush in the open, they hold like ticks. In the first soft wet snow, they freeze and hold, hoping the dog misses them, and the hunters walk by. Nice picture Shadow, I almost feel sorry for that bird, almost, but pheasants have made a fool of me so many times, I don't give passes like that. Besides, what would the dogs think!

well said oldandnew-

I wasn't sure how my 2 youngsters would do- totally new experience- figured they might stick their noses in or bust in- wanted them to learn on their own- and ready to help by setting them back and whoaing if necessary- glad to say they each learned by smelling and believing there was a pheasant under that white stuff and they held solid- also helped them in that they saw the others hold solid and they backed- while I would walk up real close- to give encouragement and then back up- I like to do it that way most all times- and in new different conditions it's important to me- not so important that I get a shot but important that they learn they must not move- and a bird comes up

really have always believed a youngster in new different conditions such as we had that they be with a a real good experienced dog- so they see and experience why the solid point and back is important- or you set you and the youngster up for all sorts of bad times ahead- some even that can't be corrected without some real help-

so in short- let a youngster learn by being with a real good dog and be ready to help and never shoot at a non properly held bird and back

 

[Shadow]

Live2Hunt- by the way- really like your handle- you must be superb- I started at 8 with a slingshot- first dog was a Golden Retriever- moved to Kansas at 21 for the upands and pointing dogs- that was 1972

all I really can say to you is- what are the first words of my original post

can you have a litter in July- raise and keep 2 pups- without any formal training and have those two point and back on pheasants on the opener- and still perform properly the next 2 season
and the brother to these 2 are winning in NSTRA

can show you pictures of their first time in pheasants at 4 months

 

[SetterNut]

Can a dog have a bad day. Yep mine did today.
Worst I have seen him handle quail since his first season.