Having fun in Kansa

westksbowhunter said:
That is usually the response when its put up or shut up!
Click to expand...

Actually I saw in a thread a while ago you said guys have to leave their dogs at home when they hunt with you. And I dont hunt without my dogs. My dogs not my robots:) Plus your dogs would have to flush birds that are already being pointed. You probably wouldn't like that.
 
PheasantWhisperer said:
Actually I saw in a thread a while ago you said guys have to leave their dogs at home when they hunt with you. And I dont hunt without my dogs. My dogs not my robots:) Plus your dogs would have to flush birds that are already being pointed. You probably wouldn't like that.
Click to expand...

You know, I never insulted anyone or their dogs on this thread. And my dogs do point also. A dog can learn to hunt by going and getting into enough wild birds. But the process is much easier if you know how to train. By putting a puppy through a solid training program, you have given the dog every advantage it needs to succeed in the field. Pigeons can not replace wild birds but they sure help to enhance all of those hunting characteristics that was instilled in them at birth. Not to mention, obedience which makes for an enjoyable hunting companion. A dog that has already been taught to quarter has a great advantage versus a dog that is just turned loose in the field for the first time. Using planting pigeons and chukar in heaving cover teaches a dog where to find birds. Besides, a training program helps to develop the partnership between dog and owner. If you search the web for any of the top kennels in the country, everyone of them put their dogs through a thorough training program, whether it is a pointing breed or flushing breed.

Anytime people start slinging around insults about a person who takes the time to train dogs, it is generally because they lack the ability to put a dog through a solid training program or they lack the discipline to see it through.
 
westksbowhunter said:
You know, I never insulted anyone or their dogs on this thread. And my dogs do point also. A dog can learn to hunt by going and getting into enough wild birds. But the process is much easier if you know how to train. By putting a puppy through a solid training program, you have given the dog every advantage it needs to succeed in the field. Pigeons can not replace wild birds but they sure help to enhance all of those hunting characteristics that was instilled in them at birth. Not to mention, obedience which makes for an enjoyable hunting companion. A dog that has already been taught to quarter has a great advantage versus a dog that is just turned loose in the field for the first time. Using planting pigeons and chukar in heaving cover teaches a dog where to find birds. Besides, a training program helps to develop the partnership between dog and owner. If you search the web for any of the top kennels in the country, everyone of them put their dogs through a thorough training program, whether it is a pointing breed or flushing breed.

Anytime people start slinging around insults about a person who takes the time to train dogs, it is generally because they lack the ability to put a dog through a solid training program or they lack the discipline to see it through.[/QUO


Your quote insulting every other dog but yours was on a different thread earlier in the year. And I do agree with you on being able to train properly. If you are gonna bird hunt you should train your dog to do what you want. But I believe you can accelerate that training by seeing what a young dog will do first. I currently have one dog that honored other dogs naturally. She did it when she was only about 16 weeks old. And did it every time. So I can skip that step in the training process. She pointed naturally of course like all the rest. Retrieved naturally to hand. I don't wing and shot my dogs anyway so she was good there. Her range has been what I want. She liked to dive in on point when I went in to kick so I had to break her of that. But it wasn't that hard. And like you said, in the off season I did plant birds in the cover type that I want her to hunt. She did need off-season work, but not much of it. I got to skip a lot of steps because of the natural hunting form she already possessed. But I wouldn't have known that if I didn't let her hunt. Now my little setter is a different story. I'm going to have to range her back in a bit. But not much because I want the wheels with this one. And I am going to have to go through force fetch training with her. Doesn't retrieve like my other two. But she points, backs, points from distance, and tracks running birds really well. But again, wouldn't know that if I didn't cut her lose in the field. This is her first season and she has found birds for me. I'm predicting she will take about a month and a half of training, then re-enforcement this off-season.
Click to expand...
 
I love it when one guy challenges another to show off dogs to another on the internet. It's almost as good as when one guy offer to fist fight on a message board. :)


No one is saying that dogs don't need training. But four months before they go out hunting to me, seems excessive. But I think that it depends on what your goals are for the dog. Do you want a dog that is simply a hunting companion? If so, I'm can't say that I'm in agreement that a four month training program is necessary before hunting the puppy. Believe me, I am in complete understanding for the necessities of a 'trained dog'. I compete in field trials where the dogs are required to be completely broke. So I understand that. (coming from a pointing dog perspective of course)

Nobody is saying that training isn't necessary. What I am saying is that a 'four month program' isn't prior to hunting.

Frankly, I don't even know what sort of dog (pointing vs. flushing) and I'm not sure I care.

I also have a loft full of pigeons, birds that have flown from 400 to 600 miles and I understand them and love having them around too. I understand their usefulness in training too.

(Oh, and if I have a pointing dog, I don't want it to quarter.... But then again, my style and dog types are probably different from others.)


Edit - I incorrectly made a mistake and put "breeding" in a spot that "Training" should have been. Thank you for pointing that out to me Westksbowhunter
 
Last edited:
You guys should all just be thankful that you and your dogs of whatever type are out enjoying the hunting. My two labs are still pissed about me foolishly breaking my leg on Oct. 17 while running them at the park the week before our planned SoDak trip. The whole season was lost and no bird-work for the boys. Hopefully I can do some pen-raised practice hunts in Feb/Mar after I get rid of this crutch. Get all that hunting, or dog training, in while you can as you never know when your life can change.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top