Shorthairs

I take my shorthairs with me dove huning as they love to retrieve. I use this time to get them tuned up for hunting in a duck blind as well. Getting them to remain still and retieve on command.

Like any breed, he feather on dove can make them appear to be mouthing the bird, but it is the feathers that stick to their mouths that bothers them.
 
The boy (4) and I just started training our GSP yesterday to dove hunt. We had two buckets in the front yard, a quail dummy and his toy over/under shotgun. Sure the neighbors got a kick out of watching us. So far, so good with the training.
 
KansasGsp said:
The boy (4) and I just started training our GSP yesterday to dove hunt. We had two buckets in the front yard, a quail dummy and his toy over/under shotgun. Sure the neighbors got a kick out of watching us. So far, so good with the training.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the help. I'm working with mine but of course I'll also be grouse hunting. I think it would be fun and good work to take him. Duck hunting on the other hand I don't spend much time with because the season is shorter and of course with the cool gear and shows out, everyone seems to be wanting to duck hunt. So I'm taking that to a advantage to get on more pheasant and quail.
 
I did this and was told not too!!! I did it anyway!!! One problem! After the first 2 retrieves my dog would just go out in the alfalfa field and lock up on point! Would not move!!! I had to get off my bucket and go retrieve myself!!! Thought it was going to be nice for me, not having to go pick up birds!!! She did find them all!!!! I think she didn't like all those small feathers in her mouth and was just paying me back!!!!!:cheers:
 
dove hunting

i have taken all my shorthairs dove hunting just about forever, mostly though, i let them just run around and be idiots. my goal is to get them in shape for serious work, toughen their paws. sit still they will, they don't need that. word of caution though is to bring lots of water and maybe even carry a qt. or two in your vest, lot's of days are in the high 90's. many dogs don't really love retrieving dove as the feathers come off plus many of them have sand burrs. it is rare that a dog running around getting in shape will not see the bird fall . be especially mindful of the heat, i watch also for snakes but don't ever see any. once a dog has learned to sit he will understand the difference between work and play. for me it is prime conditioning time

cheers
 
mustistuff said:
i have taken all my shorthairs dove hunting just about forever, mostly though, i let them just run around and be idiots. my goal is to get them in shape for serious work, toughen their paws. sit still they will, they don't need that. word of caution though is to bring lots of water and maybe even carry a qt. or two in your vest, lot's of days are in the high 90's. many dogs don't really love retrieving dove as the feathers come off plus many of them have sand burrs. it is rare that a dog running around getting in shape will not see the bird fall . be especially mindful of the heat, i watch also for snakes but don't ever see any. once a dog has learned to sit he will understand the difference between work and play. for me it is prime conditioning time

cheers
Click to expand...

I was going to say making a dog sit still for dove hunting must be torture for the poor dog lol. My JP (unruly springer) regularly retrieves for 4 guns in the dove fields (vineyards), running like a maniac the between the guns the entire time.:cheers:
 
I like to go dove hunting with other hunters as well. Two of my dogs retieve to the hand and only for me. Makes getting my limit of birds real easy :D:D
 
retrieving

OKIEGunner said:
I like to go dove hunting with other hunters as well. Two of my dogs retieve to the hand and only for me. Makes getting my limit of birds real easy :D:D
Click to expand...

if your dogs did that on a pheasant hunt you wouldn't think is was so cute especially with two buddies and their limits, better retrain your mutt or at least have him smarten up a bit

cheers
 
mustistuff said:
if your dogs did that on a pheasant hunt you wouldn't think is was so cute especially with two buddies and their limits, better retrain your mutt or at least have him smarten up a bit

cheers
Click to expand...

Careful.... them's is fighting words when talking about another mans dogs. :eek:
 
Last edited:
My dog will retrieve to someone besides me... if they get on their knees and beg and plead lol.
 
retrieving

sounds like your mutts are better trained than mine, my dogs would rather stay home than give you your bird that you shot, they won't eat it though, think it has something to do with how fast the birds are!!!!!

cheers
 
I think it is very common and natural for any dog to retrieve to it's handler/owner or to whomever trained the dog, regardless of who shot the bird. In fact I would say it is more uncommon for them to NOT do so.

That being said, a dog who quite often is hunted by different people, would be the exception, but not the rule.
 
think ya got it

my dog would surely share your sandwich with you but a bird, ya gotta be kiddin. dogs that are not idiot pets are more generous, getting the bird is what really counts. all kinda funny unless you get stuck carrying all the birds, dove, not a problem but not sure how the law would look at it

cheers
 
I've almost never seen a dog that didn't retrieve to anyone but it's master. Except in the case of a buddy of mine, who adopted a professionally trained lav from another friend. 8 guys in the field, 5 labs, a bird is shot and it's a mad dash by all those dogs after the bird. His adopted lab gets there first and another is shot, so she goes after that one, too, bird already in her mouth. She ended up running in circles not knowing where to go, until she got near me and I gave the command and she delivered it to hand.

One of the first roosters I shot as a 12 year old kid was hunting with my dad and a buddy of his. Our setter pointed the bird, I flushed, shot it and in dashes the guys lab, grabs it and takes off for the master. No amount of shouting or anything is going to stop that dog from taking the bird, as trained, to his master.
 
birdshooter said:
I think it is very common and natural for any dog to retrieve to it's handler/owner or to whomever trained the dog, regardless of who shot the bird. In fact I would say it is more uncommon for them to NOT do so.

That being said, a dog who quite often is hunted by different people, would be the exception, but not the rule.
Click to expand...

when I picked up my dog from the trainer and we did our hunt, i could tell the dog was torn where to take it. The first bird the trainer flushed so that went fine, but when I shot the second one the dog literally stopped and did a double take LOL! i said his name and he brought it to me, but yeah, over the years i have mostly hunted with other people and their dogs and most of the time, if not all of the time, the birds I shot were handed to me from my buddy, not his dog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top