Too old....?

[Wind River]

A dog learns from every bird it can encounter. Never seen a dog with too much experience. Enjoy the journey.
If you like to gamble, go to Vegas. If you enjoy hunting birds, go to the Dakotas. Never too late. Only love you can buy.

 

[Bob Peters]

Viet cong?

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

Viet cong?

Yes, or Versatile Champion. You know, like labs, springers, & golden retrievers. Actual versatile breeds.

 

[westksbowhunter]

Good morning guys,
I have a question for the group. I'm 46 and have been a life long pheasant hunter but due to one thing or another, I've never owned my own bird dog. I have finally come the conclusion that if I'm going to continue to hunt that I need one. My question is, am I too late in the game? Its seems a little over whelming with training and all the different breeds. I would be doing the training and discipline myself as I just cant afford sending to a pro. (2 kids in college) So what say you? Go for it or take up golf!

46, you're just a kid. I trained my first dog at 14. If I live to be 100 and need a dog, you bet your ass I am going to get one. I have never been without one and never will be without one. I guarantee you golf is much more expensive than owning and training a dog.

 

[gps4]

Get a dog.

 

[jonnyB]

Honestly I would say you are at a better time than someone in their mid thirties with toddlers running around.

However the reality is this whether you are 20, 35, 50, or 70 you can obtain and train a bird dog. Will it always be a vc? No but it will hunt birds and it will hunt them well.

Obedience training following either a book, podcast, or you tube standing stone video series is free (or close to free). That is the base of a good bird dog. You can train a dog with birds if you live somewhere that has birds you are in luck if you don't that will be the most expensive part.

IF you have property or friends with property put a recall pen up and raise chukars or quail. If not you will pay 10-15 bucks a chukar or quail. Reality is though you can help the dog figure it out with 50 birds or less.

Bought my sixth Golden at the ripe age of 85...still have a few years of hunting left in me!

 

[Bowguy]

46? Drink some milk buddy! Ah just kidding. 46 is not even remotely old. Heck lots of us wish we were still 46. Nothing we can do you can’t do.

 

[Mara5]

Training a birddog is pretty simple. If you did your homework and bought a well bred pup, he'll train himself. All you have to do is provide guidance. BIG decision is do you want a pointer or flusher, the training is different for each. Training is not rocket science, common sense. What levels of training is up to you. Good luck, and i'd kill to be 46 again.

 

[Zak406]

Bought my sixth Golden at the ripe age of 85...still have a few years of hunting left in me!

Quite impressive. I am happy to hear you are doing so well at that age! I am 35 going on 36. In my state/county life expectancy for a male is 76.2. My hope is I have 4 dogs left in me before I go.

 

[Drew]

Good morning guys,
I have a question for the group. I'm 46 and have been a life long pheasant hunter but due to one thing or another, I've never owned my own bird dog. I have finally come the conclusion that if I'm going to continue to hunt that I need one. My question is, am I too late in the game? Its seems a little over whelming with training and all the different breeds. I would be doing the training and discipline myself as I just cant afford sending to a pro. (2 kids in college) So what say you? Go for it or take up golf!

Oh man!!!! Buy a dog, but make sure you buy a dog breed that fits your personality and hunting style. You will never regret owning the right dog. Additionally, buy a copy of the book "Gun Dog" by Richard Wolters. The right dog will be your best friend!! Additionally, your appreciation for bird hunting will reach new levels.

 

[westksbowhunter]

Oh man!!!! Buy a dog, but make sure you buy a dog breed that fits your personality and hunting style. You will never regret owning the right dog. Additionally, buy a copy of the book "Gun Dog" by Richard Wolters. The right dog will be your best friend!! Additionally, your appreciation for bird hunting will reach new levels.

Uh don't buy this book. Instead get the DVD's from Evan Graham or Mike Lardy. Here are others opinions on Gun Dog from the RTF forum. He was a writer not a trainer.

Opinions on Richard Wolters

Having trained only two dogs to be hunter/retrievers my first book I read was Water Dog as it was recommended to me by others who have successfully trained their dogs. I don't do trials just wanted a dog i could go goose and pheasant hunting with. I also train horses so the conditioned response...

www.retrievertraining.net

 

[Goosemaster]

Take the plunge, but beware. Your love for pheasant hunting & desire to do it will skyrocket, even if you think that's impossible. You only need to establish what level you'd like your dog trained to. It takes very little to have a decently trained dog (basic obedience & stuff) who knows how to hunt pheasants. But regardless of training level, to have a fantastic pheasant dog, he/she needs to hunt a lot. So the story you tell your wife is that it'd be unfair to the dog to NOT hunt all the time.

I see these guys that spend the gazillion dollars with trainers and send their dogs off and all that. That's a waste of money. Just get a dog, and get out and hunt a lot.

 

[Bowguy]

I see these guys that spend the gazillion dollars with trainers and send their dogs off and all that. That's a waste of money. Just get a dog, and get out and hunt a lot.

Thats mostly guys that don’t want to commit to training. Some fellows though put their dog w a handler to make the field trial circuit when they need to work. Though that’s not for me but I understand why

 

[goldenboy]

Flushers, stupid auto correct

I was wondering what a flasher was! I breed Golden Retrievers and I will tell you that half of the training is in the breeding. If you get the right bred dog the desire to hunt will be there. You just need to direct it. Like others have said, your level of a good hunting dog is subject to your expectations. If the dog covers ground in front of you, finds birds, catches cripples, and retrieves them, then you have a great hunting companion. The style in which they do it and how efficient they are comes in the finer sides of training. Get a dog you will never regret the memories and experiences you have with that companion.

 

[Miforester]

Best thing you can do is buy a pup and work/train him or her yourself. The bond you will form with your new hunting companion cannot be replaced. Whatever breed you go with will become a family fixture the moment you bring them home and remember they will be more of family member then hunter. You are a young pup yourself, and once you train to the basic obedience commands, you will learn just as much from your new partner than they will learn from you. I have four dogs ranging from 12 years to 18 months and will continue to buy/breed until i'm no longer able to hunt. The only downside is they don't live as long as they should and their passing takes a piece of your heart, but man the memories and joy they bring during their short lifetime is priceless. Ditch the golf and buy a gundog!

 

[LC Smith]

Good morning guys,
I have a question for the group. I'm 46 and have been a life long pheasant hunter but due to one thing or another, I've never owned my own bird dog. I have finally come the conclusion that if I'm going to continue to hunt that I need one. My question is, am I too late in the game? Its seems a little over whelming with training and all the different breeds. I would be doing the training and discipline myself as I just cant afford sending to a pro. (2 kids in college) So what say you? Go for it or take up golf!

I was 50 when I got my first dedicated upland/pheasant dog. I went in the Pointing Lab direction for a number of reasons. It was the best thing I have done for my hunting experience. He is a family, bird, waterfowl, and boat dog. He has a great on/off switch. And like many others have commented there is a lot to be said about breeding. I researched for almost two years looking for the breeder and breed pair. I also had him trained and got leveled in two different hunt test agencies. Go for it and never look back!

 

[haymaker]

About 20 years ago when I was maybe 55, I bought what I knew was going to be my last dog. I wanted a very good one. I did some research and talked to people that I thought would be helpful, like you are. I bought a very well bred Draht. I paid $1000 dollars for him, and took him ro a trainer and paid another $1000 to have him trained. So yes, I spent some money, but spread out over 10 years it wasn't that much and I think it was some of the best money I ever spent. He was everything I hoped he would be and much more. Hunters that came here praised him as he made many friends. I don't care what breed you choose, but this might be your last dog. I suggest that you make it a great one if you can.

 

[AtTheMurph]

If you and family have the time to give the dog enough exercise, go for it! In my experience the dogs largely will train themselves. I've always had pointing breeds and that part has been easy. Just expose them to birds and they will figure it out. The retrieving to hand is harder but that's never been a big deal to me. If they can find it, I'm good. Although my first, third and current dog retrieved to hand (mostly).

I got my latest dog 2.5 years ago at age 60. I am certainly no expert but like having dog around. It's nice to walk into the house and have at least one being happy to see you!

 

[AtTheMurph]

Quite impressive. I am happy to hear you are doing so well at that age! I am 35 going on 36. In my state/county life expectancy for a male is 76.2. My hope is I have 4 dogs left in me before I go.

That's life expectancy at birth. Quite different than life expectancy at age 36! Every year you live you add on time to your life expectancy. Your LE is into the 80s right now. By the time you're 60 it will be over 85. When you're 80 it will be closer to 90. When you're 90 it ill be 94 or higher. If you're still hunting it will be over 100!

 

[Goosemaster]

I was 50 when I got my first dedicated upland/pheasant dog. I went in the Pointing Lab direction for a number of reasons. It was the best thing I have done for my hunting experience. He is a family, bird, waterfowl, and boat dog. He has a great on/off switch. And like many others have commented there is a lot to be said about breeding. I researched for almost two years looking for the breeder and breed pair. I also had him trained and got leveled in two different hunt test agencies. Go for it and never look back!

59 jesus