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Post by genesis273 on Nov 6, 2022 15:53:01 GMT -5
Let me preface this by saying that I do not own a bird dog and my knowledge of them is limited.
I went on a pheasant/quail hunt this morning. There were 7 of us hunters and 8 dogs. I was able to see essentially two types of dogs. Good ones and bad ones. One guy in the group was nonstop yelling at both his dogs. Not sure if it's a combination of both, bad dog and handler or what.
The others were what I considered to be good dogs. They didn't get too far ahead of us, they obeyed their handlers every command, and they absolutely lived for the hunt.
They were honoring each other's points, not interfering with one dog's point while perhaps they weren't smelling anything, they weren't chasing the cats, coyotes or deer that we'd jump up. And I didn't hear there handlers having to shock their dogs into compliance one time.
Before the hunt, we all had breakfast together at the shop. The dogs were kenneled then but, when they were loose, they just got to know each other and acted like, well, dogs. But, once that vest or e-collar was put on, they flipped a switch and went straight into work mode.
I was just amazed by watching them work.
Something else that was pretty cool to see was the handlers. The pride in their eyes as their dog was working, getting birdie and then pointing. A few of the handlers didn't care who shot what. They were just as happy watching someone else harvest a bird over their dog as they would have been doing it themselves.
I have hunted with friends who have had dogs before. But, nothing to the caliber of some of the dogs and handlers I had the pleasure of hunting with today.
I can see the allure of having not just a bird dog but, a GOOD bird dog.
Although nothing was harvested by me, three quail, two woodcocks and three rabbits left with other hunters this morning.
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Post by kicker on Nov 6, 2022 19:14:27 GMT -5
My love of hunting was introduced to me by my father n law. He was an avid bird hunter and had english pointers and a german short hair pointer. The best dog i ever owned was from a mom and pop hunter. Paid 100$ for a german shorthair pointer. trained her myself and man could she find quail, retrieve geese, and track a downed deer. As the yrs went by, we slowly lost most of our hunting ground to development. On the family farm, it was nothing to have 4 to 6 coveys of quail on the 150 acres. Sadly, those days are gone. I now own the farm and couldnt tell you the last time I actually saw or heard quail. None of us have dogs anymore as I just dont want to invest the time into training a puppy at 56 yrs of age. Also, kinda nice when I dont get yelled at by the boss about what my dog did while I was out of the house.
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Post by span870 on Nov 7, 2022 6:01:14 GMT -5
Huge pet peave of mine is dogs that don't listen. Don't get why so many overlook that aspect of training. I keep it simple with my beagles. Come and no. All I care for them to need to liten to and it takes care of all situations but they best listen NOW. I do run correction collars on mine at all times. Used properly they are a great training tool. Amazing how just a beep will get them to understand the seriousness of any situation.
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Post by budd on Nov 7, 2022 7:16:39 GMT -5
As a retriever trainer I can say I use my collar a LOT, but because it is being used correctly the average person wouldn't even thing I ever pushed the buttons.
I send my dogs with a friend to guide in SD for a month every fall, he said it sure makes him feel good when they call for the A team to impress certain client groups.
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Post by bgiancola on Nov 7, 2022 10:40:35 GMT -5
Two bird dogs here, both English Setters. A Male at 20 mo and female at 6mo. My male has lights out, been one of the best performing and best-handling dogs I've ever had/witnessed. ONE command and he listens, WHOAs and holds for days, etc. We've shot better than 160 birds over him in the last 12 months. I have not shocked him for any reason for at least a year. My Female, however, is a great retriever, whereas my male will find and hold a dog, but rarely retrieves to hand. Honestly, I've never lost a bird under him, so I'm pleased thus far and receiving work does continue with him. My female is quite a bit behind my male in her handling. She is a bit nutty and stubborn, so I will say that dogs learn proper behaviours in varying speeds. However, I've noticed that she's reached a turning point recently, much as I remember my male had. Unless the dogs you witnessed are 3+ years old, they should be expected to be a bit nutty, but it is definitely on the handler to KEEP pushing the dog for obedience and a wild dog is definitely the result of a poor handler.
My males breeder is a 35yr veteran and trainer in Iowa. I spent a couple hours with him every few weeks for the first few months. While I remember friends driving their dogs hard and correcting everything they did, he 100% believes in creating well-handled dog first and allowing it to learn to hunt under their own instinct. Until his dogs have seen 100hrs in the field, he doesn't correct their hunting mistakes. He lets them fail and learn. Of course it only takes a short time before these dogs have figured out what is right and what not to do. Only on his very experienced dogs does he use any correction in the field.
I would rather hunt over a well-handled dog who misses some birds, than a wild beast who is completely impossible to control.
It is awesome to have a bird dog, but amazing to have a good dog. And when dogs learn to work with each other and hunt with one another, it's incredible.
When I throw shotguns in the truck and grab their collars, these dogs do not leave the side of the truck, for fear I may leave them. I know the desire and want the hunt, perhaps more than I.
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Post by ccavacini on Nov 7, 2022 11:45:34 GMT -5
If 8 dogs were put down at once, I think that would create a lot of distraction--for the hunters and the dogs.
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Post by genesis273 on Nov 7, 2022 23:01:35 GMT -5
If 8 dogs were put down at once, I think that would create a lot of distraction--for the hunters and the dogs. For someone like me, who doesn't get to hunt over dogs that often, it was a bit chaotic. I held off on two shots because I just couldn't confirm dog locations. Some of the others had no issues with it. I'm definitely not complaining, or at least I hope that's not how I came off. I was mostly mesmerized by the dogs and their love for the hunt. It was cool seeing the handlers watching their dogs with pride in their eyes. That's what I was trying to convey. |
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Post by hatchetjack on Nov 12, 2022 23:57:29 GMT -5
If 8 dogs were put down at once, I think that would create a lot of distraction--for the hunters and the dogs. Agreed. |
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Post by duff on Nov 23, 2022 5:49:20 GMT -5
I really enjoy hunting behind dogs. Even span's beagles. I had a chessie for 11 years. He could have been better but his trainer was an idiot... hunted with what I felt were great pointers, decent retrievers and a few that were pets tossed into the field because they were labs. The good dogs responded to basic obedience commands.
These days my favorite bird dog is my hunting buddy's. A great day is awesome and a bad day is still fun for me, so long the hunters and dogs are not injured!
I will say, those handlers and dogs that are top tier are amazing to experience.
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