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Subject: What would you do?

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Rose

MH
Posts:362

09/05/2012 9:45 AM
Yesterday while walking with on check cord, Casey pointed, pounced, caught a young hungarian partridge in his mouth, then killed it. This is the second time he caught a young hun by mouth. In the past, he has ran after and snapped at birds as they flew away. For the rest of the walk, again he would catch scent, initially point, but then would pounce at the scent. What would you do? Is emphasis on whoa training the answer? Any advice would be much appreciated...

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4450

09/05/2012 4:42 PM
The one part I would want to change first is the killing of the game. I do not want my dogs kiling game that is supposed to be fit for the table. This may be a sign of hardmouth.Could be a sign of possessiveness. Could be competition with you. I would also change the pounce to steadiness. So, work on whoa and work on some form of a trained retrieve - all trained retrieves begin with hold. how is the dog killing the game - by shaking,by biting down,by swallowing,mouthing,plucking? If he's not a hunting dog not much to worry about. PS - a few hunters may be interested in where you are so they can "properly" harvest those huns

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7843

09/05/2012 7:40 PM
I had this same problem with Ringo. He learned he could catch quail at a hunt test. The problem for us was the birds were pen raised and weak flyers and they were wet from rain. Once he caught the first one (he was pointing and was almost on top of it when it tried to fly and he just grabbed it) then he would point and then put pressure on the bird until it flew, then he would grab it. He didn't kill them and he proudly would bring them to me, but catching them was fun. It only took one HT and a couple of bird catches to create the problem. I fixed it by putting birds in launchers and as soon as he picked up the scent I launched the bird. He learned pretty quick that birds flew if he tried to point on top of them, so he started pointing further out. If you can, don't let him catch any more birds. Then work on retraining him so he realizes that if he tries to get close enough to catch the bird the bird will fly. Good luck.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Rose

MH
Posts:362

09/06/2012 11:01 AM
Thank you. Pixie - Appears he killed it by biting down/mouthing; the skin of bird of unbroken, but bruises on the bird's chest. He did not want to bring the bird back to me. Although with hubby, many times he's brought birds live, undamaged. I agree with possessiveness/competition. This hun was in a public city greenspace- young, not flighty or quick to flush. Both dogs have killed a number of gophers over the summer - adding to the issue? Texas - When I read of Ringo, he reminds me of Casey. He keeps me on my toes. I can see him definitely finding it fun/rewarding. Maybe it's time for a bird launcher, sounds like it's hard to train a bird dog without one(and birds). Out of 365 days a year, we hunt him only 5-10 days. So we realize we get out what we put in. I've decided it'd be good to minimize the killing as it can get us booted out of the park. We've been dealing with insecurity, and fallen behind on hunting.

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