erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/03/2010 4:26 PM |
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I bought a couple of pheasant wings and was wondering what kind of dummy I should attach them to. I have an orange bumper, which is chewed up. Can I take tape or zip ties and attach them to it? |
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Texas Belle Austin, TX
 MH Posts:7834


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| 05/03/2010 8:53 PM |
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| You can attach the wings with either or you could use velcro strips or elastic. I have to ask though, what are you using the wings for? What kind of training are you doing? |
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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 |
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 8:28 AM |
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| I want to get her used to retrieving something other than the ball. |
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trueblushorthairs
 MH Posts:129


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| 05/04/2010 9:37 AM |
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| I would tell you to use a frozen quail for a few fun retrieves and throw the wings away. Further, I would tell you to not use balls for retrieving. Balls tend to make dogs crunch. Frozen birds make them go easy on the bird. Bumpers are good especially the harder plastic type. Just remember, a few retrieves is far far better than a bunch. Always leave them wanting more!! |
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 9:58 AM |
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| I don't think we could give up using balls for retrieving. It's her favorite thing to do. She can go after the ball all day, and we use the chuckit to save our arms. She always wants more no matter how long she's been retrieving. I have a hard plastic bumper that we use too, but we can't throw it as far. I don't know where to get frozen quail. |
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pixie bee
 MH Posts:4448


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| 05/04/2010 10:19 AM |
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Are you going to hunt her? If not keep using the ball. They fly far and they float. Altho, there are ways to make your game much more challenging,which will tire her out. If you bought the wings for hunting training purposes there are better ways to use them then attaching them as a thrown retrieve. |
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"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
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 10:40 AM |
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| My boyfriend might hunt her once or twice a year. What suggestions do you have to make the game more challenging? How should I use the wings? |
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pixie bee
 MH Posts:4448


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| 05/04/2010 10:57 AM |
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I would have her steady until told to fetch. I would have her retreve to hand with a sit and command to drop. I would have her doing directional commands,long(200+yards) retrieves on land and in water and I would start with teaching blinds. For directional commands there is a game called baseball. You can google it. I would hide the wings in cover and have her search for them. Throw them in water and have her retreive them. So much fun to be had, the dog will be tired with the combo of physical and mental. |
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"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
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 11:03 AM |
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| Thanks! |
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Texas Belle Austin, TX
 MH Posts:7834


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| 05/04/2010 11:07 AM |
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pixie and trueblu actually addressed my concern when I asked what you were going to use the wings and bumpers for. As for frozen quail, find a NAVDHA group or hang out a Field Trial or Hunt Test. They always end up with some dead quail. Put them on ice and take them home and stick them in your freezer. Then you have them when you want them. Or find someone who raises quail in your area and ask them to freeze any dead ones for you. Or buy some live quail and use them for training and keep any that end up dead. Actually if you are planning on hunting her for even a few days a year you should find a local NAVDHA chapter and take her to some of their training days. You will meet some nice folks and they will be able to help you allot with training. |
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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 |
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 11:34 AM |
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The nearest NAVDHA is about 5 hours away. I am planning to attend some hunt tests or field trials at some point to observe, but they are more than 2 hours away. What is the concern with the wings? That they don't smell like a live bird? Neither do frozen quail, right? Is it the texture? She is good at dropping the ball, long retrieves, and finding it when she doesn't see where I threw it (blind retrieves?). |
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 11:36 AM |
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| Also, I've never really handled dead birds, except chicken and turkey from the grocery store. It might take a bit for me to get used to. |
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/04/2010 1:50 PM |
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| The original intent of my post was to determine whether to use a plastic or canvas bumper. |
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pixie bee
 MH Posts:4448


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| 05/04/2010 1:56 PM |
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Plastic - they float,they don't hold dirt and they won't smell. |
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"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
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trueblushorthairs
 MH Posts:129


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| 05/10/2010 3:56 PM |
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I am guessing this will really be a pet and not a hunting dog. But, I will still answer out of somewhat morbid curiosity. Dogs tend to crunch balls, so they tend to crunch game. Hard frozen quail are for retrieving and not for scenting, finding, or pointing. Wings are useless for anything at all. If you will use the dog as a HUNTING dog then please get help training the dog. If not, maybe do some agility or something and don't plan to hunt the dog. |
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MelB
 MH Posts:1217


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| 05/10/2010 7:00 PM |
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hmm ok so reading this post may have answered some questions I had also about wings. I was going to get some and plant them in the woods and have Xara find them. Not a good idea? a guy at work mentioned getting some canvas dummies and scenting them with pheasant pee and planting those in various outdoor spots. From what I read here again not a good idea as she may develope the habit of biting down too hard? |
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Texas Belle Austin, TX
 MH Posts:7834


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trueblushorthairs
 MH Posts:129


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| 05/11/2010 6:56 AM |
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I'm sure I seemed harsh in my second response. But, reality, is that if wings are not real birds. Planted pen birds are not wild birds. Pheasant scent smells little like the real thing, balls make them crunch, planted dummies and any type of drags make dogs put their nose on the ground and act like bloodhounds. Best scenario is to have an area that holds wild birds and let the dog use its nose IN THE AIR, not on the ground, to scent, point, hold, chase, the wild birds. Wild birds will never be caught so the dog learns to hunt, find birds in likely areas, and then can't catch, so they learn they better point and hold or no reward. Second best option is good flying pen birds loosely released, not planted per se, so that dog can do as above. Did I mention GOOD flying pen birds. Wings are a parlor trick, scents are garbage, for ANY pointing dog!!
May sound harsh again, but just telling you like it is. |
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erikacarrillo La Honda, CA
 MH Posts:229

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| 05/11/2010 8:55 AM |
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| I haven't been able to find a bird dog trainer in my area, but like I said, I hope to find time to take her to some hunt tests and field trials. Keeping birds on the property is not something I have time for, nor would I know how to handle them for training. |
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pixie bee
 MH Posts:4448


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| 05/11/2010 10:11 AM |
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How do you expect to do well in these tests with only training with wings and bumpers? |
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"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
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