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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 10/08/2012 6:35 PM |
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Took Rowdy on an afternoon duck and grouse hunt today, with the intention of working the woods for grouse on the way out to the lake to duck hunt. Within five minutes he located a covey of blue grouse, I stepped in and shot one of them, before the other 4 were gone, careening through the fir trees. A mile or so later he bumped another pair of blues, so I didn't shoot at them. We got to the lake and I was able to shoot two hen mallard, one of which he made an EXCELLENT 40 yard swimming water retrieve on out in the open water, and retrieved to hand. Needless to say I was stoked. The second mallard he went out in the weeds to get, picked it up and carried it towards me before spitting it out halfway and coming back to me without the duck. I took him back out to the duck but he wouldn't pick it up, so I dragged it in the water back to where I originally was standing when I said fetch. He got all worked up and chased it through the water mouthing at it. When he picked it up, I praised the heck out of him. Overall a great day, with great exposure for the young pup.
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 10/09/2012 5:25 AM |
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WOW!
I gotta tell ya -
you got one heck of a pup there.
My dogs would never have performed the way yours has in your recent hunting posts - not at 6 months old,anyway.
First duck hunt and doing 5 cold blinds,40 yard swims,resends -
can't wait to see this dog at 5 years old.
Happy hunting.
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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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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 10/09/2012 5:25 AM |
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WOW!
I gotta tell ya -
you got one heck of a pup there.
My dogs would never have performed the way yours has in your recent hunting posts - not at 6 months old,anyway.
First duck hunt and doing 5 cold blinds,40 yard swims,resends -
can't wait to see this dog at 5 years old.
Happy hunting.
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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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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 10/09/2012 6:25 AM |
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Can you post his breeding?
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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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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 10/09/2012 7:39 AM |
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Wow, thanks PB, I can't tell you how much that means to me. He is a great dog and I'm definitely impressed with him. I was initially concerned about him with water, since the breeder doesn't do NAVHDA, only Field Trials, but the water doesn't seem to be an issue. Here's his breeder's website. Another member on here also has a pup from my breeder. www.hardpointkennels.com He has some of the strongest prey drive I've ever seen in a dog, which I think helps with the water retrieves. He sees the birds hit the ground or water and wants to go after them. Thanks again for the comments and it really means a lot. I think it's more natural ability than any training I've done, haha. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 10/09/2012 8:37 AM |
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Rowdy is definitely the poster boy for FT bred vdogs
Can you share your secrets?
how did you get him to the 5 cold blinds?
what was the water temps - poor guy looks a bit skinny to handle multiple cold water retrieves |
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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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BadDogPSD
Posts:3
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| 10/09/2012 11:33 AM |
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What an awesome first hunt! Way to go Rowdy! |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 10/09/2012 5:39 PM |
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| The water temp yesterday was only around 60 or so. On the opener the water temp was just above freezing. Yeah, he's very skinny and was wearing a wet suit, but I can't seem to put weight on him. His dad is also very skinny. He has such amazing prey drive I don't think he minds the water. As for the 5 blinds, he didn't retrieve the 5 ducks on the opener that he didn't see, I had to go out with him and show him the ducks. If he sees the bird fall though, he is all over it. As for my secret, it's more his natural ability/genetics and prey drive than anything I have done. He has great lines and has 10 FC's in his pedigree. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 10/10/2012 5:18 AM |
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At that age, I would have needed a box of rocks to do blinds and resends,without a trained retrieve (ff) and handling skills it's difficult.
Genetics is the main ingredient for a capable dog.
Looking forward to hearing about more hunts, keep up the good work.
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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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Trooper
Posts:1
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| 10/10/2012 11:20 AM |
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Rowdy looks EXACTLY like my Trooper. I had a friend on facebook looking to sell their gsp because they lived in town and didn't expect him to be so "wild". Last friday I picked him up for a weekend "test drive". Friday night after 2 hours I was ready to take him back. I realized he was excited in a new home. Saturday morning I took him grouse hunting which he has never been trained or saw a grouse before. On the way to my hunting cabin, I did a little back road hunting and was able to get one. I let Trooper go check it out. He wasn't to sure but I picked up the bird and walked back to the truck. Trooper tried grabbing it out of my hand so I let him carry it. I tossed it back into the woods a few times to get him to retrieve it. We then proceeded to work the woods. He stayed close in front of me. We kicked up several woodcock and later about 7 grouse. He isn't sniffing them out. I brought him back home and he was no longer "wild" he was the "perfect" house dog. I run him every morning before work to keep his energy level at bay. I took Trooper hunting last night. I can't get him to get off the log road and work the woods. As a human I don't blame him ha! It's so much easier walking on a logging road vs in thick cover.
I need help, how do you train to work side to side vs straight in front of you? I'm going to try something this weekend. I have two 9 year old boys. I think I will walk in the middle, have both boys on each side of me spread out and cover a section by having the boys take turns calling Trooper to them. Hopes that he "scans" the woods better by doing this. I also don't know how to get him to "smell" birds. I still have wings from Saturdays bird. I try to train by rubber banding wings to a dummy with grouse scent I picked up at a store. He doesn't seem to link it all together. He is 11 months and hasn't been worked with for hunting EVER. Does anyone think this will make a difference having a late start?
Happy Hunting! |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 10/10/2012 12:59 PM |
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| Grouse don't smell very much, unless they have recently moved around and left a scent cone. As for quartering, that comes naturally to some dogs, others you may have to work on it with. One way to train it is to zig-zag back and forth whenever you take him on walks in the woods. He should follow the direction you go. After a while, he should start working the woods side to side by himself, while you walk in a straight line. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 10/11/2012 9:00 AM |
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quote]I need help, how do you train to work side to side vs straight in front of you? I'm going to try something this weekend. I have two 9 year old boys. I think I will walk in the middle, have both boys on each side of me spread out and cover a section by having the boys take turns calling Trooper to them. Hopes that he "scans" the woods better by doing this. I also don't know how to get him to "smell" birds. I still have wings from Saturdays bird. I try to train by rubber banding wings to a dummy with grouse scent I picked up at a store. He doesn't seem to link it all together. He is 11 months and hasn't been worked with for hunting EVER. Does anyone think this will make a difference having a late start?[/quote
Depending on how old the dog is and his breeding, a late start may make a difference. Nothing beats exposure so that's what you'll need to give this dog.
If you can consistenty get him in areas with birds I would ride out the hunting season w/o any controlled training.
The idea with your boys won't hurt and worth a try.
Don't talk too much, maybe not at all - this will distract the dog and make him think he should stay closer and pay more attention to you.
For now, IMO, you will want the dog exploring as much on his own as possible.
Don't expect too much the first few times out, he needs to get a feel for it. Once he does, he will begin using his nose - this is the key - using his nose, along with learning to use wind and terrain to his advantage.
Have fun.
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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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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 10/11/2012 1:16 PM |
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| ^^This is good advice. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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oneal3337
Great Falls, Mt
MH
Posts:107
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| 10/12/2012 3:35 PM |
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| Rowdy's doing very well. Sounds like your having a great season as well. Keep getting him on as many birds as you can while keeping standards high and you'll have no problem competing in some NSTRA events next spring. Good luck with the rest of your season! |
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