Puppies and Chukar

[Bluemoon]

Due to the shortage of African lions roaming North America, there is a strong contingency of Rhodesian Ridgeback owners using them for upland bird hunting.  I have had the pleasure of hunting over a few of them.  And was invited to introduce a new litter to birds and gun fire during the Christmas break.  Where this can be the scariest of any part of training a bird dog it is also the most satisfying watching them come to life.
****No Chukar were harmed or hurt during this training***(for those that care)

[boneaddict]

Photo of said dog(s)?   I know what chukars look like but am not familiar at all with this breed

[Bluemoon]

Photo's are there now..

[Bluemoon]

Picture of the Stud,  "Scipio" learning a force fetch

[Stilly bay]

first its bird hunting with poodles, now its Rhodesians, whats next?? I have a japanese chin with some potential, should I send him down?

very cool blue moon! are these guys going to have any pointing potential?

[Bluemoon]

Well Stilly, you did ask!
Here is another project I'm working with.  The owners of this next one have a very wonderful Pudlepointer.  Their Airedale however loves her birds so we are training her as well.  Abby will be in the field next fall she has a very nice point to her.
The Ridgebacks will work somewhat like a pointing Lab, in thin cover they will charge right in and flush.  But a bird deep in cover they will hold a nice point.  So I'm working them mainly as a flusher keeping them in good shotgun range 

[Houndhunter]

I'd like to cross a ridge back with a hound, prob won't ever get the chance but I like the breed. I like those airedales too, they seem like a very smart breed.

Cool pics, can't beat training pups. I have two youngins im working with now and loving every minute of it.

[boneaddict]

Thanks for the pics.   Cool thread.

[Doc Sauce]

I wanted to do this with my Doberman.  The dog was always trying to track something when I would take her camping with me.  A coupld times it became clear that she was after a  hog or 2. 

Figured I'd get flamed or start a joke or 2 for just suggesting it!  Can you immagine stopping the truck, getting the gear, and then releasing a Dobe!  Folks all over the place would laugh.

Good lookin dogs man.

[h20hunter]

Yep...cool thread. Most of these dogs I believe were raised to manage, track, or 'take on' some kind of critter. I bet a doberman could give a hog a run. Hogs are no joke when it comes to cutters but it would be something to see. The Pudlepointer looks pretty serious.

[NWTFhunter]

I came across 2 guys here in Nd, using a male german shep.