First live bird

[steve04]

Got home from work and was working with the dog in the backyard with a pigeon wing when 2 birds flew into the shrubs. I went over to check it out when my pup came over and sniffed em out. My pup got the dove and the dove flushed right out of his mouth. He now keeps going to that spot sniffing it out. I just introduced him pigeon wings this week. It was a fluke deal that I don't think will ever happen again. It was perfect timing.

[bear hunter]

Got home from work and was working with the dog in the backyard with a pigeon wing when 2 birds flew into the shrubs. I went over to check it out when my pup came over and sniffed em out. My pup got the dove and the dove flushed right out of his mouth. He now keeps going to that spot sniffing it out. I just introduced him pigeon wings this week. It was a fluke deal that I don't think will ever happen again. It was perfect timing.

I use to go under bridges and net pigens then train my dog. works great

[steve04]

I see you are a sheet metal worker.....me too local55. What kind of dog?

[bear hunter]

I see you are a sheet metal worker.....me too local55. What kind of dog?

Yes sir      Chocolate Lab

[NW-GSP]

I see you are a sheet metal worker.....me too local55. What kind of dog?

If your dog is a pointer stop using the wings, you can cause issues later on by using them!

[steve04]

What kind of issues? What do I use?

[Happy Gilmore]

What kind of issues? What do I use?

Get an old dog crate and buy a few pigeons. Put a stick in it for a perch and a few shavings on the bottom. Letting pups chase wings teaches them to sight point and smell the ground versus having a bird and keeping it up higher which helps result in a higher head point and a dog who's learning to smell the air moving instead of tracking the ground where you've walked.

You can watch dogs learning to track a persons footsteps to where they've planted birds especially when folks drill in the same location day after day. This is why it is so very important not to train the same spot all the time. Dogs will develop an expectation and begin acting upon expectation rather than the trained response you are seeking by working with the pup. If you're just traing the dog for a ribbon this is probably ok although, I think you lose style points even if you are a ribbon chaser.

Take the dog out to lots of new grounds. Plant birds even in traps in bushes and trees which block the scent from carrying on the ground. Leave the area for a while, go have lunch, come back and work the planted birds. You'll have a hunter with less of pre-determined expectation and more self drive and style.


"this is just what I've been told"....lol

[Stilly bay]

What kind of issues? What do I use?

Get an old dog crate and buy a few pigeons. Put a stick in it for a perch and a few shavings on the bottom. Letting pups chase wings teaches them to sight point and smell the ground versus having a bird and keeping it up higher which helps result in a higher head point and a dog who's learning to smell the air moving instead of tracking the ground where you've walked.

You can watch dogs learning to track a persons footsteps to where they've planted birds especially when folks drill in the same location day after day. This is why it is so very important not to train the same spot all the time. Dogs will develop an expectation and begin acting upon expectation rather than the trained response you are seeking by working with the pup. If you're just traing the dog for a ribbon this is probably ok although, I think you lose style points even if you are a ribbon chaser.

Take the dog out to lots of new grounds. Plant birds even in traps in bushes and trees which block the scent from carrying on the ground. Leave the area for a while, go have lunch, come back and work the planted birds. You'll have a hunter with less of pre-determined expectation and more self drive and style.


"this is just what I've been told"....lol

 
it seems like new pointer owners never grow tired of making their puppy chase a bird wing on a string until they give up and point.

they do it especially when its time to pick out a puppy. they usually get a serious look on their face like some complicated experiment is about to be performed that will determine the fate of humanity while they watch the litter fixate on the bird wing.

too bad a young pups proclivity to point at an early age usually has little to with its future hunting ability or at least it is no guarantee.

if you want to make something chase a bird wing on a string buy a kitten.

[steve04]

Good info.thank you. I am not looking to compete with my dog just a family/hunting dog. He's Half gsp/Weimaraner. So when I hide the pigeons I am going to walk the dog to the general location of them and let him do the work? What do you do if he doesn't pick up the scent and passes up the bird? This is my first time working with a dog so I need all the help I can get. Thanks again

[Stilly bay]

if he hasn't picked up the scent you are probably A: not letting the bird sit long enough. or B: not working into the wind or both.

this is where a bird launcher or an experienced training partner comes in handy. the last thing you want to do is let the dog get close enough to catch the bird. this is a major set back and will turn a pointing dog into a flushing dog. I would recommend keeping him on a check cord to prevent this.

[Happy Gilmore]

Good info.thank you. I am not looking to compete with my dog just a family/hunting dog. He's Half gsp/Weimaraner. So when I hide the pigeons I am going to walk the dog to the general location of them and let him do the work? What do you do if he doesn't pick up the scent and passes up the bird? This is my first time working with a dog so I need all the help I can get. Thanks again

Always work young dogs on lead to keep the environment controlled.

#1 most important factor training with live birds with pretty much ANY hunting dog is WIND direction. You will steer a pointer into the wind when it's in the right place. It's the beginning basics of handling. You handle and give the dog reward(bird scent in this case) for chosing the right direction. (assuming we're all puppy work here)

[Happy Gilmore]

that's good timing right there.. 

[Stilly bay]

 

[AspenBud]

Wild birds. Get your dog on wild birds like grouse.

Be mindful of the seasonal restrictions for training on wild birds however.

Pen raised birds are great for getting a pup excited about birds and they are great for steadying a dog and teaching it to retrieve. But there is no better teacher than wild birds when it comes to learning how to hunt and handle them. They are arguably more unforgiving than most of us are with the remote launcher.

Just make sure you have all of your basic yard work down before you go out.

[Stilly bay]

Wild birds. Get your dog on wild birds like grouse.

I will have to disagree on the grouse bit. if you live in an area booming with grouse then go for it. but grouse are few and far between these days in Wa and your dog really needs to learn how to hunt for objectives before going after them. young dogs especially need a bodycount KEEP their interest. spending all day in the woods for a couple (if your lucky) contacts is really not the best way to bring a young dog up. it would be a great way to instill bad habits like pointing tweety birds or chasing rabbits or even deer because the dog is bored out of his mind. if you went long enough without a bird contact the dog might even shut his hunt off entirely when your in the grouse woods and it might take shooting a couple over him during hunting season for the light to come back on.

if grouse is your game take him to the grouse woods, but bring a sack of pigeons to plant along the way so if all else fails the dog will get a reward and hopefully learn that exciting things happen in the woods like they do in the fields.

but! wild birds are a good thing for young dogs as long as they get some action. lots of people send their dogs off to the prairies to chase sharptails and huns during the summer months and I hear it gives them quite the learning advantage over dogs that don't get to frequent bird rich environments.
I am highly considering sending my young setter off to prairie summer camp this year.

[steve04]

Thanks again for all the helpful info. I need every bit I can get.it all makes sense... Didn't realize I was teaching bad habits for a pointing dog until now. Rookie mistake lol