flushing help

[curtmdavis]

Need some advice on training my lab to flush better.
 He’s a porn star after the shot, finding a way out or crippled runner he does amazing!

 Problem is, when it comes to finding or flushing,  it seems like he’s not using his nose. I have been struggling with him to locate birds, having to direct him to them, and when he comes across one if it holds tight and still he moves on. With persistence and direction, I can get him on them.  He’s not scared or anything, if they run or cackle he gets excited and if they hold too tight, and wont flush at all, he might bring me back a live bird…….. So I don’t think it’s fear or anything like that. He can find a pheasant wing in a second or his bumpers, without a hitch, but planted pheasants, nothing.

 Is my best bet to get a couple shackled pheasants and kite em? Keep hammering into him with pheasants?  I started him on pigeons, but I wonder if it was because they flushed when he was close, and smell like to beat all Hell.

He's 2 now, and been out numerous times, just seems like hes not getting a grip on the finding them part.

Thanks all.

[RadSav]

Kids these days.  Want all the glory without doing the work!



I think some times it takes a little leadership to figure out how to play the game.  Might try to hook up with an experienced pup and see if he can't pick up on how to do it right.  Sounds like he has the nose, just needs to understand the game.

Did he come from hunting lines?  We had a pup years ago that came from show lines and not hunting lines.  Took a good solid year for her to figure it out.  Ended up being a real solid bird dog.  Wasn't until we spent time with a friend and his superb field dog that she fully understood how the game should be played. 

I think we aided her so much she figured she didn't need to do all those things.  My interest in killing birds was greater than my willingness to allow her to learn the right way.  Once she saw the joy and excitement of getting after it she was almost out of control.  Even had to reel her in a little after that.

I am in no way an expert dog trainer.  Hopefully some of the guys on here with a lot of experience in doing it right will chime in.  Good luck!!

[YellowDog]

Is he a porn star or a rock star after the shot and if it's the former has he sired a lot of pups? LOL

[RadSav]

Is he a porn star or a rock star after the shot and if it's the former has he sired a lot of pups? LOL

I have seen labs try to hump dead pheasants.  Not sure there is much help for those misfits.  Never seen any other breed try and do that.  Makes me think, If lab puppies weren't so dang cute they wouldn't be as popular as they are

[curtmdavis]

 Haven't had him humping any of the birds yet , I think that would be an easier behavior to correct though..................

 Guess I should be more careful with my how I describe his performance.

 

[Dhoey07]

If he's 2, I'd just keep hunting him, he'll catch on.