WPG's First Duck Hunt

[aaronoto]

With the W. WA pheasant release season coming to a close it's time to start in on the waterfowl work!  Besides basic obedience, thus far all her training has been upland related.  I knew we would have issues staying steady in the blind, and we did, but we managed to finish a few flocks...  Towards the end of the hunt she started keying in and watching the birds work the spread, prior to that we had quite a few birds that she jumped in for because she heard the shot, but quickly got confused because she didn't mark it going down.  Which leads me to a question... with reference to NAVHDA, is the difference between a duck search and blind retrieve the direction (or lack thereof) that the dog gets when it's sent for a retrieve?  I know I can train her however I'd like, but should a versatile breed be trained to search for ducks that aren't marked or take direction from the handler on which direction to go?

The obligatory tailgate shot - yes I know, the orange collar needs to go

[bowjunkie]

looks like fun my GWP is 13 weeks I'm looking forward to my first hunt with him congrats on a good hunt.

[aaronoto]

looks like fun my GWP is 13 weeks I'm looking forward to my first hunt with him congrats on a good hunt.

Thanks!  We had a good time, and it was nice to finally see some ducks around too.  I picked her up at 8 weeks the day after Thanksgiving last year, so I know what it's like to have a puppy during hunting season!  I didn't hunt much last year because of it and she was too young to take out any ways.  It killed me to miss most of the season last year, but it worked out well though, we had a lot of time to work on the basics so hitting the field this year has been a lot less stressful i.e. no yellowing and screaming needed on my part

[constructeur]

NAVHDA dogs are expected to conduct an independent search to pass the UT test. This is the 'duck search' portion of the test.

Classic retriever folks like to 'handle' a blind, this is where you see the whistle beeps and hand signals come in.

[addicted2hunting]

Well I'm going to tell you that in heavy thick cover that the dog can't see you it is of no use to have a dog that takes hand signals for a blind retrieve. Now hunting flooded fields where there is a line of sight to the dog then it would be quicker to handle the dog. I personally prefer a dog that I can send on a blind cripple in tall cattails and the dog independently searches all of the cattails for the cripple or downed bird. I can simply line the dog up and send him into a nasty acre of cattails without firing a shot and he won't return until I call him off or he returns with the bird. As a person who is very involved with Navhda, if you plan to go the UT test route then it will greatly hinder your dog on the duck search. The dog must perform a search for a live flightless duck that has been set loose prior to you and the dog walking up and you are told to fire once in the direction told by the judges and send the dog. The dog is allowed a minimum of 10 mins to search for the duck, if the dog finds the bird and the judges feel the dog did not spend enough time to display the independence and search they want they will ask you to resend the dog with no new bird and no shot being fired. Now the reason they will have you resend is usually because the dog goes right out and finds the duck and retrieves in under a few minutes by sheer luck. Therefore not giving them the ability to judge the dogs desire, stamina, and independence from you to search the bird out without you in sight. Now if the dog is trained to handle then he most times will go out a distance then turn and look to you for direction then when you don't give any he will most times come back to shore and if done repeatedly will severely damage your score.

Long write up I know but I wanted to try to paint the best picture.

[addicted2hunting]

You are welcome to train with our modest Navhda group when hunting season starts to wrap up. ill personally train after work everyday between the group training days on the weekends and you are welcome to join me. I'll be training for my dogs UT to qualify him for the invitational.