Post by: AspenBud on May 09, 2014, 03:38:25 PM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 09, 2014, 03:53:36 PM
Going to someone who knows how to train and FF a pointer that trains retrievers as a primary focus would make a better all around trained dog in my opinion. Ryan Fortier who started with a pointing lab kennel trainer, Conway Kennels would probably be my first two calls unless Hoke had a good breeding/pedigree pup you like and want to start it pointing and do ducks later.
Post by: AspenBud on May 09, 2014, 04:00:05 PM
Dan Hoke is a highly respected pointer trainer and field trialer. A trained pointer should be capable of light duty early/warm season duck hunting. Most of the training for ducks is simple exposure and most pointer trainers don't do much duck hunting related training exposure. Doesn't mean they can't or won't, simply means they go out and train pointers all day which typically doesn't include setting up duck hunting scenarios and training drills. Far too time consuming.
Going to someone who knows how to train and FF a pointer that trains retrievers as a primary focus would make a better all around trained dog in my opinion. Ryan Fortier who started with a pointing lab kennel trainer, Conway Kennels would probably be my first two calls unless Hoke had a good breeding/pedigree pup you like and want to start it pointing and do ducks later.
Since I only hunt upland at the moment duck hunting would be a minor requirement for me. But some days the puddles are closer to home, you know?
Found out one of my dogs is dying from cancer the other day and while I'm not going to be in the market for a while I figured I may as well start researching breeders.
Post by: JJD on May 10, 2014, 06:48:56 AM
Dog and or training from Dan would be $$ well spent.