Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: Linder on June 09, 2015, 11:27:09 AM

Title: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Linder on June 09, 2015, 11:27:09 AM: I have been working with Oakley (my gsp pup) using pheasant scent and a bumper and dragging it through the yard. Once she got the trail she usually did pretty well on tracking it but once she got to the end of the trail she would just sit there and lick up all the scent. I was hoping to see her point when she got to the end of the trail but it never happened. She would occasionally do a pretty weak point or hold it for less than a second. Last week she got into it with a crow in the yard and apparently started a turf war that I decided to settle. I went out back with her to see how bad it was but the crows wouldn't come out of the trees. Oakley was running around like she usually does and I wasn't paying much attention to her until I didn't hear her anymore. I looked up and a crow had landed on a stump in the yard without me seeing it and Oakley was 5 yards from it on dead point! I'm talking foot up, tail out, locked onto that bird without a hair on her body moving. I was never more proud of my dog than I was right then. It has been a challenge with a new pup and baby in the house at the same time with 2 other little kids but that moment made all the challenges worth it. Cant wait to see all the hard work pay off in the field.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 09, 2015, 11:34:19 AM: I wouldn't expect a dog to point where the bumper stopped being drug on the ground. Do you want your dog on point where every bird flies away or, where a bird is holding?
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on June 09, 2015, 12:38:12 PM: That's cool. Love when things seem to start clicking with a dog.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: AspenBud on June 09, 2015, 02:34:07 PM: Build a small coop and lay your hands on some homing pigeons.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 09, 2015, 03:58:42 PM: I'll have some banty chickens ready to home soon. I have four broods hatched. I think about 20-25 chicks on the ground.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: constructeur on June 09, 2015, 06:57:06 PM: Linder- As Happy has stated, your dog shouldn't be pointing a dead drag, or a simulated drag. Pups will pay attention to 'trash' birds, that will change in the future as they hone in on what we bought them for.

June is a very busy month with AKC hunt tests for my versatile group, but we train most weekends in the metro area, if you'd like to hook up sometime and we can put a bird out for your dog, LMK.

Also, if you're considering homers now through mid Summer would be the time to get some squeekers.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: KFhunter on June 09, 2015, 07:00:01 PM: a bumper sprayed with bird scent.....smells like a bumper sprayed with bird scent and their own saliva mixed in and your scent too.

recommend you stop the bird scent bumper training and get live birds, your dog knows the difference.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Linder on June 10, 2015, 09:37:35 AM: Ive been wanting to get some birds for her but was using the bumper as a stop gap until I was able to get some. Constructeur- That would be awesome!
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: wildweeds on June 11, 2015, 04:44:36 PM: Don't encourage pointing "other than game" which means trash such as crows,meadow larks,dicky birds and all the other things that aren't pursued for shooting/tablefare ,And while the bumper with scent on it sounds like a feasible substitution it really isn't.Birds make a birddog all the other stuff just causes problems that can cause hair pulling sessions on your end later.Been there done it.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 12, 2015, 09:43:51 AM: Quote from: wildweeds on June 11, 2015, 04:44:36 PM
Don't encourage pointing "other than game" which means trash such as crows,meadow larks,dicky birds and all the other things that aren't pursued for shooting/tablefare ,And while the bumper with scent on it sounds like a feasible substitution it really isn't.Birds make a birddog all the other stuff just causes problems that can cause hair pulling sessions on your end later.Been there done it.

I need some stake outs. You making any? 4-5? for goats...
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Bluemoon on June 12, 2015, 10:28:35 AM: If you ever come down south Paul, I have some for you...
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: AspenBud on June 12, 2015, 11:19:26 AM: Quote from: wildweeds on June 11, 2015, 04:44:36 PM
Don't encourage pointing "other than game" which means trash such as crows,meadow larks,dicky birds and all the other things that aren't pursued for shooting/tablefare

Don't discourage it either. Just limit praise to pointing birds you want to eat. Over time a dog will figure out the difference.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: wildweeds on June 12, 2015, 12:16:30 PM: I ignore it completely and just walk away from them even faster.Nothing worse than a dog that points mouse farts

Quote from: AspenBud on June 12, 2015, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: wildweeds on June 11, 2015, 04:44:36 PM
Don't encourage pointing "other than game" which means trash such as crows,meadow larks,dicky birds and all the other things that aren't pursued for shooting/tablefare

Don't discourage it either. Just limit praise to pointing birds you want to eat. Over time a dog will figure out the difference.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 12, 2015, 03:17:05 PM: Quote from: wildweeds on June 12, 2015, 12:16:30 PM
I ignore it completely and just walk away from them even faster.Nothing worse than a dog that points mouse farts

Quote from: AspenBud on June 12, 2015, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: wildweeds on June 11, 2015, 04:44:36 PM
Don't encourage pointing "other than game" which means trash such as crows,meadow larks,dicky birds and all the other things that aren't pursued for shooting/tablefare

Don't discourage it either. Just limit praise to pointing birds you want to eat. Over time a dog will figure out the difference.

I always loved laughing at my brother hunting with his old GSP Rusty. that dumb dog was the master of mouse pointing and hunting. he'd be telling us to watch old rusty because he was really on point this time, he could tell it was a bird not a mouse this time.... lol. My brother in laws labxcorgi mix with 6" long legs had more birds and put up more birds hunting together because the little labcorgi actually knew what birds were and where to find them in the bush.
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: AspenBud on June 12, 2015, 04:05:54 PM: Quote from: Happy Gilmore on June 12, 2015, 03:17:05 PM
Quote from: wildweeds on June 12, 2015, 12:16:30 PM
I ignore it completely and just walk away from them even faster.Nothing worse than a dog that points mouse farts

Quote from: AspenBud on June 12, 2015, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: wildweeds on June 11, 2015, 04:44:36 PM
Don't encourage pointing "other than game" which means trash such as crows,meadow larks,dicky birds and all the other things that aren't pursued for shooting/tablefare

Don't discourage it either. Just limit praise to pointing birds you want to eat. Over time a dog will figure out the difference.

I always loved laughing at my brother hunting with his old GSP Rusty. that dumb dog was the master of mouse pointing and hunting. he'd be telling us to watch old rusty because he was really on point this time, he could tell it was a bird not a mouse this time.... lol. My brother in laws labxcorgi mix with 6" long legs had more birds and put up more birds hunting together because the little labcorgi actually knew what birds were and where to find them in the bush.

Sounds like a shorthair alright!

(Just kidding guys) ;)
Title: Re: Unintentional bird training
Post by: constructeur on June 12, 2015, 05:25:48 PM: Hey, you can tell we shorthair guys, you just can't tell us much. :o