Pup's first shotgun experience

[ziplex]

I took Roob to a permission this evening to put the gun over her for the first time, she was a little star and after half a dozen perfect retrieves of her favourite teal dummy being 'shot' with 30grm 6's I decided to walk her for a while then sit backed into a hedge in the hope a pigeon might flight over. I only managed to shoot one crow which fell over a tree line into an opposite field which she thankfully heard land and was on it quite quick but not keen to pick it up, tending to nose it instead. After i'd grabbed it and made a right twit of myself dancing around the field making all sorts of excited sounds and generally winding her up she decided she wanted it after all and was then happy to retrieve it

 

It was her first experience of the gun and she'd only ever seen crows in flight before so I think she did really well..little squirt!, has anyone else had this reluctance with crows or is it because it was the first thing she'd come across freshly shot? She's already managed to retrieve a live tumbler pigeon, is keen on frozen or thawed woodies and rabbit fur so I thought it was time for her to have a go at the real thing, am I giving her too much to do/expecting too much? (She's a week or two shy of 12 months old). I'm guessing next time she'll pick up whatever it is without a problem, especially if she sees it fall?

[GW80]

A lot of dogs aren't keen on retrieving crows, i have a springer who loves them but had a lab a few years ago wasn't keen on crows at all, he never liked them even when he was older. An old boy i knew told me that crows give of a noise when lifted after being shot that some dogs find off putting, to be honest i wouldn't worry too much about it, you will find she will be better on rabbits and game, but i'm sure someone with more experience than me will put you right!!"

[ollie]

My pup has been lifting anything from a couple of months old and when I say anything I mean anything; she used to lift everything resembling dummies (sticks, plastic bottles, ropes etc), but she has got out of that now and thankfully she only lifts the stuff I want her to. Need to be careful sending an inexperienced dog to fetch a crow; if they aren't stone dead they can peck at the eyes. I never send my pup to retrieve a crow unless I am sure it is dead.

[pegleg31]

My pup has been lifting anything from a couple of months old and when I say anything I mean anything; she used to lift everything resembling dummies (sticks, plastic bottles, ropes etc), but she has got out of that now and thankfully she only lifts the stuff I want her to. Need to be careful sending an inexperienced dog to fetch a crow; if they aren't stone dead they can peck at the eyes. I never send my pup to retrieve a crow unless I am sure it is dead.

 

 

be careful what you send your dog for.one bad experience could make her hard mouthed.

 

but i'm glad she was ok with the gun.chance's are the reason she did'nt pick it was it was new to her.

Edited May 11, 2010 by pegleg31

[Lloyd90]

Or could lose and eye if the crow pecks at it. Crows are little ********!!

[ziplex]

Thanks all, reason i've got her so steady to shot is so i've chance to check things like that, saw a lab' nearly cop it on the foreshore last year due to it flying in after a shot duck that had dived and surfaced a good way out in a heavy tide flow. I know crows can be aggresive and wouldn't of sent her unless it was dead. Was just enquiring about her age and it being her first freshly shot retrieve but it seems crows are an aquired taste to dogs, I spoke to a customer today who shoots and confirmed his Springer isn't very keen to pick them up at all.

 

Pegleg, It's a worry with the gun for the first time, i've been so careful with the blank firing pistol/dummy launcher to such an extent i'd of been a little suprised/gutted if her tail dipped/showed any fear on firing it but they've got to hear it sometime She's a bit nervous generally so all in all the little lass has done well.

Edited May 11, 2010 by ziplex