Lee 1991 Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 i have a fox red lab i have left it a bit late to start training him as a gun dog authough he will do basic tasks he will: sit on the whistle and hand signals go into cover on verbal command or hand signals come to heel etc. but he is just not interested in birds how can i help this :thumbs: Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Lee ; When you say not interested, do you mean he has no interest i finding live birds, or that he has no interest in retrieveing dead birds? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 1991 Posted March 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 both really but more so dead ones he is more interrested in rabbits etc. Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 (edited) i would work him with a dummy throw and fetch make it fun for the dog then move on to fetching dead birds by this i mean throwing the dead bird for him to fetch and reward when he brings the bird back . . i still have trouble with my spaniel she wont pick cold dead birds at the end of a days pigeon shooting i think this is dew to getting her to leave the real decoys alone out in the field. i have seen her walk by a pigeon lying in the wood behind the hide and not give it a second glance when it had had time to cool if you no wot i mean. anyway im no exspert but i would try the dummy then dead birds, some dogs dont like the down of feathers in there mouths but they will learn to flick then round to least feathered place on the bird to pick them up. my spaniel dose this she nudges then over and picks them by the back as she dose not like picking them up by the belly, shes a bit strange just like her owner!! good luck and keep at it. its great when it comes together cheers kirky :thumbs: Edited March 24, 2006 by kirky640 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 When training my Black Lab, I used various wings ie pigeon, phesant mallard tied to the canvas dummies. It got the dog used to the feathers and scents. For starters try tying the wings to the dummy so they wrap around it and dont flap about. Once the dog has become used to retreiving feather fix the wings on one end only, or attach another set of wings that simulate a dead bird. Hopefully your dog will become more interested in feather. Hope this may help a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 (edited) When you have him out in the field will she push birds up or chase a running rooster? Have you tried to do bird work with him in the past, and if so what did you do? NTTF P.S. What does he do if you toss a dead bird out for him or shoot a bird? Edited March 24, 2006 by new to the flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 1991 Posted March 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 He will push birds up and when i throw out or shoot a bird he will go over to the bird when asked to and will sniff it pull out a few feathers and then leave it Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Just a couple more questions; What training have you tried to do with him so far? What kind of mouth does he have...hard or soft. Do you have access to live birds? Is there anything in the past that may have put him off birds? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
game_keeper Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 when i was training my lab, i found the same problem, it was solved with placing a regularly used dummy inside a sock, then chucking it for him for about a week. Then take the dummy out and place a pheasant/partridge etc inside and hope they pick it up. If not try putting game scents on the dummy (available from http://www.trgundogequipment.co.uk/Merchan...creen=SFNT)then after a few weeks put some pheasant wings on the dummy ( held on with string etc). Usually it is just a case of trying to introduce the dog to the pheasant slowly. I was told not to try and force the bird in his mouth as this could give him the wrong impression of game. Hope this helps Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude9012 Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 hey can some one tell me how u know if ur dogs is hard in the mouth and i have the same problem with my lab she will flush but not retrive she pulls a few feathers out then losses intrest cheers luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 hey can some one tell me how u know if ur dogs is hard in the mouth and i have the same problem with my lab she will flush but not retrive she pulls a few feathers out then losses intrest cheers luke Answer the same questions as above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 1991 Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 i have used a dummy with him but to be honest he is more interrested in going around sniffing about after this i went out and shot shot a rabbit with him sitting by my side and he retrieved ths perfectly and brought it straight back to me. From this i kept sitting him beside me and throwing the rabbit for him to retrieve and he was doing so quite well so i praised him took him home and left it on a good note. the next day i went out and shot a pigeon he went up to if sniffed it plucked it and walked off i encorahed him to retrieve it by holding it in his mouth saying hold etc but as soon as i let go he would drop it and walk off. he is very gentle mouthed the only thing that i can think of that he may be scared of birds because when he was a young he caught a pheasant and started plucking it and i told him to leave it and he did. but i dont understand how that would put him off could this be the reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 1991 Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Yes he does have acess to wild birds but he is not interrested in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 he is very gentle mouthed the only thing that i can think of that he may be scared of birds because when he was a young he caught a pheasant and started plucking it and i told him to leave it and he did. but i dont understand how that would put him off could this be the reason? Lee; Yes depending on how hard you came down on him as a young pup, you may have intimidated him on birds. However in most cases this can be over come. Couple of more questions for you; 1) do you or can you get hold of some pigeon or pheasant wings, and 4 or 5 dead pigeons and pheasants. The birds can go into your freezer for now. 2) does he like to play retrieve? 3) do you have access to anywhere ...ex. sales barn that you can get about 4 ferel pigeons from? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 1991 Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 yes i can get hold of wings more so pigeons than pheasants and yes there are places i can go to shoot pigeons but more so woodys than ferral ones yes he will retrieve but would rather have a good run Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 (edited) Okay I need you to get hold of some pigeon wings, and 4 or 5 live ferel pigeons. If you get a couple of pigeon wings first off we can start there, however we need the live pigeons to get his interest peeked and his mind on birds. In the mean time your first step is to take him out with a ball and get him fired up about retrieving. Nothing formal just throw the ball and get him bringing it to you . It is to be fun the whole time. If need be when he picks up the ball start jogging back wards praising him with good dog thata boy etc, clapping hands what ever it takes to get him fired up. You want him bouncing and barking for you to throw the ball. NTTF Edited March 27, 2006 by new to the flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Okay I need you to get hold of some pigeon wings, and 4 or 5 live ferel pigeons. If you get a couple of pigeon wings first off we can start there, however we need the live pigeons to get his interest peeked and his mind on birds. sorry lads but catching live birds for youre dog to chase is a bit sick and twisted in my book. sounds cruel and unsporting kirky :< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Kirky: Nowhere have I said that he was going to have his dog chase these birds. Nttf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Kirky: Nowhere have I said that he was going to have his dog chase these birds. Nttf so when you catch these LIVE ferrals what exactly are you going to do with them take them to the pub for a pint ??? kirky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Kirky they will be used in a field training program where they get to fly, as the dog flushes them. You use pigeons as you can rock them down and they will stay in place gauarenteeing that your dog will have bird sent to find. They can also be placed in bird launchers if you have these devices. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 (edited) Kirky they will be used in a field training program where they get to fly, as the dog flushes them. You use pigeons as you can rock them down and they will stay in place gauarenteeing that your dog will have bird sent to find. They can also be placed in bird launchers if you have these devices. NTTF not for me thanks i have more respct for birds animals etc not catch them live its just not right for me Edited March 27, 2006 by kirky640 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 (edited) Kirky they will be used in a field training program where they get to fly, as the dog flushes them. You use pigeons as you can rock them down and they will stay in place gauarenteeing that your dog will have bird sent to find. They can also be placed in bird launchers if you have these devices. NTTF not for me thanks i have more respct for birds animals etc not catch them live its just not right for me kirky; I have no problem if you do not agree with a perticular training scheme, or program. But please do not tell me that you have more respect for birds and animals than I do, as I believe you to be sadly mistaken. NTTF Edited March 28, 2006 by new to the flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 (edited) Kirky they will be used in a field training program where they get to fly, as the dog flushes them. You use pigeons as you can rock them down and they will stay in place gauarenteeing that your dog will have bird sent to find. They can also be placed in bird launchers if you have these devices. NTTF not for me thanks i have more respct for birds animals etc not catch them live its just not right for me kirky; I have no problem if you do not agree with a perticular training scheme, or program. But please do not tell me that you have more resect for birds and animals than I do, as I believe you to be sadly mistaken. NTTF ok nttf thats fine by me good luck kirky :thumbs:no offence ment just my opinion thats all Edited March 27, 2006 by kirky640 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadSpringer Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Kirky! What are your opinions on the use of rabbit pens for training? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Kirky! What are your opinions on the use of rabbit pens for training? cheers dont have one as dont know what you use rabbit pens for !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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