ferguson_tom Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Hello I am new to the forum. Just got my license and will be getting a gun very soon. I have a 7 month old Welsh Collie who I have been trying with normal obedience and he is doing well. I want to take him out shooting with me and teach him all the gundog-techniques. Plan is mainly to go pigeon shooting. Just wondering if anyone has used collies before and how well they get on? he is used to loud noises with our other hobbies and took him up the shooting range at the cla show and he didn't pay any attention to the gun shots so not worried about gun-shyness. You probably guessed didn't buy him as a gundog but think its silly for him not to come out with me on a days shoot. Cheers in advance Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 One of the reasons spaniels & labs are used on feather is that they are soft gummed, meaning when they retrieve the meat is undamaged. I would imagine that a collie would be hard mouthed. You would prob be ok using him to flush when rough shooting but I don't think he would be ideal for picking up. There's no harm in taking him in the hide with you for some fresh air and company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiny tim Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 dont see why not ,give it a go ...good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Next to the traditional gundog breeds the collie is most used in the field to good effect, as said though there is a risk of hard mouth but you won't know until you try. Best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 There's a guy at the club who uses a Border on the foreshore and inland without a hitch, in fact I think it's his second as the first was so good. There was an article in Shooting Times which gave him a mention (pic' in there too iirc). Give it a go, he swears by his Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted August 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 thanks for the infor everyone, i never even realised there was a difference between hard and soft mouth. i think will give him a try and see how gets on. If all else fails I will get a springer once this one is all traines up and take them both out with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 Good luck, keep at it with the collie as i've seen what can be achieved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danimal Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 i use my doberman, hes good but he does have a tendancy to chew the birds a little bit! i also use him to flush etc and im hoping to use him on shot deer next few months! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 as has been said, a lot of dogs can be trained to flush and retrieve but it always the possibility of being hard mouthed (and some gundogs suffer from this too!) but certainly no harm in giving him a go on pigeons, he'll have the stamina for it! us taffs are like that, good stamina....!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 And the bright side is even if he will not retrieve the dead birds he should round up the runners for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 We had a familly line of Lurchers all the brains came from collie blood but collies are well "sort of mad" but this madness can be harnessed into hunting. Talk of hardmouth is a little unfounded entered correctly you should have no issues, entered wrongly and you will. Judging from your other thread you have some real groundwork to do first but it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 And the bright side is even if he will not retrieve the dead birds he should round up the runners for you Hey don't laugh its only Running wise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted August 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Thanks everyone, there is the groundwork to do but I have only started in the last 4-6 weeks properly training him and he is picking it up well so pretty sure I can turn him into a good working dog with the right help and guidance from people who know a lot more than i do. Once the basics are done and he recalls when told etc when should i look at introducing dummies or should i start them now as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 I would think it would be wise to get him on a dummy now as most dogs have a bit of a nose for hunting but its not a natural instinct for a collie to retrieve ,dont over do it though start it off as a bit of a game just for 5 mins or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Thanks everyone, there is the groundwork to do but I have only started in the last 4-6 weeks properly training him and he is picking it up well so pretty sure I can turn him into a good working dog with the right help and guidance from people who know a lot more than i do. Once the basics are done and he recalls when told etc when should i look at introducing dummies or should i start them now as well? Collies love to retrieve, just gen up a bit on delivery and how to get it right Did you know that Border collies and the english pointer are related? Collies have a very good nose, equal of any gundog breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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