Dangerous Brian Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Hi Guys I have a Cocker just coming up to 2yrs old. He is great retrieving dead birds but doesn't seem to be able to get the hang of a flapping pigeon. He will go to pick them up but goes to pieces when they start flapping around. The result is a lot of feathers all over the place and me running around the country side trying to put the poor thing out of its misery (the bird that is). Any ideas how I can sort this out or is it just something that comes with experience? The dog is firstly a pet and secondly something to share a cornish pasty with in the hide whilst waiting for me to hit something. Cheers Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Pigeons can be problematic for many dogs, as they "defoliate" so easily. Can you get him onto other species - ducks perhaps? You didn't say what "goes to pieces" means but if the dog's "picking at" the pigeon rather than picking it for the retrieve, you might resolve it with another species, perhaps pheasants. Rather than resolving itself with experience, often this kind of experience can really put a gundog off retrieving runners or "cripples" as they're called elsewhere. But it can also go the other way with birds that don't come unfeathered so easily. Good luck, MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 Pretty much agree with MG, I wouldn't send him on any more pricked birds in case not picking them becomes habit - he has to succeed. The best thing would be a pricked partridge or pheasant, some dogs can be funny with pricked ducks too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 It's a difficult thing to teach a dog especially a running bird we try not to train our dogs not to chase things yet we want them to run after wounded game,my youngest goldie was not keen on runners I think the trouble is they can fight back my youngest got a couple of deep cuts on his snout off of a few big cock pheasants from the spurs on there legs so sometimes pheasants are not the best bird to train on runners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 Or shoot it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 Or shoot it again Not on a pheasant shoot though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 Not on a pheasant shoot though :yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 Tell you what, i havent ever done driven pheasant (neither do i ever realy want to) but shoot them again mate until its got more into it. Its more humane and if the dog is only three and more a pet than a full on work dog it perhaps hasn't got totally locked into things at only 3yrs . Are there any Rabbits near you? Spaniels are normally mad for a chase on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) Not on a pheasant shoot though God can you imagine that , keeper says "no Ground game " as you lower the gun shooting at a flappy pheasant ........that would not go down well Certainly don't think you would get an invite back Edited October 1, 2011 by mpk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 My cocker has also struggled with pigeons that are still flapping, she is quite soft mouthed so she keeps dropping them and, as you say, spreading feathers everywhere. I wait until there is no more movement before sending her in, as for 'runners' I don't send her anymore as she's only young and I'd rather take another shot or go myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted October 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) Thanks for all your ideas guys In general it is just pigeons I send him in to retrieve. I don't send him for crows (even dead ones) just in case he goes for one and gets blinded. Partridge and pheasant are out on my permission as next door put them down which I think would create a bit of friction if I start in on them. Not sure about rabbit coursing but might try a bit of bunny stalking and getting him to retrieve them. Cheers Brian Edited October 2, 2011 by Dangerous Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Had the same experience with my springer but come good after a few months Don't give up on him im sure he will come good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Thanks for all your ideas guys In general it is just pigeons I send him in to retrieve. I don't send him for crows (even dead ones) just in case he goes for one and gets blinded. Partridge and pheasant are out on my permission as next door put them down which I think would create a bit of friction if I start in on them. Not sure about rabbit coursing but might try a bit of bunny stalking and getting him to retrieve them. Cheers Brian It was a joke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted October 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 It was a joke Hi Kent I realise the bunny coursing was a joke (and yes he would if given half the chance). Just got me thinking that if Pheasants etc are off the menu than getting heim to retrieve shot rabbits might be an alternative to pigeons. ATB Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Im having the exact same trouble with a 18 month old Lab, He finds them alright but point blank refuses to pick them if they are not stone dead. I suppose its better than him picking healthy birds. Im hoping with enough experiance he will grow out of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 The dog will either do it or not.Theres nay a lot of training to suit the situation,but when he is trying give him loads of encouragement,and hopefully it will stick to the task.Most dogs hate the amount of feathers from a doo,and mine sometimes drops the bird,spits oot a puckle feathers and then picks it up again.Maybe experience will learn the dog there is no major issue with a flapping bundle of feathers.Rab once got pecked on the nose by a hoodie,and it was swing from him,and it took months afore he would pick up even a deed crow again.I went back to basics throwing a dead one and encouraging/making him get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Same here - If mine gets a runner, she'll have a quick "pick and flick" to get all the loose feathers out and in the air and then retrieve. Practice makes perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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