Airforcehunter Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Guys USAF type new To the UK Couple of ?'s 1. Can you train dogs with blanks? Specifically, can I fire blank loads out of my shotgun to train the dog with guns involved 2. Can you train with dead birds. I am a big proponent of using real birds whenever possible, but don't want to get nailed with animal cruelty for killing pigeons/ducks for dog training purposes Thanks in Advance boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I believe te answer to both is yes - as long as birds killed in season if applicable and on permission then no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Hi welcome to the UK. Yes i have and lots of people use blanks to help train dogs, i use a starting pistol and a shotgun with blanks. As for dead birds yes, when your dog is old enough it is a must to use cold birds as part of the training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldypurple Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Hi Airforce hunter Yes you can use blanks in the uk for training your dogs, but make sure you have permission on the land your using for training, its not advisable to do it in a built up area as you may have a visit from the local armed response team. As for dead birds yes they can be used, providing they are in season. I work over at Lakenheath base uk civilian, so if you have any further questions etc send me a pm Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Hi Airforce hunter Yes you can use blanks in the uk for training your dogs, but make sure you have permission on the land your using for training, its not advisable to do it in a built up area as you may have a visit from the local armed response team. As for dead birds yes they can be used, providing they are in season. I work over at Lakenheath base uk civilian Andy, question for you and AF hunter - might you be allowed to train gundogs on the base itself? Used to have carte blanche to train - and roughshoot - on USAF and Army bases; went away after 9-11. AF hunter, what's your training heritage - retrievers, spaniels, or both (or possibly HPRs), and have you gone all-in for US-style training (i.e., force fetch, e-collar, etc.)? MG (hard by the main flight path of Dover AFB) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airforcehunter Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 @ rimfire.... So would it be approved to have birds "given" to me by another hunter who killed tem in season? (my shotgun certificate is still in the works...so birds for me opening weekend) @ cracker...I grew up with English Setters, but my current dog is a Black Lab. He is a UKC HR titled dog, and is HRCH material...im just deployedto the desert toomuch. Force fetched and collar conditioned, but I'm not one who will argue other methods ALL. Doe anyone know of any Hunting Retriever Clubs around Newmarket/Bury? Would love to ave training partners/grounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 As long as the birds were killed in season you can be given them or you can buy them. Training my dogs i start with just a wing attached to the dogs normal training dummy to introduce them to feather slowly and end up with a whole bird being retrieved, the time span depends on the dog, but don't push to hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 As long as the birds were killed in season you can be given them or you can buy them. Training my dogs i start with just a wing attached to the dogs normal training dummy to introduce them to feather slowly and end up with a whole bird being retrieved, the time span depends on the dog, but don't push to hard. rimfire, in N. America, the Hunting Retriever Club allows pups as young as 4 months old to retrieve cold game - almost always ducks. AF Hunter in saying his dog has an HR title is telling that it has retrieved dead ducks in tests with a good possibility of having had "flyers" (live ducks) in training. AF Hunter, if you're seeking a lower-case r retriever club near Newmarket, you could be in luck, but the "American-style" retriever organisations, such as HRC (Hunting Retriever Club), NAHRA (North American Hunting Retriever Assn.) and NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Assn.) don't exist - everything's under the aegis of the Kennel Club. Good luck - betting you find someone here who'll be happy to have you join in training. If not you can go to the gundog training forum http://www.gundogtrainingforum.co.uk/phpbb/ and maybe have a better chance. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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