keg Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Evening all, with the season upon us,i want to take my black Lab beating with me. She heels well, stops on the whistle and also retrieves well. Haven't started left or rights yet so do not intend to use her for picking up. Is it ok just to take her beating?. She is not gun shy and used to the noise as i have introduced it slowly at the clay ground. Advice much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian28 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 How old is the pup ??????????????????? Evening all, with the season upon us,i want to take my black Lab beating with me. She heels well, stops on the whistle and also retrieves well. Haven't started left or rights yet so do not intend to use her for picking up. Is it ok just to take her beating?. She is not gun shy and used to the noise as i have introduced it slowly at the clay ground. Advice much appreciated. pups age would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'd not take her. Sounds like she's to early on in training. There's no harm in waiting as theres plenty of the seasn left yet. A full driven day with all that activity could be to much excitement. ATB, Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted October 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Good point Brian!, sorry for missing that out. 11 months old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Evening all, with the season upon us,i want to take my black Lab beating with me. She heels well, stops on the whistle and also retrieves well. Haven't started left or rights yet so do not intend to use her for picking up. Is it ok just to take her beating?. She is not gun shy and used to the noise as i have introduced it slowly at the clay ground. Advice much appreciated. what do you want to do with her later? its no use creating a hunting dog out of a retriever unless you want that- if thats the case why did you start with a lab? Personally i shouldn't for one thing the pup sounds very unfinished and is liable to enjoy it a little too much and run you ragged setting training way back and becoming unsteady. Age is of little consern some are ready early some late, depends on how much you have put into them and how much they have matured. With respect heeling and retrieving have little to do with beating Once its learned its intended task (if thats beating fine) give it at least one full season at it before asking it to do something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Many thanks for the advice chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 ok from someone who does go beating At that age it is still a little young but depending on shoot type and the length of the day there is no reason the dog shouldn't go as long as you stay on top of it. I've started most of mine at a similar age and they get introduced slowly on small days mostly on the lead but with a lab you may well manage at heel. What it will do is create great steadyness and introduce the dog to what happens on a shooting field. I wouldn't get it working properly yet just keep it with you under control and depending on the shoot there may be the chance of looking for the odd bird after a drive. Then as you start working the dog get it working close at the start of drives then back on heel or the lead half way through, don't start giving it free reign till you are happy it is not going to stop working close. If it starts getting carried away just put it away but with a lab you may be lucky, beating isn't all about getting the dog hunting proper its about working close and steadyness more than hunting hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 ok from someone who does go beating At that age it is still a little young but depending on shoot type and the length of the day there is no reason the dog shouldn't go as long as you stay on top of it. I've started most of mine at a similar age and they get introduced slowly on small days mostly on the lead but with a lab you may well manage at heel. What it will do is create great steadyness and introduce the dog to what happens on a shooting field. I wouldn't get it working properly yet just keep it with you under control and depending on the shoot there may be the chance of looking for the odd bird after a drive. Then as you start working the dog get it working close at the start of drives then back on heel or the lead half way through, don't start giving it free reign till you are happy it is not going to stop working close. If it starts getting carried away just put it away but with a lab you may be lucky, beating isn't all about getting the dog hunting proper its about working close and steadyness more than hunting hard. Sorry i though you had previously stated in posts you GWP was your first go at a gundog , how many have you done then and which breeds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 beating I have taken all sorts from terriers to labs and more recently the GWP and been beating for 22 years now, with a mix of shoots involving hobby gundog owners to pro's so have seen dogs out at 6 months and ones that didn't start till much older. By your advertised dis interest in game shooting I'd suggest that I've had a little more time on game shoots. The fact stands that the best dogs do get exposure to it early and generally the more they see the less excited they get as the season progresses. Its a learning curve and if you can maintain control while beating everything else is easy, pheasants are a small part of the story its everything else that comes your way that is usually the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Just because i dont choose shoot driven game dont mean i dont know the score or have never picked up or beat. I live in gameshoot central and also spent my childhood living on the doorstep of a premier driven shoot. Now tell us about the other dogs you have trained? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 My plan is to keep her on the lead for most of the day and let her off when suitable. It's a small private shoot so it's not too long a day. My aim is not to turn her into a retreiver in one session. more a case of introducing her to the other dogs and get her used to the whole set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 ideal in that case, the work is a small part the going in the beaters wagon with lots of dogs and people is great experience as is the whole day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 I'd be cautious with her. Keeping her on the lead until the end of a drive for example will probably wind her up for the duration of the drive, seeing birds and hearing shots all the time. When you let her off the lead, 9 times out of ten she'll be that excited she probably won't give a damn about your whistle etc until she's happy shes cleared every last inch haha! Remember it's better to have a good dog for 9 years than a bad one for 10. Take your time with her and expose her to things gradually. Personally I start mine with walked up shooting with a mate first, me him and the dog, and then gradually increase the number of people and dogs. Everybody does it different but that's what works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 (edited) Seeing what goes on is not a bad thing for the dog and half a day of light work is a good start but as everyone says there is no rush for the dog. Having said that I took my ESS to a local shoot at 12 months and he was better behaved than some of the other dogs there but going to soon can be an undoing ie they can get bad habits before you finish the training. Just my thoughts. Is the dog 100% steady to rising/flying birds as a dog that runs in might not be asked back again even if it is young - nor do you want the looks from the guns if your dog has upset a drive. Just my humble thoughts. Edited October 3, 2012 by unclestuffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 dogging in is a big help to work out how ready they are, if you can do some on the shoot it is an ideal way to get them started. Might win you some brownie points with the keeper as well if its a small shoot. Then the birds aren't as big a distraction, though where we are its the number of hares, muntjac and fallow that give you a bigger heart in mouth moment when they go over your dog in the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Again, all advice gratefully receieved, i certainly do not want to rush her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 I'd be cautious with her. Keeping her on the lead until the end of a drive for example will probably wind her up for the duration of the drive, seeing birds and hearing shots all the time. When you let her off the lead, 9 times out of ten she'll be that excited she probably won't give a damn about your whistle etc until she's happy shes cleared every last inch haha! Remember it's better to have a good dog for 9 years than a bad one for 10. Take your time with her and expose her to things gradually. Personally I start mine with walked up shooting with a mate first, me him and the dog, and then gradually increase the number of people and dogs. Everybody does it different but that's what works for me. Totally agree with those thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsamatt Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 had the same problem as you with my new springer last year!! 7 months old he was and i was advised not to take him as he was way to young, one of the lads who i shoot with on a regular basis said i should try him, so i did and have to say its the best thing i could of done with him, he was flushing aswell as the older boys by the end of season and was very steady still!! looking forward to next month to start it all again hope he does me proud again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Update... Took her on Saturday and she was fine sitting on the peg when i was shooting, put her into a couple of pens to flush the birds and she was also fine, came back to the whistle both times. Heeling was fine when i let her off. Overall i was pleased with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 People seem to be in such a rush nowadays to get their dogs out beating or shooting in groups. Finish the basic training and have a season shooting over her your self is what I would say. You could take her beating but keep her on the lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.