Jim c Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 hi been thinking for awhile as im doing more and more shooting about a dog. Im un sure if i could train a dog up to retrieve and be my hide buddy. Just wondering if there are people who train dogs up and sell them as gun dogs as such or even if that would work ? thanks jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustJon Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 There are. Back of the shooting times or sometimes advertised online. Double check ownership papers. A friend of mine trains gun dogs and always sells at18 months to 2 yrs. he enjoys the pup and training stages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 There are lots of trained dogs for sale on web sites, be it Labs , Springers or Cockers. I train one or two myself and sell them on. The problem I find with some people who buy trained dogs, and please don't take this the wrong way, is that they don't know how to work a dog because if they did they would train one them self, or at least have a go. I would suggest that if you do want a dog to work in the field. Get your self a pup and you and the dog go to a trainer and learn how to train your dog and also how to work it. There are a good number of lads on here that are more than willing to give you a few tips if you get stuck. You will get far more out of the dog and also it is very rewarding knowing you have made a dog. good luck with whatever you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Good advice , a trained dog will be much harder on the wallet too. If you are only wanting a dog for a bit of hide work and retrieving it is really not too difficult to do it yourself and there are plenty of books , dvds etc to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim c Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 yeah it would be for hide work, possibly flushing and retreiving while lamping rabbits. would also want it as a companion so with me most of the time of the lead apart from work also what would be the best? not to keen on a lab and heard springers can be a bit to lively for sitting in a hide. but out of all a springer is what i would want if that makes sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 If it`s your first dog and you have no previous training experience nor a network of competent trainers that you can consult I would respectfully suggest that you get a labrador. Remember the old saying " A labrador is born half trained whilst a springer dies half trained." When you can make a decent job of a labrador, then get a springer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim c Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 only thing that puts me off is i had a lab and had alot of trouble with an allergy problem and elbows but ifi buy from a kc registered seller guess im alot safer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Buy a springer if thats what you want and train it to do what "you" want it to do , I have a cocker and they are suppose to be mad as a box of frogs , but he is the perfect hide dog and will happily sit in a hide all day long and that saying " A labrador is born half trained whilst a springer dies half trained." its a load of **** spoken by people who dont know their head from their **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim c Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I guess if I got one from day one. Teach it the basics of sit and heal then fetch then use a dummy then dead pigeons to train it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I'd say dead pigeons are the last thing u should be using to train a young dog, feathers come out very easily and could put a young dog off retrieving feathers for life. I'd join a local gundog training club and even just watch before u buy a pup, it's not that hard to train a dog (esp a lab) althou it makes it a million times easier if u have some who can give u pointers and show u the easy ways and give u hand when things go wrong, which them will. I personally would not worry about any ailments in ur future dog if it's all tested so much the better, but i will buy a lab no probs without any health testing done (many people will not agree with this), but only off a select few people who i know or reccommended to me by other people who i know and trust. Thats the other benefit off being in a gundog club u will hear off proper working pup's being bred, i would not worry to much about FTCH's in fact i'd probably steer away from dogs with lot's off FTCH's in pedigree and even more so in spaniels As for the old saying about lab's and spaniels i'd still say there is some degree off truth in it, a good trainer will train almost any breed of dog to do almost anything, but for mere mortals i try to edge my bet's and pick the breed more suited to most off the work i do, from wot the OP suggest's i'd probably go more to a lab but a spaniel would still be ok. If u decide to go for a fully trained dog i guess u'll be looking at 4 figures plus which is a lot of money but not for the time effort and feed put into a fully trained dog, I'd suggest u get a lesson or 2 with the trainer to learn its commands and how to handle/work/read it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Its not easy to say its cheaper to raise and train your own dog from a pup. remember the higher purchase cost is off set by feeding, housing and care costs over 18mnths. Then the time? then the training days with your mentor? Theres a lot of tosh in that" Labs are born half trained" take look at a few most do actually die that way without anyone ever truly identifying which half it was. Labs will pick things up and run around with them from birth almost, spaniels will do similar regarding hunting if you let them. Issue is with both getting control, if a fully finished dog attracts you it might be the correct choice. Just make sure you see it shot over at least once (no pre-shot or dummy work) and get instruction and back up help- above all don't expect to take it home and work it as seen from the off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I guess if I got one from day one. Teach it the basics of sit and heal then fetch then use a dummy then dead pigeons to train it. There is nothing better than working your own dog trained by you from a pup. Get yourself a couple of DVDs or books and take it slow. It is a commitment you need time everyday to train a little. But the feeling of satisfaction is great and additive when your dog does what you ask of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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