getting a dog to pick birds

[craig 123]

After some avice on getting my lab to pick birds up how do i go about it any help please and thanks in advance

 

craig

[Dave1087]

How old is your lab

[the pigeon man]

Instead of dummy's use real birds treat once retrieved

[la bala]

if the lab is a bit shy of feathers, put a dead pigeon in a womans stocking to start with. . now wait for the comments.

[Nuke]

Cut of a wing and use a rubber band to attach it to the dummy to get the dog used to the scent and feeling of feathers.

 

/Markus

[craig 123]

How old is your lab

he is 17 month old

[kent]

You got a 17mnth old untrained to the gun or retrieving game? what's its obedience like?

[scotslad]

Quite a large thing to cover with such an short question. I'm sure if u search throu previous threads u should see some similar questions and answers.

 

All depends on how well ur dog is trained and wot it's actually doing with game.

 

There is a whole process of introducing dog to game/feathers/fur gradually starting of with wings/fur on dummy, cold game then warm game all in conntrolled environments away from shooting at first (or it should be in an ideal world doesn't always happen). But need more info to give any useful advice

 

I wouldn't use pigeons full stop, feathers are murder for dogs as so loose, and don't see the point in faffing about with tights when plenty of more suitable game out there. if u haven't access to game plenty of fresh roadkill lying about

[craig 123]

He walks to heel

sits and waits

knows the get on command

use to the gun

 

was out on the marsh and got a shot at a single wigeon dropped stone dead gave the get on command dog runs down the bank into the water swam over to it sniffed the bird and came back sent the dog again and did the same thing sent him a third time and kept saying get on and search command and picked it but only by the wing he did bring it to hand so was still pleased i just want him to pick up by the body

 

cheers craig

[scotslad]

If ur dog is a mad keen retriever with dummies it shouldnae be to bad to do. Just sounds like dog wasnae sure wot it is or wot to do with it.

 

Attach some dried wings to a dummy, an easy way is to throw a few retrieves 1 after the other so dog is keen going for them and on last retrieve throw the 1 with wings on it should be so used to picking the retrieve it won't notice the wings, before it hesitates praise and blow recall and possibly turn and walk away, can do something similar with memory retrieves idea being dog just expects dummy and just lifts it as wants to get back to u.

After that use the wing dummy as well as normal dummies to get it used to it, then do the same with some cold game when used to that same again with warm game. A teal or duck would be ideal as close feathered but pheasants do fine too (dunno but would foreshore duck be a more salty smell and possibly put a reluctant dog off for first time?)

[Dave1087]

Have you had him retrieving rabbit dummy's befor

[scotslad]

Just thinking i should off added give ur dog plenty of praise while it is holding either dummy or bird, rub it's head,ears, chest and be in no hurry to take bird of it, really make a big fuss while it is still in the mouth.

 

U also could ignore a lot off advice and just take the dog out into ur garden (or somewhere it is familar and confident) and just chuck the widgeon for it to retrieve nice easy marked retrieve chances are it will pick it, but the proper way is to get it used to it gradually which should stop any problems developing

[cracker]

was out on the marsh and got a shot at a single wigeon dropped stone dead gave the get on command dog runs down the bank into the water swam over to it sniffed the bird and came back sent the dog again and did the same thing sent him a third time and kept saying get on and search command and picked it but only by the wing he did bring it to hand so was still pleased i just want him to pick up by the body

If you weren't already too keen on having duck al a orange, you could have held over the wigeon and used it for the dog retrieving it as cold game.

 

Don't fret, ducks can put a dog off if picking them for the first time. We introduce our gundogs to ducks as a "first course" in my neck of the woods to remove the possibility of their balking - because they're so gung-ho to go as pups,

 

 

it really doesn't matter what they're asked to retrieve, they're fired up to pick it.

 

You're not in as deep a hole with a 17-month-old as you might think - especially if you can get your hands on a "cold" duck or two and give the dog some experience at and encouragement for picking it. Things will click pretty quickly - many dogs make their first retrieve of a duck "dragging it in" but soon get a better handle.

 

Good luck,

 

MG