training pup to hunt

Alchemist2

Im in the process of training a springer bitch shes 10 months old and is doing ok save one thing, when it comes to hunting she hardly puts her nose to the ground yet shes picking the dummies i throw and plant on blind retrieves.So the monkey was turning the cog upstairs and Ive recently purchased an imitation pheasant(one with the swivel head and tail)for to polish off her retrieving. Shes bring the dummies back to hand but its sometimes not the prettiest sight anyhoo i also purchased pheasant scent in a bottle(i'll try anything once) and have injected the dummy with the liquid am going to drag hunt so to speak to see how she goes... has anyone tried this or encountered a springer showing this trait hunting like a pointer/setter with her nose in the air?

Dusty87

Alchemist2 wrote: »

sometimes not the prettiest sight

What do you mean by this?
What does she do??

Alchemist2

rather than pick the dummies in the centre and carry them she'll somtimes drag em along the ground not all the time mind but frequently enough.

Dusty87

Alchemist2 wrote: »

rather than pick the dummies in the centre and carry them she'll somtimes drag em along the ground not all the time mind but frequently enough.

Never seen that, the more experienced lads may help. I thought she may have gave it a good shake or jumped on it first or something. One of my lads used to throw it in the air first, then pick it up and retrieve
Clown of a dog he was. Not to bad now though

dicky82

im no expert but do remember a lad on here describing rabbit scent as cocaine for dogs, i have to agree with him, even my rotties get the horn for rabbit scent, maybe this would trigger the hunting instinct in you dog. . .

hmmmmm yet another dog training related thread and yet no sign of our STICKY:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Alchemist2

well here my idea i know alot of guys will disagree but im basing this on my own experience... ive had alot of dogs down the yrs and any i trained on rabbits would often go off the trail of a pheasant and trail a rabbits instead... has happened me many times while out pheasant hunting... so i now tend to train the dogs to the feather first if i can but the thing is im not about to use a live bird at this time of the year and i dont know anyone who has a dead pheasant hence the scent in a bottle.

dicky82

this may sound like a smart arse responce and i dont intend it to be but if you know of an area where there are pheasants and there are main roads near by then keep your eye out for one thats had a fight with a ford focus or the like, theres always the odd dead pheasant along the road side. . .

the other option is that there are plenty of lads on here that breed pheasants, they might be able to provide you with a one that has died on them. . .

i would be a bit sceptical of e'auder de pheasant from ralph lauren,
do we know what they smell like? not really so it could be cats piss in the bottle for all we know. . . ? have actually owned a few bottles of aftershave that smelled like just that:rolleyes::D:D

EPointer=Birdss

dicky82 wrote: »

this may sound like a smart arse responce and i dont intend it to be but if you know of an area where there are pheasants and there are main roads near by then keep your eye out for one thats had a fight with a ford focus or the like, theres always the odd dead pheasant along the road side. . .

the other option is that there are plenty of lads on here that breed pheasants, they might be able to provide you with a one that has died on them. . .

i would be a bit sceptical of e'auder de pheasant from ralph lauren,
do we know what they smell like? not really so it could be cats piss in the bottle for all we know. . . ? have actually owned a few bottles of aftershave that smelled like just that:rolleyes::D:D

Alchemist2

hehe... actually dicky as you say its not a smart arse answer i have been scouring the roads for the last couple of months and sods law has of course prevailed here not a one have i came across so it should be a good season assuming charlie hasn't been feastin..well as they say great minds think alike but im certain we dont have the same taste in aftershave:D... as it happens im not long back after runnin the hounds and im delighted to say that scent does work she took a line straight away and located the dummy though she wasn't sure when it came to picking it she kept smelling it before she retrieved as regards it smelling like a pheasant should as you point out dicky whats a pheasant smell like?.. it appears to work but if there is somebody here that has a dead bird or birds thats not living too far id sure appreciate if they would offer em this way...

dicky82

where are you based coz if i come accross a pancake pheasant ill pick it up for ya, although my mot will go mad if i stop the van to pick up another dead bird. . . she should be thankful thats the only birds im picking up,:D:rolleyes: anyway alls fair in love and training your dog. . :rolleyes:

Alchemist2

... am based in laois but work in dublin... cheers for that dicky

lorkie

i am currently training my springer at the minute too, it seems to come natural though. usually i just drive around till i see a pheasant in a field, then go in with the dog. they seem to have a natural instinct for pheasants though:)