Newly trained dogs

dev110

Anyone hoping to start a new dog on the 1st or are ye waiting until November?

Have ye had a hard year training and now praying that everything works out?
Or do you think it was simple and still praying that everything works out?

Give us your stories over the last year and the journey that was taken with your pups

beretta firearm

dev110 wrote: »

Anyone hoping to start a new dog on the 1st or are ye waiting until November?

Have ye had a hard year training and now praying that everything works out?
Or do you think it was simple and still praying that everything works out?

Give us your stories over the last year and the journey that was taken with your pups

ive a brittany cant wait to work him.

dev110

How was the training over the year? Was it handy enough?

I'm considering getting another springer for next year and running two when out hunting

Blackstairs Mountain Man

Springer bitch now 15 months old will be 16 months by September. I hunted her last year on pheasants and she impressed with a few pheasants and woodcock shot over her. I was treating last season as a big training session and my focus was on the dog not on shooting. Her retrieving was not great last year and I did not expect it to be so I had no pressure on her just let her retrieve if she wanted. Being a pup a pheasant was too big a mouthful for her but she surprised me by retrieving a woodcock from heavy cover. She found a winged pheasant well one day also that flew again that I then shot which I was happy with because winged birds are not easy found.

Spent the off season working on the retrieving side of things. I brought her with me all Spring checking magpie traps and she got plenty of warm retrieves on them. Best of retrieving for a pup because it keeps them keen and does not bore them. Also with the scent encourages them to look with their nose and not their eyes I find. She is mad for water and will be on retrieving duty evening flighting on the 1st. Hope all goes well but there is only one way to find out!

Here she is back in the Spring with a magpie. She has really filled out a lot since then.

dev110

I think that is the best way to train a dog. Get the obedience done and have it strong enough that they will recall every time and then get them into the field and get scent up their nose. Their instincts will kick in then.

cubbyleader

I'm training a ten month old springer at the moment that I got as a present last Christmas I've spent the last three months worrying that I've ruined the dog and I've done the training too early and all the rest of it but over the last couple of weeks it's all started too come together and I'm not as worried so I hope to have her up and running for November I've already had her out for a day in the pigeon hide and she loved it and she enters cover on the least bit of scent so I hope she's as keen come November

dev110

What do people think of getting a young dog to retrieve pigeon?
I have heard of dogs being ruined because of the amount of feathers that can get caught in the dogs mouth.
I haven't brought my 2 year old springer out after pigeons in case I ruined him.

cubbyleader

I've heard the same but there isnt much rabbits around here for training so I used pigeons but I wouldn't do it again as she went mad on them and didn't hunt other game so I don't think I'll be doing it again

deeksofdoom

dev110 wrote: »

What do people think of getting a young dog to retrieve pigeon?
I have heard of dogs being ruined because of the amount of feathers that can get caught in the dogs mouth.
I haven't brought my 2 year old springer out after pigeons in case I ruined him.

Retrieving pigeon is a bad job, mouth of feathers is not good every time it can put them off or make them hard mouthed.

charlie10

i have a 7 month old cocker in training for tests/trials ,have him quartering a bit hunting up hidden dummies ,retrieving and sitting with dummy in mouth and drilling the stop whistle into him too ,coming on nicely but wont be in field this season not until i have 100% obidence:)

terminator2

each dog is different i would say get your dog hunting first then put manners on him

cubbyleader

terminator2 wrote: »

each dog is different i would say get your dog hunting first then put manners on him

100% agree the dog I'm training is my first and I done it the other way round and now I have too work on getting her hunting

charlie10

i take him for rabbits twice a week but he will solely be a trial dog and if not he will be then a rough shooter

dev110

terminator2 wrote: »

each dog is different i would say get your dog hunting first then put manners on him

That's an interesting one. I was always told to put manners on them first and then bring them into the field.

Do/Did you find it hard to put manners on them afterwards?
What age would you bring them out at?

terminator2

spunk had his springer retrieving ducks at 5 months , best dog ever to work :D i have a springer now that is at two only starting to hunt , she will retrieve dummies all day ,

terminator2

i mean do you want your dog to do this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blNywyObEGA .....or ......this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LacqAZTmGQ

terminator2

dev110 wrote: »

What do people think of getting a young dog to retrieve pigeon?
I have heard of dogs being ruined because of the amount of feathers that can get caught in the dogs mouth.
I haven't brought my 2 year old springer out after pigeons in case I ruined him.

an auld wives tale , imo it never put any of the dogs ive had off

Blackstairs Mountain Man

I do not get this thing about putting manners on first and then hunting or vice versa. Get the pup out in the field from 8 weeks as long as the pup is not doing anything he should not do leave him to it. Do not call him or tell him to do anything like get into cover etc. When he is ready to hunt he will. If he goes to far away call him back that is all. When you call him insist that he comes right to you and make contact with him by touching him with your hand. I never thought my bitch to heel or sit but if I call her she will come straight back and will not leave my side until I touch her. She will walk to heel until I touch her or sit beside me until I touch her.

I think it depends on the dog as regards the pigeon thing. Like I said I use magpies because they are not so loosely feathered and I have a fresh supply of them. I only use each one twice at most so she is used to retrieving warm fresh birds.

Brian728

I have a 14 month old black lab. He is the first dog i've trained, but i'm really hopeful he will work out. I think he's great but of course i'm biased and given my own inexperience I have nothing to compare him to. I got a great thrill out of training him and watching him progress.
Now you might think I'm mad but I only got the gun this year after I started training the dog so an inexperienced hunter with an inexperienced dog...may not be a recipe for success. Still I have one or two very experienced solid friends so I am really looking forward to it. For me its all about the dog watching him work and hopefully providing something for him to retreive!!!

223Shooter

I'm in the same boat as Brian, except with two 15mth old springers and no shotgun! I'll be applying for the licence soon, but my focus this year will be on the dogs regardless. Hopefully I can get out with a few lads and concentrate on working the dog (Open to offers in the Wicklow/Wexford area! )

I've thoroughly enjoyed training the pair of them over the past year. We haven't been out as regularly as I'd like in the last few months but we're moving on with the training again now and looking forward to the months ahead!



Funky photo courtesy of the younger sister.. :rolleyes::D

beretta firearm

my brittany is in kk being trained at the moment.trainer said he is nearly ready and he is doing everything 100 percent.cant wait to shoot over him.:D:D

Glensman

My GSP is about 1.5yrs old.
Had her out on pheasants from the start of last season. She is a natural and it would be a bit strong to say I have 'trained' her.

She hunts well, but I have only had her retrieving dummies. She will retrieve the dummy from land and water. I got a lend of a dummy launcher from Mayfly36 and I'm hoping this year she will put 2 and 2 together.

The neighbours walk her for an hour and a half every day, so she is in unbelievable shape

Tawny Owl

I have my Springer since September last year picked her up from Westmeath I just let her hunt but keep control of the distance she would venture out too ie shotgun range I then call her back. they will try and do they own thing like running this is her first season got her last July 2011 still very puppy but knows what to do she never takes her nose away from the ground hunts very well loves water but I have still to get her to retreive a dummie or bird from the centre of a canel or a pond I have shot over her thats ok she just keeps hunting have her on the whistle quartering and today stopping and dropping to the ground I need her to get her first retreive in a bird hoping that today was the day anyway during the year I had kept some Pheasants wings in the shed taped them to a paint roller and it was this that I threw up the garden and she duly collected and returned but she does run pass me by about 10 feet and returns and drops the roller good girl Ruby away we go again but only a couple of times three or four and leave it at that dont let them get board she has not papers so I think Ruby is a loner dog will finish her days hunting no pups from her pity though shows great signs of a brill hunter would love to post some photos and videos but just cant get my head around how its done tried it loads of times,

kermitpwee

Tawny Owl wrote: »

I have my Springer since September last year picked her up from Westmeath I just let her hunt but keep control of the distance she would venture out too ie shotgun range I then call her back. they will try and do they own thing like running this is her first season got her last July 2011 still very puppy but knows what to do she never takes her nose away from the ground hunts very well loves water but I have still to get her to retreive a dummie or bird from the centre of a canel or a pond I have shot over her thats ok she just keeps hunting have her on the whistle quartering and today stopping and dropping to the ground I need her to get her first retreive in a bird hoping that today was the day anyway during the year I had kept some Pheasants wings in the shed taped them to a paint roller and it was this that I threw up the garden and she duly collected and returned but she does run pass me by about 10 feet and returns and drops the roller good girl Ruby away we go again but only a couple of times three or four and leave it at that dont let them get board she has not papers so I think Ruby is a loner dog will finish her days hunting no pups from her pity though shows great signs of a brill hunter would love to post some photos and videos but just cant get my head around how its done tried it loads of times,

Just because she doesn't have papers doesn't mean that she is not worth breeding from. There is a load of ****e spouted about papers. Papers can be got for anydog so there not the mark of a good dog imo. Dont get me wrong there are good dogs with papers but I wouldnt be panicking over papers.

sikahuntejack

Always have the basic training done before you start hunting your dog (sitting)( staying )dropping to the whistle if you cant get your dog to stop when trainig the dog to hunt there will be noting but problems springers are a nightmare when trailing a running pheasant. After years of chaseing springers around fields i bought a springer pup 3 years ago bagercourt bloodlines paid 900 to get him trained money well spent i hunt mostly on my own 52 pheasants i shot over him last year hopefully this year i will find someone with a nice bitch to breed him with get me self another pup to train myself

Tawny Owl

kermitpwee wrote: »

Just because she doesn't have papers doesn't mean that she is not worth breeding from. There is a load of ****e spouted about papers. Papers can be got for anydog so there not the mark of a good dog imo. Dont get me wrong there are good dogs with papers but I wouldnt be panicking over papers.

Thanks Kermitpwee for the reply but I was just thinking would be harder to move the pups on if I did breed her its not for the money as it costs more to rear them I would just like to keep a pup or see someone have one should she turn out well she does hunt hard brill to watch her getting all worked up and as I said she loves the water I'll see how it goes this year and we never know might be another little Ruby knocking around in the next few years

Cheers.;)

Tawny Owl

Ruby taking it easy in the garden sorry about the red eye first photo to up load

kermitpwee

Tawny Owl wrote: »

Thanks Kermitpwee for the reply but I was just thinking would be harder to move the pups on if I did breed her its not for the money as it costs more to rear them I would just like to keep a pup or see someone have one should she turn out well she does hunt hard brill to watch her getting all worked up and as I said she loves the water I'll see how it goes this year and we never know might be another little Ruby knocking around in the next few years

Cheers.;)

There is a market for good spaniels that dont have papers, indeed shooting men are now turning to dogs without papers as they are looking for the bigger harder spaniel that the well bred paper triallers dont seem able to produce at the moment.

ronn

223Shooter wrote: »

I'm in the same boat as Brian, except with two 15mth old springers and no shotgun! I'll be applying for the licence soon, but my focus this year will be on the dogs regardless. Hopefully I can get out with a few lads and concentrate on working the dog (Open to offers in the Wicklow/Wexford area! )

I've thoroughly enjoyed training the pair of them over the past year. We haven't been out as regularly as I'd like in the last few months but we're moving on with the training again now and looking forward to the months ahead!



Funky photo courtesy of the younger sister.. :rolleyes::D

there lovely dogs, did you get them locally, I love the big old type springers:D

223Shooter

ronn wrote: »

there lovely dogs, did you get them locally, I love the big old type springers:D

Thanks ronn, they're coming on well. I picked them up off of a man around Ballack in Wexford. He's a brother of a chap I worked with and I knew of the parents through him. Lovely dogs too and he had them well trained..

snipe02

beretta firearm wrote: »

my brittany is in kk being trained at the moment.trainer said he is nearly ready and he is doing everything 100 percent.cant wait to shoot over him.:D:D

who is training your dog in kilkenny

beretta firearm

pm me il tell you

dev110

Going to bump this thread back up since we are close to the 1st of November.

For anyone that was waiting to run their dog next week have ye put the finishing touches on your dogs?