Expired Bird Dog?

SDorton9 · 12-26-2007, 11:54 PM

I just got a new dog. She's half golden lab and half german shepperd. She's nine months old and full of energy as well as wicked smart. I wanna get into hunting and would love to do it with a companion. Is it too late to train her if she's already nine months old? If not what is some advice for a first time dog trainer and hunter as well. I understand the huge time and effort obligation in training as well as the fact that I myself have never been on a dove/duck/grouse/phaesent hunt. I'm starting to think that it's just not feasible to pull this off. Any suggestions/opinions/tips? Thanks a lot!

Upland Idaho · 01-03-2008, 04:29 PM

It's never too late. My advice would be to first just hunt with her and let her have fun in the field. Don't get to excited about training until you know she loves trying to find birds. Just work on basic commands at this point. Come and Whoa are the big ones...but make it fun. This spring/summer will be training time.

Have fun

SDorton9 · 01-16-2008, 09:34 AM

Thanks a lot!

christopherwill · 02-01-2008, 06:06 PM

look for book called ,Best way to train your gundog. Ihave trained 7 dogs with his method and it`s easy ,you just need paitence

meatloaf · 02-09-2008, 04:45 PM

take her out and see if she's gun shy. Thats the most important step. My dog is blue heeler australian cattle dog. He will herd anything with out a command, and follows orders flawlessly. Hes great at tracking rabbits but after the first shot he makes a b-line to the truck lol. Its funny to see, one day I walked about 800 yards from my truck (I always leave the door open because of this) fired off one round and watched my dog run at full sprint right into the cab of my truck. my freinds and I laughed all day about it.

GSPKurt · 02-26-2008, 10:17 PM

Any time is a good time to start training a bird dog. Easy on the gunfire, though. I would see if she flushes, and that means getting her on birds. I don't have high hopes, though. Typically mixed breeds are not good bird dogs, in my experience, although your results may differ.

AKHunter · 03-01-2008, 02:05 AM

I would never recommend going straight to gun noise as a test. Even some dogs need to learn that water is not death and that they CAN swim. Make him/her understand that loud noises are not something to be frightened of. I used to kick my golden retrievers stainless steel water bowl across the concrete floor in the garage, act as if nothing happened and go about my business. Do something like that, dont react.The dog will see that you are not concerned and will understand that a loud noise ( gun shot)is nothing. Just one of many methods to training a gun dog. Reading a book is great advice. Good luck and have fun.

Kolar Dan · 03-11-2008, 12:52 PM

I have some bird hunting friends that say to get a training pistol and start shooting it when the dog is happy (eating, playing, etc.) This is the time when the dog will pay the least amount of attention to the blast. Of course, it would be better to start this when the dog is still young (less than a year old).

elmer fudd · 03-23-2008, 11:21 AM

my one freind got a chocolet lab a month or 2 ago and as soon as he got it we shot clay pigions around here and she didnt care
o and by the way our astrailian shepord might have got bread by a lab and if she has pups they would be good hunting dogs and good cattle herders the perfect breed! lol

GSPKurt · 04-05-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDorton9

I just got a new dog. She's half golden lab and half german shepperd. She's nine months old and full of energy as well as wicked smart. I wanna get into hunting and would love to do it with a companion. Is it too late to train her if she's already nine months old? If not what is some advice for a first time dog trainer and hunter as well. I understand the huge time and effort obligation in training as well as the fact that I myself have never been on a dove/duck/grouse/phaesent hunt. I'm starting to think that it's just not feasible to pull this off. Any suggestions/opinions/tips? Thanks a lot!

Well, how is the dog doing?

12-26-2007, 11:54 PM	#1
SDorton9 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl Posts: 53	Expired Bird Dog? I just got a new dog. She's half golden lab and half german shepperd. She's nine months old and full of energy as well as wicked smart. I wanna get into hunting and would love to do it with a companion. Is it too late to train her if she's already nine months old? If not what is some advice for a first time dog trainer and hunter as well. I understand the huge time and effort obligation in training as well as the fact that I myself have never been on a dove/duck/grouse/phaesent hunt. I'm starting to think that it's just not feasible to pull this off. Any suggestions/opinions/tips? Thanks a lot!

01-03-2008, 04:29 PM	#2
Upland Idaho Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boise Posts: 44	It's never too late. My advice would be to first just hunt with her and let her have fun in the field. Don't get to excited about training until you know she loves trying to find birds. Just work on basic commands at this point. Come and Whoa are the big ones...but make it fun. This spring/summer will be training time. Have fun __________________ Karl DeHart UplandIdaho.com

03-23-2008, 11:21 AM	#9
elmer fudd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: pheasant country USA! Posts: 2,134	my one freind got a chocolet lab a month or 2 ago and as soon as he got it we shot clay pigions around here and she didnt care o and by the way our astrailian shepord might have got bread by a lab and if she has pups they would be good hunting dogs and good cattle herders the perfect breed! lol __________________ spur hard, shoot straight, party hardy!

01-16-2008, 09:34 AM	#3
SDorton9 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl Posts: 53	Thanks a lot!

02-01-2008, 06:06 PM	#4
christopherwill Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	look for book called ,Best way to train your gundog. Ihave trained 7 dogs with his method and it`s easy ,you just need paitence

02-09-2008, 04:45 PM	#5
meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: lakewood CO Posts: 956 Images: 3	take her out and see if she's gun shy. Thats the most important step. My dog is blue heeler australian cattle dog. He will herd anything with out a command, and follows orders flawlessly. Hes great at tracking rabbits but after the first shot he makes a b-line to the truck lol. Its funny to see, one day I walked about 800 yards from my truck (I always leave the door open because of this) fired off one round and watched my dog run at full sprint right into the cab of my truck. my freinds and I laughed all day about it.

02-26-2008, 10:17 PM	#6
GSPKurt Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Trenton, Florida Posts: 34	Any time is a good time to start training a bird dog. Easy on the gunfire, though. I would see if she flushes, and that means getting her on birds. I don't have high hopes, though. Typically mixed breeds are not good bird dogs, in my experience, although your results may differ.

03-01-2008, 02:05 AM	#7
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 899	I would never recommend going straight to gun noise as a test. Even some dogs need to learn that water is not death and that they CAN swim. Make him/her understand that loud noises are not something to be frightened of. I used to kick my golden retrievers stainless steel water bowl across the concrete floor in the garage, act as if nothing happened and go about my business. Do something like that, dont react.The dog will see that you are not concerned and will understand that a loud noise ( gun shot)is nothing. Just one of many methods to training a gun dog. Reading a book is great advice. Good luck and have fun.

03-11-2008, 12:52 PM	#8
Kolar Dan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	I have some bird hunting friends that say to get a training pistol and start shooting it when the dog is happy (eating, playing, etc.) This is the time when the dog will pay the least amount of attention to the blast. Of course, it would be better to start this when the dog is still young (less than a year old).