Slick
Member
I have a 4 year old GWP/Lab mix... I come from ND and bird hunted ~3 days a week the entire season (waterfowl/upland). I moved to MT 4 years ago when the dog was just a pup and focused on hiking, backpacking, picking up fly fishing, hunting elk, deer etc. This is my first dog, and never had them growing up.
In that time I neglected to provide any sort of field training for the pooch. He is obedient to a certain degree- all his weakness's are because of my training faults.
I have recently had an interest in chasing birds again, but now in Big Sky country. My goal is this: to hunt with my dog next fall.
First off- he will sit, stay, heel, and come. When he has a bit of space from me, he will more often than not ignore the come command. If i spin 180* he will be by my side in an instant.
Do I purchase a check cord and retrain the come command?
2nd- He has a good nose, but is just using it for the wrong things- mice. The dog loves mousing and has a good intensity about it. I was kicking around the idea of buying some pigeons, and hopefully getting him more interested in birds, rather than rodents. I was thinking along the lines of locking the pigeons wings, and keeping the dog on a check cord and letting him get fired up about birds and gradually moving up to either pointing/flushing them (he'll do both) and then retrieve.
He doesn't mind gun shots..or at least isn't scared of them..and he doesn't mind feathers. I've thrown some dead pigeons for him in the past to retrieve.
3rd- his retrieve.. He has a strong desire to chase down whatever I throw, but then wants to keep it for himself. How do i retrain that and have him bring it to "share" with me?
I'm open to any and all recommendations. I see the potential he has I just don't know how best to bring it out of him. Hope its not too late.
In that time I neglected to provide any sort of field training for the pooch. He is obedient to a certain degree- all his weakness's are because of my training faults.
I have recently had an interest in chasing birds again, but now in Big Sky country. My goal is this: to hunt with my dog next fall.
First off- he will sit, stay, heel, and come. When he has a bit of space from me, he will more often than not ignore the come command. If i spin 180* he will be by my side in an instant.
Do I purchase a check cord and retrain the come command?
2nd- He has a good nose, but is just using it for the wrong things- mice. The dog loves mousing and has a good intensity about it. I was kicking around the idea of buying some pigeons, and hopefully getting him more interested in birds, rather than rodents. I was thinking along the lines of locking the pigeons wings, and keeping the dog on a check cord and letting him get fired up about birds and gradually moving up to either pointing/flushing them (he'll do both) and then retrieve.
He doesn't mind gun shots..or at least isn't scared of them..and he doesn't mind feathers. I've thrown some dead pigeons for him in the past to retrieve.
3rd- his retrieve.. He has a strong desire to chase down whatever I throw, but then wants to keep it for himself. How do i retrain that and have him bring it to "share" with me?
I'm open to any and all recommendations. I see the potential he has I just don't know how best to bring it out of him. Hope its not too late.
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