Search found 310 matches

by bonasa
Fri Apr 30, 2021 1:19 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: What is ideal behavior when meeting people or a dog on a leash?
Replies: 14
Views: 3432

Re: What is ideal behavior when meeting people or a dog on a leash?

If we stop to talk to the others, I like them to sit. If we are coming through on the trail, they are at heel.
by bonasa
Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:46 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Putting scent on balls to play fetch?
Replies: 10
Views: 3211

Re: Putting scent on balls to play fetch?

You could... I see no value in it on the dog’s behalf.
by bonasa
Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:16 pm
Forum: Product Ratings & Reviews
Topic: Garmin Collars Length of Life
Replies: 9
Views: 6951

Re: Garmin Collars Length of Life

I have an astro 220 and dc-40 new from 2008, still kicking. Changed battery on dc-40 and also the strap. Garmin delta from 2013 no problems, holds a charge for days. Almost daily use on the garmin delta and around 100-125 days a year with the GPS unit.
by bonasa
Sat Apr 10, 2021 10:58 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Trash breaking - chickens - Ruin bird dog?
Replies: 7
Views: 3041

Re: Trash breaking - chickens - Ruin bird dog?

I’ve been pretty stiff with corrections on older and younger dogs in regards to chickens. No effect on prey drive toward game birds.
by bonasa
Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:30 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Puppy intro to quail - let them catch or no
Replies: 14
Views: 4354

Re: Puppy intro to quail - let them catch or no

Catching a live bird is a big NO in my book. Bump and chase wild birds and pigeons builds desire of young dogs, if need be. Also bump and chase for gun intro. I force-fetch all my pointers AFTER breaking to wing/shot, no need to add confusion to the dog. Johnny house birds are good for the end of th...
by bonasa
Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:40 pm
Forum: Hunting
Topic: Loaning out a dog
Replies: 9
Views: 6496

Re: Loaning out a dog

I have loaned dogs out, when I do I don't give any specific instructions. The dogs are broke and run bigger anyway, the chances of the dog bumping a bird are very low. The chances of the dog developing some kind of "bad habit" in a day or two are slim to none. I say, loan the dog out and let him get...
by bonasa
Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:41 am
Forum: Training
Topic: What to do with wild birds and 9 month old Brittany
Replies: 15
Views: 5657

Re: What to do with wild birds and 9 month old Brittany

a) Stop saying whoa let him creep and fix it in next April when we start training again b) Don't shoot any birds when he moves before the flush. Thats easier said then done because I am just as excited as he is and its difficult for me not to take the shot. c) Work on whoa in a non-hunting environm...
by bonasa
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:00 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: I can't wait
Replies: 10
Views: 3978

Re: I can't wait

Good luck Ray.

How is this pup bred? Any photos?
by bonasa
Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:18 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Meet Axe
Replies: 72
Views: 52069

Re: Meet Axe

Max2 wrote:
Wed Oct 28, 2020 5:04 am
I'm just a simple foot hunter in upstate NY
[/quote]

Me too, there are worse places to be. Good luck
by bonasa
Tue Oct 27, 2020 2:33 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Dog started doing a "woodcock shuffle"?
Replies: 5
Views: 2744

Re: Dog started doing a "woodcock shuffle"?

A lot of them (woodcock) do run from a point. Some let their dogs self relocate, all good if dog doesn’t bump bird. Others want them steady until allowed to relocate, again that’s fine if they don’t bump the bird. Keep to the code and only shoot pointed birds, you will have one heck of a bird dog do...
by bonasa
Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:59 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Meet Axe
Replies: 72
Views: 52069

Re: Meet Axe

Looking good! Those grouse and woodcock better watch out
by bonasa
Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:31 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Adventures With Tubbs
Replies: 50
Views: 30714

Re: Adventures With Tubbs

He’s never had the launcher as far as I know but lots of work with a tip up and pigeons or quail. As far as I know he has never been staunch on point. The trainer said he had to work him right up to the bird and he would flash point but when held with the cord he would lose interest. Sent from my i...
by bonasa
Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:19 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Feeding before the hunt
Replies: 8
Views: 3156

Re: Feeding before the hunt

Always fed once a day in the evening, never had a problem, and i don't see any reason to change.
by bonasa
Thu Sep 24, 2020 7:23 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Training to range closer with an e collar.
Replies: 8
Views: 3600

Re: Training to range closer with an e collar.

You could hack at him by voice or with the collar beep but that will erode the bird finding ability. Hunt smaller areas and constantly switch directions by bringing him around or he feeds off the direction by looking at you and seeing you move the other way. Hunt areas with MORE birds or follow up o...
by bonasa
Sun Aug 09, 2020 9:23 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Time swimming
Replies: 16
Views: 7533

Re: Time swimming

So I got a chance to talk to Lab trainer about length of time swimming and I was surprised by his answers. He said now with water temps near 80 and air temps pushing 90°, he wouldn't swim a dog 30 minutes. I know labs have a heavier coat but others say a minute swimming is equal to 4 or 5 minutes r...
by bonasa
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:54 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Tracking dog miles
Replies: 10
Views: 5014

Re: Tracking dog miles

For me its anecdotal to how much they run. I do track miles, days hunted,length of hunts in 1/4 hour increments, birds found - pointed - flushed - shot , wind - temp - time - precip. However as to the mile question I believe there is a sustainable length they can be hunted daily and not have an impa...
by bonasa
Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:35 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pills
Replies: 7
Views: 6569

Re: Pills

Hold her by the jowls, open the mouth and drop to back or throat. Hold mouth shut and blow into nose. Been there , done that with fussy dogs and half chewed broken pills on the ground when they find them dressed in cheese or PB.
by bonasa
Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:37 am
Forum: Training
Topic: VIDEO: Choosing to Share Her Prey
Replies: 43
Views: 23181

Re: VIDEO: Choosing to Share Her Prey

What I mainly noticed in that video is how much junk the poor dog is lugging around with it. In my opinion if a dog really needs to drag check cords around and wear electronic gadgetery around it's neck then something in the dogs basic training has been skimped on or missed out completely. Nobody i...
by bonasa
Sat May 09, 2020 4:44 pm
Forum: Birds & Bird Supplies
Topic: Wanted: Good flying homing/racing pigeons.
Replies: 1
Views: 3670

Re: Wanted: Good flying homing/racing pigeons.

Craigslist has quite a few birds and for the right price many will ship. I'd look and look elsewhere throughout the country. If you just want to train with them and not race, I went to ferals and have no complaints. They home just as good as racers (flown out to 20 miles), get up and go from a trap ...
by bonasa
Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:01 pm
Forum: Hunting
Topic: Spring Turkey
Replies: 20
Views: 11960

Re: Spring Turkey

I wish they had open season on turkeys. NJ Practically does, 1 bird per day per tag anyway. NJ has 36 zones and 5 week packages for tags, just depends how much you want to spend, 22$ per tag adds up a little bit. See what happens this week, although I am sure the take will be down with the WMA's cl...
by bonasa
Tue Apr 14, 2020 11:32 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Why Have Pointers Lost Their Status
Replies: 23
Views: 7685

Re: Why Have Pointers Lost Their Status

I cannot speak for the rest of the country, but. Pointers and to a degree setters have not lost their status with the devoted grouse/woodcock hunters, sporting camps, guide strings and coverdog or NBHA foot trailers in the northeast and lake states. There is a reason these groups choose pointers and...
by bonasa
Sun Apr 05, 2020 7:06 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: dog only partly retrieving
Replies: 24
Views: 10461

Re: dog only partly retrieving

Force breaking was incomplete, just go back to it. I am a firm believer in force fetch. Never had a problem with any pointer I put through. Fast and consistent retrieves on crippled , dead any type of bird from sparrows to canada geese on land or in water. A solid HOLD and recall is mandatory, altho...
by bonasa
Mon Mar 30, 2020 5:13 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: wanting to jump in on birds
Replies: 9
Views: 4405

Re: wanting to jump in on birds

Whoa breaking through the whoa post and transition to belly band. Later transition to stop to flush training and then finally to scent birds. A nick on the belly will get him to stop and a pick-up then a set back will get the point across. Pigeons are helpful but hacking the dog close in the grouse/...
by bonasa
Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:03 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: ~ K9 Motivation ~ Both Art And Science
Replies: 4
Views: 2834

Re: ~ K9 Motivation ~ Both Art And Science

So many truths in there Mike, keep it going. Thanks
by bonasa
Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:49 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Bell or no bell?
Replies: 38
Views: 12568

Re: Bell or no bell?

thats what im thinking. do you find yourself looking at your GPS alot or no? As a grouse/woodcock hunter, when on foot; no. The dogs stay to the front and handle well. When the GPS “rings” is typically the only time to look at it. Having an intimate knowledge of the cover, it’s easy to know where t...
by bonasa
Sun Mar 22, 2020 11:49 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Bell or no bell?
Replies: 38
Views: 12568

Re: Bell or no bell?

GPS only no bell.
by bonasa
Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:39 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: "Roading" tips- bike or treadmill?
Replies: 17
Views: 8515

Re: "Roading" tips- bike or treadmill?

I road by bike and ride the break to ensure they are getting resistance. I have used the 2 days on 1 day of;f for 1 hour of hard roading and using the off day for active recovery of swimming or free running 30 min - 1 hour.
by bonasa
Mon Jan 27, 2020 9:18 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Small town pointers
Replies: 5
Views: 4405

Re: Small town pointers

Bikejoring and if I'm lazy, I do retrieve work in the driveway (120') with the dog in the harness and pulling the small tire with a plate (45#).
by bonasa
Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:23 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Training / hunting question - missed shots
Replies: 16
Views: 7724

Re: Training / hunting question - missed shots

My dogs are steady to wing/shot, something is missing in your dog's training regarding breaking on the shot and de-chasing.
by bonasa
Sat Nov 16, 2019 10:27 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: hunting too fast
Replies: 37
Views: 21330

Re: hunting too fast

Try roading the dog for a bit before the hunt or free running where there are no birds to blow off some steam, younger dogs generally settle into the groove after the first half hour to an hour of hunt. 50-80 yards is too far still? Break him this spring/summer and next year will be fine. I like dog...
by bonasa
Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:47 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Reptiles
Replies: 5
Views: 2999

Re: Reptiles

Had a pointer that would pick up box turtles and bring them to me.
by bonasa
Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:01 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Nick's progress
Replies: 5
Views: 2983

Re: Nick's progress

Curious, what program are you following? Re: Belly band.
by bonasa
Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:19 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Sis about 22 weeks
Replies: 23
Views: 8218

Re: Sis about 22 weeks

What many folk typically do is, they follow a predetermined training regimen which too often un-trains a gifted pup. Explain. I am confused. Yes, many follow a predetermined training regimen that builds upon fundamentals and no progression is made until the previous task was mastered. How does this...
by bonasa
Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:36 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Dogs fighting
Replies: 12
Views: 5279

Re: Dogs fighting

I've had that , especially among the males and food aggression. I stepped in right away, my house, my rules and there is no fighting. When it comes to aggression that is one area where I do not tolerate letting the dogs figure it out. If I ever get a dog I cannot handle in the future due to aggressi...
by bonasa
Fri Oct 25, 2019 5:44 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: There's a Point and Then There's a Point!
Replies: 7
Views: 3934

Re: There's a Point and Then There's a Point!

For sure, although I tried to train for no let-down when the grouse boils out some distance off it is the same as a stop to flush, head movement and flagging. If the bird ran off tail is still stiff but 10 oclock and head movement my way. Woodcock he is generally head closer to the ground and a 12 o...
by bonasa
Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:44 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: What is my next step??
Replies: 27
Views: 9111

Re: What is my next step??

Feedjake, You didn't take heed to any of the advice you were given. Nobody recommended to plant a visible , caged bird that appears to stand its ground in front of a predator. I would re-read the advice given to you and exercise it, or buy some books/DVD's or better yet get a day with a trainer. Per...
by bonasa
Wed Oct 09, 2019 3:32 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FF or wait?
Replies: 62
Views: 45306

Re: FF or wait?

Definitely wait until spring and do it over spring/summer, hunt as much as you can now.
by bonasa
Tue Oct 08, 2019 5:28 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: storing fish and game on a week-long hunt
Replies: 6
Views: 3248

Re: storing fish and game on a week-long hunt

Dry ice in a cooler will freeze meat, over the course of a week, drove from South Dakota with a merriems and stopped in kansas and picked up a rio, by the time I made it home they were frozen like a rock. This was despite a heavy moving blanket between the dry ice and birds. You would be surprised h...
by bonasa
Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:24 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Picky dog...food suggestions
Replies: 8
Views: 6256

Re: Picky dog...food suggestions

An over easy egg mixed with the kibble was enough for one of my last dogs that was a picky one. No problems with that addition.
by bonasa
Sat Sep 21, 2019 5:50 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Enter The Grouse Woods
Replies: 2
Views: 1964

Re: Enter The Grouse Woods

I'm sure they will to you MIke, myself and countless others. Enjoy the season!
by bonasa
Sat Sep 21, 2019 5:47 pm
Forum: Hunting
Topic: 10,000 miles
Replies: 25
Views: 16365

Re: 10,000 miles

You swing flies in Oregon?
by bonasa
Fri Sep 13, 2019 3:42 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Running 2 Pointing Dogs at Once
Replies: 27
Views: 10403

Re: Running 2 Pointing Dogs at Once

Hunting grouse and woodcock in the northeast with pointers, it works better and I prefer to run one dog at a time. It is easier to keep track of one despite modern electronics and make corrections with a young dog or not compromise the rest of the cover. Hitting 10-15 covers in a day can be done wit...
by bonasa
Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:17 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Training a dog in an area with no wild birds
Replies: 49
Views: 27722

Re: Training a dog in an area with no wild birds

Welcome to the forum, and what is your location? 1)As Sharon stated, planted birds are many people's only option for training. Many a fine bird dog has been developed on these alone. 2)Many people develop their dogs on planted birds, pigeons and quail in particular. These same dogs will go on a few ...
by bonasa
Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:25 pm
Forum: Birds & Bird Supplies
Topic: Raisin pigeons?
Replies: 5
Views: 7548

Re: Raisin pigeons?

Id imagine the "raisin" would be "racing" and the "Johnson" would be "Janssen" bloodlines. Just either auto-correct or misinterpretation errors.
by bonasa
Mon Nov 05, 2018 6:36 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Tips for getting a dog to hunt in thick brush
Replies: 40
Views: 16571

Re: Tips for getting a dog to hunt in thick brush

Lots of exposure to wild game . +2 if you have it! Otherwise I'd seed similar type cover areas with good flying birds and when the dog is hunting hard after several finds, pick him up and leave. Repeat a few days later in a different area , different location all together. Then wait longer before p...
by bonasa
Sun Nov 04, 2018 11:26 am
Forum: Hunting
Topic: Florida public land birds
Replies: 6
Views: 5851

Re: Florida public land birds

Same, I hunted a public walk in hunting area for turkeys and heard many quail in many different areas. Had the thought to bird hunt it, maybe in the future. First time hunting turkeys down there , we shot gobblers quickly but covered a lot of ground. The hogs in the darkness sound like a hippo colon...
by bonasa
Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:58 pm
Forum: Hunting
Topic: Recommendations for a Semi-automatic shotgun
Replies: 25
Views: 15628

Re: Recommendations for a Semi-automatic shotgun

grabagun.com has remington 1100 3" 12 gauge around 480$ new, super easy to strip and clean. Save your money on the expensive guns and get a cheap case of 3" 3's and a good pair of chokes, then have at it.
by bonasa
Fri Feb 16, 2018 7:47 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: cost of a pup
Replies: 121
Views: 41589

Re: cost of a pup

If you are looking for a shorthair or a Brittany to hunt over, I suggest you contact several field trial breeders and tell them what you are looking for. Fairly often, these field trailers will have several dogs in various stages of development. Typically a field trialer wants a dog with a high deg...
by bonasa
Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:57 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: He won't retrieve this year...
Replies: 20
Views: 7460

Re: He won't retrieve this year...

polmaise wrote:so for the last year you have being doing what ?
Nurturing the natural retrieve...