Gun Dog Forum

I'm already aware of how the dictionary defines "sporting dog" and how the AKC defines "Sporting Group". It is all connected with critters with "feathers". If I were to choose a breed for the following: 1. water-hole doves over MOJO decoys 2. open-field doves over MOJO decoys 3. wetland ducks over d...

To some people a "finished" dog might be a DEAD dog meaning he is now in Dog Heaven.

Then what is Setters, Harebrains?

The term "sporting dog" seems to encompass any breed used, without regard to specific field functions, to assist hunters in the taking of critters with FEATHERS, period. If I had spoken to my old unreconstructed Southern uncle in terms of my Labs as being 'sporting dogs' would he still have understo...

come sit down leave-it heel no fetch kennel quiet the dog's name roll over I don't like HERE because it sounds too much like HEEL. I am familiar with all the above because I am an experienced dog owner who has been to Humane Society dog obedience classes. I have no experience in formally-trained hun...

But can't a RETRIEVER worth his Milk Bones also be a good HUNTER as in "dead hunting"?

I had better then just refer to retrievers as RETRIEVERS. I don't know if I could even get away with saying GUN DOG for RETRIEVER in the South. Speaking of the South, I have seen RETRIEVERS used by dove hunters in TEXAS and TENNESSEE. I wonder what my uncle from GEORGIA would say about that today if...

Are all SPORTING DOGS, BIRD DOGS? Are all BIRD DOGS, GUN DOGS? Is a HOUND ever a GUN DOG? My elderly uncle down in Georgia once told me never to call a retriever a BIRD dog because he hunts only DUCKS which are not BIRDS but WATERFOWL since they have WEBBED feet. sporting dog one of any of several b...

before shopping for any prospective gun dog puppy? What are the Ten Commandments one should know before putting any money down on a pup? Is there a definitive Gun Dog Bible? Is there a Gun Dog Book of Books that compares with the Shooters' Bible for guns or the Farmer's Almanac for agriculture? Who ...

I think I like the notion of competing in Hunt Tests better than I would Field Trials. If my dog were to have any titles in his lines reflecting field trial awards, as FC, it would probably be a boon. I think FC is always a coveted title to have on pedigrees. For retrievers, Master Hunting Retriever...

I've done some more research and have decided that Irish Setters aren't a good idea for me. They won't do well left home all day long while I, a bachelor, am at work. A pair of Golden retrievers would work better and would be pretty much guaranteed to do water work. Setters are never guaranteed to s...

Probably what I should have asked is, "Do hunters really NEED a dog that can run such long-distance retrieves?" in spite of how field trials are operated. I would think field trial standards might be overkill in terms of real-world field performance. But I am all for a dog that can go the distance t...

Typical shotgun range in the field is a maximum of 55 yards, for goodness sakes!

I would want my dog to just expeditiously deliver my bird to my hand undamaged.

So a STAKE is a trialing CLASSIFICATION or LEVEL?

Like little league vs collegiate vs minor league vs major league baseball?

In other words can I personally develop a DIY trained retriever without paying for the services of expensive professional trainers? Is there a whole library of books and manuals for the DIY retriever trainer? Is there a smorgasbord of GOOD home training videos as well? I would need to train my dog f...

A cash reward? What exactly is a Puppy Stake or a Novice Stake? Is there a "Field Trials for Dummies" book? What is the ultimate "Gun Dog Competitions 101" book to read? I want to learn about all those fancy title abbreviations on pedigrees and learn what the devil they all mean in the REAL WORLD. L...

According to my dictionary, RED SETTER and IRISH SETTER are one in the same.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/red-setter?s=t

I plan to hunt pheasant, grouse and dove, including water-hole dove. Retrievers and GSH pointers are much too common these days and spaniels aren't pretty and graceful like big red setters so I want to be more distinguished with these flashy, red dogs that are actually worth a dam_ed for hunting bir...

tfbirddog2 wrote:Taking my two girls turkey hunting, and fishing at local city pond. Trap league started so once a month I'm there probably get in some prairie dog shooting too!

Your girls don't like sewing machines or baking cakes (unless you are talking about your two bitches, the kind with paws)?

In all seriousness, you might consider forgetting some of your preconceived notions and instead start your new hobby with a clean slate. You need two things: a well-bred puppy (just one for now, not two) and a good training program to follow with your puppy. You've already got some good recommendat...

Anyone who thinks field trials have nothing to do with hunting have never been around one of the two. I've no use for a retriever, but if that was my interest I'd be looking at Tom Dokken. He knows what he's doing. Does Tom Dokken put out books, videos or both? I also like good training videos that...

I want a DIY step-by-step training manual to make a Labrador retriever productive for doves, pheasants and ducks. I want to know exactly what to do and when to do it from the time the Lab is taken home as a pup until he is a grown and finished gun dog. This includes making the dog birdy as the devil...

No I do not, I don't think its legal to use dogs on blood trails where I live/have lived. Could they do it? Sure. If labs can be trained to sniff out bombs and find lost weapons, I'm sure they can be trained to track a blood trail. In California, where I live, it is still legal to have ONE dog per ...

RickB wrote:Sorry...is there a question in there?

No, does there need to be?

OK, you asked for one: what is the BEST American-made shotgun for under 1000 bucks?

While we all are expressing our thoughts I never found a need for a 3 inch shell in a 12 gauge other than duck or goose hunting and even then it is nice but not necessary. I do most of my hunting with a 20 gauge and seldom use a 3 inch shell. Occasionally I do try to keep onr as the third shell but...

I am most excited about the prospect of starting out dove hunting with a nice retriever. I figure if the shotgunner can master doves, he can master anything on the wing. I reckon skeet is the best practice for the dove hunter because 8 stations present all the possible dove field angles including th...

No I do not, I don't think its legal to use dogs on blood trails where I live/have lived. Could they do it? Sure. If labs can be trained to sniff out bombs and find lost weapons, I'm sure they can be trained to track a blood trail. In California, where I live, it is still legal to have ONE dog per ...

Do you use your Lab to blood-trail wounded big game like deer?

Can the same dog trained for primarily doves, pheasant, and ducks make a good blood-trailer?

I am 50 years old and new to wing-shooting and gun dogs. I have been squirrel hunting and deer hunting in the past. I have also owned a couple Labrador Retrievers in the past as pets who have now passed on. I am considering a pair of new Labs in the future which are to be trained as all-around good ...