Gun Dog Forum

I know this is an old subject, but a search did not reveal much. I have a friend trying to get a dog from Colorodo to North Dakota. Air is out with our temperatures. I have seen discussion of good and bad transports on here before and would like a recommendation/contact info if anyone can recommend ...

I guide in two states and work with guys with Tritronics. Their Tritronics are in the shop way too often to suit me. I am on the Dogtra field staff and run an old set of 1502's for everyday training and 2502's for hunting/guiding. The locate feature is a huge time saver. I won't go into heavy cover ...

Our puppy program includes early introduction to birds: 6 weeks - wings 7 weeks - dead bird (quail or pigeon) 10 weeks - live wing clipped pigeon All retrieves are done in a control area (retrieving chute) where the pup has no choice but to come back to me. All of our dogs (shorthairs) finish as nat...

If I get a pup after 8 weeks I feel I have already lost opportunity with him. The basis my puppy program starts at 6 weeks while still in the litter and I have done much training by the time he is a year of age. But the pup doesn't know it was trained. No pressure. A variety of exposures, experience...

If you are running broke dogs try a tube sock. I cut the toe open on an old tube sock, push the bird in the toe end. (Don't let his head poke out the elastic end or he will struggle til he worms out). I give the toe end a jerk and he pops out and flys. He was never dizzied so he will fly well. I can...

We offer different levels of "started" and specifically describe where each dog is in training. Our top started dog is steady to wing and shot, retrieving 100% and has had a number of birds shot over it. Training levels are priced accordingly and we will demonstrate any dog on request.

For years my main business has been to breed, train and sell both started and finished dogs. This has been a way for me to market my training skills without taking in other peoples problems/mistakes. I seem to be faced more and more with people wanting me to take in their dog, sometimes a dog they p...

Thanks guys. Good comments and good advice. My other dilemma that no one can help me with is when a friend wants me to take a dog. Hard to price that one.

Anyone else have opinions/comments?

I was unsuccessful in a search on this topic. I am being approached to take in some dogs for training this spring and I am trying to come up with a fair rate. I would like to get some idea of what the pro's and others are currently charging. I suspect most are taking dogs by the month. Different rat...

I am contemplating changing out my dog doors on all my kennels and I'm trying to locate the manufacturer of an aluminum door I've seen. They are the ones that are spring hinged down one edge and open side ways. The other edge has a slightly bent edge so the dog can get his nose under it and open it....

While I agree there are certainly differences in individuals and in genetic lines, after handling shorthairs for 45 years I am a firm believer that males are easier to train, handle and hunt. In my opinion the best test of this fact is training littermates, which I do regularly. I train 2 to 4 pups ...

The raised kennels at my Montana camp have wire floors (1x1.5 inch 12 gauge mesh) and are a real problem. Dogs are very ouchy on them and I had ultimately had to make half the floor solid or dogs were reluctant to move on them. Here at home I have one set of kennels that I built with a slatted floor...

When I am working young dogs and need to carry pigeons in the field I have a simple and cheap method of carrying birds. My wife will never darn my holey tube socks (except to say "darn socks, darn socks"), so I cut the toe end out and use them as a "bird tube". I slide a pigeon in the toe end. As he...

I've got a couple E-Z's but the range is more limited. I could use some 100 yard launchers. How are these powered??

OK guys. You've given me some things to think about. I would like to give you all some more to think about by responding to some of the unanswered questions you have posed in this puzzle. First, I too believe he wants to get closer, but being broke he is not moving his feet. There IS a difference in...

He goes back to Rockin' Rollin' Billy. What lines are you suspecting?

I have a two year old GSP male that is flagging on point. I've worked with flaggers before and usually with time, age, birds and confidence it minimizes or disappears completely. I thought he would have made more improvement by this age than he has. He is not intimidated. He is very bold, takes cor...

Call me sexist, but I would take a male any day over a female. I mainly produce one or sometimes two litters a year and take the top two to four picks out of each litter to start. I sell started dogs so I always have the opportunity to compare littermates. When I get them to the 14-18 month age my m...

I routinely hunt my GSP's at 10 below zero with wind chills well below that. However, in the truck they have a well bedded kennel inside a closed topper. They are most susceptible to chilling after they are run. I've never had any problems. They do outperform my buddies pointers that seem to suffer ...

Looking to get a 5 month old GSP from the Dallas area to northern North Dakota or somewhere I could meet you. Too hot to fly. Any response would be appreciated.

Sorry Don, but I'm afraid I have to disagree with you regarding NSTRA conditioning. I am a NSTRA judge and have finished two NSTRA champions in recent years. I know for a fact that a dog has to be well conditioned to win. In fact, I believe my NSTRA dogs work harder in 30 minutes than a horseback do...

Thanks John. You and I have conversed on other sites about Rusty, Timmy and others. I'm new on this site. I looked over the link you provided from last summer. Some good ideas. I'm not too thrilled with the idea of being tied to these speedsters on a bike either. The scooter looks better. The sled d...

I'm never totally happy with my conditioning program prior to trialing (NSTRA). I work dogs on foot and also condition in groups on a mountain bike. I know a lot of guys use a 4 wheeler with pipe ties to snap dogs to, or just free run them with a 4 wheeler. I don't have a 4 wheeler and don't really ...

Nice job. Lots of work and $$$$. I built a whole new kennel system 3 years ago so I can relate. Just a quick question. It looks like they are on wire floors? Do your dogs get sore footed? The reason I ask is that I built a wire floored riser system at my hunting house in Montana and my dogs hate it....

We've used Ivomec for about 15 years with good results. As mentioned the heart worm risk is the greatest concern. We've always used the feeder pig formulation which is 1cc per 20 lbs. body weight. That makes it a little easier to measure. The cattle formulation is more concentrated and ends up expir...

Billy Ray, The process has never affected a dogs bird work any more than putting a dog through snake breaking would. It is very species specific. Only cats. I've also used the collar for breaking on deer, jack rabbits etc. in the field and have never affected bird work/drive. Granted the dog has to ...

I'm no great lover of cats, but I do keep some around for mouse control. I've dealt with a few cat killers over the years and have cured them much like snake breaking only with a caged cat instead of a snake. After the "session" most dogs will go in their house at the sight of a cat out in the yard.