Gun Dog Forum

Here are my two boys, lab is Chester age 1 and wire is Malkom age 2. My British lab Beau is 10.5 but lives at my parents, got him when I was 16.

Now that is helpful advice! My dogs definitely get on a lot of birds and do well. But, like so many others, I overthink things. Generally I still do what makes sense to me once I’m actually out training but just trying to do right by my dogs and improve as I go, making sure I don’t set them up to fa...

I have not subscribed to one entirely which may be a mistake. But my dog is doing well, retrieving really well. I have further plans but this has been a mix of recommendations (dogbonehunter) and also Freddy king. Also references to 10 min retriever book and water dog. I appreciate advice. Asking me...

The work at the lake was fun retrieves to see what he would do, I guess in my limited experience I thought he would swim away with it back then honestly because his ground work was so atrocious. I am curious… I was told once by a pro that balls such as tennis balls ruin more bird dogs than anything ...

Appreciate that greatly, I think a lot of novices like myself can read a lot and get a lot out of a dog but it varies so much dog to dog. Wanting to replicate is common for us novice trainers but doesn’t always make sense where THAT dog is at. So my first lab was a pheasant dog and still kicks a$$ a...

Thanks for the tips, my recent update is retrieving all on land, just keeping it fun right now

He was probably 6-8 months or so before understanding lay down as a command. I have nothing to add to gonehuntin's post, but, just out of curiosity, how many days a week and for how long per session did you try to teach the specific command (should be one word, by the way, not two) and how did you ...

Well obviously there’s a lot I don’t understand about dogs, hence why I’m seeking wisdom. I have trained 2 other dogs (one 10 yr lab and other 2.5 yr old wirehair) and both have ended up being better than I could ever had expected! Doing my best and just know my dogs live a great life, just hit an o...

I know this topic has probably been hammered into the dirt but our lab does not seem to get it. No we have not force fetched him. Even basic retrieving has never clicked. He just turned 1 and does seem to get better with commands by the week I must say. But now lately it’s been incredible, with the ...

Thanks for all the feedback guy, truly appreciated. To answer some questions he is 2 in February. He is not food aggressive whatsoever. I wouldn’t have a worry in the world if anyone went and took his food away because he’s never displayed that type of reaction. Occasionally if he has a chew of some...

That is not helpful. What do you mean with denial and avoidance?

It’s very odd because he is not food aggressive whatsoever. He’s 2 in February and I can do whatever I want with his food or any food type of treat and he just waits. It’s always been that way. I’m just hoping he really was in the zone with this bone and it won’t happen again. I did come up behind h...

I’ll note it would take a lot more from this for us to remove him from the home. This is not even remotely us looking to rehome. He’s our baby and we will take every precaution. He is our child and will not be left behind.

I’m an amateur compared to most of you. I tried to take a chew away from my wirehair tonight (who definitely is a guard dog and is very protective in general). I took it away and he freak out which is a bit odd. I gave him some commands and have it back which was normal. Then came back a few minutes...

Hello! I have a question on venting a dog box and will share probably way more than I need to! So I have an extremely well insulated dog box , literally several inches of insulation in floor, ceiling, and each wall. I live in ND and like to make sure they’re warm (spoiled I know). I have bedding in ...

Been working with my 1 yr 4 month old wirehair with pigeons and a remote launcher. He has always been pretty solid for his age, holding point right up until he knew I was within 6’ or so of where he thought the bird was (and he was always right). I was working pretty hard just to keep him holding un...

Thanks for the replies guys! I’ve had 10-20 pigeons in the garage across from him and if anything things have improved and I’d like to think being around them more he has more control and drive is just as intense if not more so. Though of course further training at his age it’s likely to improve any...

Thanks for the replies. It’s my only option for the moment so I guess we will see haha. But that is certainly encouraging to hear it certainly shouldn’t hurt especially in the short term.

Probably a silly question but my wirehair stays in a kennel in our garage while I am at work. If I am keeping pigeons in the garage does anyone think that might lower my wirehairs intensity when we do train since he would be around them most of the day across the garage? I plan to build a coop outsi...

New member here. Born and raised in Nodak and love hunting around all breeds for anything with wings. Currently hunt over a close-to-retirement British lab who is a rooster machine still. I also have a 1 yr old wirehair who I think will be my first “all-around” gundog; upland, waterfowl, and trackin...