Gun Dog Forum

RayGubernat

IMO if the pup has good genetics it is highly likely trhat it has all the "birdiness" you will need ...already in there. Most well bred bird dogs come out of the birth canal with more than we can harness. Most new bird dog owners have the same concerns you voiced, and think that a large part of it i...

RayGubernat

Great topic...interesting reads from several contributors. Here's my tale... My Dad hunted with his brother and neigbors as a child...rabbits, pheasant,squirrels, etc. His father usually had beagles, but back then we actually had snow on the ground for weeks at a time soyou could run beagles on rabb...

RayGubernat

I don't know how much room you have to work with, but if you put the catch cage up on a table or box and then wrap and fasten 10 or 12 inch aluminum flashing around the edge of the table, that should keep the little buggers from climbing. Don't know how high they can jump though.

RayG

RayGubernat

Mosby - Information is always good and good information is best. I also wanted to alert folks that government regulators do in fact sometimes get carried away with themselves. I was in QC in the pharmaceutical industry for many years and saw some outstanding regulatory individuals and also, unfortun...

RayGubernat

Correct. I misread it. FWIW, I found sort of a summary of issues Sunshine Mills has had the last few years and for informational purposes, I am posting below. Dated March 7, 2022, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to pet food manufacturer Sunshine Mills. This is the second Warning Sunshine Mills has ...

RayGubernat

Just a heads up. The FDA action was a warning letter...NOT a recall. The FDA has been known to be more than a little pushy and aggressive in its "enforcement" of CGMP's. In some cases the agency's interpretations of what exactly constitutes a "current good manufacturing practice" has varied signific...

RayGubernat

Sportsman's Pride 26/18. Been feeding it for about ten years now. As far as table scraps and such, that is my wife's department. She gives them the occasional leftovers and stale bread and a pouch or two of cheddar cheese goldfish every once in a while. In the hot weather, they really go for the occ...

RayGubernat

IMO if you want to maintain a fitness level in a dog, free running, playing with bumpers and such several times a week will do that just fine. I let my guys run around in the back yard for a little while each day and they seem to stay pretty much fit. Free running a dog will also allow the dog to st...

RayGubernat

I do a few different things. Since i discovered it, I have always used the Volhard Puppy Aptitude test criteria as a guideline. Actually I use the first four test criteria only. I have found that puppies are totally honest and will tell you what is in their heads, if you just give them an opportunit...

RayGubernat

ChipP - For AKC and American Field trials there are four basic categories of trials: Puppy, Derby, Shooting Dog(AF) and Gun Dog(AKC) and All Age. Puppy stakes are generally run without bird being put out for the dogs and pointing is not expected. Derby dogs are older than puppy and are expected to p...

RayGubernat

Call it tough love but this works for me. I close the door in their face. Same way I taught them not to charge the crate door. When they charge they run into the door. They are made to stand still and not move, the dog isn't released until it's standing still with the door open. Doesn't take many t...

RayGubernat

Delaware is not much in the way of a state, but it does have some special things going for it. No sales tax for one. I moved here from NJ about 20 years ago and where I lived in NJ had a few copperheads in the hills in the north, a few moccasins and a VERY few rattlesnakes in south Jersey. Not enoug...

RayGubernat

As far as quail are concerned, I would be careful. You have a very young dog. Tame quail can be caught and once a dog learns that they can chase and catch game... they WANT that and it may take a fair amount of work to get them to stop. If you found a source for pigeons, that would be much more usef...

RayGubernat

BG - FWIW - When I use my Tritronics, 6 level e-collar on one of my pointer youngsters, I rarely need to go beyond a level 3 stim. If I am using my DT (6 level??) unit on the belly, I almost never go beyond level 2. The few times I have had to hit a dog with a high hard one(for chasing and such) it ...

RayGubernat

Sharon - Your restrained, but firm hand on this forum has been a blessing. It is I who wish to thank you for your patience and diligence in maintaining the high standard of communication on this board. It is a pleasure to correspond here, in large part because of your efforts. Hang in there my frien...

RayGubernat

Only because the moderator has whipped everyone into shape! When you go on vacation, all bets are off. :lol: You people who think you know everything are quite irritating to we who do. :wink: Steve007, In Plato’s Apology, I’m pretty sure he said Socrates had something similar to say about this subj...

RayGubernat

I agree. Read the referenced thread and make your own choice, based on your training abilities and opportunities and the demeanor of the dog itself. There is no RIGHT answer for everyone and every dog. You know your situation and you know your dog. If you read the referenced thread, you know where I...

RayGubernat

HB - First off, there are many ways of getting from here to there with a bird dog. Navhda is certainly one of them and you will come in contact with a bunch of folks with widely different situations, widely different levels of experience and training goals. My advice is to go...watch...learn what yo...

RayGubernat

In most areas of the country, I think the GSP is number one and secondly the Brittany, as far as hunting dogs go. In areas down South where there are plantations and quail, I believe there will be a large number of pointers and some setters. In the grouse woods, there is an abundance of setters. Ray...

RayGubernat

I bought some 1" galvanized pipe 24" long. Cut a angled spike on 1 end and put a threaded cap on the other. Passed a big washer over the pipe 24" chain with a snap ,drove stake 18" into the ground and had a great single dog tie out.Or so I thought,couldn't keep my dog from getting excited and pulli...

RayGubernat

I have two hammers that I carry. One is a 2 # head on a 24(or so) long handle. It works OK, but requires a fair # of hits in hard soil. The other is a 4# forming hammer with about an 18" handle. It does a good job of driving stakes in any kind of soil, and is not too heavy to swing. Pulling the stak...

RayGubernat

Ray, I’m not trying to be argumentative here but you may find this of interest. If you don’t want to watch the whole video, skip to the 4 minute mark through 5:45. It is why most of us view puppies chasing as part of the normal progression of bringing one along. The pointer pups he is discussing ar...

RayGubernat

I guess I do it a little different than some. My pups don't even SEE a bird until they are 6-8 months old, and then only in a VERY controlled situation. I start doing heel/whoa drills in the yard when the pup is about 16 weeks old. I use a "pigging string", which is a poor man's version of the Smith...

RayGubernat

The #2 Ramset loads(brown box) are what you need. The #3 and #4 loads are more powerful and louder. I suspect that since you are using an actual .22 you will be fine with any type of blank, but some of the cheaper blank guns may not handle the stresses of the high power ramset loads. I use #2 Ramset...

RayGubernat

I have trained a few dogs and my 25+ year old... "go to" e-collar has 6 levels of stim with two buttons to deliver 1/3, or 2/3 the selected momentary stim level/ If pressed together the full momentary stim level is delivered. There is a separate button to deliver continuous stim at the selected leve...

RayGubernat

After the dog is done for the day, I would suggest you go over the dog's face area with clean water and then once over lightly with an antiseptic wipe. If there is active bleeding after gentle use of the antiseptic, I'd seriously consider using gentle pressure or even some Bactine spray with pressur...

RayGubernat

You have been given solid advice. I would "go back" almost to square one with the dog. Do whoa drills in the yard on a rope, then introduce a pigeon, in the yard with the dog still on the rope. If you have trained the dog with an e-collar, nick the dog if it moves. Demand perfection before you move ...

RayGubernat

BG - As far as GPS's are concerned, I have and like the Astro 430. I use it with GPS ONLY collars since I field trial. I honestly would not recommend the 430 or anything like it for both tracking and e-collar corrections because, if you have to look at the screen to issue a correction...you ain't lo...

RayGubernat

You need to treat the boards with this composition: mix 2 parts of liquid soap with 1 part of ground red pepper. The problem is usually solved right away. This is an old recipe and it helped me. I do not recommend hot sauce, the dog has a very sensitive tongue and can get burned. I read that there ...

RayGubernat

Have had some experience with dogs from the dam's side of your pedigree. There is plenty of "juice" there. Both sides of your pup's pedigree are quite strong. I suggest you do whatever you can to bond with and make very good friends with your pup. A dog bred like yours can do a lot of things very we...

RayGubernat

Ray G you post some good info about Sires ability to pass on traits for multiple generations. My take on that is trainers,trialers,breeders, didn't stay with the lines thru the generations. Easy to chase a new flavor of the month. Genetics are funny and skipping a generation or 2 can really cause s...

RayGubernat

Speaking of pedigree's, can anyone tell me the signifacance of Barn Owl Wind? Lot of people with him in their dogs pedigree and they don't even know it! Titles mean a dog has the ability but does not indicate if you have the ability to bring it out! How long has that dog been dead for and people ar...

RayGubernat

greg jacobs wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 14, 2022 11:31 am
Looks like he runs all age, and shooting dog stakes

I could be wrong, but I believe he runs predominantly in open shooting dog stakes. By all accounts he is a pretty nice dog.

RayG

RayGubernat

BG I have had Dogtra launchers for years and they have given me excellent service. I currently have three which is about one more than I need, just in case one of them craps out. My son just purchased a pair of Dogtra quail launchers(with electronics) right before Christmas. Several suppliers were o...

RayGubernat

Mosby- Couple of things... As you observed, titles indicate both a level of innate talent AND an level of trainabilty. While it is true that many judged events, be they field trials or hunt tests, are staged events run on planted birds, it is also true that these events are judged by relatively impa...

RayGubernat

Had a few that would chew over the years. PIA. Steel "J" channel that is about 1/2" wide seems to work well. It cuts pretty well with a good big pair of tinsnips. I install it with the long side(~1 1/2") outside and run a few stainless steel self tapping screws up from the underside so that they sti...

RayGubernat

Had a few that would chew over the years. PIA. Steel "J" channel that is about 1/2" wide seems to work well. It cuts pretty well with a good big pair of tinsnips. I install it with the long side(~1 1/2") outside and run a few stainless steel self tapping screws up from the underside so that they sti...

RayGubernat

Mosby - I do some field trials and have seen(and been beaten) by some pretty nice V's, over the years. As far as hunt tests are concerned... this is my take: A Junior Hunter pass or title is baseline, as far as demonstrated ability is concerned. A Junior Hunter capable dog is the bare minimum, in te...

RayGubernat

The answer is a Braque Francais type Pyrenees. Actually, I have seen two different Braques in the field. One was a Braque Francais and one was a Braque du Bourbonnaise( I think). Both were older dogs(older than5i think) when I saw them work and they did a nice job in the field and each s calm as di...

RayGubernat

He might not be all that close to you, but I think Bruce Shaffer of Almost Heaven GSP's in West VA. is someone I can recommend as a source of high quality GSP's. He is also a straight shooter.

RayG

RayGubernat

I have had pointers all my life. I have hunted over shorthairs, setters (English and Irish), and Brittanys and I have trialed with just about every pointing breed one time or another. Most of my trialing was walking stuff early on and horseback for the last fifteen or so. Each breed has their strong...

RayGubernat

"I don't have a lot of time over any other dog other than my English Cocker Spaniel so I'm looking for input from everyone else's experience." My take on this statement is that the poster has only had experience hunting over their cocker and is looking for advice on pointing breeds from those that h...

RayGubernat

Ist barrel - Skeet 2nd barrel - Improved Cylinder I use 1 oz. loads of high velocity 6's. I like the shells that are 1220 fps or faster. I get nickel plated shot when I can. I think it does a better job. Have killed plenty of birds with this setup. Prior to owning an O/U I had an A-5 in 20 ga. that ...

RayGubernat

BG - I don't get too nuts with the vaccine stuff. Of course, I make certain my dogs are vaccinated for Rabies, because that is the law. I vaccinate puppies as recommended until they are about 3 years old. Parvo and distemper are absolute puppy killers and one of them (Parvo??) can kill a dog's sense...

RayGubernat

This year I was training my dog to be steady to flush. I had him doing well with pigeons. He is e coller conditioned to stop if he makes makes mistake and starts to chase. this worked well in training. Now that we are hunting pheasants he is chasing after flush again. What are people's reccomendsti...

RayGubernat

I have used PPP in the past and my son uses it now for his two dogs. If I had only one or two dogs, there is no question that I would be feeding PPP. Over the years I have used several different feeds, mostly 30/20 and with a couple of exceptions the dogs did fine on them. Price and availability wer...

RayGubernat

Hi folks - In my mind, folks that have the particular affliction(gun dogs) that I seem to have...are at least co-conspirators and friendly sources of valuable information regarding the dog stuffand bird stuff we all get lost in. I consider most all of the folks I have corresponded with on this and o...

RayGubernat

BG - Couple of things on pigeons, if I may. As far as using pigeons, Rick Hall had an awesome solution to the problem of pigeons flying away when planted on the ground. He took a baby sock that had a long string tied to it andput the sock over the pigeon's head just prior to planting it. As dog appr...

RayGubernat

Covrec1; It looks good to me. Don't know much about labs. To call a pedigree just a piece of paper is beyond silly. To say that only a couple generations count is even worse. Without a pedigree you have know idea of what you are actually buying. The dog might hunt great or be a great retriever, but...

RayGubernat

First let me say I know Bupkus about labs and only a very little bit about lab trials or tests. However,it is fairly obvious that the sire is a quality animal. Any dog that can achieve an AKC Master Hunter designation has to have demonstrated the ability to take training to a VERY high level. Anyone...

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