Gun Dog Forum

crackerd

Agree as usual with GH on force fetching - for all gundog breeds. Just wrapped up the proceedings today overlaying the e-collar with a black dog (best FF candidate ever invented) whose five-gen. pedigree only has 112 FCs, and relished 99.4% of imparting it to a pup (of my own) for the first time in ...

crackerd

So I have been in the force fetch process for about 25 days. ... I know I’m going to have to ween him off the treats as we continue the process but what’s wrong with teaching him the fetch and hold command this way? All the other commands I’ve taught him has been with introducing him to the command...

crackerd

Hoping somebody would ask (and answer) this question, as until you've experienced how atrocious the collar quality on the Garmin actually is... you might think baling twine would be an improvement, and you might well be right!

MG

crackerd

Here's an earlier thread from this forum sort of on the same topic with commentary from retriever training program originator Evan Graham and cameos by one of his acolytes, the wonderfully named "Del Lolo:" http://gundogforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44667 At this stage, and working with a 4-year-o...

crackerd

Only saw the word "force" in your thread header. Does that mean you're commanding the dog to fetch without any force in front of it? With a 4 year-old-dog, the persuasion's gotta go beyond one five-letter word ("fetch") rolling off your tongue - it demands that the other five-letter word ("force") r...

crackerd

Probably a really dumb question but here it goes....how will my chessie learn to transition from training to the real deal? He is awesome with guns, bringing the dummy back, and most the stuff related to hunting....well for being 7 months old. Just interested in better ways to help him transition, ...

crackerd

Ended up just buying half a dozen identical dummies once my last paycheck hit. Problem seems to be fixed for the most part. Occasionally he’ll decide that he doesn’t want to pick up one of the subsequent ones but we can usually work through it that session and if he decides that he really doesn’t w...

crackerd

Does it really matter ? The dog is only doing what most dogs would do. For instance if I put out a canvas dummy and a rabbit skin dummy it is very probable that my dogs would choose the rabbit skin dummy if the dogs were just being "sent to a pile." But if I put a dummy out to left and to right and...

crackerd

Although, I think OP, living in Canada, is pretty close to a couple really good Griff breeders. I'd have to look. Cass we have known each other for about 5 1/2yrs now. I personally think a Griff would fit with you and your lifestyle. Just my opinion from afar. Best of luck in your quest for the dog...

crackerd

Godspeed and RIP, Ezzy - and thank you for the classy way of letting us know, V-John.

MG

crackerd

Great stuff, Robt. - and wholly (if not holy) illustrative of why North America needs you and your training philosophies to get gundogs and other canines (and their owners) off on the right foot.

MG

crackerd

Now if you wanted to train that GSP as a retriever - which they are recognized as for competition by several orgs., including AKC - plenty of assistance is available throughout the Heart of Dixie, AKC and HRC clubs alike.

MG

crackerd

Now it's the doppelganger of the Trekmoor home pitch - spittin' image. Well done, Bill, no techie problemo!

MG

crackerd

The "St. Francis " guy you mentioned is on his own personal pilgrimage to persuade more people to convert to "Positive Only." I generally agree with most of what he posts although obviously I don't agree with PP, our thought processes aren't that different. However I did believe he was talking out ...

crackerd

I think the 'climate' of the people in Oregon do not represent the majority of the folks in this country! Not that this is not of concern to us all, it is...but you have to consider the source, meaning the state of Oregon... Yeah, consider it as one of the top retriever training venues in the count...

crackerd

Sharon suggested this topic in another thread and it would interest me to see what the split is on here between the folk that do F.F. and those that do not. Personally I am a "do not" - - - - - mainly because I never find it necessary to do it . A pup that already has a decent retrieve instinct onl...

crackerd

I’ve got a question. I’ve taken my pup out twice walkin through the woods and popped a few birds w my pellet gun. I let my Boykin retrieve the birds. I thought it might be good to go ahead and get him interested in birds and get use to me walking around w a gun in my hand. Also, teach him what happ...

crackerd

Like gundogguy and Sharon advised, this is a time for getting to know your pup and vice versa, along with the socialization. And don't be overwhelmed by the breadth of training material, be excited about having a gundog with a lot of breadth of its own, and that, while not a Lab or Chessie, can be t...

crackerd

Thanks for coming back aboard to let us know - and thanks even more for your service on several fronts, Ezzy, in particular your service to our country.

All the best,

MG

crackerd

Bill, I can simplify it for you apropos Robt.'s labeling above - you're heretofore a Scottish RedNe-c! (That is, unless you prefer to be a Brexit RedNe-c!)

MG

crackerd

Marketing. Like shortbread on a biscuit Tin. ..So many buy the tin . .. Perhaps the other way round , Not many that I know are sold/marketed from one side to the other ? :roll: :wink : Coals to Newcastle notwithstanding, Robt., your being a pretty bright bloke, I'm pretty sure you know the reason b...

crackerd

Retrieving separate from Hunting . Then put them together . . I completely agree. I have always done this and I have done it so often with so many dogs, always successfully , that it never even occurred to me that other people might not be doing the same. When I read the original post I was a bit p...

crackerd

Get over the idea of a wild bird and a pigeon, they are both a bird and the dog won't know the difference till you teach it! If you can get a hold of feral pigeons instead of homer's you can honestly tell yourself, and dog if need be, that your using wild birds. Use your wife's pet Parakeet's and t...

crackerd

Done thousands of times daily throughout North America by retriever trainers

MG

crackerd

I've just googled searched the size of British robins ...they are only 12 -14 cms in length. Your "bleep" birds are bigger than ours ! :lol: In many ways. :wink: - sorry, I couldn't resist. :) With proper appreciation of Robt.'s philosophy - and Sharon's - and Pedro's - my favorite Robin, a Reliant...

crackerd

Trekmoor wrote:Ye'd huv me in jail, you bleeper ! :roll:

Gaol, innit? Same here. Cormorants, now, that be some fine eatin' - for harbour seals...

MG

crackerd

Trekmoor wrote:I've just googled searched the size of British robins ...they are only 12 -14 cms in length. Your "bleep" birds are bigger than ours !

But, Bill, we could also help you fatten up your golden plovers for the table!

MG

crackerd

Nice Video ...Would have loved that BBQ . Looks like good folks on a good day . ..... I wonder how much Game was Missed on all that lovely ground ?..probably never know . I am old fashioned , but why the judges have to be on horse back ,and the Handler doing the singing ?..If they can see more than...

crackerd

Good luck going forward. If you're in this country, you could always get plugged into a retriever club or two and proceed from there. If you're in the UK, you could always go see Polmaise or Trekmoor. But seeking out a retriever club for help in training a hunting retriever, well, that's ostensibly ...

crackerd

Thanks, Bill - all your insights and unique experiences appreciated, as always. From our side, on the distance thing and safety concerns in the water about a retriever for handling, that's where the custom-dug "technical ponds" of uniform depth and "clean" water as described by our Canadian friend a...

crackerd

Bill, I know the IGL championship may have a last-day duck flighting which gives a competing dog the chance to retrieve a duck, and I also know that Labs (and the occasional Chessie) are used for wildfowling over there. I didn't say that a British retriever won't pick a duck, I said a British FT ret...

crackerd

Why do we treat Retrieving as a subject that automatically benefits from using force on dogs which are already displaying a great deal of joy and natural ability for the task?! I have asked about this in the past and was told that while F.F. may not be needed if a retriever is not going to be field...

crackerd

Double post

crackerd

Used to be you made money you were a pro. To get off Pro status you had to quit for two years. In the interest of trialing I think once your a pro, your always a pro. I also think that once you step up to open statue and place, Amateur status should become off limits. I have watched guy's that are ...

crackerd

Most appropriate shout out to Polmaise - but you should also know that he was but a whisker away from having himself a Boykin to train for making those 500-yard retrieves of native haggis. With an infusion of American-style training on the older, domesticated and more leathery haggi first, of course...

crackerd

Scott, averageguy's given a great précis here - Retriever Trials are run on grounds which have been selected and groomed for line of sight that is uncommon in many areas of the country. The Marks are thrown by persons wearing white jackets to make them visible to the dog. At 500 yards it is highly l...

crackerd

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 ...

crackerd

If you're asking, in proper Queen's English, " May I train my own retriever myself?" the answer is "Certainly, you may." If you're asking " Can I train my own retriever myself?" to do everything you've noted above, the answer is, Yes, you can - but there's a million-to-one odds against it, and that'...

crackerd

So a STAKE is a trialing CLASSIFICATION or LEVEL? Like little league vs collegiate vs minor league vs major league baseball? If you're asking about retrievers, as your other posts indicate, you can throw out a lot of the birddog info you've been given. For example, there is no "money stake" in retr...

crackerd

Im near Sparta, Wisconsin looking for people training retrievers that would like to show me a thing or two. Im new and training my first dog. Good job taking the advice to see a retriever trainer or amateur trainers about helping you with your Boykin. You should also post your request for help on t...

crackerd

First off, i am not a professional dog trainer. I am a hunter who wants a hunting dog... not a field trial dog. I have a 6 month old Boykin. He is steady, although he no longer likes bumpers but prefers dokken dead fowl brids. He cast with platforms, heels, works to the whistle etc. I am training h...

crackerd

reba wrote:The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the ancient Northern Spitz-type breed of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender.

Anybody in Norge use 'em these days to bark capercaillies out of trees?

MG

crackerd

Well, if you can guess the breed then you Know your dogs I suppose . This is my secret weapon for the shooting Field :mrgreen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPxQSg0nczo Robt.! Are you and Monty Roberts taking over Lilibet and Georgie's "din-asty"? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/world/europe/c...

crackerd

ezzy333, you are right on Sir. I have no intention of imposing my hunting style/preferences on anyone. Sometimes, there are too many of us as it is! :wink: I was simply sharing my breed-specific experiences. And they're enjoyed by many here, Feather - as are Mr. Kirsch's recollections of rather goi...

crackerd

Some could write a book on here. :roll: Robt., Haitch is for Higgins when it comes to the "trust" and crime genres https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/20/specials/higgins-obit.html , but I know an agent who might pair up our Haitch-man with the spirit of my old Bostonian buddy t...

crackerd

Robt., Bill - is this still Pippa M.'s piece of the gundog pie? Crikey, advocating "force free" - and with a Chessie

Nice lady. But...Lord (Lucan) help me, cloud cuckoo land has just opened up another pressurized compartment and this 'un pipes in laughing gas!

MG

crackerd

Excuse my ignorance but why do you trains dogs to stop mid cast? I’m just a weekend upland hunter and just curious why you train this skill. For duck hunting, "why" would be if you were calling the dog off a mark to send it for another bird you or someone in the blind shot and which might be a crip...

crackerd

Thanks. I'll look into the Lardy book. I currently use several other books: Dokkens retriever books, and the wildrose way. Unfortunately neither really covers the stopping during a cast to redirect. I like the Hillman videos, but they're a little expensive for my budget. Even if they did, they woul...

crackerd

One of those battles not worth fighting because it really isn't a problem. He won't carry game like that and bumper's really don't matter. It will self correct. + 1. Bill T. Bill, surprised you didn't take this opportunity to do some jingoistic rootin' for the aulde home team dummy provider, Sporti...

crackerd

So my dog is casting pretty well and steady to release for bumpers. I have a couple of questions though. I'm trying to incorporate the whistle to get him to stop mid retrieve and cast to another bumper. He's sitting fine on the whistle But when he's running the line, he's too excited to notice the ...

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