Gun Dog Forum

ckirsch

Ultracarry claims to be a hunter, but fails to recognize any application for a dog being able to make a blind retrieve, or track a cripple? If your hunting partner (assuming you can find one capable of tolerating your ego) knocks a pheasant or grouse down in a field across a creek while your "real" ...

ckirsch

"There's no doubt the AF horseback dogs cover more ground and require a higher level of conditioning, but all the various trial and test venues have different focuses, and provide their own unique challenges. I'm curious if those "Navda" dogs you hold in such disdain qualify as "real" dogs, given t...

ckirsch

It's been stated that NSTRA dogs that go to the so called National level have to run multible times during a weekend and possibly an hour. It's a whole different game on foot to run an hour than on horseback. It takes alot of conditioning and heart in a really good dog to compete at that level. Mos...

ckirsch

I'll throw in my two cents' worth..... I come from a NAVHDA background, and tried my luck in NSTRA for the first time a few weekends ago, in Savage, MT. I had a great time at the trial, learned a bunch, met some fine folks, and saw some good dogs run. I've noticed on the forums that some do seem to ...

ckirsch

Glad to hear you are bouncing back quickly, Ezzy.

ckirsch

baileydog2007 wrote:Im not sure an EP is suited for NAVHDA.

Your EP will do just fine in NAVHDA so long as you get him in the water early, and cultivate it's retrieve early and often. You'll probably spend a little more time on the retrieving, and less time on steadiness and backing. Good luck with your pup.

ckirsch

BD; Your post followed mine, not the other way around. You just can't help yourself, and have to slip in something negative about pointers every chance you get. Since you're not able to recognize how abrasive you are, imagine someone making a stupid statement such as "Some Drahts will point occasion...

ckirsch

Grouse Dog Guy, I can tell you from experience this year that Pointers don't do well in ND in December. :wink: They tend to get chilly. :D It was -30 wind chill that day though. They are great dogs, don't get me wrong. They are also very good natured dogs. Not the best versatile breed, but very cap...

ckirsch

Pointers get a bad rap on the "aloof" personality. I'd heard that rumor repeated for years before I got my first one, and am sure glad I didn't buy into it. The pointer I have is as good of a companion as any of the continentals I've owned, and just as affectionate. Very quiet and clean, no bad habi...

ckirsch

Curious as to the attributes that set Branscum's Nickel's apart. I've often heard favorable comments about the dog, but never an explanation of what made him great.

ckirsch

This is probably a stupid question, but is there a possibility that a dog can interpret "whoa" as "no"? I've noticed some of my dogs seeming to look a little apologetic when I have whoa'd them, even when there has been no pressure associated with that command. I use "no" to scold pups for jumping up...

ckirsch

big steve46 wrote: Your guidance means a lot to me.

It's obvious that you need all the help you can get. Good luck with your problem.

ckirsch

Steve;

This probably isn't an appropriate forum for you to air personal issues. Might I suggest that you consult your personal physician, or perhaps a qualified psychiatrist.

Jip8 and dog dr, thanks for the help.

ckirsch

Males will be a bit larger, with bigger heads and more eye and beak wattle. Hens will usually have a finer, lighter build. As has been mentioned, once the males start strutting you'll have no trouble identifying them.

ckirsch

No visible straining at any time. Stools are purple-ribbon quality. I've owned a string of intact males, but have never experienced the leaking, and would love to get that stopped. I was also concerned after reading the Strideaway article that perhaps the dog's prostate situation was something that ...

ckirsch

Dog just turned three. Discharge is completely clear and odorless with the consistency of water. Does not appear to be urine. (The dog's urine has been tested and nothing showed up.) Once every week or so, he'll leave a five-inch diameter wet spot on the dog bed that evaporates in an hour or so, lea...

ckirsch

I have a young pointer with an enlarged prostate, which one of the vets I've consulted deems responsible for the dog occasionally leaking what he suspects to be prostatic fluid. He recommends neutering the dog, which I am reluctant to do, given that his field manners and NAVHDA testing have been rea...

ckirsch

Maybe you can explain how much different a GSP coat is from an EP's coat :wink: I think in most cases GSP's have a slightly heavier coat than EP's, although they probably still won't make many duck hunters' short list for freezing duck blinds and breaking ice. Most pointers and shorthairs have plen...

ckirsch

prairiefirepointers wrote:I read the heading and thought perhaps somebody pushed you down whilst urinating.

I assumed that the thread probably referred to a painful medical condition resulting from hunting in waist-deep North Dakota snow drifts.

ckirsch

I enjoy eating early-season sharpies, but for some reason, later in the year they become less palatable. Anyone else ever notice that? I took a limit in late December and the rest of my family wouldn't eat them. I've never hunted ruffed, but ate quite a few at a bear hunting camp in Canada a few yea...

ckirsch

JKP; Fortunately, I was able to straighten out my undergarments after I read your explanation. (Happy to report there was no permanent damage.) If you review your initial post, I think you'll understand how it could have been construed differently than intended. Sounds like you know your way around ...

ckirsch

there are dogs that provide years of hunting enjoyment without it...BUT...if 100's, even 1000's of pet and poopsie owners (as well as the more serious) can do it in NAVHDA, don't see how it can be that daunting.... Since you think NAVDHA is soooo easy maybe you might want to train a dog or two to t...

ckirsch

Steady to WSF just isn't that hard...let's face it...you can have fun without it...aside from safety concerns, there are dogs that provide years of hunting enjoyment without it...BUT...if 100's, even 1000's of pet and poopsie owners (as well as the more serious) can do it in NAVHDA, don't see how i...

ckirsch

I just sent in the entry for my first NSTRA trial, to be held in Savage MT in April. I've heard mixed reports on NSTRA in the past, but for what it's worth, all three of the NSTRA folks with whom I've had contact regarding this trial have been very encouraging and welcoming. I have a dog that I've r...

ckirsch

Ezzy;

I understand the different dogs will respond differently to the same foods, and that trial-and-error is probably the best way to find the ideal food for a particular dog, but I'm curious if there is a rating organization somewhere that you believe to be objective and accurate?

ckirsch

"I'm tired of people not realizing that I know and have and do hunt with the best." (Birddogz, on this forum, December 8, 2010, "Genetics of AA Dogs" thread) You've ranted and raved for the past year about field trialers claiming their dogs are best, but I challenge you to provide a post where anyo...

ckirsch

This is getting funny. Why is it so hard for posers to admit they are such? You either are an avid hunter, or you are not. Easy. I would love to compare freezers. Most guys don't have the guts to do so. Oh, I know, it isn't about the harvest. :lol: :lol: I suspect that you're the only one into "com...

ckirsch

This thread motivated me to send in the entry for my first NSTRA trial this morning. I realize that falls somewhat short of the horseback events, at least in some folks' perspective, but it sure sounds like a lot of fun, and the prospects of my dog hunting any wild birds in frozen sloughs in April a...

ckirsch

Why do some of you insist that it's an either/or situation? In most areas, the hunting season is over the first of the year, and it's a long time until next September. I'd wager that if we could ask our dogs, they'd be quick to vote for tests and trials in the off-season, as it beats the heck out of...

ckirsch

Birddogz wrote:By the way, it seems to be the same 3-5 people who are offended by my statements.

It appears that may be a very conservative estimate......

ckirsch

I'd like to attend a trial, and possibly run a dog in one at some point, but the closest one is six hours away, so that is my biggest obstacle. Another hurdle for me is the horse thing; I love running dogs, but have no interest in horses, so that eliminates all of the horseback stuff for me. They h...

ckirsch

"People keep kicking the horse thing for trials, YOU DON'T NEED ONE. Come run under me at a trial and see that you get a fair shake. Walking handlers get priority. Plain and simple." That's good to know. I've visited some of the field trial forums and read guys' complaints about walking handlers hol...

ckirsch

I'd like to attend a trial, and possibly run a dog in one at some point, but the closest one is six hours away, so that is my biggest obstacle. Another hurdle for me is the horse thing; I love running dogs, but have no interest in horses, so that eliminates all of the horseback stuff for me.

ckirsch

Diamond Extreme Athlete

ckirsch

I have a two-year-old pointer with chronic problems with impacted anal glands. I am wondering if there is a dietary component to this problem, as I give the dog a fish oil and flaxseed oil capsule each morning. Could that be "lubing" him up too much, to the point that the anal glands are not activat...

ckirsch

In the for-what-it's-worth category..... A friend of mine manages the local Tractor Supply location, which handles twenty or more brands of dog food. I asked him which feed he believes to be the best, and he replied that he gets the most favorable comments from people who have switched to TOTW. He's...

ckirsch

I had similar experiences with bad gas when I was feeding the purple-bagged Diamond. Had a young wirehair who made my eyes water every fifteen minutes or so, and noticed it on a couple of other dogs as well. After switching to their Extreme Athlete formula, I don't notice the gas anymore. To be hone...

ckirsch

I've been the recipient of a lot of excellent advice from many of you right here. Howie, Crackerd, CoveyRise, Ross and others have taken the time to answer my questions and provide tips that really helped over the past year. Wish I was able to tag along behind some of them in the training field a ti...

ckirsch

No doubt the OP found this thread to be very encouraging.

ckirsch

K9;

Thanks for explaining some of the differences between NSTRA and other venues, including the scoring. Very helpful. I suspect that is exactly what the OP was looking for.

ckirsch

Question on NSTRA retrieves;

If the dogs are not required to be steady, and you have a point / back situation, it would seem that you would have both dogs vying for the retrieve. How is that handled?

ckirsch

fingers crossed....

ckirsch

I regularly visit this forum, along with PDJ, Versatile, and Field Trialer, and enjoy them all. This one probably offers the widest range of topics, and is the most active. PDJ is good, but seems to have far fewer participants, so there are a lot of "insider" threads that don't make much sense to an...

ckirsch

Birddogz wrote:I'm tired of people not realizing that I know and have and do hunt with the best.

That pretty much tells us all we need to know about this guy. A legend in his own mind.......

ckirsch

Birddogz wrote: I'm tired of people not realizing that I know and have and do hunt with the best.

This just keeps getting better and better....

ckirsch

: If discussing dogs angers you, don't post. Perhaps you could adopt that philosophy in your own posts. If you don't like trials, don't enter them. If some breeds are not up to your level of hunting, don't own them. Given the amount of time you spend hunting in howling blizzards, braving thirty-bel...

ckirsch

Best bet is to hunt behind a Basset Hound. They never outrun their noses, and rarely need to have beaver-chewed sticks pulled out of them. It's also a good idea never to run a dog in any event where he would be subjected to evaluation by anyone other than you. Much easier on the ego.

ckirsch

You ever notice how these threads are far and away the most active. People must be interested in them enough to post. And you're attributing that to your charisma? BD, given that none of the existing dozen or so test/trail venues provide enough challenge for you and your dogs, it's incumbent upon y...

ckirsch

Brushbustin Sporting Dogs wrote:And here we go again...

+1

ckirsch

If you want a bird dog, just say no to that one. As gittrdonebritts points out, you can probably find a purebred rescue that will give you a much better chance of ending up with a dog that will hunt.....

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