Gun Dog Forum

So, your guy should end up being around 22 or 23 lbs. according to your vet. My friend(a dog trainer) had a couple Boykins she bought as young puppies and trained for field work. They are both pretty small. I'm guessing the female is about 25 lbs. Those two little guys not only retrieve roosters wit...

Here's my opinion - series of puppy shots, the one-year vaccination, again at four years, maybe at seven. My "opinion" is simply based on what various veterinarians have told me over the years including the article written by vets on this subject, internet research, and personal experience. The "per...

I absolutely let my dogs "just run." They're having fun and getting exercise. It's good for their mind and bodies. Our five dogs are hunting dogs, trial/test dogs, and most certainly our companions. I'm also a firm believer in the "invisible lead" - an e-collar. Actually, most pet-only owners would ...

Yes. Great posts. This topic with input from various experienced people is just what the doctor ordered! Thanks.

Most of the people I know that started giving their dogs fish oil noticed a difference in about a month or so. The "improvement" mostly showed up with shinier, thicker coats. Or, in some cases with chronic ear problems clearing up. A friend that has a dog with severe skin allergies was advised by th...

My granddaughter will be 18 next month. Although she's been around the training and has run and titled labs in the AKC junior level when she was much younger, this year will be her first "hunting" season. She has been practicing with us and she shoots pretty darn good. She also wants to bear hunt wi...

Thanks for all the good information, opinions, advice, and humor.

(Only 17 days until the grouse opener here in Washington. But, for us, we won't be hunting the opener - we have a trial on Sept 1.)

I give my dogs fish oil capsules. I just heard from a guy that says if you don't cut open the capsules, the dogs don't get much benefit. I tried to look it up and couldn't find any information or opinions on the capsules vs the fish oil pump forms of administering. Does anyone have any experience or...

I noticed the same thing - I believe it's called "being polite." Too bad more online forums and conversations can't be just a little more polite. It goes a long way toward enjoying other people's experiences, not to mention learning new things. This forum is great.

We have two red setters and two labs and they all hunt upland. I say "sit" or blow a sit whistle to enforce stop to the flush for the labs. I use "whoop" to remind the setters to stop/hold point (not sit). But, each know what the "other" breed's word is for "stop." I'm pretty sure it wasn't somethin...

Check in with "Red Delicious" on this forum. He is planning to breed his girl Breelie to my guy, Robert next spring. If you're not wanting to wait that long, there are posts on this list that have identified other good red setter breeders. We are located in Washington. My guy, Robert, is a good wate...

My answer is everywhere - in the garage, in the mud room, in our spare bedroom, in my truck, and in outside dog kennels. It would take forever and bore everyone to death if I listed all my "dog" stuff. The fact that I have both setters and labs probably adds to the amount of training gear I have. Th...

I sure don't want to get into a dog food debate - especially because I'm new to this forum! :) But, the original poster did ask "your opinion please." The studies I'm referring to aren't "old wives tales." This is "new" information. And, I stand by my previous comments that I DON'T know the validity...

I've heard and read that corn is not digested easily by dogs and can cause allergies. I also heard and read that "poultry" meal is not "chicken" meal, but a poor substitute for a meat protein in dry food. Some of the other ingredients you listed also would be considered "suspect" according to what I...

I feed Kirkland's Nature's Domain (grain free) to our four very active dogs - 2 labs and 2 red setters. I supplement every day mostly with chicken(boneless skinless chicken thighs) and the chicken fat. A few times a week they get eggs instead, or some other meat or fish. They get other stuff, too, l...

Great pics! Thanks for posting.

I think the previous posts all have good information. We have two red setters and two labs and we live in western Washington. We hunt ruffed grouse here on the west side, and pheasants and quail in eastern Washington. Typically, we'll hunt our red dogs in the more open areas and the labs in the thic...

We hunt upland, almost exclusively. It's highly unlikely that you'll find any wild pheasants here in western Washington. Like a previous poster wrote, there are quite a few pheasant release sites on the west side. To hunt pheasants this side of the mountains, you'll need a west side pheasant permit,...

Have any of you seen the movie, "Idiocracy"? I have two young pigeons that recently laid and hatched one of the two eggs. They were all lovey-dovey sharing the nesting duties, but now that there's a baby involved, the male wants to hog the nest, and he's been downright mean to the Mrs. I've been sus...

Hey Don,
I received a very nice surprise in the mail today. Some great pics from our trial, AND a "portrait-type" picture of "my little man," Robert. Thanks so much! That was really nice of you.

I have a couple young pigeons that have recently laid a couple eggs. Even though we feed them various feed, we have also been feeding cracked corn. Being new to raising pigeons, can you tell me why corn is bad? Thanks!

Great pics from our trial - thanks you guys for taking and posting them! Just for the record, that's my red guy, Robert, with the yellow collar. It was Robert backing the Gordon(Rhett) who belongs to George Lutz. The judges were great. We got a lot of compliments on our trial. Thanks to everyone who...