Now he's creeping in...

djswizz · Post by **djswizz** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:52 am

Took Guinness out in the light rain yesterday and I put out 3 pheasants and he pointed and held it very nice. After I flushed it, I shot it and he was steady until I told him to fetch the downed bird. All is great! My perfect hunting dog it seems. But then on the last bird, he crept all the way up to the bird and grabbed it in his mouth. No big deal. Took it out of his mouth and planted it again somewhere else. By this time it was raining pretty good. He picks up the scent and creeps in and grabs it in his mouth. I don't know if this is because of the rain or because he was tired or what. Anyone have any clue?

When we finished up, we put a fresh wing on the end of a fishing line and pole and we tossed the wing out. He chased it. We kept doing this back and forth sort of like I was fly fishing with it. He kept chasing it but every once in a while, I'd raise the bird out of his reach and slowly bring the wing down and he'd point it. We kept on doing this until he realized he couldn't get the bird and he must point it. I know remote launchers work to cure this but we don't have any. Is this method ok for a foot hunter? All thoughts are appreciated.

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:22 am

The dog catching a bird is a very big deal. I am assuming this dog is not a puppy. Never let your dog catch a bird. Stop using the wing on a string, it is useless. One of my dogs caught a bird once and it took me a month with remote launchers to cure it. You can't fix this with sleeping birds. You have to plant birds awake. On pigeons and quail dizzy them a little bit then throw them in the weeds wait 10 min. then run your dog on them. The only way I have used pheasants in this case was to put them in a pet carrier goto the middle of the field open the door and run away. They will walk out in 15-20 min. your dog will never catch these. Good luck

Post by **Ayres** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:55 pm

Wet birds smell more, and a dog will figure out that wet birds don't fly nearly as well either. That's definitely something that needs to be dealt with. Too many 'oops' of the dog catching the bird may start to lead to a decline in pointing and an increase in busting.

GsPJustin · Post by **GsPJustin** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:49 pm

Sorry to steal the thread, but how do you lightly plant pigeons, so they will flush if they feel threatend, instead of you kicking them.

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:15 pm

It's hard to describe in a forum. Easier to show. But, seeing as how you are on the left coast - I will try and explain.

Light planting with a quail is pushing the head down into the breast and pusing straight down into the grass. Bird is not dizzied, just disoriented.

There are different methods for heavy planting. This involved dizzying the bird, sleeping the bird, etc.

This creeping issue is best solved with remote launchers, trust me.

steingre · Post by **steingre** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:54 pm

Tyler,
The "Perfect Start" video/dvd would have great application to your situation- they use remote releases to stop any movement after the dog has scented the bird. The problem is most of us "amateurs" don't have access to 3 or 4 remote launchers, a pen full of homers, and the time to have all the daily repetitions it takes to do the job!

I would first go back to yard work, and reinforce "whoa"- all the time, everytime, no exceptions. Then I would carefully set up a situation where I had complete control of the dog as he scents the bird; check cord, helper, etc- whatever it takes. Any movement results in reinforcing the "whoa" command in the presence of birds, being careful not to apply too much negative pressure- just repetition, repetition, repetition!

As hunting season nears, you might think about taking someone else along to gun the first couple of times; you can focus on the dog, and be ready to "help" him be successful!!

Good luck!

djswizz · Post by **djswizz** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:15 am

I am talking with Chris Goegan this week and i'll probably bring Guinness back to him for a while before our big hunt. The thing though is this does not happen on every bird. It seemed like just the hens. Also, it was very wet by the time he grabbed the bird. Thanks for all your tips. I think through repetition and more experience, he'll get better. I'm not too concerned here.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:23 am

Justin, in response to your question about how to lightly plant pigeons you can't really. I have not every had any luck with it. If by that you are thinking you can somehow dizzy them and stick them in the grass or cover. Pigeons act differently than game birds, they do not want to stay in cover they want to get up and fly away. They will "undizzy" quickly, get up, and fly away.

So the best way to plant pigeons is either in a release trap, or we used to just make small rectangular boxes that have one long side missing, put that down over the pigeon and put a brick on top. Kick it over to flush. The brick is important, they are strong birds and will "weightlift" the box off their backs and fly away.