new to hunting
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Gauge & Reload
new to hunting
I have posted here before looking for a trianer in the nw Iowa area. Well most all trainers are done untill next spring after hunting is over. Anyhow I have two labs one male and one female from the same litter that are now approximately 6.5mos. old. I got them when they were 4.5mos. old. They were basically farm dogs, with no names. They are now Guage (female) and Reload (male). Anyhow, I have taken them out to see if they could handle a gunshot and both passed with no problems. My question is how do you know if you have a pointing lab or not. It seemed that on a few occasions the male would stop and point just like a pointer, with its front leg up and tail straight motionless, although i dont think it was on a bird because nothing got up. Also i do plan to hunt them both should I use one mainly for waterfowl and one mainly for upland or can I use them both for both? Also How do I get them to listen to my kids and others. I know this may not be the best idea, but they do listen to me, down, sit, stay. When my sons try it they half heatedly listen then proceed to jump on them or take off. Will a good trainer be able to take care of this? These are my first dogs ever and of course I want them to be awesome dogs in the feild and at home.
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Addict
- Rank: Champion
- Posts: 311
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:19 pm
- Location: Almost in Idaho
Welcome to the forum.
I would say you can use them for both upland and waterfowl. That's the great thing about labs is they can do both. Have had a few labs and enjoyed hunting everything I could with them. My current lab is moslty my waterfowl dog now that I have a couple of pointing dogs.
How old are your children? Can your other family members enforce the commands like you do? The only way to get your dogs to listen to other family members is to not let them get away with anything. It takes training from all family members. If they don't put in the time training, the dogs won't listen to them.
My dogs pretty much only listen to me and my wife because we are the only ones doing the training. I didn't take much to get my lab to stay sitting when playing fetch with my kids. I just watched and helped enforce it with an ecollar. My lab is ecollar conditioned though so I don't recommend using one until you have the knowledge of how to use it. I would never let my children run the ecollar either.
Addict
I would say you can use them for both upland and waterfowl. That's the great thing about labs is they can do both. Have had a few labs and enjoyed hunting everything I could with them. My current lab is moslty my waterfowl dog now that I have a couple of pointing dogs.
How old are your children? Can your other family members enforce the commands like you do? The only way to get your dogs to listen to other family members is to not let them get away with anything. It takes training from all family members. If they don't put in the time training, the dogs won't listen to them.
My dogs pretty much only listen to me and my wife because we are the only ones doing the training. I didn't take much to get my lab to stay sitting when playing fetch with my kids. I just watched and helped enforce it with an ecollar. My lab is ecollar conditioned though so I don't recommend using one until you have the knowledge of how to use it. I would never let my children run the ecollar either.
Addict
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Gauge & Reload
well my kids are 10 and 7. i do not plan to use an ecollar. if the trainer i decide to bring them to does that is ok, but i will not. i have been around plenty of hunting/ house dogs that have never had an ecollar and never needed it. i guess it will take some more practice. i am sure we will get it.
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QCBirddogs
G & R.......
You might try Jerry Jordan at Kojac Kennels. HE is in Centrall Iowa but I know he is still training at this time. He mostly works GSP's but I know he takes in other breeds at times.
He is a great man and trainer. I have known him for several years. Last year he spent some time with us trainnig during the winter. I think the winter snow got to him up there and he had to flee south!
Phil
REO
You might try Jerry Jordan at Kojac Kennels. HE is in Centrall Iowa but I know he is still training at this time. He mostly works GSP's but I know he takes in other breeds at times.
He is a great man and trainer. I have known him for several years. Last year he spent some time with us trainnig during the winter. I think the winter snow got to him up there and he had to flee south!
Phil
REO
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pear
- Rank: 5X Champion
- Posts: 1152
- Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2004 10:13 pm
- Location: OH/WV
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tashaz33
Hello,
I have a lab and will be using her for waterfowl and upland. Labs are very versitile. I believe the reason they act like that with your sons is because they are not the trainers. My dogs listen to me yet not to my family. You are their trainer and you are the person that provides for them so they know they must listen to you. Try having your sons give them commands and practice with them. They will learn that they have to listen to the family not just you. Trainers can train dogs as in behavioral modification. My dog used to jump up on people but she soon learned that it was not a thing to do. Just use constant commands and such and they will learn. My lab is at hunting training right now and the first 3 weeks went by fast and I got to go see her. She has learned a ton! Trainers are good, teaching them commands before sending them off is excellent. They learn faster and it is easier on the trainer. Let me know if this helps!
I have a lab and will be using her for waterfowl and upland. Labs are very versitile. I believe the reason they act like that with your sons is because they are not the trainers. My dogs listen to me yet not to my family. You are their trainer and you are the person that provides for them so they know they must listen to you. Try having your sons give them commands and practice with them. They will learn that they have to listen to the family not just you. Trainers can train dogs as in behavioral modification. My dog used to jump up on people but she soon learned that it was not a thing to do. Just use constant commands and such and they will learn. My lab is at hunting training right now and the first 3 weeks went by fast and I got to go see her. She has learned a ton! Trainers are good, teaching them commands before sending them off is excellent. They learn faster and it is easier on the trainer. Let me know if this helps!