Pup Training Question

PheasantHunter · Post by **PheasantHunter** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:09 pm

Hey All,

What'd y'all think of putting a pup in a pen or room or something with a live quail as part of his "intro to gamebirds"?

For those who think it's a good idea...would you let him kill the bird?

Thanks!

Mike

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:22 pm

I wouldnt if the quail takes on a run in his direction and he cant get away he might get too scared. just take him into the backyard and velcro the quail's wings.

PheasantHunter · Post by **PheasantHunter** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:44 pm

I hear ya there Ryan but I'm talking about a puppy 3 months and up that are already excited about quail wings and scent...to this point, I haven't owned a puppy that would be scared of a little quail in that setting...I believe that any puppy that I've owned would likely kill that quail although I can't say that for a fact because I haven't tried it...

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:00 pm

Batter safe then sorry. Why risk it?

HUTCH · Post by **HUTCH** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:32 pm

I havent had alot of pups but I have always let mine catch a few birds eat them what ever it takes to get them fired up about birds.

Post by **ezzy333** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:36 pm

My first question would be "Why?" I cant think of any reason to do it if you know the pup likes the wings and wouldn't be scared.

Ezzy

HUTCH · Post by **HUTCH** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:41 pm

my experience all though limited is that the dog may seem really fired up about birds but could be affraid to mouth and pick up the bird. my setter was this way but after letting him chase a few and play with a few he learned it would not hurt him and that he had control over the bird. I do this at the same time i am g\conditioning him to the gun. once he shows that then I wouldnt let him catch anymore.

TAK · Post by **TAK** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 7:52 pm

Make the game simple for you and the dog. Take some of these Quail and let the pup bump and chase them. Pull some feathers on the bird and let this bird react to the pup chasing them. The bird will do everything possible to get away and the pup will do everything possible to catch his game. As the pup matures I would take this game to some stronger birds that will not be caught. What ever make it possitive for the pup. Some pups need to catch a bird or two to wake up the demon inside, some don't. Once you have him wanting birds more than anything else I would take the chase away.

markj · Post by **markj** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:03 am

I take a worn out quail that i used to train an older pup, put it into the kennel with the pups at 4 weeks or so to see what they do. Never had one get hurt and some show a huge prey drive.

At 3 months I would be planting quail outside, let pup get downwind, see if the smell invokes any responce, build on that.

Too much work on pen raised isnt a good thing for wild bird dogs IMHO. get them onto something that will fly away.

Mntngoat · Post by **Mntngoat** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:34 pm

I had our 10 week old pup yesterday, down in the marshes and had a quail my sister gave me from work (they feed them to the big cats at the zoo) I handed it too him and he went crazy, started jumping and dancing all around it and then decided to chomp down on it and give it the "death shake" It's nice to know he isn't afraid of them at least, but we need to work on the hard mouth. Rex was not too happy when I took it away from him.

Michael

birddog · Post by **birddog** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:42 pm

I am a little concerned with some of the advice given here. You don't fix one problem by starting another.

TAK · Post by **TAK** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:49 pm

birddog wrote:I am a little concerned with some of the advice given here. You don't fix one problem by starting another.

With what part? I am guessing the catching of the birds? So pups or even dogs need to have a "Real Boost" to gain desire for the game. Just as some things go, do it to much and you will have a problem, but a little won't hurt as bad as if you don't.....

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:33 pm

birddog wrote:I am a little concerned with some of the advice given here. You don't fix one problem by starting another.

I'd like to add - to show a little bit of compassion for the animals we "hunt" and be careful what you write on lists because you don't know what may be used against you at some future date.

Marg

HUTCH · Post by **HUTCH** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:37 pm

birddog wrote:I am a little concerned with some of the advice given here. You don't fix one problem by starting another.

sometimes the only way to fix a problem is to create a new one.

RabbitBeagle · Post by **RabbitBeagle** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:36 pm

Wouldn't your pup tear the bird up while you are gone and you would have one heck of a mess to clean up. not to metion your dog would be all bloody.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:26 pm

I think we want our gundogs to learn to bring 'em back not rip 'em up

TOOTALL · Post by **TOOTALL** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:15 pm

PheasantHunter wrote:Hey All,

What'd y'all think of putting a pup in a pen or room or something with a live quail as part of his "intro to gamebirds"?

For those who think it's a good idea...would you let him kill the bird?

Thanks!

Mike

On my pups first bird, I taped one wing of a pigeon. When she cought it I let her carry it around and play with it for a good 10 minutes. Much to my suprise she never did kill that bird. You might get lucky like I did and have a pup with a naturally soft mouth.

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