duck/phesant dog

Gauge & Reload · Post by **Gauge & Reload** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:01 pm

hello i was curious i have tried training my dogs at home and in the feild but evertime i go out to hunt phesant we dont see a thing and gauge is starting to think bird time is play time. anyhow i was wondering what the best training material for a duck dog first then phesant dog there is? i know alot of you guys on here have pointers whereas i have two labs. i have read alot and done searches maybe i have looked over the info.

gonehuntin' · Post by **gonehuntin'** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:23 pm

Join or go to a game farm and use pen raised birds. That way your dogs are getting the bird exposure they need. You can't make a bird dog without birds.

birdogg42 · Post by **birdogg42** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 1:58 am

Have you been to www. hunting.net ??? They Have alot of lab people there i am sure they could point you in the right direction.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:43 am

I am not a lab guy, but have hunted with quite a few labs and lab people. The advice given is right on when it comes to training the dog to work in the uplands. They need to be exposed to birds, and encouraged to trail and flush them. The biggest problem most lab people have, though, is controlling the dog once it is on the scent. Wear track shoes and get in shape. Or teach the dog to sit (hup) even while on a track.

Post by **Az Draht** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:42 am

For duck hunting first, try 10 Minute Retriever by John and Amy Dahl. Or you can try Training a Retriever for Marsh and Meadows by Spencer (I think).

But also as important, join a hunting retriever club. In Iowa you should be able to find both HRC and NAHRA clubs. The North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA) have both a water and upland component to them. And I think HRC does also. By joining a club you will have access to experienced trainers, land to train on, and birds.

Lab Man · Post by **Lab Man** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:14 pm

I am a lab guy and a german shorthair guy. I do just as much waterfowl hunting in not more then upland. Here are some good training materials to teach your dog for waterfowl and upland. As suggested get 10 Minute Retriever by John and Amy Dahl, also a good dvd called Fowl Dawgs 1. Another good book is called Marsh' and Meadows by James Spencer. I have these books and dvd's in stock if you need one. www.coonriverkennels.com , also since you live in Northwest Iowa if you are close you are welcome to train with me. E-mail me at mark@coonriverkennels.com if you are interested. Good luck

Thor · Post by **Thor** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:57 pm

gonehuntin' wrote:Join or go to a game farm and use pen raised birds. That way your dogs are getting the bird exposure they need. You can't make a bird dog without birds.

How right you are, but what everybody forgets is, you can sure mess a dog up if the birds are done properly. As everybody knows, it's 100x harder to get a dog corrected than it is do it correct. Go buy some birds and plant them yourself so you will know exactly where they are and bring your dogs in on them with wind right and so on.

gonehuntin' · Post by **gonehuntin'** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:51 pm

Thor wrote:How right you are, but what everybody forgets is, you can sure mess a dog up if the birds are done properly. As everybody knows, it's 100x harder to get a dog corrected than it is do it correct. Go buy some birds and plant them yourself so you will know exactly where they are and bring your dogs in on them with wind right and so on.

You're right Thor. I always plant mine myelf so I have total control of the situation. Just never thought of throwing that in.