Training A dog
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 188
Training A dog
I've been bird hunting for about 4 years now and I've decided to by a dog and train it myself. So far i have just been reading books about it, but I was just wondering if some dogs are easier to train then others? If so what should I get for a dog? I will be hunting ruffed grouse in Maine.
#2
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 82
RE: Training A dog
I really think this question is a matter of opinion, but I have pheasant and quailhunted in Indiana with many different dogs from Labs, German Shorthaired Pointers, Brittany Spaniel, English Pointer, and Wiemaraner. My favorite is German Shorthaird Pointer because they don't get tired easy and they are very well minded from the start. I trained my GSP as soon as I got her at 7 weeks old. She is a realy smart dog but it takes alot of time and patience with any dog.Brittany Spaniel is my next in line for the same reason but cleaning briars and burs out of their hair is no fun. Overal out of all the dogs I have hunted with I think that the dog is only as smart as the person training it.
#3
RE: Training A dog
ORIGINAL: trmckinn
I really think this question is a matter of opinion, but I have pheasant and quailhunted in Indiana with many different dogs from Labs, German Shorthaired Pointers, Brittany Spaniel, English Pointer, and Wiemaraner. My favorite is German Shorthaird Pointer because they don't get tired easy and they are very well minded from the start. I trained my GSP as soon as I got her at 7 weeks old. She is a realy smart dog but it takes alot of time and patience with any dog.Brittany Spaniel is my next in line for the same reason but cleaning briars and burs out of their hair is no fun. Overal out of all the dogs I have hunted with I think that the dog is only as smart as the person training it.
I really think this question is a matter of opinion, but I have pheasant and quailhunted in Indiana with many different dogs from Labs, German Shorthaired Pointers, Brittany Spaniel, English Pointer, and Wiemaraner. My favorite is German Shorthaird Pointer because they don't get tired easy and they are very well minded from the start. I trained my GSP as soon as I got her at 7 weeks old. She is a realy smart dog but it takes alot of time and patience with any dog.Brittany Spaniel is my next in line for the same reason but cleaning briars and burs out of their hair is no fun. Overal out of all the dogs I have hunted with I think that the dog is only as smart as the person training it.
its gets old quick
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: Training A dog
ORIGINAL: Doc E
Although lots of breeds can do well with Grouse, the true specialist is the English Setter.
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Although lots of breeds can do well with Grouse, the true specialist is the English Setter.
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they are not great at all hunting but handle all better than other dogs..gsp is another one i like..it weather is bad or swamp water,high grass etc..those other dogs have a hardtime..i seen many a dog walking behind owner in 50 years do to high grass ,snow, water, swamps, rain, wind..
lab oe gsp are 1 tough all around dog..my favorite in 50 years to do it all,not great but good is the long legged smalllab.. PS,if you can get a POINTING LAB,OH my what a dog you would have..
#6
RE: Training A dog
Sproulman,
I have a Pointing Lab -- Long Legs, but also a pretty big fella (82 to 86 lbs).
We bag large numbers of Grouse -- also hunt pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and rabbits.
We harvested 132 birds last year (some of all of the species mentioned). We took 33 grouse this season in just 6 weekends of hunting.......................But, if all I was going to hunt were Grouse and Quail, I'd choose an ES.
.
I have a Pointing Lab -- Long Legs, but also a pretty big fella (82 to 86 lbs).
We bag large numbers of Grouse -- also hunt pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and rabbits.
We harvested 132 birds last year (some of all of the species mentioned). We took 33 grouse this season in just 6 weekends of hunting.......................But, if all I was going to hunt were Grouse and Quail, I'd choose an ES.
.
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: Training A dog
ORIGINAL: Doc E
Sproulman,
I have a Pointing Lab -- Long Legs, but also a pretty big fella (82 to 86 lbs).
We bag large numbers of Grouse -- also hunt pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and rabbits.
We harvested 132 birds last year (some of all of the species mentioned). We took 33 grouse this season in just 6 weekends of hunting.......................But, if all I was going to hunt were Grouse and Quail, I'd choose an ES.
.
Sproulman,
I have a Pointing Lab -- Long Legs, but also a pretty big fella (82 to 86 lbs).
We bag large numbers of Grouse -- also hunt pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and rabbits.
We harvested 132 birds last year (some of all of the species mentioned). We took 33 grouse this season in just 6 weekends of hunting.......................But, if all I was going to hunt were Grouse and Quail, I'd choose an ES.
.
i asked the owners what the weight was of each i talked to,most were 80 pds..thats just right,so i dont think yours is to heavy..
big labs ,90 and up get wore out easy on upland from what i saw..they shined on water trails but were awful on upland..those small long legged labs, they were something to see..
i saw many females that went 55 to 65 pds,boy, they looked real small..
i also agree on english setter on grouse..
most dogs i see hunting here for grouse are those BRITTANYS..they almost look like beagles..
does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..
grouse here in pa after the leaves drop are one hard bird to hit..they flush way before you even get into sniper range..i have to use 12 ga,full choke,2 and 3/4 high brass,no 6s..you get only 2 seconds to fire, thats it..
lots of fun if you find birds..here is our club..www.warriorsmark.com
#8
RE: Training A dog
ORIGINAL: sproulman
does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..
does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..
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#9
RE: Training A dog
They use alot of different dogs up here for grouse and woodcock.
Some use Brittany, GSP, English Setter, and what ever else you can think of. I have even seen little Cocker Spaniels hunting grouse. My self I like the Irish Setter, so it is more of a matter of choice. Over the years there has been a quite a few bird dogs killed by coyotes up here. So sometimes big can be better to use. But, whatever you decide on good luck to you.
Some use Brittany, GSP, English Setter, and what ever else you can think of. I have even seen little Cocker Spaniels hunting grouse. My self I like the Irish Setter, so it is more of a matter of choice. Over the years there has been a quite a few bird dogs killed by coyotes up here. So sometimes big can be better to use. But, whatever you decide on good luck to you.
#10
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: Training A dog
ORIGINAL: Doc E
He points -- then depending on the situation either I flush or have him flush on command. He points all upland birds -- and again, depending on the situation, either I or he will make the flush.
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ORIGINAL: sproulman
does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..
does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..
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we had 6 grouse flushes and i got 1,only one thati was able to see to shoot..that brush is awful thick yet,i was using 7 and 1/2 ,low brass 1 and 1/8 shot dove loads..i had 5 woodcock that i could have shot but i cant see killing them..they were good training for our young dog,he flushed them over and over, then i shot over woodcocks head..
great day,but those ticks are terrible..we pulled 12 ticks off his dog after we got home..