ShopPosts Tagged ‘dog training’
The Soundtrack of the Rooster Road Trip provided by Tri-Tronics
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
I am a guy that loves the peace and quiet of bird hunting. When Anthony & Andrew start ribbing each other’s shooting skills, hunting beards, or favored saying of the day, I typically veer left and bring my bird dog, Trammell, with me.
Hopefully, you’ve been able to check out some of our Rooster Road Trip hunting videos. In the ones with me and Tram, you’ll hear a hawk’s scream when Trammell goes on point. What you’re hearing is the Tri-Tronics Upland G3 EXP Beeper Unit which is connected to my Tri-Tronics Upland G3 EXP Trainer collar.
The theory behind the hawk scream is that the sound of an avian predator will freeze game birds from flushing wild. I buy that theory, which is why my Tri-Tronics beeper is set on the hawk scream.
Consequently, while I’m a guy that cherishes a little quiet time in the field, the Tri-Tronics hawk scream is the sweetest music my ears have ever heard.
Follow Pheasants Forever’s Rooster Road Trip 2011 at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org, on Facebook , YouTube, and Twitter (#rrt11).
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre.
Training for Blind Retrieves
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
I can't always find rocks to toss to mark a bird, so teaching Hunter blind retrieves made sense.
I always wished I taught my last gun dog, Wolf, how to do blind retrieves. With Wolf, I had to resort to tossing an ear of corn for him to retrieve a pheasant he didn’t see drop or a rock in the water for ducks. It was a bit undignified for both of us, not always effective and a pain. You can’t always find something to throw in the direction of the bird to cue the dog to go looking.
So, I’m now teaching Hunter blind retrieves. Sunday, I took him on his usual weekend canoe/swim/training session in nearby White Bear Lake here in Minnesota. I paddle around a big island while he either swims or runs the shore. Great fun for both of us.
When I get to the marsh, which has lots of sand bars, I get out and do some training. I’ve already taught Hunter “back,” which means go look for a bird out there somewhere. Now I want to get him to follow hand directions. This is important because it saves lots of time. Instead of Hunter working 360 to find a bird, I can send him in a specific direction.
Here’s how I do it: I put Hunter on a long check cord and then toss two retrieving dummies 15 yards out in opposite directions. If he feigns toward the dummy to the left, I tug on the cord and point to the other dummy. This teaches him to watch for hand cues. Hunter is picking it up real fast. This was his third session. I think in a few more sessions he’ll have it down for the real thing. How have you done ‘blind’ training?
The Nomad blog is written by Mark Herwig, Editor of the Pheasants Forever Journal. Email Mark at MHerwig@pheasantsforever.org.
Retriever Training Tips: You Can’t Fix Stupid (And I Don’t Mean the Dog)
Friday, July 1st, 2011
For as perfect as we want our dogs to be – and for as perfect as we think we are – we all have our moments of “brilliance” when it comes to dog training. For me, that moment happened last week.
While throwing retrieves for Beau, I managed to find one of the only trees in an open field and firmly planted a $29.00 Dokken Dummy 30 feet off the ground.
Quick Training Tip: Don’t Do This.
The dog wasn’t impressed. Neither was I.
You can’t fix stupid, but hopefully one of these days I’ll learn how to control it.
What’s your most boneheaded dog training moment?
The Over/Under blog is written by Andrew Vavra, Pheasants Forever’s Marketing Specialist.
Local Bird Dog Goes to College
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Bird Dog College: noun, often attributive
1: An institution offering bird dog instruction usually in a technical pointing, flushing or retrieving field.
2: Off-site, advanced or secondary training beyond basic obedience and/or first year hunting skills.
Bird dog colleges are known for experiential learning and great classroom settings.
While many of us dilly-dallied around campus with liberal arts, political science and philosophy classes to find our “true calling” (and push graduation back a semester or two), most bird dogs who head off to “college” don’t have the liberty of wasting precious training time staring at the bottom of an empty red Solo cup. Last time I checked, fall is quickly approaching and your dog’s scent tracking classes aren’t eligible for student aid.
Keeping this in mind, before making the commitment to enroll your pooch at an accredited institution of higher learning, you first have to decide if this is the right decision for you and your dog. Remember, no matter what anyone says, there’s no such thing as “the perfect dog,” however, there is “the perfect dog for you.”
Maybe having a dog that doesn’t retrieve all the way to hand doesn’t bother you. Perhaps having a pointer that isn’t steady to flush won’t ruffle your feathers; these are the things you need to figure out before signing that check and shipping out the pup to a trainer.
Simply put, if you’re happy with the experience you have while afield with your best friend, then there’s no need to spend more money on a trainer when you can just work at home to maintain what skills the dog already has. On the other hand, if you’re like me and don’t have the resources or skill set to get your pup to the level you desire, then you should already be anxiously awaiting an acceptance letter from a local bird dog college. You did apply, right?
My 16-month-old Lab will be heading to school very shortly, and I’m excited to see what “degree” she ends up with. Although spitting out dummies and birds at my feet was cute during her first fall, she needs to work on that (as well as marking) for both of us to have the best time possible while out chasing birds. I’m optimistic for this October, but I’d be a liar if I said I’m not a bit nervous that she might waste part of her tuition money on kibble and tennis balls. After all, she does take after her mother.
Have you ever sent your dog away to get more “polished” at a trainer? If so, were you happy with your decision?
The Over/Under blog is written by Andrew Vavra, Pheasants Forever’s Marketing Specialist.
Bird Dog’s Brush with Law
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
More days than not, I wake up in the morning and throw my dog, Beau, in the back of my old SUV and head to work. There are numerous studies that state having a dog around the workplace greatly improves employees’ morale and productivity, but I drag around the mutt for a much more selfish reason: I want her to hit the fields running this fall, and lunch-break training sessions at the local park are a great way to accomplish this without giving up much free time.
Beau patiently waiting for her release from Dog-atraz.
Sounds like a great idea, right? I thought so too.
Recently, Beau and I rolled into the park’s lot and I put on her e-collar, slipped a lead over her neck and walked to the far end of the property to partake in another uneventful retrieving session, or so we thought.
About 10 minutes into practicing remote releases and the “whoa” command, a city police officer drove up the walking path and parked 20 yards away from us.
ME: Can I help you, Officer?
Officer: How’s it going? Do you know having your dog off leash here is against city ordinance?
ME: To be honest, yeah, that wouldn’t surprise me, but we’re 500 yards away from anyone and she has an e-collar on.
Officer: I see that, but that doesn’t count as a leash and I could write you a ticket. We’ll just consider this a warning, but other officers might not be as lenient.
ME: What about that spaniel I saw walking around with its leash dragging on the ground behind him?
Officer: Technically, it’s on a leash.
ME: You’ve got to be kidding me.
Officer: (Deadpan stare)
He wasn’t kidding me.
Many bird dog owners and their companions face similar “space” challenges. Are you an urban or suburban bird dog owner? Have you had trouble finding unrestricted areas to train, or gotten in trouble training your dog in a public area?
As for me, next time maybe I’ll just let Beau drag a 3 foot lead around…
The Over/Under blog is written by Andrew Vavra, Pheasants Forever’s Marketing Specialist.
Training: Stay inventive and flexible to find what works
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
After a new approach, Hunter is learning to keep his hold on "the bird."
It never ceases to amaze me how different gun dogs really are from each other.
In regard to training, what worked great for the late-great springer, Wolf, gets a big “duh?” from my new dog, Hunter. It reinforces the point that trainers have to be open-minded when it comes to different dogs.
Training also reminds me of some sage advice I once read: Training the dog is not as big a job as training yourself. How true. I’ve found with all my gun dogs there are always different paths to get to the same result, that is, each dog learns differently. One technique may work with one dog, but not the other.
For example, Hunter sometimes hesitates to bring the retrieving dummy to hand. So, after some false starts, I went back to basics. Before each session, I first have him sit and hold the dummy; then hold the dummy and heel; and then I throw the dummy and remind him to “hold” until he gets to hand. It works great. He just needed to be run through the ropes first. It was, like, remedial school!
When training, if I’m inventive and come at problems from new directions, I always find the path to success. Hunter just turned four, but on his behalf, I got him at seven months at season’s end and he had no prior training at all, not even obedience. I am beginning to feel that perhaps he is catching up. We’ll see this fall.
The Nomad is written by Mark Herwig, Editor of the Pheasants Forever Journal.
Do you e-collar or not?
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
E-collars can work magic with a gun dog, like this one on a hunt in eastern Colorado.
I have trained all my gun dogs, Brits and springers. I spend what time I can training. In the early years, I trained 15 minutes/day pretty regularly and belonged to a local Brit club for a while. I read books and talked to trainers. These days, I train mostly on weekends and with friends sometimes. I do the best I can.
Even with the dogs I trained a lot, I still had trouble keeping them in range when hunting. Finally, after a frustrating hunt where I put my dog in his kennel because he was out of control, I caved in and got an e-collar. After using it, I wondered why I waited so long. Properly used, they are a great tool for creating a better hunting dog. Besides that, I use them to keep a dog close while jump shooting duck ponds or stalking field geese or doves – a real plus because I can keep both hands free and remain silent for the stalk.
I also found e-collars great tools for safety and relaxation. An out-of-control dog is a dead dog. With an e-collar, I always have control if I’m paying attention. They have helped me keep dogs from disappearing in huge corn fields, out of roads and traffic, stopped them from fighting other dogs, kept them from eating things they shouldn’t, etc.
My e-collar also allows me to calmly correct and control a dog without using, much less, raising my voice. This allows me to relax and enjoy myself to the max, while not annoying my fellow hunters. Being quiet also helps when hunting ever-wary pheasants, grouse and other game.
I admit, I was quite proud when I could handle my dog without an e-collar, but I don’t have the time or energy anymore to keep my dogs at such a level of training. E-collars — I don’t leave home without them. You?
The Nomad is written by Mark Herwig, Editor of the Pheasants Forever Journal.
Which is Best: A House Dog, Field Dog or a Combination?
Monday, February 28th, 2011
Wolf was a great dog afield, but as a house dog he left something to be desired.
My last Springer, the late, great Wolf, was bred to be a hunting machine. Really, the dog was only interested in two things: hunting and food. He was tough as nails, too. Wolf was very stocky, had a heavy coat and never got sick or incapacitated in the 14.5 years I had him. No conditions ever turned him back, and he hunted ducks with me a lot in the worst weather imaginable. Wolf was sly and aggressive afield and never, ever gave up on a tough retrieve, hard conditions or a long hunt. I loved Wolf. He made me proud afield.
Wolf, however, left something to be desired during the majority of the off-season. Wolf was not a good house dog and wasn’t very warm with people. I could never leave him un-tethered in the house because he would destroy anything that smelled good or otherwise interested him. At a picnic once, Wolf put his front paws up on the table, grabbed a whole ham, dragged it to the ground and with both paws as leverage, started tearing it apart and eating it, much to the horror of everybody there.
Pet Wolf on the head once or twice, and he was happy and would walk away. Now that he’s gone, and in comparison to my current Springer Hunter, it seems the humanity was bred out of Wolf. In some ways, I felt sorry for him.
Hunter, on the other hand, is not the hunter Wolf was. I don’t think he ever will be. Hunter, who is nearly four, does an acceptable job afield. He runs good, finds enough birds and retrieves most of them. He’s a bit sensitive hunting and with people.
But Hunter is much more the people dog. He is very affectionate, which my wife and I enjoy. Winters are long here in Minnesota, and having a playful, affectionate dog around the house is great entertainment for us. He is seldom tethered and never bothers anything, food or otherwise, around the house. He is a great guard dog, barking and jumping aggressively when any stranger comes around, a quality I like.
I guess I’m willing to accept his 75 percent field performance during the short hunting season for his 100 percent, year-round companion performance the whole year.
Which do you prefer?
Who Influences Your Dog’s Behavior?
Friday, February 11th, 2011
You think you’re a great dog trainer. Maybe you are, maybe you’re not. Either way, chances are you’re not the only person your dog has contact with throughout the day and those people can have just as much influence on your dog’s behavior as you.
Take for instance this video my girlfriend passed along of my dog, Beau. She sees an 11 month old puppy having fun; I see a dog that is learning to tear up birds and not deliver a dummy to hand (insert long drawn out sigh here). In her defense it is pretty darn cute and I’m sure Beau is as stir crazy as I am to see a single blade of grass. But nonetheless, I’m sure our retrieving session this weekend will be an interesting one.
Would training your dog and spending time with your best friend be as fun and gratifying if it were easy? Probably not, but I wouldn’t complain if they came with an owner’s manual.
The Over/Under blog is written by Andrew Vavra, Pheasants Forever’s Marketing Specialist.
The Waiting Room
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
As an expectant father I’ve come to view the world as one large – and unsterile – waiting room. Everywhere I go there are reminders of what is to come – even the Vlasic pickle mascot is starting to rub me the wrong way. Messes, bruises and tiffs with the neighbors are soon to come, but I’ve grown impatient. I want my new puppy – and I want it now.
I must admit, like most people who own hunting dogs, I signed up for this. A number of months ago (this is an eternity in puppy-time) I put my name in for a Lab puppy at a Hunters Point Kennel out of Marshalltown, Iowa. Since the moment I placed the doggie-deposit, I’ve been counting down the days until its arrival more closely than astrologists are waiting for December 12, 2012. At this point you may be wondering “What’s the rush? You’ll have a long time to create memories with that dog.” Well, I’ll tell you what the rush is.
Timber & Casey's litter at Hunters Point Kennel
There are stray tufts of carpet that need to be chewed and unraveled across my living room floor. I have pairs of matching socks that don’t have holes in them. I’ve been consistently sleeping through the night. Paper towels and lint rollers just sit in my closet going unused and for the life of me, I can’t figure out what to do with the crust of my sandwiches.
Over the next few months I’m sure I’ll share with you the trials, tribulations and joys that come with raising and training a puppy. I hope you’ll share some advice with me, as being a first time father will be daunting at times. But until then, who really eats their crust?
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