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Off-Season Gun Dog Work
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March 15, 2010
Off-Season Gun Dog Work
By David DiBenedetto
My first duck season with Pritch is just a memory now. But our last hunt is one that I will remember for a long time. My nephew, who was hunting with me that day, likes to refer to it as the wrestling match in the swamp—Pritch versus me.
Our first two duck hunts had been quick affairs. We sat on the edge of a small wood duck swamp with hardly any calling and the birds came in early and fast. We took a couple of shots and it was over. But our third and final duck hunt was more typical. (For the record, I was not carrying a gun.) We had a large spread of decoys on a decent size pond, and there were three of us in the blind. We were set up nicely when my nephew and his buddy started really working their calls…and Pritch went gonzo. At first it was a constant whimpering that would crescendo into the occasional bark. When the first shot went off (a miss) she resembled a small but powerful bronco. The exact opposite of gun shy—call it gun happy. As soon as I had her calmed down the calling cranked up again and she started chewing on nearby stalks and tree branches as if rabid with hunger, whimpering the entire time. So excited for birds she couldn’t contain herself. (You can’t fault her enthusiasm.)
As a newbie dog trainer I learned something that day. I had not truly simulated a hunting experience during my pup’s training. I knew Pritch wasn’t gun or water shy, had no problem swimming through decoys, and would plow over a deadfall to get her bird. But she’d only heard a smattering of duck calling, not a duo of callers talking duck. And once the guns started going off, in concert with the calls, she was about ready to pop with excitement. Looking for guidance, I called my friend Pam Kadlec of Just Ducky Kennels. As usual she put me at ease and gave me a course of action. Here are a few of her thoughts:
This isn’t anything earth shattering—just start training her with duck calls and don't let her go until she's quiet. Gradually add in distractions. Train with other people as much as possible and have them use duck calls as well. The more things you can expose her to the better she will be. Once she will sit quietly with just you calling then add in another person and another call. When you can train in the country make sure you add a shotgun as well. Get some primer loads that fit in your shotgun. After duck season closes go back and train in the same areas where you hunt. Take the time to set up the decoys and make it as much like the real thing as possible.
So that’s what we’re working on in the off-season (among other things). How about you? Any of you fellow first-timers discover some problem areas with your pup? How about you veterans? Need to brush up on some stuff with your dog? Let’s hear it.
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Comments (18)
I just picked up my six week old Lab Puppy this past weekend so I have yet discover or "create" haha any problems. If anyone has some tips for me that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Aceo88 -- You're in for a fun ride. For now, it's all about fun for the dog, too. And very short lessons. Fill a sock with paper and work on some short tosses in a hallway. Later will come water and gunfire...scroll back a ways in this blog and you'll see much of it discussed. Even the best books to buy for training. Good luck. -D
can you simulate cold water! I mean really cold water!
Thats one thing Dave that I really do work on is simulating the hunting situation. I always blow my calls and carry my gun with me. I use a hang on platform a lot so I use it in training situations all I can. Good Luck and Im sure Pritch will do fine!
Quack
I'm working on training my dog to find sheds but so far all we've found are ticks, poison oak and a whole bunch of sticks that kinda look like sheds.
Its the same for upland!If you plan to hunt with other hunters and dogs add them into training long before opening day.Thanks Dave and Pam.Lots of work to be done.
quack-- I love living in Charleston but I wish it were a bit easier to find a closer place to train consistently where I can fire the gun and also not worry about gators in the summer. . .careful, or we'll be knocking on your barn door.
Squirrelgirl-- Check the below link out for some training tips for shed dogs:
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2009/09/training-your-dog-fi...
Of course, that's coming up in April. Gonna take the Boys and meet up with the bird dogs and get some birds and have a train-a-thon. The enthusiasm is infectious. Them Boyz really get on the gas after watchin' them bird dawgz work. Stay away from the gators. They are certain death. I used to see them stacked up on the creek banks like timber while frogging. They will attack a white tee-shirt as quickly as they'll grab yore dawg. I used to work with a guy who was tossing a reluctant Lab pup off a dock. He got in the water and found out why. The gator grabbed his arm and started spinning and dragging him toward deeper water. Jim (not his real name, but it will do) pulled out his pocket knife and cut through where the arm was twisted and small. The gator was happy with that. Jim was airlifted out and survived.
I wouldn't let my dawgz get in the water in SC ever. If there are gators there, they are active all year.
I am just starting my training with my 8 week old boykin. So I got alot of work ahead of me. So far my fealings go from fealing that my pupss going to pick everything up just fine to days like today where I wonder if he will just wind up as the family pet.
blackdawgz-- If there's one thing I know about it's the dangers of gators in coastal SC...that's why when it comes to water work I'm often driving 3 hours north to train Pritch. But we don't get enough of it.
bj264- I was right where you were about a year ago. Enjoy this time. And remember it's a long road...no need to race down it. Take your time and cover the basics (obedience, etc) and the rest will follow. The trainer I mentioned in this post, Pam Kadlec, has a great book on spaniels you should check out if you haven't already.
I have the same problem in the dove feild with Birdie which is my 1st gun dog. If i shoot and miss and have no one or nothing holding her back, shes off to the races to go retreive anything. Even when sitting in the feild waiting to shoot, she sits there whipering ready to go. Hopefully this next duck season we will have some where to go so i can experience those same problems you are. But i love every minute of being out there with my own dog that i have trained myself.
I have a 2 1/2 boykin.. And he gets as mad about ducks as u described.. He loves it... Id rather have a dog like that than the one you have beg into the water.. I guess Im just the happy owner of a big hearted meat dog..
teach your dog to sit on the gun shot just like you teach them to sit to a whistle. start with a .22. Walk at heel and command sit, then shoot the gun. Keep doing this till you can take away the command and just shoot the gun and the dog will sit.
and Dave, you know you are welcome to come and train at the house any time you want. You can stay in the basement and have the whole place to yourself.
My boykin is 3 1/2 months old this past weekend and we are basically working on alot of obediance and short retireves. He can do basic doubles and i started introducing him to hand signals this week as well. Hes a great dog and is well outweighting my expectations. Hes not perfect by anymeans but were working on it.
TRY FIELD TRIALS, HUNT TESTS AND PRESERVES. EXTEND THE SEASON AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST YEAR I HUNTED MY LAB, WE HUNTED PRESERVES AFTER THE SEASON ENDED. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND LAST HUNT THAT YEAR WAS TREMENDOUS JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF BIRDS HE ENCOUNTERED AT THE PRESERVES.
So true, I'm glad you tell the truth. Every time you go you find another thing you can't simulate.
Gun dogs are great for hunting and they are great companions as well. Thanks for this article - I have a few friends who have gun dogs and will share this with them.affordable health insurance
Post a Comment
I just picked up my six week old Lab Puppy this past weekend so I have yet discover or "create" haha any problems. If anyone has some tips for me that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Aceo88 -- You're in for a fun ride. For now, it's all about fun for the dog, too. And very short lessons. Fill a sock with paper and work on some short tosses in a hallway. Later will come water and gunfire...scroll back a ways in this blog and you'll see much of it discussed. Even the best books to buy for training. Good luck. -D
can you simulate cold water! I mean really cold water!
Thats one thing Dave that I really do work on is simulating the hunting situation. I always blow my calls and carry my gun with me. I use a hang on platform a lot so I use it in training situations all I can. Good Luck and Im sure Pritch will do fine!
Quack
I'm working on training my dog to find sheds but so far all we've found are ticks, poison oak and a whole bunch of sticks that kinda look like sheds.
Its the same for upland!If you plan to hunt with other hunters and dogs add them into training long before opening day.Thanks Dave and Pam.Lots of work to be done.
quack-- I love living in Charleston but I wish it were a bit easier to find a closer place to train consistently where I can fire the gun and also not worry about gators in the summer. . .careful, or we'll be knocking on your barn door.
Squirrelgirl-- Check the below link out for some training tips for shed dogs:
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2009/09/training-your-dog-fi...
Of course, that's coming up in April. Gonna take the Boys and meet up with the bird dogs and get some birds and have a train-a-thon. The enthusiasm is infectious. Them Boyz really get on the gas after watchin' them bird dawgz work. Stay away from the gators. They are certain death. I used to see them stacked up on the creek banks like timber while frogging. They will attack a white tee-shirt as quickly as they'll grab yore dawg. I used to work with a guy who was tossing a reluctant Lab pup off a dock. He got in the water and found out why. The gator grabbed his arm and started spinning and dragging him toward deeper water. Jim (not his real name, but it will do) pulled out his pocket knife and cut through where the arm was twisted and small. The gator was happy with that. Jim was airlifted out and survived.
I wouldn't let my dawgz get in the water in SC ever. If there are gators there, they are active all year.
I am just starting my training with my 8 week old boykin. So I got alot of work ahead of me. So far my fealings go from fealing that my pupss going to pick everything up just fine to days like today where I wonder if he will just wind up as the family pet.
I have a 2 1/2 boykin.. And he gets as mad about ducks as u described.. He loves it... Id rather have a dog like that than the one you have beg into the water.. I guess Im just the happy owner of a big hearted meat dog..
blackdawgz-- If there's one thing I know about it's the dangers of gators in coastal SC...that's why when it comes to water work I'm often driving 3 hours north to train Pritch. But we don't get enough of it.
bj264- I was right where you were about a year ago. Enjoy this time. And remember it's a long road...no need to race down it. Take your time and cover the basics (obedience, etc) and the rest will follow. The trainer I mentioned in this post, Pam Kadlec, has a great book on spaniels you should check out if you haven't already.
I have the same problem in the dove feild with Birdie which is my 1st gun dog. If i shoot and miss and have no one or nothing holding her back, shes off to the races to go retreive anything. Even when sitting in the feild waiting to shoot, she sits there whipering ready to go. Hopefully this next duck season we will have some where to go so i can experience those same problems you are. But i love every minute of being out there with my own dog that i have trained myself.
teach your dog to sit on the gun shot just like you teach them to sit to a whistle. start with a .22. Walk at heel and command sit, then shoot the gun. Keep doing this till you can take away the command and just shoot the gun and the dog will sit.
and Dave, you know you are welcome to come and train at the house any time you want. You can stay in the basement and have the whole place to yourself.
My boykin is 3 1/2 months old this past weekend and we are basically working on alot of obediance and short retireves. He can do basic doubles and i started introducing him to hand signals this week as well. Hes a great dog and is well outweighting my expectations. Hes not perfect by anymeans but were working on it.
TRY FIELD TRIALS, HUNT TESTS AND PRESERVES. EXTEND THE SEASON AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST YEAR I HUNTED MY LAB, WE HUNTED PRESERVES AFTER THE SEASON ENDED. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND LAST HUNT THAT YEAR WAS TREMENDOUS JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF BIRDS HE ENCOUNTERED AT THE PRESERVES.
So true, I'm glad you tell the truth. Every time you go you find another thing you can't simulate.
Gun dogs are great for hunting and they are great companions as well. Thanks for this article - I have a few friends who have gun dogs and will share this with them.affordable health insurance
Post a Comment