retriever

Dog Training Tips from Master Outdoorsman Jerome B. Robinson

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:20:00 -0400

Jerry's Tips: March 2006

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 04:15:00 -0500

Attract Shy Gobblers
Turkeys don't become decoy shy, but some toms do get "turkey shy" after they've lost a few fights. These subdominant birds are wary of any aggressive-looking rival and will avoid a decoy in the menacing strut or half-strut position. Instead, use a meek standing jake that appears too small to be dangerous. Combine it with a single hen, then use soft, seductive hen calls.

Keep Your Retriever Safe
Don't encourage your retriever to hit the water with the high-speed leaps you see at field trials. The leaps are impressive to watch, but in real hunting conditions, dogs that hit the water hard can get hurt by submerged rocks or logs. Instead, work your dog frequently where harmless but annoying underwater obstacles slow his entry. He will quickly learn to jump with caution.

Avoid Lightning Strikes
During thunderstorms, crouch on a foam mattress or pack of clothes to minimize your body footprint and to insulate your feet from the ground. Don't be the tallest thing around. Avoid high ground, clearings, large trees, and tent poles. In boats, lay fishing rods flat, lower radio antennae, keep feet and hands out of the water, sit low, and don't touch the radio or other metal objects.

Fish Smarter
Long casts are impressive, but you'll work more water and catch more fish if you start short and lengthen each subsequent cast by 10 feet. By varying the distance, you make your lure swing on a different arc with each retrieve. It will pass through more positions where fish may be holding. After you've covered all the water you can reach, change position and begin again.

Protect Trailer Lights
When boat-trailer lights fail, it's usually because corrosion has caused a defective ground. For a more durable connection, drill a hole in the trailer tongue to fit a stainless-steel screw. Size doesn't matter. Polish the area around the hole with sandpaper to expose new metal. Insert the screw through the end of the ground wire terminal and tighten it against the exposed metal.

First Shot Wallpaper: Jump Start

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 04:20:00 -0500

Jump Start: "This is typical pre-hunt behavior," says Gifford Cochran, whose 51/2-year-old Lab, Gertie, couldn't contain her excitement for a pheasant hunt near Belgrade, Montana. "She'll do this at least 15 or 20 times. I'll keep telling her to settle down and save it for the birds."

Click here to check out more of Cameron's photos on his web site, www.cameronlawson.com

Click here for a 1024 x 768 sized photo (fits 1024 x 768 monitor resolutions)

Click here for an 800 x 600 sized photo (fits 800 x 600 monitor resolutions

Instructions for downloading wallpaper (Windows users):
1.) Click on either 800 X 600 or 1024 X 768 to open the resolution you prefer.

2.) Right-click on the opened image. You may then choose to download the image, or select "Save As Wallpaper" (or "Set picture as...," "Set as Wallpaper," or "Set as Desktop item," depending on your system.)

3.) If you chose "Save As Wallpaper," you're finished! If you chose to download the image, go to your "Control Panel," select "Background," and browse to locate and select the downloaded image.

Instructions for downloading wallpaper (Mac users):
1.) Click on either 800 X 600 or 1024 X 768 to open the resolution you prefer.

2.) With your mouse on the opened image, hold down the mouse key until a menu appears, then choose

3.) "Download Image to Disk," select a folder, and save.

4.) Under the Apple menu, open "Control Panels," then "Appearance."

5.) Under "Appearance," open "Desktop," then "Place Picture." Browse to the folder in which you saved the image and select the image. Click "Open" and choose "Set Desktop."

How to Pick a Pup

fieldandstream-editor — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 04:05:00 -0500

A high-quality gun dog adds riches to your life. But a lot of pups for sale are genetically designed to be nice-looking nitwits that bring their owners nothing but frustration and embarrassment. So how can you tell the good from the bad?

[BRACKET "1"] Look at the Parents:
The qualities of the parents tell you more than anything in a pup's papers about what it will look like, how good its nose will be, and how it will behave. That's why you should never buy from a breeder whose claims cannot be checked. TIP: Ask to see the parents work. Pointing-dog parents should be close-working bird finders, not runaways that disappear and hunt out of control. The parents of good retriever prospects retrieve enthusiastically without any frantic activity.

[BRACKET "2"] Check Their Health:
Make sure you see a veterinary certificate showing that the pups you're interested in are in excellent health and have been wormed and inoculated with DHLPP vaccine. TIP: Arrange to see the litter at feeding time. A healthy pup eats eagerly, has a firm covering of flesh, and is happy and robust, not timid, spooky, thin, or runny-eyed.

[BRACKET "3"] Test Their Temperament:
One by one, gently pick up the pups. Before putting each one down, turn it on its back for a moment. A pup that snaps at your hand or struggles wildly when held on its back momentarily is hypersensitive and may be difficult to train. One that just lies there may be dull. You want one that wiggles but doesn't go crazy. TIP: Male or female? The only absolute difference is that females come in heat. In my experience, females are extra-affectionate and sometimes handle with less effort in the field.

[BRACKET "4"] Take Them for a Test Drive:
Take the pups you like outside one by one and apply these tests. Their responses will indicate how they may respond to training later.
Test 1: Walk away. Does the pup romp along beside you or ignore your departure?
Test 2: Stop walking, clap your hands, and squat down on one knee. Does the pup run up to you or wander off on its own business?
Test 3: Crumple up a paper and throw it in plain view. The pup should show healthy curiosity and run after it.

[BRACKET "5"] Trust Your Gut:
By now you should have narrowed your choices down to a few pups. If one appeals to you more than the others for some unexplainable reason, play your hunch and take it. If a final choice seems impossible, just reach in and grab one of them.
TIP: Before making your final pick, check the pup's temperature: 101.5 degrees is normal; anything between 101 and 102 is acceptable.