Here is a rare chance to get some one-on-one training from hall of fame bird dog trainer Dave Walker. GunDogBreeders.com is hosting it’s first annual fall dog training camp in Richfield, UT on September 18th and 19th at the Rooster Valley Pheasant Farm. Learn more about the training seminar here. I attended one of his training seminars last year and had a great time as well as learning a lot from this master of pointing dogs. Nobody I have seen can read a dog better than Dave Walker which just seems to accelerate the training process. His book is one of the best training aids as well. Email me if you are interested in attending this dog training seminar.
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Got around a thousand day old pheasant chicks this month to raise for the fall hunting season.
Also had a hundred or so chickens hatch out in my incubator today.
Raising Gamebirds Game Birds, Incubators and Hatching, Raising Chicks
My friend Chris Colt at Cove Mountain Kennels had a healthy litter of yellow lab puppies this morning. I couldn’t resist running by his house on the way to work to see some cute little pups. This is a fine breeding of upland hunting labrador retrievers. I have personally hunted behind Allie on Chukar, Blue Grouse, Pheasant, and quail. She has her fair share of ducks and waterfowl too. Chris spends more days in the field hunting than I am allowed to think about so I know his dogs are top shelf. You can check out the pedigree of the dam and the pedigree of the sire. The sire is an AKC Master Hunter MH and a dang good hunting lab as well. If you have space in your kennel for a fine hunting lab puppy around the 4th of July give Chris Colt a call (435) 896-3583. They are taking reservations now.
Choosing a Puppy
On the morning of the 23rd day in the incubator the first chicks began to hatch out. After another 24 hours there were 460 chicks that hatched out of 800 eggs set. I was a little disappointed in the hatch rate and I am pretty sure it was low because of the shipping problem from Cumberland Gamebirds. The eggs were supposed to arrive on Thursday or Friday and were delayed in arriving until the following Monday. The additional 3 days in the box combined with the cold weather and sitting in a cold truck over the weekend didn’t help matters.
The chicks seem to be adjusting well under the heat lamps and are eating a custom feed that we ground up for them in the wheat grinder. The feed is medicated to help fight off disease and illness. For the first week they are drinking sugar water from my nipple drinkers.
Raising Gamebirds Game Birds, Incubators and Hatching, Raising Chicks
This week we shot a pigeon over Mowgli and he did very well. I was using my single shot 20 gauge and I was about 20 feet out shooting away from the dog. Luckily, I actually hit the bird (I usually miss). Mowgli went right to the downed bird and brought it back in a round about manner. We will likely shoot a couple more birds for him before we go into getting him to hold his points. I think the goal with a young pup is to make sure they are excited about birds and have no sensitivity to gun fire.
Chris Colt of Cove Mountain Kennels is helping me get Annie steady to wing and shot. She caught a few birds and that set us back some. She believes she can catch any bird that she points and we are trying to break her of that. When she sets up on a point, she gets stimulation if she even lifts a leg. It is challenging to learn the body language and suttle cues.
Dog Training Journal American Brittany, Gun Dog Training, Professional Trainers, Shotguns, Steady to Wing
I am very excited about the deposit I have on a dual quality brittany litter in Texas. The breeding is between two outstanding dual champion brittany dogs DC T’Kalis Feel The Wind and DC TC’s Match Box Racer. These puppies are due on June 22nd and should be amazing dual potential quality dogs. This is a repeat breeding by David Downing of Blue Ridge Brittanys. Puppies from last years litter are undefeated in puppy stakes and are doing well in the show ring as well. I have been waiting for this breeding to take place as I wanted to buy a brittany puppy from parents that were dual champions. For more information you can contact Dave directly by phone or email by visiting his website.
Choosing a Puppy American Brittany, Breeding, Hunting Dog Websites, Professional Trainers, Puppies For Sale
Mowgli is the latest addition to our kennel. Mowgli was whelped on June 13th of 2008 and is a liver and white American Brittany. He was placed with us by some nice folks who found him to be more than they bargained for. He is a very high energy dog and has a little more size to him than the average brittany. He may be a little bigger than the brittany standard but after speaking with brittany expert Ben O Williams about hunting the open country I have been leaning towards the larger brittany males. Chasing chukar here in Utah requires a dog that can really cover some ground.
Mowgli was started immediately on bird introduction with a clipped wing pigeon and he showed excellent bird/prey drive. A few days later we fired the starter pistol over him while he was chasing a carded pigeon and he showed no signs of noise/gun sensitivity. We will try a 20 gauge shotgun fired at a distance and work up to a 12 gauge at closer ranges to be sure there is no problems with the gun. He loves to get out and cover ground and has won the hearts of my children. He handles well for my 6 and 8 year old daughters on walks to the park and is patient when they insist on combing his thick coat.
I sent in his AKC registration papers today and look forward to learning more about the pedigree and breeding which was from a small family kennel in Alpine, UT. Mowgli is at the perfect age to get serious about his hunting dog training so I am excited to have a second dog in my kennel while I am working on breaking Annie to be steady to wing and shot.
Choosing a Puppy American Brittany, Bird Introduction, Breeding, Gun Dog Training, Puppy Names
This past few days I had the pleasure of fishing for bass with some very classy hunting dog training folks. I have a share in a houseboat on scenic Lake Powell and the fishing this time of year is just fabulous. We invited hall of fame bird dog expert Dave Walker to join us when we learned of his love of fishing. We stayed on the lake for three days until a wind storm and cold snap sent us packing a day early. It was a true joy to spend time with Dave and get to know him better. He is a true southern gentleman and an amazing teacher and dog trainer. If you ever get the chance to attend one of his seminars or buy his books or dog training DVDs don’t hesitate for one minute. Dave Walker is the real deal.
My good friend and training partner Chris Colt of Cove Mountain Kennels was the mastermind of this bass fishing getaway. He planned the menu and bought all the groceries for the trip and hosted Dave Walker at his home the night before we left. Chris is one of those rare dog trainers that can soak up information from experts like Dave and apply that new knowledge for instant results. Most of Dave’s tips and tricks went right over my head but I could see the light bulbs going on in Chris’s head.
Russ Peterson of Rooster Valley Pheasant Farm was our bass fishing guide and was kind enough to share some of his honey holes with us on Lake Powell. Russ has run a successful pheasant farm in central Utah for nearly 20 years now. A real accomplishment in a world where hunting preserves seem to come and go with the changing winds. Russ also trains and raises some nice german shorthairs. Thanks to all of these great guys for spending time with me. I had a blast. Let’s do it again next year.
Random Thoughts
I got my shipment of 800 quail eggs yesterday from cumberland gamebirds. I was a little disappointed because they were supposed to arrive on Friday which means they sat in a cold truck somewhere over the weekend. I am hoping the hatch will turn out okay. I am using the old GQF Sportsman 1202 incubator with the updated float and humidity pan. My friend came over to help set the eggs since he knows a lot about raising birds. After a little tweaking into the evening I got the temperature and humidity stabilized at 99.5 degrees and 51% relative humidity. I am anxious to try this strain of bobwhite quail called Georgia Giants. They are supposed to be nearly twice the size of normal bobwhite and stronger flyers.
Now I need to get my plans together for building a better flight pen. I have read that it is important to keep the birds isolated as much as possible to keep them wild. One online quail farmer even suggested feeding the birds at night with the use of a headlamp. I have been looking at some very cool quail pen designs like this one at quail ranch ok or this one from Mississippi State University extension service. One of the nicest quail pens I have found is at Straubs Game Farm in PA. I like their sight barriers and their innovative waterer.
Raising Gamebirds Bird Introduction, Game Birds, Incubators and Hatching, Quail Hunting, Raising Chicks
What do you do with your hunting dog when the hunting season ends? Join the club! I’m talking about clubs where you can compete in AKC hunt tests, field trials and fun hunts. I wasn’t able to be there Saturday but Annie passed her first leg of the AKC title “Junior Hunter”. My good friend Chris Colt handled Annie in her first AKC hunt test and she did great. It takes 4 passing runs before she obtains the official JH title behind her name. The spring hunt test was hosted by the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Utah (GSPCU) of which I am one of the newest members.
Next month we will be attending a National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA) field trial to see how that particular competition is run. I just received my NSTRA membership packet and rule book in the mail today. I look forward to competing with Annie in these competitions and especially look forward to making some new friends and seeing some talented dogs. Joining a local hunting dog club is a great way to meet new people and learn how to train dogs. Club members are always willing to offer advice and even help you in training your hunting dog. Many clubs meet monthly and often host just for fun hunts or training days as well as formal gun dog competitions.
So get off the couch and join a local bird dog club or gun dog association and get your dog tuned up for next years hunting season. Here are a couple of hunting dog clubs to look into:
AKC Hunt Tests for Pointing Dog Breeds
National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA)
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA)
The Versatile Hunting Dog Federation (VHDF)
American Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA)
Dog Training Journal AKC, American Brittany, Gun Dog Training, hunt tests, NSTRA
