I have been having a great time these past few months working with a young english setter puppy. She is out of Hideaway Kennels in Colorado and from the same breeding that produced last years national champion (NFC Nauvoo Valley Cash Money). Jess has been a joy to work with and train and I have really been impressed with her bird drive and great nose. She points her birds with style and class and her range is blowing me away. She is a true all-age dog. Looking forward to getting her back to Ben Garcia for a few AKC field trials.
Got to work with an english pointer that my friend had recently acquired this week. We wanted to see her style and training progress and generally determine her overall value as a hunting companion. We planted some valley quail for her and proceeded to hunt her as realistically as possible. The quail had moved from the rabbit brush where they were planted. She had her first point on the original location, I kicked the bush to be sure and then tapped her to relocate. She found them about 20 yards over the rise and nailed an intense point. I moved around front and flushed the quail for her. She held solid until the flush and then I shot and… missed! Oh well, we tried her on a retrieve later and she did great. We both decided she was ready for a season of hunting wild birds. Nothing can teach a young bird dog more efficiently that the birds themselves. If the proper training and foundation is there, then the more days afield hunting, the smarter your gun dog will become.
What happens when a well bred english pointer female gets together with your prize brittany stud dog? Oops puppies! This definitely was not a planned event but brought up some tough questions. What is the responsible thing to do? I asked around and got a variety of responses from other breeders. Some said I should abort the litter, some said to take care of things after they were born. While still others said they would be healthy happy puppies and great hunting buddies. I didn’t feel right about aborting or culling the puppies. I knew someone would love them and take them hunting. Lucy whelped 6 healthy puppies that I am calling EPX pups. No, I am not getting into the designer hunting dog puppy business. English Britts, Pointa-Poos, YorkieHounds, yikes?! But seriously, what do you do when it happens? Keeping un-altered dogs carries certain risks and responsibilities. I feel like I did the right thing.
Gun dog training is impossible without the use of live birds. Many people use pigeons because they are cheap and readily available in the lower 48 states. The pheasant is probably the most popular game bird in the country. The striking colors, large size, noisy flush, and great tasting meat make it a favorite for many hunters. I have seen best results from using a combination of game birds and pigeons as the puppy grows and develops. We use clipped wing pigeons or quail early on for their small size to build the pups confidence. Chukar and pheasant later on as they get bolder and more mature.
Getting into the second generation of my breeding program I am pleased with the female I kept out of the litter. She has solid bird drive and a great nose and seems to catch on fast when learning new things. Sis has been introduced to birds and is starting to stand her birds really nicely. She covers ground well and loves to get up and really move. We have been getting good feedback from the owners of her littermates also. Her dam is my dog Sue an own daughter of NFC Shambo’s Dark Shadow. The sire of the litter was FC Light Em Up Luke, a very nice field trial dog with heavy Jeff Hoskins influence. I try to keep one or two pups from each litter I breed to make sure I am getting excellent results. I am hoping to have Sis campaigned this fall in field trials to see how she measures up.
Bird dogs can benefit from proper socialization when they are puppies. Kids are great for helping socialize and raise bird dog pups that are bold and well adjusted.
Snapped this picture earlier this year when attending a pheasant management seminar in Janesville, WI. The trap is simple and effective on recapturing those escapees. They seem to naturally come back to the flight pens and walk around the perimeter looking for a way back in to the food and water and their feathered friends. You have to check them daily because they are not predator proof. Just pop the top and drop them back over the fence into the flight pens. I wish I had written down the dimensions on the funnel though.
The 2nd Annual Utah Bird Dog Camp was a big success. we had 20 dogs and nearly as many owners spend three days learning from tow of the best bird dog trainers. Dave Walker and Ben Garcia did a great job and were able to help a lot of pups and their owners.
Dave Walker’s Stand up – Stand Still training is so important in training a solid bird dog. You have to see it to believe it.
Ben Garcia has the most amazing way of starting puppies off on the right track. His “First Steps” DVD is bar none the best dog training DVD out there.
We do a lot of bird dog training before we ever shoot a bird for the dogs. I like the dog to do everything right before they get a bird shot over them. Shooting a bird for your dog is a reward for them and they love every aspect of it. From the point, to the flush and the retrieve – they are in bird dog heaven. Lizzy stands her birds nicely and is doing really well so to celebrate her first birthday this week we shot a bobwhite quail for her.
