Slow'em down

Travis · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: Slow'em down

Trying to work with my 3 year old on birds but when we get out all he wants to do are 100 yard dashes back and forth without stopping. How do I break this habit and get him to slow down?

anne · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject:

Why do you want him to slow down?

Travis · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

well, i just assumed that he probably should. All he's doing is running with his head up back and forth from me.

anne · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

So, he's running out 100 yards and the yo-yo'ing back to you? Is he hunting or does he not know what's going on?

Travis · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject:

Doesn't appear to be hunting, I think you called it in one of my other posts when you told me to not walk the trails or he'll become a trail runner. I've been walking hiking trails with him for the last 3 years so that's kind of where he's getting it I think, he would always run 100 yards or so ahead then just come flying back down the trail at me.

anne · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject:

OK I understand now.
How much bird exposure has he had? Does he like them? Has he had a bird in his mouth?

Travis · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

Bird exposure, very little. He's out in the fields and woods a lot, that would be about it. I've seen him somewhat point doves a couple of times in our neighborhood but nothing more. No birds in mouth but I think I've found someone who raises quail so we're looking into that.

anne · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject:

OK. He doesn't know why he's out there, so I wouldn't expect him to hunt. I'd start by showing him a bird and seeing what he does. If he charges right into it and tries to chase it down like a maniac, then good. If he catches it, that is fine. Sometimes people see young puppies point and think that the dog is "birdy" when in fact the dog is a little tentative about that "thing" that they've never seen before so they point instead. (And some dogs just have a lot of point and will point even if they aren't tentative.) I like to see a dog have at least 1 bird in their mouths when they are young (or first exposed) so that he learns that he has power over birds. Some dogs take some time to turn on, so you may have to show him birds several times to get him to really be crazy over them. Then you can start planting them in logical places. Depending on where you live sometimes it's hard to get a dog in wild birds because they have to run so far to get to them and if they are nto sure what they are doing in the first place, they just dont' get far enough away to assure bird contact. Some trainers will go to the same field and plant birds in the same places in the beginning so the dog starts getting the idea. Then start moving the birds around, always running the dog with the wind in mind and always putting the birds in places where they might naturally be. If he runs out about 100 yards, put them out there where you think he'll run so he'll find it. Once he starts getting it, he won't yo-yo so much, there's nothing good near you! lol DO NOT TALK to him as that encourages his checking back. Checking in is OK, but I prefer a dog to check in by looking not covering the same ground on the way back to you, that is just a waste of energy. If you talk too much it encourages your dog to come to you. He needs to be focused on what is ahead of you guys. I use pigeons for early work as they fly really well and feral ones are not catchable. You will want your dog not to catch birds as he will start to figure out that he jsut can't catch them so he will start to "resort" to pointing. After he's conditioned to the gun, you can start shooting the birds that he points (and he will likely flush them too). If he doesn't point and just takes them out, let him chase and well darn, he can't catch them. Next time he will try something else. This starts giving him the idea that what you are establishing is team work (Hey if I point them then he will come shoot them for me). The other good thing about pigeons is that they home so the ones you dont' shoot will go back to your pen and you can re-use them. If you get quail you can set up a johnny house, this would be even better than pigeons. Anyway, this is how I start puppies (and older dogs that have had no exposure).

Travis · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

Thanks Anne, this will give me a good place to start and spend the next few weeks on. We joined the Oklahoma NAVHDA and our next meeting is in April so I'm hoping between you guys and them I can teach my boys on my own (all the while teaching myself). Very Happy

ldhuber · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject: long lead

perhaps looking into some of the long-lead training techniques, or quartering training techniques would help you out. I started with a long lead from the beginning, not to keep her from hunting on her own, but to show her that we hunt together. i used a 75' lead.

Lee