[Tom Forman]

Hello,

I was wondering if I could get some advice on how to get my dog to pick up cripples or duck/geese that are still kickin before they die. I took my lab out for his first hunt and did well on the birds that were dead; however, the birds that were still flopping around he run right out to them and when they kicked he almost seemed like he was afraid of it. Any help on how to fix this problem would be greatly appreciated.

When I got home from the hunt, I went to the back yard and tied a rope to one of the birds and when i sent the dog to retrieve it i'd pull on the rope (similating a live bird)...After a while he kinda was getting the idea.

 

[ricejumper]

Learning by example?

I always found it adventageous to have a trained dog that knows the intracacies of duck hunting to set an example for the young one... I'm sure there's a good way to do this in training but sometimes, the easiest way is monkey see monkey do. Soo....if you have access to a hunting partner, give it a try.

 

[BonMallari]

use a wing clipped pigeon or a banty rooster....with a pigeon I will place the bird in the dogs mouth and get them to hold it first

 

[metalone67]

Had the same issue with the older female. I would then run her with another dog and sent them both. It became a compition for her and it worked.

 

[Leddyman]

How old is your dog and what kind of training has he had?

I agree with the idea of using a wing clipped pigeon or a shackled duck. If he is young I would say he will improve with experience.

 

[Richard Finch]

I 3rd the shackled winged duck / pigeon idea!

Really kicks in the prey drive.



Richard

 

[Hunchaser]

I use a shackled duck in a small pond. I try to run three young dogs at the same time to build competition. When a young dog finally gets the duck move fast and get the duck. When the dog picks up the duck put that dog away and work the other two with the same duck. Keep going to the other also get the duck. The dogs become sucessful because you are using a tired duck and the better dogs are out of the equation. This is a natural way to teach the dog to really dive for those ducks.

On land I'll - once in a while - use a clipped wing pigeon on a long mark.

Works for me.

 

[jimmyp]

Had the exact same problem with my ylf in her first season. She would pick up the dead birds but not the cripples. Well towards the end of the season a friend of mine wing clipped a mallard and it was lively, after a good chase my girl finally caught the bird and carried it in like a pro. Also a day at a shooting preserve picking up running pheasants seemed to help a lot. Basically these are just variations of the wing clipped duck or pigeon.
Jim

 

[Tom Forman]

Thanks for the replies. My lab is 18 months and this is his first season since I got him in April 08. I have trained the dog nearly every other day since I got him. Very well manard, sits to whistle, hand signals, etc. Any idea where i can get a pigeon or game bird to train?

 

[BrianW]

The 4 Phase Diversion Mark Drill from Smartwork Vol 1 is good for developing the concept of running a shorter mark first (in this case your cripple), then a blind (your dead bird) past that, first adjacent to & then under the arc of and lastly directly over the mark.
When the dog is proficient on that, it's easy to modify that to a poison bird drill where your dead bird is the short one and your crip is the longer bird.

 

[Don Smith]

Any idea where i can get a pigeon or game bird to train?

Check with your local feed mills to see who raises them. Check with your Division of Wildlife. In Ohio, anyone who keeps wild birds or game animals must be licensed by the Division of Wildlife and the list is available. May be the same in Illinois. Check for local livestock auctions. In Ohio, we've got one where you can buy just about any bird you can think of (and exotic animals, in case you want a zebra - lol). You normally can't buy just one bird, especially pigeons. You buy a "lot" which may be as many as 10-20.

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

Any idea where i can get a pigeon?

net them at night at an underpass or parking building
tell the tree huggers who ask you are bringing them to the country to be free, they will help you

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

I use a shackled duck in a small pond.....

Works for me.

classic duck chase is good for all retrievers.

 

[Richard Finch]

Way to get the tree huggers involved Mr. Bora!



Richard

 

[DarrinGreene]

Thanks for the replies. My lab is 18 months and this is his first season since I got him in April 08. I have trained the dog nearly every other day since I got him. Very well manard, sits to whistle, hand signals, etc. Any idea where i can get a pigeon or game bird to train?

is the dog force fetched? if so you have the tool to fix the problem quickly and efficiently...

 

[Fowlfeller1100]

tree huggers

Says the maple syrup guy

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

hey, what can I say? I hug trees!