Bird dog training

DanBro · 08-29-2008, 05:31 PM

This is my first posting to the forum. I am looking for advice on training my dog. I have not done much bird hunting the last 10 years or so mostly deer and turkey.
I have a Vizsla pup that has a good breeding back ground, and I would like to get him trained to hunt in the field. Where do I start? Do I pay someone to do it, or can it be done by someone who has never trained a field dog before?
Will take any advice.

vizslaguy08 · 08-29-2008, 08:09 PM

If you ask a hundred different people, youll get a hundred different answers. My advice is to pick a pointing dog training book, or books and follow the points you like from each. If I were to stress ONE POINT it would be to let your puppy, BE A PUPPY. Dont try too hard to pound the training into its head. Work on basic obedience commands. (whoa, come, maybe a little fetch. etc) Once these commands are good, just get the pup on birds, AND LOTS of birds(no guns) and then I would get the pup on more birds, and then finally MORE birds. Nothing can make a bird dog an OUTSTANDING bird dog like experience. ANy specific help I can try to give please feel free to PM me. Im no pro, and wont claim to be. LOL, VIZ
PS post a few pics of the lil V, I for one would love to see them.

vizslaguy08 · 08-29-2008, 08:10 PM

BTW where are you located?

NE_Sportsman · 08-29-2008, 10:22 PM

Does anyone know or have a list of most of the basic dog commands? I know some of them, but I dont want to confuse my dog. And does anyone know basic whistle commands.

The reason I ask these questions is I got a dog (English Pointer) from a guy who didnt have time to hunt him much. Hoss (the dog) is supposed to be well trained, but I am not.

tjm · 08-29-2008, 10:25 PM

Can't add too much to what Viszlaguy said, and I'm certainly no expert, but I would highly stress basic obedience. If you have good command of your dog, the rest is much easier. Really I didn't do a whole lot more than basic obedience and getting my vizsla out in the field as much as I could the first year, and she been a pretty good dog.

vizslaguy08 · 08-30-2008, 01:08 AM

The commands I use are pretty simple. Come, Whoa(the most important IMHO. My dog WILL stop, no matter what is going on), Fetch, No, load, and dont ask me why I started this one but "hunt 'em up"

Others use Here, steady, Easy, etc.

Wirenut · 08-30-2008, 01:24 AM

In a word; NAVHDA

http://http://www.navhda.org/

DanBro · 08-30-2008, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the advice I will try to find some books this weekend. He has had basic obedence training this summer, and is ok when on a lead. I haven't had him off lead in a open area yet. I live down near Columbus.
Where do you go to get him on birds? Game and Parks areas?

**Catfishsteve** · 08-30-2008, 09:24 AM

I think a guy can train his own dog.

The only real difference between what you and a pro can do with your dog is simply that the pro can do it EVERYDAY for and hour or so with your dog for a month or two straight.

The amount of time you can spend with your dog is the largest factor in how fast and how well their training progresses.

There's lot's of websites, books and DVD's out there.

Here's a link to my old bird dog website with lot's of good, simple bird dog training all broken down into the various commands and lot's of other stuff that you can use to get started: The Checkcord

vizslaguy08 · 08-30-2008, 09:39 AM

"Where do you go to get him on birds? Game and Parks areas?"
A good place is a bird farm. Very easy to controll the situations. I know Mark Christiansen near Stanton will let you train on his areas (Cedar Valley Hunt Club), as will most hunt clubs. It will cost you, but money well spent IMHO. I had access to private ground that was loaded with birds.

Keith S. · 08-30-2008, 10:41 AM

Whatever you decide to go with, follow it, be consistant. Anyone who has trained dogs will agree with being consistant and take your time. No need to rush things.

cougarw · 08-30-2008, 06:56 PM

I think the most important thing is to spend time with your pup. There's a saying that goes like this.
When you get your pup. Give the first two years of your life to him....and he will give you the rest of his.

**Ty Stromquist** · 08-30-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith S.

Whatever you decide to go with, follow it, be consistant. Anyone who has trained dogs will agree with being consistant and take your time. No need to rush things.

If you guys could only see Keith's dog in action. Thing would run a blind 400 miles for him. Of course its also a retriever.

08-29-2008, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
DanBro Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bird dog training This is my first posting to the forum. I am looking for advice on training my dog. I have not done much bird hunting the last 10 years or so mostly deer and turkey. I have a Vizsla pup that has a good breeding back ground, and I would like to get him trained to hunt in the field. Where do I start? Do I pay someone to do it, or can it be done by someone who has never trained a field dog before? Will take any advice.

08-29-2008, 10:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
NE_Sportsman Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dawson, NE Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	More training advice Does anyone know or have a list of most of the basic dog commands? I know some of them, but I dont want to confuse my dog. And does anyone know basic whistle commands. The reason I ask these questions is I got a dog (English Pointer) from a guy who didnt have time to hunt him much. Hoss (the dog) is supposed to be well trained, but I am not.

08-30-2008, 01:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wirenut Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: At The Water's Edge...Just Outside South Bend Posts: 642 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	In a word; NAVHDA http://http://www.navhda.org/ __________________ Cleaning Trash Fish FromThe Pit, One State Record At A Time

08-30-2008, 09:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
Catfishsteve Director Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Plattsmouth, NE Posts: 6,694 Thanks: 13 Thanked 80 Times in 20 Posts	Bird Dog Training Website I think a guy can train his own dog. The only real difference between what you and a pro can do with your dog is simply that the pro can do it EVERYDAY for and hour or so with your dog for a month or two straight. The amount of time you can spend with your dog is the largest factor in how fast and how well their training progresses. There's lot's of websites, books and DVD's out there. Here's a link to my old bird dog website with lot's of good, simple bird dog training all broken down into the various commands and lot's of other stuff that you can use to get started: The Checkcord __________________ Attention deer hunters!! Get in on the To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. sponsored by To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. World's Foremost Outfitter!? Here are *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* . The NEFGA Buck Bash is FREE to enter and Cabela's will be providing tons of great hunter gear prizes. ********

08-30-2008, 10:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
Keith S. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Blair, NE Posts: 116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Whatever you decide to go with, follow it, be consistant. Anyone who has trained dogs will agree with being consistant and take your time. No need to rush things. __________________ I'm not in high school anymore!

08-29-2008, 08:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
vizslaguy08 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: near norfolk Posts: 321 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	If you ask a hundred different people, youll get a hundred different answers. My advice is to pick a pointing dog training book, or books and follow the points you like from each. If I were to stress ONE POINT it would be to let your puppy, BE A PUPPY. Dont try too hard to pound the training into its head. Work on basic obedience commands. (whoa, come, maybe a little fetch. etc) Once these commands are good, just get the pup on birds, AND LOTS of birds(no guns) and then I would get the pup on more birds, and then finally MORE birds. Nothing can make a bird dog an OUTSTANDING bird dog like experience. ANy specific help I can try to give please feel free to PM me. Im no pro, and wont claim to be. LOL, VIZ PS post a few pics of the lil V, I for one would love to see them.

08-29-2008, 08:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
vizslaguy08 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: near norfolk Posts: 321 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	BTW where are you located?

08-29-2008, 10:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
tjm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Norfolk, NE Posts: 111 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Can't add too much to what Viszlaguy said, and I'm certainly no expert, but I would highly stress basic obedience. If you have good command of your dog, the rest is much easier. Really I didn't do a whole lot more than basic obedience and getting my vizsla out in the field as much as I could the first year, and she been a pretty good dog.

08-30-2008, 01:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
vizslaguy08 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: near norfolk Posts: 321 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	The commands I use are pretty simple. Come, Whoa(the most important IMHO. My dog WILL stop, no matter what is going on), Fetch, No, load, and dont ask me why I started this one but "hunt 'em up" Others use Here, steady, Easy, etc.

08-30-2008, 08:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
DanBro Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the advice I will try to find some books this weekend. He has had basic obedence training this summer, and is ok when on a lead. I haven't had him off lead in a open area yet. I live down near Columbus. Where do you go to get him on birds? Game and Parks areas?

08-30-2008, 09:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
vizslaguy08 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: near norfolk Posts: 321 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	"Where do you go to get him on birds? Game and Parks areas?" A good place is a bird farm. Very easy to controll the situations. I know Mark Christiansen near Stanton will let you train on his areas (Cedar Valley Hunt Club), as will most hunt clubs. It will cost you, but money well spent IMHO. I had access to private ground that was loaded with birds.

08-30-2008, 06:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
cougarw 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the wild Posts: 1,388 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I think the most important thing is to spend time with your pup. There's a saying that goes like this. When you get your pup. Give the first two years of your life to him....and he will give you the rest of his.

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