How many dog?

[Fish On]

Originally Posted by DiggerDog

I've taken wings and have attached them to her dummies with a rubber band and she does well with them. So well that she doesn't hesitate in retrieving them whatsoever. I haven't mixed them up and might just do that this weekend.

I'll also try the pigeon approach. I know the guy that has her mom and he told me his dog, my labs mom, never would retrieve pheasants, but would retrieve every other bird such as Prairie Chickens, Grouse, ducks, geese, and Dove. What's strange is last year when she was only about 6 months old she had no issues in retrieving pheasants. Now she runs to them and points them out like one of those ball markers on the PGA tour. When I tell her fetch it up she grabs it by a wing and will either drag it to me or just drag it a few feet then drops it and stands right next to it.


Oh...BL1, my pup told me if you keep making fun of her she'll bite your lab in the nads when she sees him next.

At least with that method you don't have to worry about the bird getting chewed up by the dog.

[Catfishsteve]

Originally Posted by DiggerDog

. What's strange is last year when she was only about 6 months old she had no issues in retrieving pheasants. Now she runs to them and points them out like one of those ball markers on the PGA tour. When I tell her fetch it up she grabs it by a wing and will either drag it to me or just drag it a few feet then drops it and stands right next to it.

Sounds like this dog may have been spurred or scratched by a nearly dead pheasant she grabbed on the ground. This happens to most pheasant dogs and it can put a young dog off like you've described.

(another reason for hunting with big shot in your shells; you get deader birds for the dogs)

I think if you just go slow with her and get her on smaller, cold dead birds to start back up with this summer. She'll be fine and much more confident next fall. At least she's not tearing birds up, that's a worse problem.

You can go to the trouble of putting a bit of barbed wire around her favorite dummy to help get her over the pokey parts of pheasants.

[Dad O.]

[quote=DiggerDog;91475]I've taken wings and have attached them to her dummies with a rubber band and she does well with them. So well that she doesn't hesitate in retrieving them whatsoever. I haven't mixed them up and might just do that this weekend.

I'll also try the pigeon approach. I know the guy that has her mom and he told me his dog, my labs mom, never would retrieve pheasants, but would retrieve every other bird such as Prairie Chickens, Grouse, ducks, geese, and Dove. What's strange is last year when she was only about 6 months old she had no issues in retrieving pheasants. Now she runs to them and points them out like one of those ball markers on the PGA tour. When I tell her fetch it up she grabs it by a wing and will either drag it to me or just drag it a few feet then drops it and stands right next to it.

I had a English Pointer that got spurred by rooster after that she bit them in the back hard enough to break the back then brought them to me, but didn't chew them up.

[DiggerDog]

Thanks for the tips guys. She has a little bit talent in her and I really want to maximize it as much as I can.

[south of 41]

another reason for hunting with big shot in your shells; you get deader birds for the dogs)

I dont have much use for a dog that needs a stone cold dead bird to get its retrieve.

I can find those,,,

I like a young dog to cut its teeth on a runner adds insentive imo.

No finer retrieve then when a dog is gone several minutes and return's with that crip in its mouth...

DiggerDog when hunting with others are their dogs getting most of the retreives??? This could be the problem.

Have you tried taping/rubber bandind a whole bird to the dummies ?

[DiggerDog]

Originally Posted by south of 41

I dont have much use for a dog that needs a stone cold dead bird to get its retrieve.

I can find those,,,

I like a young dog to cut its teeth on a runner adds insentive imo.

No finer retrieve then when a dog is gone several minutes and return's with that crip in its mouth...

DiggerDog when hunting with others are their dogs getting most of the retreives??? This could be the problem.

Have you tried taping/rubber bandind a whole bird to the dummies ?

The other dogs are getting all of the retrieves. She runs with them, most of time she beats them to the bird, but then she waits for them to pick it up. Even alone when she runs to the bird she is somewhat hesitant to pick it up. If it's wounded she'll run it down and take care of it, then she stands over it.

All I've done so far is rubber band the wings to the bird. Are you suggesting strapping a whole bird to the dummy? One other point of confusion is when we get home. I'll throw the dead bird(s) in our tall prairie grass and she bring them back to me without hesitation.

I thought about getting one of those full sized pheasant dummies from Cabelas and strapping real wings to that to see if that makes a difference. Do any of you have experience with those dummies? If so, do they work/ help?

[south of 41]

The other dogs are getting all of the retrieves.

It is my unprofessinal opinion this is what has created your problems

Even alone when she runs to the bird she is somewhat hesitant to pick it up. If it's wounded she'll run it down and take care of it, then she stands over it.

Have you tried to turn and walk the other way? Sometimes this will encourage a dog to bring it to you they want your attention....

Are you suggesting strapping a whole bird to the dummy?

Yes what have you got to loose?

Do any of you have experience with those dummies

No, the first thing i do with a young dog is get them use to riding in the truck at a very young age. Any time game is killed when i return to my vehicle i let the pup out and pitch a bird in the ditch and let them find it.

Never had a dog that would not retrieve naturally. No force breaking for me thank you. Seen too many done wrong and lots of dog in fear of a head pat for fear of getting their ear pinched.


Could be my good fortune is my line breeding and not my training.

But i have seen litter mates that went to other owner's not retrieve a lick.

So i continue to do what has work for me in the past...

[DiggerDog]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll start with them this weekend

[jimbosan]

The more the better! That is as long as they all get along and they are all worth a crap. Pretty hard to get one or two that will do the job without causing a bunch of heartache for you, but if you can get five or six good ones together then go for it!

[DiggerDog]

Hey guys - thanks again for your suggestions. BL1 is coming over and we're going to implement some of the suggestions you guys gave me.

Again, thanks and I'll keep you updated on her progress.

One other question that is just baffling me. My pup likes to sit on her hip more than she will on her butt. Can any of you tell me why? I've had her into the vet and her hips are fine.

When I see her sit on her hip, I'll correct her by helping her to sit on her butt. After releasing her I tell her to sit where she lowers herself to her hip again.