doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com My pup and me

Some of you may recall I started asking around 2 yrs ago about what kind of dog to get for my type of upland hunting and a companion for me and my wife. I did finally take the leap and got a 12 mo old started Lab.

I've had her out a few times now and she's starting to work noticably better each time out. Yesterday, I took her out to hunt some quail. I was really impressed, she pointed a covey with her left paw for a few seconds and I suspected there were quail there as this is a common spot to find them. The quail flushed a few seconds after I saw her point. Later she worked the steep side of a heavily brushed hill like a pro, flushing several birds while working very close to me.

I had recently read Mike Gould's book "The Labrador Shooting Dog", which I highly recommend for anyone training any dog. The one thing that struck me while hunting that hillside yesterday was Mike's statement about overhandling (too many commands) the dog. The less I said, the better Jas worked on that hill. Finally, I just got down to only saying anything to praise her when she came by after a flush. The rest of the time I just kept quiet and watched her work.

My brother-in-law shot a lot more than I off of Jas' flushes and she found some of his difficult to find birds.

I only shot a couple birds yesterday, but had one of the best times out there, ever.

A good dog if the field or blind will make even a bad day hunting a good one! Your dog will continue to improve each time you go to the field. You are on the right track by letting the dog work with out a lot of commands, she knows what to do and you only need to guide her along when needed. Another thing to remember is if she has a bad day not to let it get you down as they are not perfect and need some help sometimes.Last thing is always trust your dog.

Chuck, I know you posted a pic of Jasmine earlier, but you know, this thread is worthless without pics!!! Hope you got some from your latest outing. I'm always amazed at working dogs. They are smart, independently motivated, and so much fun to watch. And you get the best bonus of all - they love you for who you are - they'll wag their tails instead of their tongues.

Chuck

Remember the rattlesnake training if that 12-monther hasn't had it yet. Was hunting quail three years ago with a friend and a pair of Vislas, so trained. The dogs' reaction to the four-foot Pacific Diamondback we came across was textbook perfect, even though their training had been two years before . . . . .

Bob,
Thanks for the reminder. It was warm Sunday, and I was thinking exactly that. I didn't see any snakes out in Ventacopa near the pistachio and carrot patch but I'll bet some were out in the mid 70s temp. I heard that Rahauuge's has the training.

Chuck,

About 12 years ago I got some advice from a field trial judge when I first started handling dogs. After he bounced me out of the trial he told me that he gave the dog an "A" for the series but the handler got an "F". He told me that the next trial I went to I should put my whistle in my pocket, keep my mouth shut and watch the dog. I watch all of the time now (or as least I try, it is not my nature to keep quite). It is amazing what you will see when you are in the field with dogs. I have so many great memories of brilliant dog work. I am on my third English Springer Spaniel and I look forward to new memories every year. Glad to hear that you are off to a great start. Post some pics when you can.

Bill G.

Bill
Thanks for sharing that story. I think I may have found some of the emails that Doug Mann sent me, describing the tang bending on Fox guns. I'll send you an email from work today.

Chuck, I'm just in from a great morning with Jake, my just-three Lab, and all the above was confirmed when my buddy and I knocked down nine blacks and a mallard that wheeled outside our tollers at about 30 yards. Three shots-- two from my SKB o/u 20 ga IC/M; my buddy's 12ga 311 misfired on the second shot---and they were all on the water. But in a flash there were only seven; the others had disappeared in a couple acres of cattails and the high spiky swamp grasses. I believe (old age, not wisdom kicking in here) in keeping a whistle out of your mouth and your mouth shut except for a little whispering "Where's the bird, where's the bird?" Watching a dog learning by the minute, doing his own thinking, working it out, is the spice of the hunt for me. I wouldn't go for ducks without a dog.

King,
I'm starting to appreciate the stories you guys have told of companionship a dog brings to a hunt and your life.

I'm still learning about dogs. I was deprived as a child. Just cats around and I never really warmed up to them. I'm wondering why I didn't do this earlier in life.

My dog virtually every where with me, but the hunting experiences are the best. The worst, is the mud on the banks of the Columbia near the shipyard where the worker throw sticks for the dog. Half and hour later he is clean.
could not resist. jas