Our Golden is 4 months old, so she should be ready for grouse next year. Can anyone recommend a book or author so I can train her for ruffed and sharptails? Ducks & geese I don't expect retrieving to be a problem, but I don't know how to go about keeping a dog close in the bush, working back and forth through a field, etc.
How do I start training a dog for grouse?
- Thread starter Grouse Man
- Start date
I didn't use a book or anything. When he was a pup, I put some pheasant wings on a toliet paper roll and let him play with it. Then I just took him out with another dog who is a great flusher. Next thing I know, he's flushing on his own. The only problem I have is he tends to get too far ahead of me. We'll be working on that....
If you know someone who has a good bird dog already, take them out together. It is working for me.
If you know someone who has a good bird dog already, take them out together. It is working for me.
Put Bear bells on your dog (so you can located them), and next time you are in a safe spot to do so, and your dog wanders away too far...stop, and hide. If it sounds like she is wandering in the wrong di9rection or has totally lost your track you can whistle or call for her until she tracks back to you.
Have a big doggy party and make much of her when she tracks you down again.
Dog will think Hmmm...Every time I wander too far owner gets lost...I had better keep a closer eye on him.
This way you are putting the responsibility back on the dog to keep an eye on you and stay closer to you.
Practice often. (note: this prob' will not work on a Husky, or a Beagle, and some other breeds...as they often don't give a crap were you are, or have been bred to ignore the hunter trailing behind them.)
Also Feathers on a throw toy work great.
I have read about a guy in the USA that had one of the old wire wrapped Enfields with the grenade cup, and he would launch his dogs tennis ball with it.
Bang means good thing! Go catch go find.
Keep it fun for both of you.
Have a big doggy party and make much of her when she tracks you down again.
Dog will think Hmmm...Every time I wander too far owner gets lost...I had better keep a closer eye on him.
This way you are putting the responsibility back on the dog to keep an eye on you and stay closer to you.
Practice often.
(note: this prob' will not work on a Husky, or a Beagle, and some other breeds...as they often don't give a crap were you are, or have been bred to ignore the hunter trailing behind them.)Also Feathers on a throw toy work great.
I have read about a guy in the USA that had one of the old wire wrapped Enfields with the grenade cup, and he would launch his dogs tennis ball with it.
Bang means good thing! Go catch go find.
Keep it fun for both of you.
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