Posts from — December 2007

There are some dogs out there that blow pads easier than others.  It’s genetic and / OR could be because the dog lives indoors on soft carpet or outdoors on smooth concrete and grass.

The number one tip I give folks is for you to buy some Tuf-foot.  That stuff will harden your dogs paws like a rock.  I ain’t kiddin’!

Just use it as described ….  [Read more →]

I coined the phrase e-collar overstepping years ago and try to spread the word as often as I can.

It is painful for me to watch some of my clients use their ‘good deal’ collar on their Brittanys.  Level one is sometimes too hot for their Brittany.  Or, the dog doesn’t notice level 1 but level 2 is too hot.

I recently demonstrated the difference between my e-collar and my client’s e-collar.  My SPT 2432 had at least 3 to 4 additional levels between his 1 and 2.  So his 2 was about my 4 or 5.  That’s a lot of skipped levels!

My advice is if you own one with too few levels call DT systems and trade it in (no matter the brand) on an SPT series collar that has more levels .   Your Brittany deserves a humane collar and DT’s collars that have 50 to 60 levels of stimulation are excellent for the job.

The average Brittany that needs an e-collar will usually respond to levels 1 through 5 of D.T.’s SPT 2432.  That’s not much stimulation.  It’s more of a nudge than anything.  Modern e-collars are humane but like clothes, they need to be tailored to fit the individual dog.  Why not get one that is guaranteed to meet the needs of any dog that wears it?

I wish I got paid by DT systems for every time I mention their humane collars but I don’t.  I believe in the SPT series and that is why I tell folks about it.

Happy Training!  Don’t forget to take a non-hunting buddy afield.  Spread the magic of awesome gun dogs!

Dave

This is a topic that is talked about a lot but many times there are no details. Here’s a few things you should know.

• When walking up to shoot over a pointed gun dog, your barrel should be up! Safety reasons!
• When walking up with another shooter to shoot over a pointed gun dog, stay evenly abreast. No hunter should be shooting behind the other gunner!
• Remember your shooting lanes and do not shoot across your friends lanes!
• Do not shoot anything flying low! If in hilly terrain, pay attention to high flyers that are actually low based on position of the other dog and hunters.
• Birds flushing from a thicket surrounded by hunters is dangerous. Just remember, never shoot at these birds on the rise, rather let them go away from you which is away from the other hunters before making a shot.
• Hunter orange!
• If the dog is dark colored in areas with dead vegetation and no snow, put a hi-viz collar on that dog!
• When hunting over pointing dogs and if carrying a single shot or double barrel, carry it with the breach open. It is easy to snap it shut in time to shoot over a pointing dog. You may not have time on a wild flush but then you’re out there for the dogs not the meat, right?
• If carrying a machine gun, uh..err, I mean an autoloader or pump, carry it with muzzle up all the time.  Use that safety switch!
• Pay attention to your other hunters even though they have experience. Everyone, no matter how experienced, makes a mistake.
• Never, never shoot a bird on the ground so you don’t accidentally shoot your dog! If it is crippled, that’s the DOGS JOB to chase, catch and retrieve.

That’s about it for now. If you think of one I forgot, please add it in the comments!

Hope your Christmas was Merry and I wish the best in the upcoming New Year!

Dave

From ours to yours, wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

This past week I shot a buck with my .45 Springfield Arms 4″ XD semi-auto. I hadn’t actually sat in a deer stand for a number of years as I am most always pursuing upland game. So shooting a deer was a bit of a novelty to me since I haven’t shot one in so long.

A friend suggested I use my pistol … [Read more →]

I referred to my term ‘absolute whoa’ ™ in another article about a private clinic that I have. Today I am going to define that term for everyone.

There are multiple methods to train a dog and many methods include using the word ‘whoa’. Many folks use these different methods yet every year I train dogs for folks who either gave up or figured out they didn’t have the time to actually train a dog themselves. When I get those dogs I learn what was done, what method, etc.

I would say, as I do on my free training tips page, that whoa is the single most important command that one can teach to a dog. It can save their life. I have been saying this to folks for over 17 years and for 10 years on my web site. One can imagine all the scenarios not bird related where the simple whoa command could save a dogs life.

I once had a gentleman … [Read more →]

Today was just beautiful.  Sunny and cool, all the dogs had a great time in training as did I.

One thing that happened today made me laugh.  I had a couple of unannounced dogs show up in the training field as I was working a finished dog.  I suppose the older dog figured out that I hadn’t clipped the latch during training.  One of the dogs was finished and one was a pup.

The finished dog came in and backed the dog I was working.  I flushed the bird, made both heel away then the pup came in and ‘found’ the bird itself.  So then I had some bonus ‘stop to flush’ work on the two finished dogs.  LOL  Thank goodness it was two finished dogs and one puppy.  Any other combination may have been more hectic.  We all proceeded to work another bird with similar results.  The older dogs learned to hold if another dog messes up (the puppy) and the puppy learned that it can be a group sport! LOL

After all was done I called them all in and they were placed on the chain gang to watch more action.  They felt special I’m sure and I made sure they knew that it was ok to work birds in any circumstance as long as we do it right!

Take care and Merry Christmas!

Cordially,

Dave

Using Feral Pigeons for training as a tool can be very useful.

I like to use them for several purposes: …

[Read more →]

Here’s a list of things I consider to be bad when hunting with your dog that could cause training issues:

………………… [Read more →]

Lots of folks are telling me they are having just a few coveys a day however, the primary response when  asked about cover is that it is ‘very heavy’.  I suspect that many of you who hunt in the Texas Big Country are most affected.  You know the birds are there, you saw all the broods in pre-season.

Don’t be discouraged, many folks in the Texas Big Country are experiencing the same thing……. [Read more →]