Comments for Chief's Brittany Bird Dog Journal http://chiefsbrittanys.com American and French Brittanys as companion gun dogs. Hunting, training, trialing and more. Wed, 14 May 2008 23:06:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Overheated, heat stroked Brittanys. Be careful! by jlmyers http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/29/overheated-heat-stroked-brittanys-be-careful/#comment-114 jlmyers Thu, 01 May 2008 20:37:39 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=154#comment-114 One old time rule of thumb, that has served me well in avoiding heat-related problems is, "when the combination of relative humidity and temperature are above 150, then you need to be real careful about training your dog hard. My philosophy is definitely "better safe than sorry" when it comes to heat! One old time rule of thumb, that has served me well in avoiding heat-related problems is, “when the combination of relative humidity and temperature are above 150, then you need to be real careful about training your dog hard. My philosophy is definitely “better safe than sorry” when it comes to heat!

]]> Comment on Overheated, heat stroked Brittanys. Be careful! by Dave Jones http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/29/overheated-heat-stroked-brittanys-be-careful/#comment-113 Dave Jones Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:51:15 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=154#comment-113 That's the problem with heat stroke, you really don't know unless you take a rectal temperature. It is insidious and definitely sneaks up on you. A good rule of thumb is that if your dog is hot, cool 'em off even if you have to do it every 5 minutes. It is simply not worth the risk. Many high performance bird dogs will not show signs until it is too late but some obvious signs are they become wobbly on their feet, their gums become white, rapid panting, etc. Here's a site with good article: http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/hs.html That’s the problem with heat stroke, you really don’t know unless you take a rectal temperature. It is insidious and definitely sneaks up on you.

A good rule of thumb is that if your dog is hot, cool ‘em off even if you have to do it every 5 minutes. It is simply not worth the risk.

Many high performance bird dogs will not show signs until it is too late but some obvious signs are they become wobbly on their feet, their gums become white, rapid panting, etc.

Here’s a site with good article:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/hs.html

]]> Comment on Overheated, heat stroked Brittanys. Be careful! by dukesjo http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/29/overheated-heat-stroked-brittanys-be-careful/#comment-112 dukesjo Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:25:27 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=154#comment-112 What are the signs that your dog is overheating and that he/she is not just hot? What are the signs that your dog is overheating and that he/she is not just hot?

]]> Comment on Overheated, heat stroked Brittanys. Be careful! by Dave Jones http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/29/overheated-heat-stroked-brittanys-be-careful/#comment-111 Dave Jones Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:15:43 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=154#comment-111 Thanks for the comments. I've never tried that but can imagine a cold towel helps as well. Another 'technique', if you can call it that, is I have kicked dirt out with my foot and formed a sort of shallow puddle, then poured water into it. Most dogs will stretch out and let their belly cool in the puddle. A little messy but effective! LOL I got the idea from watching warm dogs do that on days there are puddles and they get hot. Thanks for the comments. I’ve never tried that but can imagine a cold towel helps as well.

Another ‘technique’, if you can call it that, is I have kicked dirt out with my foot and formed a sort of shallow puddle, then poured water into it. Most dogs will stretch out and let their belly cool in the puddle. A little messy but effective! LOL

I got the idea from watching warm dogs do that on days there are puddles and they get hot.

]]> Comment on Overheated, heat stroked Brittanys. Be careful! by Cleveland Rhoades http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/29/overheated-heat-stroked-brittanys-be-careful/#comment-110 Cleveland Rhoades Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:01:34 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=154#comment-110 Thanks, great advices. I didn't know about the cold water on the inside ears. I alwas have a cooler for drinks and put a towel in the water and wrap it around Striker Thanks, great advices. I didn’t know about the cold water on the inside ears. I alwas have a cooler for drinks and put a towel in the water and wrap it around Striker

]]> Comment on Can I begin yard work at 10 weeks of age? Mentorship! by rustytrigger http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/26/can-i-begin-yard-work-at-10-weeks-of-age-mentorship/#comment-109 rustytrigger Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:51:41 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=151#comment-109 Dave, I personally thankyou for sharing your training tips with us novice trainers , I find myself going back to your training tips often looking for general help and tips that I may have missed reading the first 100 times !!!!!!!!! rt Dave, I personally thankyou for sharing your training tips with us novice trainers , I find myself going back to your training tips often looking for general help and tips that I may have missed reading the first 100 times !!!!!!!!! rt

]]> Comment on What tools do you need to train your dog adequately? by SteveH http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/24/what-tools-do-you-need-to-train-your-dog-adequately/#comment-108 SteveH Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:24:12 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=150#comment-108 Boy Dave, you brought up an interesting topic again. My own belief is that although these are certainly an expensive item, I put the remote launchers high up in my need to own category. They are IMHO a great training aid to simulate hunting situations while keeping total control. By this I mean since you have the remote control, you have the ability to launch the bird whenever you deem it right to do so,whether for a positive or negative event. It seems to me that by using these launchers correctly, they can really shorten the learning curve of a young dog. I got 2 DT(Quail sized) launchers last year at the recommendation of another member of our forum. I will never look back. So, save, scrimp, borrow, beg, steal(well maybe not steal), go in together with others to share the cost, or whatever, but for me, they are a need to own item. Boy Dave, you brought up an interesting topic again. My own belief is that although these are certainly an expensive item, I put the remote launchers high up in my need to own category. They are IMHO a great training aid to simulate hunting situations while keeping total control. By this I mean since you have the remote control, you have the ability to launch the bird whenever you deem it right to do so,whether for a positive or negative event. It seems to me that by using these launchers correctly, they can really shorten the learning curve of a young dog. I got 2 DT(Quail sized) launchers last year at the recommendation of another member of our forum. I will never look back. So, save, scrimp, borrow, beg, steal(well maybe not steal), go in together with others to share the cost, or whatever, but for me, they are a need to own item.

]]> Comment on What tools do you need to train your dog adequately? by jdb39 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/24/what-tools-do-you-need-to-train-your-dog-adequately/#comment-107 jdb39 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:08:45 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=150#comment-107 I got together with a group of friends who all train dogs and we just purchased four remote launchers. We all take turns using them and we all keep different species of game birds to train with. It has worked out wonderfully. We have better equipment, and are able to help each other with the common goal of having great dogs. "Together we stand". I've been very pleased with the DT system. It's especially nice to get a few now with the option of adding more at any time. We have been learning different configurations of setting them up to aid in steadiness, and other objectives. Thanks again Dave, for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I got together with a group of friends who all train dogs and we just purchased four remote launchers. We all take turns using them and we all keep different species of game birds to train with. It has worked out wonderfully. We have better equipment, and are able to help each other with the common goal of having great dogs. “Together we stand”. I’ve been very pleased with the DT system. It’s especially nice to get a few now with the option of adding more at any time. We have been learning different configurations of setting them up to aid in steadiness, and other objectives. Thanks again Dave, for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

]]> Comment on What tools do you need to train your dog adequately? by Dave Jones http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/24/what-tools-do-you-need-to-train-your-dog-adequately/#comment-106 Dave Jones Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:46:01 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=150#comment-106 Good points Bob. When I first went from kick cages and wing locking, I scrimped and saved enough for one manual launcher. Of course I was much younger but I would put out one bird at a time. I also had a pull string attached and it was quite awkward but nonetheless, that's how I did it. I then mentored with Lou Foehrkolb who had a remote launcher or 2. He showed me things with his remote that I couldn't do with my manual launcher so I scrimped and saved more money. Then I had my remote launcher! It was awesome but I could only afford one so there I was again, running back and forth putting out my one bird. Quite comical when I look back now <grin> I honestly trained with just one remote and one manual launcher for nearly 10 years. It was tough but like I said, I was young. I think a club or cooperative training group or something like that is terrific. Outside of that, it's just like I started, scrimping and saving until you can buy it and making do in the meanwhile. Before kick cages for quail, I had homemade harnesses. Pigeons can have their wings locked easily Not until I really got into heavy daily training did I buy a 2nd and 3rd remote launcher. Now I have about 5 or so but really only use 2 or 3 at a time. DT systems remote launcher / transmitter is about 275 or so and I agree, it is expensive but well worth the while. I would say that piece of equipment is more important than anyother piece of training equipment, including the e-collar, but that's JMHO. Thanks for the comments! Dave Good points Bob. When I first went from kick cages and wing locking, I scrimped and saved enough for one manual launcher. Of course I was much younger but I would put out one bird at a time. I also had a pull string attached and it was quite awkward but nonetheless, that’s how I did it.

I then mentored with Lou Foehrkolb who had a remote launcher or 2. He showed me things with his remote that I couldn’t do with my manual launcher so I scrimped and saved more money. Then I had my remote launcher! It was awesome but I could only afford one so there I was again, running back and forth putting out my one bird. Quite comical when I look back now

I honestly trained with just one remote and one manual launcher for nearly 10 years. It was tough but like I said, I was young.

I think a club or cooperative training group or something like that is terrific. Outside of that, it’s just like I started, scrimping and saving until you can buy it and making do in the meanwhile. Before kick cages for quail, I had homemade harnesses. Pigeons can have their wings locked easily

Not until I really got into heavy daily training did I buy a 2nd and 3rd remote launcher. Now I have about 5 or so but really only use 2 or 3 at a time.

DT systems remote launcher / transmitter is about 275 or so and I agree, it is expensive but well worth the while. I would say that piece of equipment is more important than anyother piece of training equipment, including the e-collar, but that’s JMHO.

Thanks for the comments!

Dave

]]> Comment on What tools do you need to train your dog adequately? by Peacher79 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/2008/04/24/what-tools-do-you-need-to-train-your-dog-adequately/#comment-105 Peacher79 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:37:38 +0000 http://chiefsbrittanys.com/?p=150#comment-105 Dave, Unfortunately, in this day and age, practically everyone has to use some form of pen raised bird to train their dog. Some people's dogs never get to see a wild bird as they continue to pursue only preserve birds the dogs entire life. As you well know, pen raised birds present some unique challenges you have to deal with. Buying your own laucher is a delemia I think every one or two dog amateur trainer faces. A remote launcher is a big investment. I just can't justify buying one. I think the best way for a one dog trainer like myself is to join together with others and buy some or join a dog club that has some you can use. I would think you would want to have at least three as a minumum in the training field or you'd wear yourself out running back and forth to put out birds. I personally am lucky enough, even in this quail poor state, to have places to train my dog that have wild birds on them. None are private property. If you look, you can find places. The reality now is most of us amateurs who train our own dogs have to balance dog training with our daily lives. 99% of the time I train by myself. You have to get a little creative training all by yourself. Sincerely, Bob Dave,

Unfortunately, in this day and age, practically everyone has to use some form of pen raised bird to train their dog. Some people’s dogs never get to see a wild bird as they continue to pursue only preserve birds the dogs entire life. As you well know, pen raised birds present some unique challenges you have to deal with.

Buying your own laucher is a delemia I think every one or two dog amateur trainer faces. A remote launcher is a big investment. I just can’t justify buying one.

I think the best way for a one dog trainer like myself is to join together with others and buy some or join a dog club that has some you can use. I would think you would want to have at least three as a minumum in the training field or you’d wear yourself out running back and forth to put out birds.

I personally am lucky enough, even in this quail poor state, to have places to train my dog that have wild birds on them. None are private property. If you look, you can find places.

The reality now is most of us amateurs who train our own dogs have to balance dog training with our daily lives. 99% of the time I train by myself. You have to get a little creative training all by yourself.

Sincerely, Bob

]]>