Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19
  1. #1
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    35
    Thanked: 4

    Training my first hunting dog - Update

    Sorry, it wouldn't let me bump my original thread. Guess I had forgotten about it for too long.

    Anyways, we live! And we have not given up! I am in some kind of field training dead zone, but while taking our CGC test in March I met a lady who uses a trainer who does some group work on Saturdays (trainer has MHs). So I got the trainer's contact info and she was plenty willing to take on a novice. I failed to stay consistent on using real ducks, so Hailey refused to pick one up when we reintroduced them in April. I did have to do a little ear pinching (so there was force/pressure, but I hesitate to call it true FF). Once we cleared that up she wanted to play with the birds a bit, so we had to do some more training on Hold. Which she took to very well. And then we were off!

    Went and watched an AKC Hunt Test May 3rd, met and talked to a lot of people who suggested we try "getting our feet wet" in UKC. Ran in back-to-back HRC Started hunt tests this past weekend. Had a BLAST. Got some great compliments on my dog, including an offer on her. The gunner commented on her water retrieve that she "almost runs on water." Her marking was excellent. She had a bit of a fit on her last bird Sunday and wanted to swim around with it at the bank, rather than return to the line. So definitely something we'll be addressing now. Need to work on heeling on lead - she was so excited she about literally drug me to the line and back each time.
    Also volunteered bc they were shorthanded and ran birds during the water retrieves. Never thought I'd learn to give a spa treatment to dead ducks with a chamois, lol. Totally hooked though and can't wait to do and learn more! Also got an invitation to join some people closer to me for training. They have titled HRCH and MHs as well, so I'm eager to get involved with this small group too.

    -hailey3a-jpg

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    714
    Thanked: 304
    Congratulations! You are truly hooked now. I started running HRC along time ago and still like to run their tests. My brother even bought me a pink camo 20 gauge. It caused quite a sensation at the first test I took it to. I love it because it is so light. Once you have a training group you will see your dog learn quickly and HRC members are always willing to share. Good luck and keep on training.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    2,366
    Thanked: 1096
    So Anna... how are your duck calling chops???? (I would embarrass myself for sure.)

    Dear a.C... it IS fun isn't it? How can you explain it to someone who isn't into the game? Watching the dogs do what every molecule in their body tells them is their purpose for being alive... priceless.

  4. #4
    House Broken FOWLQUEEN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    dayton Ohio
    Posts
    57
    Thanked: 45
    hunt test ( AKC and HRC ) are a blast some of the best fun you can have with your dog that isn't "real" hunting I'm running my boy this weekend for a couple HRC arms! Lol hoping to bring home two ribbons as well....I gotta say my high light of the day is watching the "fire breather" dogs getting after birds
    Hidden Content

    MDA'S Twelve Gauge All Choked Up JH "Gage"

  5. #5
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    714
    Thanked: 304
    My calling isn't the greatest. I can manage the high ball but the feeding chuckle eludes me. We had a friend try to give us lessons many years ago. Now my goose calling sounds more like a wounded moose than a goose. Don't seem to have the lung power for the goose call. I also have a pheasant call that really revs the dogs up.
    I love watching the dogs run. Went out tonight and watched the group train. They are hoping to get their dogs qualified for the National Amateur coming up in July. I was really impressed with one fellows young dog. It just won an amateur so he is on his way. Doyle just looked like he was in his glory even though he had to be called back on the blind.
    I can't wait to get M home. We are going down to work with her next Thursday and Friday and then I am going to run her in her first junior (derby) on the weekend.
    a.C you have so much fun ahead of you . This is a hobby that will keep you busy for the next 50 years. One dog is never enough. It gets in your blood.

  6. #6
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    35
    Thanked: 4
    Ha ha, I keep telling myself I don't have time for multiple dogs now...but it's always on my mind, lol. I think if I wasn't paying board on a horse, I could convince my husband of a 2nd pup. But horses have been my passion for a long time, and I'm not quite ready to let go of that yet.
    No one warned me about the duck calling though. It just so happened my father-in-law had given me a call the weekend before and I just happened to pack it. Thankfully no one laughed at my sick duck sounds, lol.
    Get to go train with a new group this Saturday. I'm super excited.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    714
    Thanked: 304
    It is great that so many women are involved in the HRC in the US. Here in Canada we only have 6 clubs left and there are only about 5 women that you see running dogs regularly and passed the started level. There are a lot more running CKC test. I guess it is because they don't handle a real gun. One of my pet peeves at CKC tests is the way handlers treat the wooden replica guns. I just can't keep my mouth shut. After watching one person use the gun to push the dog's head in a master test I just couldn't stop myself from saying " I see we're playing rifleman today and shooting from the hip". Guess having gun safety drilled into me I feel that if looks like a gun and represents a gun then you better treat it like a gun, no excuses. Just my rant for the day.

  8. #8
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    35
    Thanked: 4
    Had a lot of fun with the dog over the weekend. Got to train with a different group - closer to home, better and more varied terrain, and I just got more out of the whole thing in general.
    Did 2 short marks - the second one requiring the dogs to pass over the fall of the previous remark. Then we did 2 longer land marks - one at 102 and the other at 126 yards. The furthest I've ever sent Hailey. On the 102 yd mark, she tripped going down a slope and literally rolled down the hill 3 or 4 turns before getting back to her feet (she goes so fast). When she got back up she was pointed a different direction, but she managed to curve back around and find her mark. And this was all in really tall cover.
    Did some water marks too - practiced sending her down the bank, across the creek and about 20yds up the opposite bank (and then back). Another first for her. She handled that both times with no problems. We even threw some short marks in the creek that she had to cross over. She's something else. Makes me a little sad I wasn't able to get into this last summer, she'd be much further along. Someone was training a 5mo. black male and he is an excellent marker already. He ran the same, full distances with no problems.


    Joined my "regular" group on Monday. A lot more driving, and got to run my dog a lot less, but can't pass up an opportunity to use the wingers and be in a more "exciting" environment than home (I think I'll be investing in a couple wingers of my own). They had a "puppy run" where several people brought out their 9wk puppies (2 breeders had litters recently). There was an unsold male - I was absolutely in love with him. No fear. In the water. Running around, pouncing on all the other puppies. And super birdy. He was climbing into the 5 gal. buckets to drag out ducks and then would drag them all over the place. The other puppies weren't nearly as interested as he was. And then he crawled in my lap to snuggle. I was a goner. I was texting my FIL like crazy to see about getting this puppy, but I ultimately just wasn't in a position to pay as much as the breeder was asking. Oh well. I keep telling myself I'd rather have wingers right now, lol.
    He might have been a bit much for me anyways. Hailey has all the drive, etc. but she's also very manageable and was a very well behaved puppy. I don't know how much of that is personality and how much was making sure she had plenty of puppy appropriate toys and exercise that kept her from eating my furniture.

  9. #9
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    2,598
    Thanked: 3967
    Aye Mate,
    It sounds like ye have been bitten hard by the hunt test bug. Welcome to the fold and enjoy it with ye retriever.

    Cheers,
    TEAM TRAD
    TEAM TRAD PRO STAFF
    DUBLIN DUCK DYNASTY

    Joanie Madden, Mary Bergin, Adrea Coor, and Nuala Kennedy, each an Irish whistle goddess in her own right.

  10. #10
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    35
    Thanked: 4
    We titled over the weekend! Went up to Backwater HRC in Auburn, IN and got our SHR. We titled in 4 consecutive runs when 8 weeks ago she wouldn't even pick up a duck.
    I think we're going to skip AKC Junior Hunters and work on learning how to handle so we can debut in UKC Seasoned / AKC Seniors in the Spring.
    I've also been convinced to try for our BN and/or CD at the local Obedience Trial in November. My obedience friend seems to think we can do it, so we'll see.

    Hailey was excellent on Saturday, even delivering to hand. Sunday she thought about being naughty on her first water retrieve (a lot of dogs were naughty in general on Sunday).
    I acted as Marshal/Program director for Started on both days since the club didn't have someone to do it.
    Apparently when you title, they dump ice water over your head. I do not recommend changing clothes in a porta-potty if you can avoid it.
    The weather here has been crappy, so I don't have any good pictures of Hailey with all her ribbons yet, but I do have some from her running over the weekend.

    -resize-1-jpg -resize-2-jpg -resize-3-jpg

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •