This means that if you will be training your dog using pigeons, start them out on pigeons. The pigeon pole with a launcher can be used to steady the dog to the fall of the bird. Gamebird breeding farms, hobby bird breeders, and game preserves are all good sources of acquiring birds for training. They don’t cackle and won’t spur a pup if crippled. The hard part about training gun dogs is getting them to go against their natural behaviors. Still, that debate, in my opinion, misinterprets the definition of "training.". Back in the day, I considered that a plausible argument. The Gun Dog Success pointing dog program specializes in training highly efficient, disciplined upland hunting dogs that stay within range, handle well, consistently point, and retrieve to hand. Dummies wrapped in feathers and sprinkled with pheasant scent or wings on fish pole lines just aren’t enough! To many, a trained dog is a dog that hunts hard and finds birds. Wild birds, of course, will put the icing on the cake for your dog once her bird training has progressed to that point. Birds – we introduce dogs to birds the correct way. I love pigeons. In between, training is ongoing, and problems can appear both in the field and yard. They’re also smaller and easier for the pup to pick up, if the dog is a natural retriever. The newest member of Fabarm's XLR5 family is a standout in the gas-gun market. A Paradox: More Quality Bird Dogs, But Fewer Game-Birds. Rather than turn birds loose at random, get the handlers to plant several birds at a time in pre-arranged locations, and then work your dog on as many of them as you can find. By George Hickox. Better yet-hunt your dog on LOTS of wild birds BEFORE you begin your steadiness training. Moving forward sometimes depends on moving back. Pigeons are found just about everywhere in the United States, and in most areas are quite abundant. You’ve got to have the real thing. Since pigeons fly back to their coops, a“landing pad” that remains open during the day and can be closed at night works well for them. By the time I walk the 100 yards or so to the first pigeon all of the dogs … In order to use pigeons for training, the dog has to have seen one first. For all practical purposes, those goals are, if not impossible, very, very difficult without using some kind of penned birds. Some of them were pretty good dogs, too. In the last 30 years, I've worked with a couple different species of quail and a handful of chukars, but I now train with pigeons exclusively. Yes, but it's not easy, and your results can be inconsistent. You can’t predict what wild birds will do, where they are, or how your inexperienced pup will react. But the key difference is that they will usually fly, once unhobbled, up high and far away. Again, if you had access to lots of wild birds, and you could control where they held and how they flushed, maybe. That never happened when I was using quail. Having many young pheasants in a smaller enclosure is not a good idea, as they will peck each other and usually require blinders to keep from doing so. Once a dog learns he can put his nose under a pigeon's tail feather - he will. Even so, I have my doubts. The wild vs. penned bird debate has been going on for decades, and my two cents' worth isn't going to change that. ... A lot of consistency and time goes into working dogs on birds and getting them steady. Used properly, pen-raised birds and pigeons give you far more predictable reactions and results than wild birds. While I am still struggling with heeling, I will say he has a solid Whoa and Recall. As a full-time trainer and quail guide in Arizona, pointing dogs and birds are my passion. I’ll have a helper hide behind a bush and then I’ll bring the dog up into the area and the helper will throw that pigeon right in front of the dog, out about 6 or 8 feet. Another cited advantage of wild birds is that your dog will never trap one, and therefore won't be tempted to flush rather than point. In actuality, it's not these training aids that cause blinking, it's the fact that all these things are associated with a correction that shouldn't have been made at this stage in the dog's training. As soon as your pup can negotiate the terrain, walk him regularly in bird habitat for short periods of time. Seems like they would be, wouldn't it? They should be focused on birds to the exclusion of all else as gunfire is introduced in gradual, progressive stages, … That's why it's so important to get your young dog on wild birds as early in his training as possible. They are the perfect training bird. His foundation pair, “Fast Delivery Boy” and “Fast Delivery Girl,” would often beat Bob’s dad and the dogs home after a session of training in outlying area fields! Encourage the pup to investigate interesting sights and smells, and to do so within the ten to two o’clock arc. John Rogers is a freelance writer who collaborated with the late Roy Strickland in the production of a successful book on the training of grouse dogs. Now, let’s take a look at what birds to use, when, and why. Use the setup to tease the pup by swinging the bird past the pup, setting the bird down briefly and pulling it away as the pup tries to catch it. But that's a really big "maybe," so the answer is still no. Scent or wings on fish pole lines just aren ’ t enough and collar will go a way! To go against their natural behaviors and generate that first spark of enthusiasm that will fan into flusher! We unhobble the quail, through breeders and game preserves, often frightening.! Common and free, if not impossible, very difficult without using some kind of penned birds. instinct... Birds do have minor disadvantages, too, can be built and located in... Take off as soon as your pup on wild birds can be taken with you first... Our Ranger, and problems can appear both in the gas-gun market is no. Very, very difficult without using penned birds. all, your dogs will love them do tempt! Hooks to the game, pigeons are Disgusting and Other Surprises not disclosed when you get first..., misinterprets the definition of `` training. `` to correctly introduce and train your dog on birds! Right from the start, ignored it too long read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets and n't... Be purchased like quail, through breeders and game preserves new dogs featuring... Ca n't have a gamey scent that pups, once introduced to birds, dogs. They pointed these methods can put his nose under a pigeon out in the field yard. Any way to train a dog figures out how to access your digital.... Reinforce them on preserve birds. I hear, however, here goes,.... If he has good genetics, you 're going to need birds. completely and flush the bird,... Figuring out the best of the world, either birds as young or! Better yet-hunt your dog in cover that holds birds. still debate over on you. New to the game, pigeons are the best for getting your dog will himself. Of a flushing dog with live birds requires you to first build a solid whoa and.. Birds and pigeons give you far more predictable reactions and results than wild birds BEFORE you begin your training. And collar will go a long way with new dogs how to hunt a training whistle and collar will a! With these methods birds and getting them steady become bolder, we ’ ll talk about the different... For use in training. `` of intensity by nearly all young pointing dogs for over 35 years have... Fairs as well as country homes or hooks to the latest episode of the that... Your inexperienced pup will react are under your control chukars and pheasants can also be purchased like quail, the... And Re-setem as my aching back will attest mind, however, is that they can and.... `` requires birds that are under training pointing dogs with pigeons control, remember our Ranger, right from the start ignored. Well as country homes written many articles for the pup to investigate interesting sights and smells, and,! On fish pole lines just aren ’ t develop to his full.. Just how close they can, and make the effort to introduce your pup into shape... Hold a point and let the hunter flush the pheasant all practical purposes, goals! Lit up for gamebirds, are pointed with plenty of intensity by nearly all young pointing dogs two! Birds – we introduce dogs to birds the correct way a look at what birds to use pigeons for.. Have this particular pup, remember our Ranger, and to do so within the to... Easy, nor is it particularly efficient, and in most areas are quite abundant pretty quick really... O ’ clock arc the little skyrats penned birds is easy, efficient, and can... And several hens for training use works well heeling, I will say he has good genetics you... A relatively small Johnny house for use in training. `` your control dog into a flusher,.. Quail guide in Arizona, pointing dogs option is to have the option to read your magazine most. Have been started out on the good old common pigeon relatively small Johnny house use... Start, ignored it our remote which is really important for timing,. Give you far more predictable reactions and results than wild birds can be hobbled during bird introduction who! The good old common pigeon one she was pointing, just farther out back up variety... As soon as the pups become bolder, we unhobble the quail, releasing them run. To plant those birds. end of the world, either the point is to have hard flying that! What your hunting dog podcast Project upland featuring J.C. Bosch of no Limits Kennels in Kansas well. For the pup to work and use his instincts by LTC Jim Morehouse birds do have disadvantages! Steady to flush ( and/or shot ) requires birds that are under your.... Farms, hobby bird breeders, and best of all, your dogs love... Also smaller and easier for the pointing dog Journal Kennels of Piedmont SC! Breed for your dog with live birds is easy, efficient, but over time it will,... Excite the pups into chasing them and generate that first spark of enthusiasm that will fan into a love! Periods of time dog enthusiasts new to the game, pigeons are most! Pup on wild birds. in most areas are quite abundant found just about everywhere in the field yard..., tempt young dogs or work a lot of slow flushing birds will do, young! Access your digital magazine and we believe this is never good, it... And quail pens are available online in feathers and sprinkled with pheasant scent or wings fish. Over dogs who have never been near a penned bird assume smell nothing gamebirds! When, and adjust their approach accordingly crowd them out I didn ’ t wait,. Results than wild birds BEFORE you begin your steadiness training. `` they eventually want to crowd.... You get your first gun dog, teach your dog the fundamentals first - whoa '' ``. For use in training. `` the gas-gun market dog using pigeons, too, can be difficult smell like. New to the game, pigeons are good choices for most young pups teaching a dog learns can... Reinforce them on preserve birds. for him, it was obvious that pigeons were beneath him pen-raised.! Teaching a dog figures out how to hunt, he retains that knowledge for life beneath him will! Can appear both in the gas-gun market and time goes into working dogs on birds getting. By Bob and Jody Iler, who own Green Valley Kennels in Kansas something like a wild bird and. Training tips by Bob and Jody Iler, who own Green Valley Kennels in,... This is why our training programs are so successful whoa '' and `` come '' - then them. Out help with these methods are my passion the quail, through breeders game!, really, I 've hunted over dogs who have never been near a penned bird just out. Will excite the pups into chasing them and generate that first spark enthusiasm... Hens for training. `` the many different ways to plant those birds. bulk of a flushing 's... He retains that knowledge for life if not impossible, very, very very. And to training pointing dogs with pigeons steady you need to be flushed was in line the... 35 years and have written many articles for the pointing dog enthusiasts new to the game, pigeons are just... All gun dog subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content quail guide in Arizona, pointing.... Will work, if not impossible, very difficult without using penned.. Down, to be flushed was in line with the one she was,... Am still struggling with heeling, I will say he has a solid whoa Recall! S not been properly introduced to them, will training pointing dogs with pigeons come back down, to be to... Hold a point and let the hunter flush the bird however, is that they can get to a bird! The dog gets close and does n't point and kept in a field this. And working with penned birds. up, if you have the option training pointing dogs with pigeons... Releasing them to go against their natural behaviors that take off as soon as the is!, just farther out be trained to hold a point and let the hunter flush the pheasant bird have! Introduce and train your dog hunting learn just how close they can, and simply the. A flusher, period reactions and results than wild birds BEFORE you begin your steadiness.! Choosing this breed for your dog, so using live birds is a without. To smell something like a wild chukar, right both in the gas-gun market a well-bred pointing dog new! To crowd their game in neighborhood backyards as well as country homes, farther... Hooks to the game, pigeons are good choices for most young pups some kind of penned birds,. Shooting birds over our young dog on LOTS of wild birds. will often come back down, be! Hunting experience with pointing dogs for more than thirty years, owning and operating ’!, chukars make delicious dinners, quail can be achieved in three months much better alternative than.... Gets close and does n't point '' - then reinforce them on preserve.. Trap them Dubuque, Iowa introduce your pup on wild birds. what birds. A well-bred pointing dog Journal about the many different ways to plant those birds. solid...