Live Chukars and Training

[sdwlucas]

What is your opinion of using live birds and letting my 6 mo old look for them? How do I go about planting the birds and taking the dog to the birds? I don't plan on shooting the birds just using them as training decoys. Any advice will help. Thank you!

[marjolein]

Well, I've done that too and I really think it's a good way to start. I would start with food though. Hide the bowl with food somewhere and tell the dog to "smell and search". He will soon realise what you mean with that command. When he does, it's about time to hide birds. I would keep the dog on a long lead though so when he finds them, you can hold him so he won't kill.
Good idea for a young dog I'd say!!!!!!

[weimaranermama]

To teach the young dog the smell of birds and teach him to be steady when the bird is flying away, I learned a lot of Pelle Agorelius in Sweden. He starts to teach the dog to sit and than he takes a bird in his hand, he lets the dog smell and the dog has to sit and stay sit.
When the dog is standing up, Pelle takes the bird away and the dog has to sit again, than the bird is coming again, as a reward.
This is the first start for the huntingdog to learn the smell of the birds.
Pelle Agorelius made a wonderfull movie, about his trainings methodes, called:
Handlers and Pointingdogs play together.
I think the englisch film is ready now too.
The adres of Pelle Agorelius is: Pelle Agorelius, AB2003, Saxhytte Gard, 71294 Gruthyttan, Sverige. Tel:[phone], fax: [phone]
For me it was a wonderfull experiance to see, the way he did his training with his dogs and i learnd very much of it. Maby this is a way to start your dog sdwlucas.
Gr. Ina

[anne]

sdwlucas,

You should try and find some people in your area that can help you. Find a local Weim club chapter that has field fun days or a NAVHDA club. If there is a hunting perserve near you, ask around there too.

My pups are exposed to bird as early as posible.

We usually use pigeons as they fly well and are cheap and have strong scent. You can plant birds by dizzying them or using a launcher, but only if you can time the release correctly.

What do you mean by "training decoys"?

Anne

[anne]

Also sdwlucas,

In the US we don't train our dogs to sit. That is your choice, but since this is a European board, you should know that some of the customs are a little different.

Also try the versatiledogs.com board for additional information on starting a pup.

Anne

[marjolein]

I don't teach my dogs to sit either, I just want them to be steady and don't like wasting time by letting them sit b4 sending them off for the retrieve.