Range Question

[LuciandTim]

Well i'm pretty happy with Luci's first season. Now it's time to fix and strengthen her weaknesses. I'm curious what methods you all have used to teach your dogs their appropriate range when hunting. It was sometimes impossible to call Luci off of running birds. I know that is hard for well trained dogs but I want to try and reinforce it. When she got birdy she just tended to range a bit far and I thought it was sometimes unneccesary. Up until the season started I used a check cord and would walk a field with planted bird dummies. We would mock hunt and when she reached the end of the cord I would jerk it and whistle. This worked and she still responds positive to the whistle...just not all the time. Should I keep doing it this way or is there any other techniques that anyone knows of that will help. I understand that my pup is young and not perfect but I will not give her an inch. As they say, give'em an inch and they'll take a mile.

[Swamp Scooter]

Must forgive me as I am not sure of what type of dog you are talking about? pointer or flusher?? If it is a pointer and they point at a range where the birds are and hold until you get there not a problem. Still run the check cord in the field during hunting. No harm in that. Better to be comfortable for you both and get a response to commands than turn them loose. If a flusher... Well are you working in to the wind?? If the pheasants are running there is not much you can do but use the whistle stop until you catch up. The dog will run a running bird especially if it is hot scent. You need to put the dog in positive training situations if you can and work on the stop to the whistle in hot situations. Do not correct them but try and get their attention to look for further direction. Hard to say and harder to do but you will work it out. Those roosters can really run you and the dog ragged over a long field!!!

Lots of time to work over winter. Obedience will be the key over time.

[setterguy]

Find some pigeons, or quail. Bring a bunch out to a field with you. Put them in a bird bag, carry it with you and go for a walk. As soon as you think she is getting a little too far, give her a whistle, make sure she looks back and throw a bird in the air. Continue this until she figures out that being around you = birds. Then you can bring a gunner and start shooting them for her.

[Wild Willie]

Tim - the question of how to control a pointing dog from getting too far out after a running pheasant is a good one! Sounds like you have been doing some good basic obedience work in the field and backyard with the checkcord. Problem is once in the field after the checkcord comes off...all bets are off regarding a running bird. I have experienced the same situation with Buddy. Young dogs are smart enough to know that when the checkcord comes off they are free to run and hunt for themselves. In most cases they will obey your commands but...even the most obedient dog will have a hard time complying to a whistle, voice or hand command just shortly after getting a whiff of hot pheasent scent up their nose.

Now that Luci is over a year and half old and has proven she is not timid and understands all the basic commands I would suggest that you introduce her to the e-collar. I use a very inexpensive model with a pager that I use with Buddy. I use the commands "TOO FAR" or "WHOA" when I want him to slow down or stop immediately. I give him a warning with the pager immediately after my voice command if he does not comply. He knows a jolt/nick of correction will come next if he continues to disobey. It is now getting to the point where I do not have to give many voice commands at all...I just give him a little page and he either slows down and checks in with me or stops completely. This has also helped with his running wild after flushed or marked birds. My goal is to have him programmed to understand that if I can't see him and he can't see me then he is "TOO FAR". Consistency in training methods and time will eventually get Luci where you want her to be...hope this helps.

[LuciandTim]

Thanks for the advice guys...

Wille: Funny you say that about the e-collar, I just bought Pat's collar minus the transmitter. It's at tri-tronic now getting a new transmitter. That should be helpful. I just want to reinforce the commands and make sure she knows what she is doing and what I expect of her before I start zapping her. You all are very helpful. Thanks again. Tim