Training with birds

getting ready to do some bird training with your pup. I like using a three step system in all my training. What I mean by that is, try- apply- comply. first off the try or introduction. Just what is says, I am introducing the pup to birds. If you are starting off a very young pup, not a bad idea to start off with a dead bird. Then move up to a locked wing and then a clipped wing. This is only the introdution so I am not working on any commands or retrieves. If this is the first introduction, the pup will most likely lay down and bark at the bird, roll around on it, try to eat it or run off with it. No problem this is just an introduction. You may want to do it in somewhat of a contained area so the pup does not run off too far.

After the first intro or two, I then will move to a confined area. Some kind of alley or lane. Snow fencing works good for this. What I do is toss a locked wing bird down the lane, when the dog goes and gets it he has nowhere to go but back to me.

Next I will move to the field, remember this is still in the intro phase. No demands on the dog, no commands and I am not working on retrieving. I will tosss locked wing birds and then clipped wing birds. The dog in the video has had the introduction to birds and I am getting him as “birdy” as possible. I am creating a non stop bird chasing machine!

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z287/hjifishing/?action=view&current=ae087cc4.pbr

Boy, I sure miss the days of doing this with the pups. The best advice I can offer, is to keep it fun. This is the first time on live birds with a pup, and you want to make sure that they enjoy it, you don’t want to turn them off. I remember the first time I did this with my Bucky, he took one look at the live bird, barked at it a few times and then pounced on the bird. I laughed watching him. That 1st training or introduction to birds only lasted about a minute, but that was enough(the dog will tell you when). A few days later he was all over the birds, but we were keeping our training times short. Ending on a positive note is always a good thing, keep the dog wanting more was the key for me. As he got more birdy the training times got longer, but I keep him interested and wanting more. Keep in mind that the dog will respond very well if the praise is given and given a lot. Keep the dog excited about birds and you can never go wrong. Starting a dog on birds is a must as a pup. I had Bucky on birds, live pigeons long befor we had any commands down. I think he was only about 8-9 weeks old. Some may say that is too soon, but I think the sooner the better.

Boy, I sure miss the days of doing this with the pups. The best advice I can offer, is to keep it fun. This is the first time on live birds with a pup, and you want to make sure that they enjoy it, you don’t want to turn them off. I remember the first time I did this with my Bucky, he took one look at the live bird, barked at it a few times and then pounced on the bird. I laughed watching him. That 1st training or introduction to birds only lasted about a minute, but that was enough(the dog will tell you when). A few days later he was all over the birds, but we were keeping our training times short. Ending on a positive note is always a good thing, keep the dog wanting more was the key for me. As he got more birdy the training times got longer, but I keep him interested and wanting more. Keep in mind that the dog will respond very well if the praise is given and given a lot. Keep the dog excited about birds and you can never go wrong. Starting a dog on birds is a must as a pup. I had Bucky on birds, live pigeons long befor we had any commands down. I think he was only about 8-9 weeks old. Some may say that is too soon, but I think the sooner the better.

If I were to find some live birds where would I start looking? a local kennel? I have a frozen pheasant in the freezer and I will use that to get going, this is all great info, and I appreciate all the advise I can get, my pup is a 9 week old yellow lab. I have a 12 y/o choc lab mixed with a springer who was (till he got old) the best dog I ever hunted behind, he never received formall training, but picked things up pretty quickly, I hope he has some energy to show the pup some tricks. Should I keep them separated during this introduction?

If I were to find some live birds where would I start looking? a local kennel? I have a frozen pheasant in the freezer and I will use that to get going, this is all great info, and I appreciate all the advise I can get, my pup is a 9 week old yellow lab. I have a 12 y/o choc lab mixed with a springer who was (till he got old) the best dog I ever hunted behind, he never received formall training, but picked things up pretty quickly, I hope he has some energy to show the pup some tricks. Should I keep them separated during this introduction?

maybe this has been covered before, when would I start with loud sounds and eventually a shotgun blast to try to get the pup non-gun shy?

maybe this has been covered before, when would I start with loud sounds and eventually a shotgun blast to try to get the pup non-gun shy?

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maybe this has been covered before, when would I start with loud sounds and eventually a shotgun blast to try to get the pup non-gun shy?

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As for the birds, I would check with a local kennel, that was where I would get mine from

Getting the dog use to gun shots is a major deal and you don’t need to be in a hurry to do it. If the dog is only 9-weeks, you have lots of time. What I did with my boys, was to get some of the basic training down. Commands like sit, stay, and gettting them use to being on a leash. Once the dog is crazy about playing fetch was about the time I would introduce the gun. If you have a gun club close to home that works great. Take the dog out there on a leash, and bring a few bumpers/dummies with. Start way back away from the gun fire, like the back of the parking lot so the noise is nothing more then a pop. Play with the dog, walk around, and throw some bumpers/dummies. If the dog does not mind the pop of the guns going off, then move a little closer and continue to play fetch. Keep doing this and moving closer, until you are up close and the noise of the gun shots are loud. This may require a few trips out there to get it accomplished, but I tell you the last thing you want to do is end up with a gun shy hound. I would make a number of trips out there with the dog and it will be no time at all and the dog will be ready to go with the gun shots I am sure others will chime in on what worked for them , but this is what I have done with all of my dogs and it seemed to work great.

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maybe this has been covered before, when would I start with loud sounds and eventually a shotgun blast to try to get the pup non-gun shy?

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As for the birds, I would check with a local kennel, that was where I would get mine from

Getting the dog use to gun shots is a major deal and you don’t need to be in a hurry to do it. If the dog is only 9-weeks, you have lots of time. What I did with my boys, was to get some of the basic training down. Commands like sit, stay, and gettting them use to being on a leash. Once the dog is crazy about playing fetch was about the time I would introduce the gun. If you have a gun club close to home that works great. Take the dog out there on a leash, and bring a few bumpers/dummies with. Start way back away from the gun fire, like the back of the parking lot so the noise is nothing more then a pop. Play with the dog, walk around, and throw some bumpers/dummies. If the dog does not mind the pop of the guns going off, then move a little closer and continue to play fetch. Keep doing this and moving closer, until you are up close and the noise of the gun shots are loud. This may require a few trips out there to get it accomplished, but I tell you the last thing you want to do is end up with a gun shy hound. I would make a number of trips out there with the dog and it will be no time at all and the dog will be ready to go with the gun shots I am sure others will chime in on what worked for them , but this is what I have done with all of my dogs and it seemed to work great.

thanks for the advice, when we first picked him up I thought it would be a good idea to bring him out to the fireworks show, he didn’t get excited at all. The cap gun idea before a training pistol is an idea I read from previous posts. I know a buddy who spent $1,000’s training a dog, was all excited on opener, bang! dog runs to the next county! man did we rib him, he pretty much gave up and now he has an expensive lap dog.

thanks for the advice, when we first picked him up I thought it would be a good idea to bring him out to the fireworks show, he didn’t get excited at all. The cap gun idea before a training pistol is an idea I read from previous posts. I know a buddy who spent $1,000’s training a dog, was all excited on opener, bang! dog runs to the next county! man did we rib him, he pretty much gave up and now he has an expensive lap dog.

I have used a couple of methods similar to what Bob mentioned. One thing I like to do is get the pup out in public early. Rides in the truck, shopping malls, walks on noisy streets. All this helps them gain confidence and get used to noises. I was lucky enough to have a heavy metal band practicing in my basement when my dog was young .
Next, at about 12 weeks old you can use the cap gun or starter pistol when feeding. Again start out a ways away from the dog and over a period of time move closer.
Bird introduction can start earlier but around 12 weeks works for me. At this point it is all fun and games for the pup. No commands no working on retrieving just playing and chasing birds. Somewhere around 5 months old, I will move the bird work to the field. Again I start oout with just letting the dog find and chase birds. If he fetchs them up for you, thats great- but I am not putting any demands on him. Once the pup is birdy as h–l, I will start with gunfire. I will have someone about 100 yds away with a starter pistol. I will get the pup exicted and toss a clipped wing bird. As the bird hits the ground, I will have the helper fire a shot. You want the pups focus to be all bird. You don’t want him stopping to see what the noise was. If all goes well move the gun in a little closer and repeat. Eventually you will get to the point where your helper will be standing next to you when he fires. If the dog does not pay any attention to gun, I start over with a light gauge shotgun at about 100 yds. If at any time the dog shows concern with gunfire, I go back to just birds and no guns.

I have used a couple of methods similar to what Bob mentioned. One thing I like to do is get the pup out in public early. Rides in the truck, shopping malls, walks on noisy streets. All this helps them gain confidence and get used to noises. I was lucky enough to have a heavy metal band practicing in my basement when my dog was young .
Next, at about 12 weeks old you can use the cap gun or starter pistol when feeding. Again start out a ways away from the dog and over a period of time move closer.
Bird introduction can start earlier but around 12 weeks works for me. At this point it is all fun and games for the pup. No commands no working on retrieving just playing and chasing birds. Somewhere around 5 months old, I will move the bird work to the field. Again I start oout with just letting the dog find and chase birds. If he fetchs them up for you, thats great- but I am not putting any demands on him. Once the pup is birdy as h–l, I will start with gunfire. I will have someone about 100 yds away with a starter pistol. I will get the pup exicted and toss a clipped wing bird. As the bird hits the ground, I will have the helper fire a shot. You want the pups focus to be all bird. You don’t want him stopping to see what the noise was. If all goes well move the gun in a little closer and repeat. Eventually you will get to the point where your helper will be standing next to you when he fires. If the dog does not pay any attention to gun, I start over with a light gauge shotgun at about 100 yds. If at any time the dog shows concern with gunfire, I go back to just birds and no guns.