What breed of dog do you have?

[Grouseman]

Just curious as to what breeds of gun dogs do you all have? It will help me writing articles etc. so I can help target different groups. In short dog training is very simple! It's ppl that make it difficult. FYI, get your dogs checked for heartworm. It's a killer. The product Frontline is to my knowledge the ONLY thing on the market for ticks that is waterproof. Plz keep that in mind. Any puppy questions, it's that time of year.

[Spinach]

A female Weim, she is 7 years old.

[captkev]

  You know me... Two GSP's
 ::

[JohnWester]

nothing yet, but a lab pup this summer... late

[rchaze60]

golden retriever 1 yr old

[thunderpout]

Hey grouseman, I think youre right, the few times Ive tried somthing other than frontline, I found ticks...enough said.  You can save $ if ya get it thru fosters & smith or lion country supply and its worth the extra $ over the others, believe me....I've had other setters with different lines but I went back to a Ryman English Setter, and he's awesome and will even get better with more grouse under his belt, or maybe that should be "collar"...so far Drummers' seen more pheasants....this soon will change, I plan on takin 2 or 3 wks of pto to chase grouse around this year now that numbers are finally coming around again ::IS IT FALL YET?                   -thunderchicken(aka thunderpout) 8)

[thunderpout]

PS: People have screwed up more good bird dogs than they have turned bad into good.... ::      -t-pout 8)

[thunderpout]

Just one more...how does one train a very smart 2 yr old english setter not to give you the look(You know, THAT look... :stupid:) when you miss a bird he pointed for ya?  He's been doing it alot and I swear, most of the time it's not my fault! :ROTFLMAO:       -thunderchicken(aka thunderpout) 8)

[Buster]

Golden Retriever male 11 months
 ::rockon::
He's chasing birds in the yard like crazy, can't wait for another crack at the whily rooster!

[labs4me]

3 - Labs,  13 yrs old, 10.5 years old and 19 months old.

1 - American Cocker bred out of field stock.  7.5 months old.  Quite the little dynamo.  Really looking forward to grouse hunting with him this fall... and getting more grief than any man should in SoDak with him!    Bird and gun intro are done... retrieving is going quite well,  consistantly steady at heel for marks,  quartering is going well... need to start working on sitting to the whistle next.  I'd like to steady him to flush / shot.  1st spaniel I've ever worked with, surprisingly like a lab... except easier!

Good Luck!

Ken

[Joe]

English Setter - 2yrs-3months old

I took this photo when she was 10 months old.

[guythathunts]

I have a 2yo Choc. Lab Springer mix (yes this was on purpose!). He is an awesome bird dog and a great friend! He will find a bird if there is a bird! Also, he shuts the lights of for my wife and I every night at bed time!! Every night!!! no lie.
~ Greg

[UncleDave]

Umm...in October, 2006 she ran off for an hour and I thought she was gone.  Yes, my pound hound who will be 16 this year (named Kirby just after Kirby won the World Series back in 1991) is doing groovy! Hunting hound...YESSSS.  Talk about a retriever!

[schwinger]

3yr old Vizsla. This is my very first dog and has been great for the most part. Only about 10 more years until all the puppy is out of him and he calms down  .

[Grouseman]

I'm fortunate enough to have a variety of dogs, and they all have a special purpose. My main breed is the English Setter. As a grouse/woodcock guide this breed works best for me. I've had some pretty good Brittany's, and and very good English Pointers. At the hunt club we have German Shorthair (GSP), German Wirehair ( GWP), Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever. These are our preserve dogs. Why These? Because they all get the job done, each one different than others. Some of our hunters want to hunt over a pointer, then others want a flushing breed. As in one of the other posts about the right breed of dog. Find one that works best for you, and one that YOU like. There really is no perfect breed of dog! They all bring good things to the table, find the things that seem to work best for your situation. Thanks for all the input!

[Mayfly]

Here is my dog....Luci. SHe is a GSP/Choc. Lab mix. She does a good job after she looses a bit of that energy and starts focusing. I've seens her point and i've seen her flush. She is a good dog and the best part was that she was free.

[thunderpout]

Hey grouseman, being that you guide grouse hunts, I have a few questions for you if i may...What type of client is typical that you take out in the woods?  Are they grouse huntin rookies or are they clients looking for coverts to use after they have been shown them?  Pheasant huntin equates well to taking folks out to wack birds, but how do you get more than one or two people and yourself sneekin through the tight stuff after grouse?  Dont get me wrong, Ive hunted primarily grouse (pheasants secondary) for 25 years and I'd be wonderful to guide hunts for a living but I am concerned about the "wealthy" types "paying" guides to show them areas to hunt grouse, even worse, non-residents where the good coverts are .  Soon theyre friends and their buddies and their work cronies, and then their cousins are beating the coverts down, and so on and so on.... I myself hunt with a small number of freinds and we share our areas but very few know of those really good spots for a very good reason..... Its kinda like takin a guy from work to one of your favorite fishing holes and you go ther the next weekend with your fishin buddy and golly!  Theres your workmate there with a couple of his friends grabbing walleyes off your favorite rock pile..... I guess Im hoping that the guiding is on a hunting preserve and not on joe blue collar's favorite state forrest haunts... ???   -thunderpout 8)

[Grouseman]

Thunderpout, Those are very good questions. I guide 40 days a yr, I do not guide anyone from Minnesota, I did 18 yrs ago, and did have them hunt back on me. Never again. I hunt primarily leased land and very little public. I charge alot for a hunt keeping out those just looking for a place to hunt. We provide a complete experience, w/all meals back at the lodge etc. our hunters from the past 16 yrs average about 2 grouse per day shot. I had one guy a few yrs ago shoot a bird out of a tree, and then ended the hunt, took him back to the lodge and he left the next day. We do not shoot birds on the ground, in a tree or off a 4 wheeler. As far as numbers of ppl, we guide no more than 2 hunters/guide. As you said it's very tough to keep track of people. I was very fortunate 20 yrs ago to get a group of hunters who have been coming back all those years, and they bring their friends. Our camp has been full for the past 16 yrs All the same ppl. I'm a lucky guy!

[thunderpout]

Hey Grouseman...thanx, thats the stuff I was hoping to hear ya say!  It sounds like you have the perfect setup and youre doin it the way it should be done.  Im glad ya didnt take my inquiry as being negative,  I just have always seen the ads in upland almanac and shooting sportsman and they always raised those questions with me, and kinda rubbed me the wrong way as far as how it could have a very negative impact if things were done the wrong way, such as people adding your spots to their "lists" of places to hit. As you know, it takes many years to explore and build a little black book of good ares to chase grouse...and figuring out some that stay ok thru low periods  in the cycle and so on.  Continued good luck with your guiding and I hope you will keep and teach those Ideals as you do.  I'd be the perfect "job" once ya retire up in the northwoods eh?        -thunderpout 8)

[Harold]

We bought a 3 year old chihuahua 5 months ago from one of those rescue operations.  Not much of a hunting dog  ::), but a great lap dog who is quiet, doesn't pee in the house, and just likes to hang out.  I'll find out this week how he does on the pontoon as a fishing partner.

[rchaze60]

well if you run out of bait ....... I heard they make GREAT muskie bait  :ROTFLMAO: :ROTFLMAO:

[Harold]

Whoa...............Forgot about that.  Better make sure I don't bring any Muskie casters on board.

[murdock54]

I have a 13 week old Golden Retriever names Rio. He comes from Frisbee and Top Brass lines, his dad is a Master Hunter. He just started chaseing birds around the yard. I cant wait to get him out in the field. Does anyone have any advices as to when I should start taking him out into the field? Also, I'm going to be introducing him to water this weekend, any advice on the best way to get him to go in and like it? Thanks!

[Grouseman]

He's very well bred! As for me I am one of those trainers who spends alot of time socializing the pup, letting them explore /build confidence. keep it fun but yet educational. The water is a good thing, I would use some caution if he doesn't jump right in. Remember this, Rome wasn't built in a day, neither are pups/ dogs trained. give the pup an opportunity to go into the wather, maybe something shallow first, then alittle deeper. Gun fire is another thing to be cautious about, Absolutley no fire works. There are so many dogs ruined by FW each year, it's a very sad thing. The bird chasing is good, he'll learn he can't catch them, just be careful around roads etc while he's free to chase. Please feel free to ask about anything. I'm happy to help out.

[Rywheat]

I have two Male English Springers Spaniels in my fleet they are a couple of the best I have had and they will be 3 in November

[thunderpout]

Murdock...get in the water with em!  Tie a small dummy on a cord and let him chase it around in shallow water and be in the water with him!  Grousemans right on with the gun fire, dont let some doorknob  do the ole "Lets see if he's afraid of guns!" trick!  Just always associate a "report" with live birds and ya cant go wrong...start with a kids cap gun or even loud clapping while a pigeon is running around on a cord , you'll know when he's ready for puppy pre-school, just dont rush him, take baby(puppy) steps and have FUN!       -thunderpout

[murdock54]

Thanks for the great advice, I'll let you know how he does!

[vickieschessies]

I have 8 Chesapeake Bay retrievers from 10yrs to 10 months, 4 Labrador Retrievers  from 10yrs to 3yrs old and 5 German Shorthairs from 9yrs to 3yrs. I have dedicated 24yrs of my life breeding hunting dogs.

[murdock54]

Little guy did good! He walked into the water up to his shoulder by himself and it didnt seem to bother him. Next time I'll try and get him to go in a little more.  ::rockon::

[Merimac]

I had No idea this forum existed.  I spent a lot of time on the MI Sportsman forum.  I have an English setter. She is a trial dog and a hunting dog.  She is only 14 months old so we will see how she turns out.