train dog

[Garrick]

I've nevr hunted birds before, but I have a young australian cattle dog/border collie mix that I think would be pretty good for it. I'm hoping some of you might have some advice on how to train him, and if you thinkit ill work even though he's not a bird dog breed. thanks.

[Sledneck]

train to flush birds or retrieve?

[fisher16]

I have a German Shepard. Just a few weeks ago I never thought about taking her out in the fields. But someone mentioned to me that since she chase's down a frisbee at lighting speed she may make a good flushing dog. Thumbsup What1

Beside playing frisbee that is the only real running activity she does besides an occasional jog. As you can see from some of my pheasant hunting post's she did pretty well. I have to walk with her in the brush but she pushes along and walkes around thirty or so yards ahead of me. Dogs like Shepards are a herding dog and have high energy and need to release it. Together in the last five or six hunts we have done I have shot four birds and missed three. Although she doesn't retrieve them like the frisbee but she does the trick.

[Jackie-T]

I think your dog could be trained to flush and retrieve. The retrieve part might be harder to teach as you don't want them chomping the bird just to gently carry it. I had a collie that i took hunting and he was a big help he didn't chew the birds but i remember it was a job to teach him not to. I put a squeaky toy inside a bird I skinned and if it squeaked I would scold him ( he was very sensitive to my disaproval) It was a little football shaped squeaky so it fit inside good. Purebred Austrailian Cattle dogs are usualy a little headstrong so it might be a little harder but I think it could be done.

[Garrick]

This guy's a real sob when it comes to training. It's funny that it was really easy to train him to sit, come and all that crap, but housetraining was hard and he still likes to chew on stuff and get in the trash, so I guess he wants me to be happy, unless he feels like doing something bad. He's pretty good if he gets lots of exercise, since they're such energetic dogs. The thing is, I'm exhausted after 3 miles of slow walking, and he could easily run the boston marathon without breaking a sweat. he likes to chases squirrels, but only if he sees them really close (i usually see them first). I'm hoping I can get him to actively look for the bird's scent the way hunting dogs will, but if he just puts them into the air I'll be happy with it. I've heard that the hardest and most important thing about dogs is traning them to stay close to you, and he does that naturally, so I guess that won't be a problem.

[Sledneck]

If you are interested in learning to train your dog there are three books I highly recommend. They are written by Richard Wolters and the names are "Family Dog"(teach your family dog basic commands and proper leash/house edicate), "Water Dog"(might not be applicable in your case as it deals more with commands for duck dogs and retrieves, but is informative and a recommended read), and "Gun Dog" (this book will help teach you how to make your dog work for you and get him to work birds.) Although these books are based on a training method that starts at an early age of the dog and discusses the psychological development of your pup, they can be used to train an older dog the same behavior, just might take a little longer. The key is repetition and you want your dog to be excited to learn and work for you. These books discuss all of the skills YOU need to train your dog. If you decide to go through with it and have any questions feel free to ask me, I am by no means a professional trainer or nothing but I have trained a couple of retrievers for upland and ducks. Good Luck.

[KWK]

wow....love to hear how this works out,if he gets on a running bird,,,,yikes.I realize this is an old post,up date??