He comes most of the time on command though he is only 8 weeks and house breaking is coming slowly but i think it has more to do with being rather quiet because it you see him by the door waiting to go out he's good but if you don't see him he will go under the kitchen table and do his think there. He is a little rough when he plays and when you discipline him he comes back twice as hard. Not mean he still thinks it's all play. He also started to respond to he sit command and has started to fetch things.He also points at thinks what i have no idea though it is apt to be stange odors oh and carpenter ants he points at those too. thanks for asking Bob.
lol, Someone else voted for the goat! It was at 5 yesterday. I have a feeling that guests browsing the forum see this thread become a member just to vote.
Post by FLANAGANMW on Jul 18, 2004 18:48:02 GMT -5
To those who voted for a GOAT I have way too many let me know and I will send you all one.
I just attended our annual picnic for the WFA and was bombarded by everyone as to how great the jack russells and beagles are for hunting rabbits. ( we can't hunt squirrells up here or Jacks ) stupid rules. I have a walker hound pup who is 10 weeks old and I hope to train her on rabbits. Her parents were used primarily on bear and cougars in Idaho since no hunting game with dogs in WA STATE. I"m hoping one of you has a suggestion for starting a dog out on rabbits. Is there a book you may suggest. I have a semi tame rabbit in my pasture that we Emma chases once she has caught the rabbits scent. I have never used a dog before for hunting so I'm in new territory when it comes to training a dog for that purpose. I'm open for any ideas or help that may be out there. thanks MIKE
You're starting out correctly. You want to make flushing rabbits a game and your pup is just the right age for that! Be careful not to burn her out on it though. Some of the methods hunters use for dog training would stand a PETA on her/his head, so beware of onlookers! Once you get pup to chase the rabbit on a consistent basis, get a wild rabbit carcass and drag it around the yard to a bush. Lay the carcass in the bush. The idea is to get pup to scent it out. Hopefully pup will get really excited when it finds the rabbit. At this age (ten weeks, right?) don't get to shook up about discipline. You want pup to have fun! Use lots and lots of praise and petting. It wouldn't even hurt to give pup a food reward when it does something great (like when it finds the rabbit carcass). My understanding is that bunny hunting in WA state is complicated by the fact that the they tend to hide in thick briars. Thats why ppl use Jacks up there. A Jack's wire coat helps protect them from the thorns. You can do that with your Walker by putting a protective vest on it. The vest is made of the same material used on flushing chaps. You can get one from Cabela's or Dogs Afield. Training a new dog is fun, isn't it!
Can you guys tell that i've ben doing my homework? ;D
Post by FLANAGANMW on Jul 21, 2004 16:21:28 GMT -5
BOB
Thanks for all the great info on rabbit training. I am starting emma out this weekend with a homemade rabbit lure. I haven't been able to catch any wild rabbits yet. I did find a rabbit mask at GI Joes that fly fisherman use to tye flys. It is the face of a rabbit and it definitely has rabbit scent ! I hid in in the house and Emma found it noproblem. The mask was cheap 4 bucks so if she continues to work it I'll buy more and create some harder challeneges to find them. I still want to use a real dead hare to followup. I just thought that if anyone was looking for rabbit scent this would be a reasonable substitute since you can't buy rabbit scent like you can duck.
MIKe.
p.s. Has anyone read the book about rabbit hawking dogs I'm thinking about buying it. It is preety cheap for falcon book only 18.95. Let me know if you have
Hey Bob I guess you didn't get the goat then . Though I did notice that now FB is admitting that he has his own goat maybe he knows if they make good flushers or does he just let them eat the hedge. ;D
Post by Falcon Boy on Aug 29, 2004 12:30:19 GMT -5
I have 2 goats actually. They are great for keeping weeds out from the lawn ;D
Getting back on topic, i met a guy at the MFA meet who had a brittany that would point rabbits, jacks, pheasents, quail, and chase squirrels. Just a thought for you one dog do everything people
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
Just to add on to what Bob was saying, and if any onlookers do watch you...
You can buy bottled scent for about $4 a bottle. It works fairly well, but the "real thing" is always best. Also, I want to agree with Bob and say that discipline should be the farthest thing from your mind until the pup is 5-6 months old. If your pup does something you don't like, change its focus or, if he does it to you, walk away quietly. He won't understand it's wrong but he'll see you changed your behaviour due to something he did. This will make your relationship with your dog SOOOOO much more when he is older. It will also make your life easier when you do have to discipline him.... ie. putting him in the pen when you get frustrated and he happily jumps in trying to please you instead of running from you with his tail between his legs.