Thieving cow!

[The Duncan 802]

Hi folks,

 

went pigeon shooting on sunday and brought bag a reasonable mixed bag.

I used a pigeon for retrieve practise with Roxy (5 month old pup) and she started messing around with it, feigning not being able to pick it up, chucking it in the air and then finally settling down with it to have it as a meal! Naturally I told her off and took it off her.

I persisted though and did get her to retrieve one, reluctantly, but successfully and then called it a day and praised her up. Always end on a positive I reckon.

 

Anyway, a little later, I noticed young Roxington was conspicuous by her absence as all the other pack members were snoozing in their beds. Roxy was up the garden, having helped herself to one of the pigeons from the cool room (door hadn't quite closed) and had plecked it and was mid-flight of eating it when I caught her. Cow!

Frank Sheardown was dead right when he said that Lurchers were the biggest thieves!

 

Hopefully she won't be making a habit of this, as one of her regular jobs will be picking up pigeons from shooting trips.

 

 

She is gradually getting used to the gun - several trips to the clay ground and now a few trips mooching with the .410 are getting her there. She still looks a tiny bit nervy when the .410 goes off, but once it starts dropping retrievable quarry I'm sure this will pass and I'll be able to take her out with the 12.

Any tips on helping her get acclimatised to the gun?

 

Cheers and all the best

 

Duncan

[Ideation 8,217]

They are all (mostly) thieving b*****ds mate. But most know the difference between game in the field and game at home. Mine, for the most part will retrieve (or parade ) rabbits when caught out, but in the house, will go to any length to steal one and eat in on the lawn / in the house.

[The Duncan 802]

They are all (mostly) thieving b*****ds mate. But most know the difference between game in the field and game at home. Mine, for the most part will retrieve (or parade ) rabbits when caught out, but in the house, will go to any length to steal one and eat in on the lawn / in the house.

Thanks Ideation, that gives me a bit more hope - I was worried she'd be finding the doos and eating them rather than bringing them back! I know she's got a long way to go yet as she's still a pup.

Desperate not to have any more potlickers lol!

[beast 1,884]

no point telling her off for not retrieving a pigeon they are one of the hardest things even for a gundog to carry cos all the feathers come out and stick in the dogs mouth. even experienced bird dogs struggle if they are not used to carrying pigeons. why do you think she ran off and hid with the pigeon at home? because you told her off the last time she was carrying them you told her off and finally got a reluctant retrieve. RETRIEVING SHOULD BE A GAME! especially for a 5 month pup. get some pigeons and put them in old stockings so she can smell and feel them and carry them but without the feathers coming out and MAKE IT FUN!!!!Oh and don't worry about the gun,as long as she isn't panicking about it she will just get better all the time

[The Duncan 802]

I think I may have put it across badly; I only told her off (gently) when she settled down to eat it in front of me lol! I didn't tell her off for not retrieving - that only ever gets praise and enthusiasm.

 

Thanks for the advice and reassurance, I feel happier that she'll make good

 

Do you think little and often is good for the gun? Mooching and only firing when I'm sure of a kill?

[lurcherman01 16]

hi mate keep taking her ,often the better,mine was the same ,if you whent boo he would have jumped a mile,he is now coming up for 9mnths an he is brill with the gun,very steady..you only get out what you put in mate,so carry on doing what your doing

[beast 1,884]

I think I may have put it across badly; I only told her off (gently) when she settled down to eat it in front of me lol! I didn't tell her off for not retrieving - that only ever gets praise and enthusiasm.

 

Thanks for the advice and reassurance, I feel happier that she'll make good

 

Do you think little and often is good for the gun? Mooching and only firing when I'm sure of a kill?

 

mate dont worry so much, i looked at some of your other posts and your doing fine with that pup. just keep doing what your doing and you n the pup are gonna hev a lot of fun and she will be right

[The Duncan 802]

I think I may have put it across badly; I only told her off (gently) when she settled down to eat it in front of me lol! I didn't tell her off for not retrieving - that only ever gets praise and enthusiasm.

 

Thanks for the advice and reassurance, I feel happier that she'll make good

 

Do you think little and often is good for the gun? Mooching and only firing when I'm sure of a kill?

 

mate dont worry so much, i looked at some of your other posts and your doing fine with that pup. just keep doing what your doing and you n the pup are gonna hev a lot of fun and she will be right

Thanks so much mate TBH I hadn't appreciated what a tricky retrieve a pigeon represented, so you gave me food for thought. Greatly appreciate your input

 

hi mate keep taking her ,often the better,mine was the same ,if you whent boo he would have jumped a mile,he is now coming up for 9mnths an he is brill with the gun,very steady..you only get out what you put in mate,so carry on doing what your doing

Good to know thank you ! I'll keep up with the .410 mooching and wait til she's properly settled with it before moving it up to the 12.

She's 6 months in a week so all the time in the world

[Lab 10,979]

I agree and ive said it before pigeons are a no no imo for starting off a young dog for the reasons stated already.

If you can go for a walk and swing the gun at something, even a moving bird but dont fire just to gauge her reaction. She should start to take interest in whats going on. Can you have a shot from distance from her too. If you let her wander out infront of you and let off a shot to see what she does?

Get yourself a dummy launcher.....great kit and not as loud as the shotty but lets the dog understand the shot and fall procedure................atb..

And remember dont ask too much its a Lurcher you've got and not a Lab...........

[Lab 10,979]

sorry just read another post about squirrels took me down memory lane not even the right topic. losing it

Sounds like your going 'nuts'.........

[The Duncan 802]

I agree and ive said it before pigeons are a no no imo for starting off a young dog for the reasons stated already.

If you can go for a walk and swing the gun at something, even a moving bird but dont fire just to gauge her reaction. She should start to take interest in whats going on. Can you have a shot from distance from her too. If you let her wander out infront of you and let off a shot to see what she does?

Get yourself a dummy launcher.....great kit and not as loud as the shotty but lets the dog understand the shot and fall procedure................atb..

And remember dont ask too much its a Lurcher you've got and not a Lab...........

 

Dummy launcher sounds like a great idea - the bang and fall procedure should be just the ticket. She's been to the clay ground a few times and has gotten on well and I've fired near her and from a distance and she's been fairly settled.

I know she's not a lab; I guess Paulus' lurchers set the bar pretty high, credit where its due. I'm still hopeful she'll master retrieving to a useable standard - like I said, all the time in the world, and little steps

[paulus 26]

I agree and ive said it before pigeons are a no no imo for starting off a young dog for the reasons stated already.

If you can go for a walk and swing the gun at something, even a moving bird but dont fire just to gauge her reaction. She should start to take interest in whats going on. Can you have a shot from distance from her too. If you let her wander out infront of you and let off a shot to see what she does?

Get yourself a dummy launcher.....great kit and not as loud as the shotty but lets the dog understand the shot and fall procedure................atb..

And remember dont ask too much its a Lurcher you've got and not a Lab...........

 

Dummy launcher sounds like a great idea - the bang and fall procedure should be just the ticket. She's been to the clay ground a few times and has gotten on well and I've fired near her and from a distance and she's been fairly settled.

I know she's not a lab; I guess Paulus' lurchers set the bar pretty high, credit where its due. I'm still hopeful she'll master retrieving to a useable standard - like I said, all the time in the world, and little steps

it will come shes still very young, even now mine will munch one given the oppertunity just keep sessions short and interesting as the actress said to the bishop noise is only an issue when the dog is not use to it, association with game can be done later

[The Duncan 802]

Cheers Paul