feather

[patterdalejoel 669]

my pup (7 month) is as keen as anything on rabbit etc, would break her neck to chase one if she sees one. but she will not go for feather if she sees it, even if its running, she seems unkeen, or rather, unwilling. there was one 3 foot from her today sat in the open and she saw it and looked at me then didnt go for it. is this due to the fact she is stock broken to hens and is around them every day? she knows i will scold her if she even looks at one of the hens funny, is the fact she cant distinguish the difference the cause? anything i can do to get her going or is it a case of sacrificing this in favour of the good behaviour around hens? i have a friend with a labrador thats around hens alll day but will retrieve shot feathered game, and im assuming will chase runners etc. i obviously have permission to take these birds

[beast 1,884]

Dont worry, the dog will eventually learn the difference. ive had this with most of my dogs as they are all broken to poultry in my yard. if you get some dead pheasants or partridges and play retrieving games tis will help, but just be patient, good luck

[birddog 1,354]

dead birds would be good i start mine with pheasant wings on a dummy, it'll come the pup just doesn't have confidence in whats right and wrong

[brambles 3,418]

I start mine off as birddog says, a wing then a pair of wings attached to a dummy, from there I go to a dead bird, once the pup is confident carrying the carcass I move on to a few shot crows pigeons pheasant and the inevitable will happen you'll get a runner and then its all about encouragement, next step leave the air rifle get the pup in among a few and its all encouragement again, I've an old beardie greyhound who is a real dab hand at taking feather atb