Technology

[RyanGSP]

Do you use technology when hunting and training your dogs or are you the old school trainer? Here I will break it up into some question feel free to add more.


1. Do you use Automatic or Manual Launcher or do you use wild birds and planted birds (when they are called for)?

2. Do you use remote backing dogs or do you set up a dog or just let the dog learn himself by experience?

3. Do you use a Beeper or a bell?

4. Do you use a Ecollar or is the checkcord and pinch collar work for you?

5. Do you use tracking devises or ride horseback to keep up and find your dogs?

heres my answers
1. I use both. When pup was young I put him on only wild birds and only partridge until his pointing was down solid. I then let him go to pheasants and used planted pigeons and pigeons in a remote launcher to break him and staunch him up. I now only use wild birds but may go back to pigeons if needed.

2. I use another dog or a silhouette. I am going to go straight to a silhouette this will allow me to launch as many birds as I like without worrying about another dog. This is to keep him intense throughout the honour.

3. I dont use either although I have both of them in the vehicle just in case. I am either on the open prairies where I can see my dogs or the cover is so thick I can hear them. I am getting more and more into grouse in the mountians so they will start wearing bells.

4. I started with the ecollar on my first dog then went through all the acclimation with Diego but never once used it on him. He has always taken to the CC and Pinch collar so well. I wouldnt hesitate to use it though if the time came.

5. I dont use either although I wouldnt mind a Garmin Astro.

[Vindalbakken]

1. My automatic launchers went on the fritz so I use them as manual launchers. I use wild birds some, but they are too infrequent and unpredictable for training. Throw down birds are an essential for me in conjunction with everything else.

2. Other dogs and silhouettes. No need for the fancy remote automated gizmos. Plywood, jig saw and spray paint.

3. I despise the incessant noise of a bell. I put the beepers on when my wife is with me because it appeases her to hear where the dogs are. Myself, I like the tranquility and I trust the dogs.

4. All training is done with the CC in the yard. The e-collar is a long range CC used to transition yard training to the field.

5. I tried attaching my GPS to the dog a few times. It wouldn't work. I may buy one someday as a curiousity, but see little value as a training/working tool. I don't use a horse with my dogs anytime except when competing in a horseback trial. I don't "keep up" with my dogs - they head trail me.

[Sharon]

1. check cord essential for young dogs. As Vindalbakken said , I then transition to the e-collar for distance.

2. use to always use a bell, now use a tracking collar. Consider it essential to my dog's safety, whether I ride or walk.

3. Use remote launchers to staunch up a almost solid dog, get rid of steps, deal with wild flushes

4. Use the old plywood dog for backing work and switch to another live dog later. Would like to try a remote dog for fun, but can't afford one.
5. Use pen-raised birds and take any opportunity I can to get my dogs on wild birds.
6. Also use Rick Smith system for staunching up a young dog with a pigeon pole ( not a pigeon on a stick) and a whoa post.
7. I don't keep up with my dogs. I take a leisurely pace. The dog is gone doing its' work. If she finds something , she points it until I get there.

[Huntingonthebrain]

Auto launchers are a great training aid. allows you to control flush...so the dog can't get to close. I use bought one and love it

Check cord is a great used it and actually transitioned from that to letting the dog run on his own. Got the e-collar later I think.. and have transititioned to that

my dog hunts pretty close.. I am happy with this.. but he is not a trialing dog anyway.

[Sharon]

There's nothing special about a trialing bred dog. I love competition so that's what I do. Have nothing but admiration for a well-trained close working hunting dog.

[Parabuteo]

1. Do you use Automatic or Manual Launcher or do you use wild birds and planted birds (when they are called for)?
- I use all of the above: right now I use the manual launchers that were given to me but I hope to convert them this summer to remote. I use planted birds/rabbits but I try to get them on wild quarry as much as possible.
2. Do you use remote backing dogs or do you set up a dog or just let the dog learn himself by experience?
- Not applicable
3. Do you use a Beeper or a bell?
- used a bell but had to stop(hawk has bells), thinking about getting a tracking (telemetry) collar by marshal but that wont be till next year(Artemis is getting his this year) but it is very hard to loose my V
4. Do you use an Ecollar or is the checkcord and pinch collar work for you?
- use an Ecollar for recall (just starting) but also use checkcord with no pinch for starting and for planted quarry in team building sessions

5. Do you use tracking devises or ride horseback to keep up and find your dogs?
-We keep together well, plus I need the exercise