Training Dogs Options

[bowhuntingrules]

Im wondering what would be some of the main products to start training dogs how to pick out phesaents and grouse.

[peetey]

Live birds. Alot of people use pigeons to start with. Others use quail. When my training kicks into full gear I will be using pheasants and a bird launcher. Pigeons are nice to use because they fly back to the loft and you can use them over and over again. Unless you shoot them at the time of release. You can use scent and a dummy but the best way is actual birds planted in different locations so the dog can use its nose to scent the bird and then see the actual bird flush.

[bowhuntingrules]

So using scent and dummies and a launcher just shoot them out and have the dog go and find them if i aint go tlive birds.

[peetey]

It won't work near as well as live birds. Are you looking at training a pointer or a flushing dog? If you can trap some pigeons in your area that would be the best. It is very hard to train a pointer without live birds. I'm not saying it is impossible but very hard. Try to get your hand on some pigeons and you will be a lot better off.

[bowhuntingrules]

The puppy is going to be lab and hound mixed so i dont know if the dog will work but ill probably just have the dummies but we got pigeons in out sillow but how do i trap them and when i let them go wont they fly to far or do you just shoot them when there flying away.

[Hardcore]

With any amount of Hound in the dog you will be following rabbits for sure. Keep the dog off rabbit trails until you can get it birdy! Make sure it has alot of fun with live birds. When it is young let it play with pigeons that can't fly. Let it chase them around to have a good time. I have put pheasant scent right on the pigeons to help them smell better. Some of the birds I get smell more like cows.