Well I didn’t get pictures or a video but had the pleasure to hunt with a good friend of mine yesterday!HQB (Kerry Crofford). We jumped 10 and harvested 3 and accounted for all of them. They holed up. Kerry’s Sam dog that I bred my Branko gyp to retrieved one back to Kerry. Sure wished I had camera rolling. Don’t know which was happier, Kerry or Sam. It was a great time and thanks for sharing Kerry.
Yesterday’s Hunt
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Makings for a good day...
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Nothing like friendship and hounds ,means the world to us. Great hunt there TJ
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Good hunt TJ and HQB
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A dog that retrieves surely is nice to own. I had only one that was a true retriever. He would lay on the rabbit until he was sure none of the other dogs could try to steal it for themselves. He then would retrieve it to me. The bad is even if someone else killed the rabbit it was brought to me and I usually was loaded down with rabbits. The year I had back surgery and couldn't hunt my cousin and his sons hunted my dogs after deer season. The first time that Buck layed on the rabbit to protect it from the other dogs, my cousin thought that Buck was going to eat the rabbit. The second time it happened, Buck was able to carry the rabbit to him before he realized that the shot on the rabbit had resulted in a kill. He called me from his cell phone to tell me about it. I then told him that Buck retrieved all the time and he didn't have to worry about any of the dogs in my pack eating the rabbit. Only Buck payed attention to the dead rabbit, and made sure the others would not take it away. He then would retrieve it, normally to me but since I was not there he brought it to the head of the hunt. I miss old Buck. He was 3/4 Blackcreek with 1/4 Indian Hills Major. A true Hunters dream dog. He also handled great, Would not run offgame, would tattle on others and no matter how hard he was running if I called he was coming if he was within hearing. I never saw one that loved running so much that could be called off. He just aimed to please.
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A few years ago I had 3 in one pack that would all retrieve. one day we were hunting with some guys i worked with near a small slough. there were rabbits going everywhere we had 6 dogs down and 3 races going, one of the guys shot and that race stopped i was headed his direction when he came walking out said he was sure that he had hit the rabbit but guessed he missed cause he couldn’t find it and thought the dogs had lost it i could hear one of them running now with one of the other dogs who had been soloing one well this guy they knew pulled up and we went over to his truck and were talking to him when another one of the guys shot that race kept going a bit then stopped he couldn’t find a rabbit and said he thought it must have hit the water, by know 4 of the dogs had kicked in on the third race that was going and went to burning it up well one of the guys shot race ended and he hollered one of your dogs has the rabbit well it wasn’t long i looked up and here comes Kate with the rabbit in her mouth and brought it right to me. Their friend in the truck was like well would you look at that then about that time out pops Bonnie with another rabbit in her mouth brought it to me the guys was like i can’t believe this well a few minutes later out pops my old dog Candy with another rabbit in her mouth and brought it to me lol that guys was like why the heck do you guys even have guns these dogs just bring the rabbits to you , then he was trying to buy some dogs lol didn’t happen
that was one of my proudest moments rabbit hunting ever i know it was probably just a fluke that they all wound up hitting the rabbits they shot at and they all brought them to me but it was sure awesome anyway
that was one of my proudest moments rabbit hunting ever i know it was probably just a fluke that they all wound up hitting the rabbits they shot at and they all brought them to me but it was sure awesome anyway
I've had a few retrievers and some that did so only on occasion. The key is to watch the first few rabbits shot over a pup hopefully solo or with just another that doesnt waste effort on dead bunnies. If that pup picks it up and carries it around, you need to call her and work that retrieving hard for a few hunts and then its set. Most hunters never give it the chance to develop.
If the pups aren't willing / don't like to pick it up then don't waste the time.
If the pups aren't willing / don't like to pick it up then don't waste the time.
WJM- I have trained and still do some Birddogs. I am currently working with a beagle pup on retrieve. It is doable but so much easier with natural ability and desire to retrieve. Force breaking isn’t easy. Forget who said it but if a dog shows interest in mouthing and picking up you stand a much better chance of training than one that doesn’t. Hope my pup is a natural!!
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