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Male or Female?
We are currently researching to make the best decision when purchasing
a bird dog for the first time. Would like opinions on which you
feel is best: male or female? It appears in our observations,
that those who hunt birds in the field (which is our purpose)
primarily use females and those who hunt waterfowl, use males.
What do you choose and why? Thanks for your input.
Well I don't know if this response is relevant now as a month
has gone by. I have used both male and female dogs in upland
hunting. The females generally are more affectionate but if you
want a dog to bond to your type of hunting personality males
will give you all that they got. The real bottom line is that
either sex does a credible job and it is more of a people thing
as to what you prefer male or female. Males of course have this
territory marking thing so if you special plants and particularly
trees they are going to get "marked "so to speak on
the other side of things females have their heat cycles and this
can be a trying experience for all. The best advice I can give
is to chose the dog from quality FIELD stock male or female.
The genetic make up is more important than the gender.
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Small Retrievers
Hi all, I am interested in small retrievers. What are the smallest
breeds available? Where would I find one of these?
Hi if you do some searching you can find small Labradors,
I actually have a litter coming that I expect to be on the smaller
side excellent hunting with champions, excellent genetics as
well. Labrador vary so much in size any more because so many
are breeding them. Good luck. I have researched American water
spaniel which are supposed to be good retrievers they are about
size of a cocker, hard to find though.
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Retrieving
I have a black lab that is 4 months old and has good basic obedience
skills (sit ,stay, come). The problem I am having is that she
likes to fetch but won't deliver to hand. I have become frustrated
with this and have scolded the dog and she stopped retrieving
that night so I know that will not work. She is a very intelligent
dog and has great potential but I don't want to be bending over
to pick up ducks. I saw a show on teaching them the hold command
while you lead them with the bumper in their mouth I can not
get her to keep it in her mouth unless she has fetched it. Any
advice would be helpful. Thanks
At four months of age you should be making retrieving the funest,
happiest thing to do in her world. If she gets the bird (or bumper)
back within reach of you it's fine for now. MAKE RETRIEVING FUN!
You can be more demanding of her performance in the Here, Sit,
and Stay stuff when you're NOT working on retrieving. At this
age the dog should be on a leash or check cord (and I know it's
a pain in the butt) whenever it's out of it's kennel. It allows
you not pup to be in control at all times, and that is a very
important concept for the pup to learn. Clean up the retrieve
to hand thing later at the FF phase of training. |
