Wanting a New Gun Dog

[Pattersonca65]

Yeah there are wild birds in the panhandle and I have a buddy with a place in Amarillo where we get into quite a few most years. Doesn't happen much south of there though, to my knowledge.

Cool. California used to have a really good wild pheasant numbers but changes in farming practices has nearly wiped them out in most places

 

[NEhomer]

Calling Whip in last evening had him taking a round about way to the door. When I looked to see what he was avoiding it was a porcupine feeding under the apple tree. Very relieved that he didn't go after it.

 

[Bmurph]

Calling Whip in last evening had him taking a round about way to the door. When I looked to see what he was avoiding it was a porcupine feeding under the apple tree. Very relieved that he didn't go after it.

Porcupines and skunks are hell on dogs. I'm outside on the porch right now cause I heard my GSP barking and figured he'd gotten into something. He has a possum treed and he wants that SOB bad, little does he know that thing would probably tear him a new one if he got a hold of it.

 

[romeo212000]

Calling Whip in last evening had him taking a round about way to the door. When I looked to see what he was avoiding it was a porcupine feeding under the apple tree. Very relieved that he didn't go after it.

Bird dogs will usually point a damn porcupine like a covey of birds no idea why.

 

[Neb4life]

Bird dogs will usually point a damn porcupine like a covey of birds no idea why.

If you are going to hunt over by Canadian this year you should be in great shape. Good road count reports.

 

[romeo212000]

If you are going to hunt over by Canadian this year you should be in great shape. Good road count reports.

I'll be doing a lot over in that area. Picked up a new place to hunt over there too.

 

[NEhomer]

Here's a terrific pic of Whip's parents with the breeder and a grouse they shot in the U.P. just yesterday. The bitch is Pixel and she's the black and white. Duncan the dad is the tri-color.

 

[NEhomer]

Well one year ago I had just put down my wonderful Brittany, Lucy. It wasn't until later in the fall that I even began to consider a llewellin setter. I started this thread in December and by sheer luck found the fellow in the photo above and now I have the best gun dog I'm ever going to own.

Whip's first hunt was remarkable. He handled like an adult and worked all the cover perfectly, quartering between me and my buddy. Never had to call him back or hack him around. We had to go in the afternoon to my stocked club that got hit hard all morning but still managed to find a few birds. Whip bumped the first one from upwind while running past it so we shot it.

Then he made a solid point on the corner of some cover. Me on one side, Phil on the other and Whip in between us. We just stood there enjoying the moment for a full minute. Whip's intensity made it obvious that it was a bird. The bird was 6 ft in front of me and when I stepped forward, he ran. Whip broke and chased him up and Boom, his first bird was in the bag.

 

[Bmurph]

That's awesome NE, glad you found the breeder and Whip.

He's looking real good there, hope you shoot a ton more birds over him, for years to come

 

[NEhomer]

My Whip turns one year old today. A year ago I didn't even know a thing about setters and today I have the best hunting buddy I'll ever own. This fellow is a pure joy to hunt with. His range is perfect and he adjusts to terrain. His recall is solid and he's pretty thoroughly staunch for me and will await my arrival for a long time. He loves everyone, doesn't bark unless to communicate and he's handsome as can be. I couldn't be more pleased with him. This upcoming summer's goal will be to go through force fetch and work on his retrieve.

 

[NEhomer]

Wifey came along yesterday and snapped some pics of a nice point on a rooster.

 

[Neb4life]

Wifey came along yesterday and snapped some pics of a nice point on a rooster.

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Wow ! Does he look nice! 12:00 tail and keeping his head in the air. You have done well.

 

[NEhomer]

Thanks Neb. He does have terrific style but that's all natural. He had a terrific first year.

Those pics were from my wife's first time coming along for the hunt. After being slightly sad for the bird she was blown away by how exciting the point, flush and shot was~

 

[NEhomer]

Just a quick bump 'cause I realized that this is the one year anniversary of this thread. My little buddy's curled up beside me here this morning and he's literally a dream come true. A year ago he was a few weeks old and I didn't even know about him. Since that time, he's developed into EXACTLY the gun dog I wanted. All the early concerns are no longer....range, gun shy, hard mouthed, staunch on point, stylish. He's perfect!

 

[NEhomer]

Photobucket has been degrading the quality of my pics for some reason. I've tried re-sizing before uploading to PB so here's a test. This is a great snap from a video of my buddy Phil shooting a rooster that Whip pointed.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

 

[Pattersonca65]

After having to put my Brittany down this fall, I'm contemplating a new pup in the upcoming year. Been researching LLewellen setters and leaning toward one of these stunners:



They're so beautiful and I def want to stick with a pointer. Nothing cooler than a bird locked down under point.

How is the dog doing? I picked up an English Springer Spaniel last month. He is already two years old but I am still training him for upland game.

 

[Pattersonca65]

Photobucket has been degrading the quality of my pics for some reason. I've tried re-sizing before uploading to PB so here's a test. This is a great snap from a video of my buddy Phil shooting a rooster that Whip pointed.

View attachment 74188

What a nice pic!

 

[NEhomer]

How is the dog doing? I picked up an English Springer Spaniel last month. He is already two years old but I am still training him for upland game.

Whip's doing awesome. We got a pair of hen pheasants last weekend two months after the last stocking! He's starting to pick up the birds and bring them back...not to hand yet though. That'll be this summer's work.

What have you done with your springer regarding live birds? Collar conditioning? Gun intro?

 

[Pattersonca65]

Whip's doing awesome. We got a pair of hen pheasants last weekend two months after the last stocking! He's starting to pick up the birds and bring them back...not to hand yet though. That'll be this summer's work.

What have you done with your springer regarding live birds? Collar conditioning? Gun intro?

I've only had him a couple of months. Unfortunately, my time is limited this time of year. It is dark by the time I get home so I am kind of limited to weekends and days off right now until the days get longer. The dog was well taken care of but unfortunately not any training. I am doing obedience training right now. On leash I've got him to sit on command and on whistle pretty well. He also knows the okay command now to get up from a seated position. My problem now is with him off the leash. He is not good at responding to whistle or heel command when off the leash at greater distances and I don't know the best way to deal with that yet. (You have any suggestions?). Gun intro I am going to start with a 22 starter gun. He is really good at retrieving bumpers and I have attached pheasant wings to the bumpers. I don't feel he is ready for a ecollar yet. This summer I would like to start him with live birds and hopefully get some of the basic obedience done.