Real hunt work

I hunted with my Labs for years but I don't have a hunting Lab anymore. :(  I also ran them in AKC Hunt Tests.  You mention "fake hunting" but it's not always fair to label set up tests as fake.  Many of the tests and competitions for working breeds are designed to show whether the dog has the natural instincts and traits the breed is meant to possess. As the stakes get harder, it's more about the level of training the dog has had.   It's almost impossible to set up "true" hunting scenarios within the confines of time and space that would allow people to participate.  I know lots of Master Hunters and Field Trial champions that are also companion (some call them meat hunters) hunters. 

I ran my JRT in a few trials for fun but they were so few and far between in my area, I never pursued it.  He loved it and I have no doubt he would gladly do what he was bred to do if I had the opportunity and experience with this type of hunting.  He's found and killed a few rats and mice when the opportunity arose and was happy as a dog can be. :)

Thanks for your response!! Id love to watch bird dog hunting again, I went out once with a friend and they got a few ducks. Why did you stop hunting with the labs? sounds like your terrier has some go in him! What a cool little guy!

Im not sure about the bird hunt tests but the terrier tests dont simulate real ground work AT ALL and many people have dogs that will run threw wood tubes all day and bark at a rat threw some bars but will turn tail if they go in earth after an 18 lb groundhog and get bit. Theres alot of instincts bypassed when those kind of tests are used in terriers. Show terriers have had the instinct and form bred right out of them. I know people have fun showing the dogs and thats why they do it so I have nothing against that, just as alot of people dispise hunting. What makes me laugh is how the standards will state "the dog must have so and so to perform the task they were bred for" except alot of these traits I have seen hinder, or make impossible for the dog to perform the original task, daschounds with thier deformed legs and back, bassets same thing, field spanials with coats that will pick up the whole forest and fox terriers with bodys too big and legs and shoulders too straight.

the herding trials are VERY easy also and dont use the dogs staminia or drive like on an actual huge farm, I know this too because I attented some sheep dog trails with ym aunt, she was dissapointed how easy they were and prefered to help the farmers in the area with thier huge herds. I do have to say tho it was cool seeing all those dogs at the trails and watching everyone cheer on thier friends and family.

How are the bird dog trials set up? Did you notice a difference in the dogs used compared to dogs used in the actual field? Im gald you have knowledge on this because its a subject im very interested in!

The "shows" i participate in are flyball and agility. But tracking sparks my intrest and the way these guys find pests in rain and haybales I think they might do well. I dont know alot bout tracking tho so ill have to ask people who know more about that in a different thread.

 We hunt for missing people, if that counts :)

Yes it does! Well to me it does, You have to have intelligence, staminia and it serves a purpose! right?

Currently, I don't hunt with Apollo but we do "fake" hunts with him and he loves it. My Dad always hunted with English Springer Spaniels and did a little hunting with our first Labrador (she "washed out", wasn't the right temperament). My neighbor hunts with his chocolate Labrador and does field trials- talk about athletic & brains!

I'm getting more into hunting and field trials, I recently bought Tom Quinn's "The Working Retriever" (54 cents + shipping on amazon), and it is very old school but has some nice drills and tips in there for working a retriever. I have a recommended list of books and magazines from someone I know who hunts with his Labs, though he did warm me lots are very old school, lol.

BlackLabbie

I'm getting more into hunting and field trials,

Stephanie, I just had lunch with a friend who brought me a starter pistol.  I don't have a need for it and wonder if you want it?  I'd be happy to send it to you.  Someone gave it to him at a garage sale and he brought it to me because he knows I used to train dogs. 

proofpup, I got out of bird hunting and competing for many reasons and haven't had a Lab since my last one died a few years back.  Bird hunting without a dog just isn't the same for me.  Most of my enjoyment came from watching the dogs work. 

When you run the "fakie" trails what are they like? Ive never seen a bird dog trial and only seen real bird work once. Do they simulate the real field well? Real or fake birds?

If i didnt have the terrier I wouldnt be doing pest removals anymore! Even though my work is much appreciated by people we do it for, I love using the dogs and watching them do what they love and use thier heads!

 My Springer is field bred.  Her father was a titled field trial dog, as were a couple of her aunts and uncles.  Her mother was a companion and hunting partner.  Nothing flashy-just a "go to" dog when the hunting was rough.  I've had her out several times on private hunting grounds-pay per bird, and while not the same as wild hunting, still fun and physical.  She does shine at wild hunting.  I watched her take a rooster out of the air last year, and this year she actually treed a rooster.  Strange for a flushing dog, but fun to watch. I have watched Piper hit a point on birds several time.  Very embarrassing, especially if I miss the bird.  The dog has a look-every hunter has seen "the look".

I have never field trialed her.  I like to hunt alone, or with a small group of friends.  The first few years, Piper was a high powered hunting machine.  90 miles per hour, all day long.  Fun to watch, hard to keep up with.  But she has slowed down with age, and hunts smarter now.  As I have slowed down with age, we get along well.

Hunting is something my brothers and I learned from Dad.  Now, it's one of the rituals in life that keep us a family and measures the passing  of the year.

 I own a Norwegian Elkhound. Elkhounds are specifially for hunting moose. In the USA it is illegal to hunt moose with a dog and here in Alaska you wouldn't want to do that, as we have a fairly healthy wolf population. When an Alaskan moose sees a dog, his brain says "WOLF!" and he will chase and kill it.

However in Norway they haven't had wolves for several hundred years. They also have very different hunting rules: you are allowed to take calves and cows. I am assuming that this is because they stupidly killed all the wolves and now they have to keep the population down.

Norwegian Elkhounds in Norway (and I think in Scandinavia in general) must have passed a live hunting trial before they can get their championship. Elkhounds are little 50 lb. dogs with huge hearts, piercing barks and little fear. And they are very, very smart. Some dogs do get injured or killed by moose, but this breed has to be smart to herd a moose through the woods to the hunter. They also track.

I can't hunt my elkhound Ole here, it's illegal. But I would not say that taking him tracking was "fake" as we are just as likely to find a moose if we aren't careful. Since I can't shoot the moose, I may end up being chased by the moose (that's already happened to me twice, but not while tracking, while just walking the dog!) which is scary as all get out!

So under the circumstances, give me a "fake" tracking situation ANY day. 

Here's a quick idea of what elkhounds do (nothing is killed in this, don't worry!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr8u1HmejMc

AKC and UKC use real birds.  Ducks, pheasants and chukars are all utilized depending on availability and the test scenario.  Here's a vid I found doing a quick search.  This was at the Master Nationals.  The birds are already down before the vid starts.   It's starting to bug me a bit that you keep calling it fake.  It's not real hunting and isn't meant to be.  They are testing dogs with simulated hunting scenarios to judge the dog and the training level being tested. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO3RXBBVSCM&feature=related

 I went to a hunt test/field trial that was broadcast on ESPN and I tell you what it was darn serious and all of the people I spoke to hunted their dogs as well as did the field trials.

Fake is a horrible choice of term, just thought I'd tell you that 

JackieG

BlackLabbie

I'm getting more into hunting and field trials,

 

Stephanie, I just had lunch with a friend who brought me a starter pistol.  I don't have a need for it and wonder if you want it?  I'd be happy to send it to you.  Someone gave it to him at a garage sale and he brought it to me because he knows I used to train dogs.   

Yes, I do!!! I'll PM you.