Bugsy goes goose hunting - help! (long)

I see the resemblance too - its an interesting mix to say the least!

hahah yes thats for sure! She has the personality of all  the breeds too. And the hyperness of I don't even know what breed, shes almost 4 and still cant get enough exercise!

Got busy and lost this thread! We won't be here this weekend but may be here playing with puppies the next weekend. We'll have sheep that are used to being pushed around a bit in the round pen. Most likely you wouldn't see a lot of actual herding but what I can show you, if he's got interest in the sheep, is how to get his attention when he's "in the zone". What I'm hoping is that he'd be just a bit less excited about the sheep than the birds allowing you to get a foothold when he's not at the very top of prey drive mode!

If he's not interested at all, that would indicate to me that he's go some kind of bird dog heritage in there and probably will need the remote collar. But I've seen good results with it. Not personally, but with people who know how to use it. The hunting dogs are certainly quite impressive. The process of teaching a drop dead recall with the collar versus a long line is generally the same, from what I've seen.

It would be fun if he "turned on" though. A nearly 100 pound Border Collie cross, wouldn't that be something at an AHBA trial. I can't wait to see him in "person".

ORIGINAL: Raja19

shes almost 4 and still cant get enough exercise!

I'll not tell DH that as I keep saying it will get better soon []
I think its amazing that you know her mix we were told lab/dane but I KNOW labs and that ain't right, my guess has been dane/gsp or dane/gsp/hound so he and Raja are nearly siblings seperated by 2500 miles! Does she like younger men (fixed of course!)

Becca I would be honored to see your dogs in action and also to have  you tap into your expertise with Bugsy.  I'm very curious as to what he'd make of the sheep - I believe that if your BC's were doing their thing he'd latch on pretty quick to them, but solo not sure.  He's not met a dog or human he doesn't like so it will be sooo fun for him (& me).

oh I am so very, very excited!  PM me with the particulars when you've got them - next weekend does work for me

BTW they mentioned Semora on the news this morning! I think about the weather but I only caught the end of it
Karen

I'll let you know if "the girls" schedule a get together - I should know pretty soon. Last we talked it was looking pretty good. I'll PM you.

Count me in! Woot! Girl time!!! Poooor Patrick. [sm=lol.gif]

AWESOME [sm=dance.gif]

ORIGINAL: houndlove

What do I do? I don't take him off-leash anywhere where there isn't a fence, and definately not anywhere where there's abundant wildlife paired with no fence. When he's on the 30 foot line I don't really let him drag it, I hold onto it the whole time. I may  let him drag it a couple feet if he's chasing a ball, but as soon as I catch up I pick it up.

Coonhunters put radio collars on their hounds so they can find them again after the hunt because they don't stop working. Most people with working bird dogs use an e-collar at some point. It just kind of comes with the territory. There's a reason Tri-Tronics sponsers nite hunt trials and field trials.

One thing that I'm working on right now though is training an emergency whistle recall (with an actual physical whistle). It's a loud noise that can hopefully break through that zone they get in when they are in hard prey drive. But my goal is to never really have to use it becasue I don't ever plan on having Marlowe off-leash anywhere where there isn't a secure fence.

 
I second this as well.  If my two were to get loose, I seriously doubt they'd ever come back.  Those two can run for hours and trot for days.  Every scent or sight is an invitation to run.  If I don't catch them before they go "into the zone" there's precious little that will get them back into focus.
 
 

hahah yes Raja is attracted to younger, less experienced men [] haha.
Yes I keep thinking Raja will slow down and become calmer...hasn't happened yet. We just got her  about 6 months ago, but her owner had her parents...so it was interesting.
 
Its funny though because everyone assumes she is a Lab mix but none....sometimes I wish she were though! ha because she has the highest prey drive ever, and with the ferel bunnies living in our front yard keeping them apart is getting ridiculous!