Birdbander
Well-known member
You're not alone. It's not for me either.
‘25-‘26 Upland Bird Thread
- Thread starter brymoore
- Start date
El Jason
Well-known member
Not to derail this, but FF is one of the most misunderstood facets of dog training. All you are doing is using pressure and release to make retrieving a non-optional task, just like a sit, a down stay, recall, etc. I doubt you folks are using natural cooperation to reinforce those under distraction. Not sure why you’d do so for retrieving, but that’s my humble opinion.
Back to pictures.
Back to pictures.
I’ve had good success with FF with the GSPs I’ve owned. They thrived with the training.
I’ve tried it a few times with my setters. It hasn’t worked so far. They get emotional and ask why don’t I love them. I get weak and give up with a big hug.
El Jason
Well-known member
That’s fair. Not every dog handles pressure the same. Sometimes you have to adapt the approach.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
I'm sure FF works for many dogs and many trainers. Tucker and I are not one of them.
El Jason
Well-known member
Then days like you had are going to happen. FF is really just obedience training.
El Jason
Well-known member
I need to find time to get back to this spot before a snow starts piling up, but the allure of steelhead is winning.
TheGreek
Well-known member
Last day limit of dusky grouse here in NW CO. Season closes today. These might be the first dusky grouse I’ve ever killed in November and not for lack of trying. They were up high, above 10k, and in the snow. Creed loved it.
El Jason
Well-known member
That’s awesome! Yeah, they are a reverse migrator. Up higher instead of lower. I find them way up on the highest ridges in December a January.
Hunting Wife
Well-known member
That’s beautiful. What is the red stuff? I can’t make it out from the photo. Such a vibrant color.
El Jason
Well-known member
Sumac. That day was a 10/10 for colors, with the sumac, larch and aspens.
Greta, the Labrador retriever, doesn't retrieve. She never got it, and I'm too soft for forcing much on the idiot. But, she marks birds great and when she's on the case, we haven't lost one yet. We're in the middle of a forced 2 week time out during rifle deer season. That means leashed walks on the road.
We're all over it.
I've had a lot of frustrating days with dogs. All in all, it's my fault so I try not to let the dog bear the brunt of my frustration. At the end of the day, if you're outdoors hunting birds with even an idiot dog, you're doing something better than honey-do's or watching football. Get out and get frustrated. Just be nice to your dog.
We're all over it.
I've had a lot of frustrating days with dogs. All in all, it's my fault so I try not to let the dog bear the brunt of my frustration. At the end of the day, if you're outdoors hunting birds with even an idiot dog, you're doing something better than honey-do's or watching football. Get out and get frustrated. Just be nice to your dog.
