He's back at it.
 
A few years back John was sidelined for a couple of seasons. But the above photo shows he is back at it. He and hunting companion, Mike Frash, along with John's English Setters, Teddy and Trouble, returned in 2008 to the Rend Lake (Illinois) Pheasant Hunt.
 
He writes: "The five-day hunt was grand. Not shown are the pheasants in front of the dogs and hunters."  

His plans for the coming season are not final but John does allow that there might be some photos coming from the back yard "tune up" sessions.
 
If you are new to DOGS UNLIMITED, John Ingram founded the company in 1971, and has been the wind at our backs since he passed it on to us in 2005.

Some people think this is the best thing to happen to field trials since they started using horses. Others are not so sure. Like the horse, this opens new opportunities for win-at-all-costs competitors to cut corners. Unlike the horse, this is a new area of technology that allows for never before known peace of mind for handers of big running dogs.

So we have an up-side and a down-side. What do you think?

You can follow this link to te AKC website for more information on tracking devices allowed in AKC Field Trials:
www.AKC.org/trackingdevices/

Besides being an excellent wetland and upland hunter, Remington competes in the field, and even tried Dock Dogs. Now this is what we're talkin' about.

 

Dog are happiest when they have a job to do. Based on that, we'd say that Remington is one of the happiest dogs on earth. Russell has done all of the training himself, so he must be very happy too.

We’re here to talk about getting the most from whatever releaser system you use.  Ultimately it depends upon your dog and where they are in their training program.  For most young dogs we feel that a manual releaser is better than a remote launcher during the breaking process.  The major downside to the remote launcher at this stage is releasing the bird when a young prospect is too close to the launcher.  Too much unnatural mechanical stuff going on too close to their face can often frighten a young dog and create issues.  The last thing you want is a dog that is fearful around birds.  Using a manual bird releaser like the Tip-Up Bird Releaser can eliminate some of the possibility of frightening your dog.

Once you see your dog becoming firm around their birds, becoming confident in their nose, and standing off a good distance from their birds, it's time to bring in the big guns: your remote launchers.

DISTANCE

More distance between the handler and the dog often means a higher probability for the dog to test the envelope and become (nicely put) "less broke." Many dogs will stop-to-flush when they’re close to their handler, but when they're out on a limb they "forget" their manners. The remote releaser allows you to close the distance by flushing the bird before your dog gets too close to the releaser, and while you're close enough to give your "Whoa" command.

WORKING IN MULTIPLES

Whether you're working your dog on a check cord, or they've progressed enough to run free, we think it’s important to use multiple birds at multiple release points. This builds style and staunchness because your dog never knows how many birds he or she will encounter on point or during a stop-to-flush.  This can be as simple as putting two quail in one releaser or as challenging as multiple releasers with multiple birds in each.  Another option--and ultimately a very nice combination--is a remote launcher with the addition of one or more Tip-Up Bird Releasers, all in the same area. Now you've shown your dog that there may be more birds in the same area after the initial  flush, and they've got a good reason to stick around and stand still.

TRY THIS SCENARIO

You can do this either with a young dog on a check cord (with a friend holding onto the far end) or a steadier, broke dog that you are tuning up. Use a remote launcher system like a DT Systems DBL 509 along with two Tip-Ups.  Load each with one pigeon and set approximately 7 – 10 feet apart. 

Work your dog in for a point. As you approach, launch the remote. The flying bird will captivate your dog’s attention. Caution him and keep going; walk around the area that's producing the scent cone, then step on the farthest Tip-Up. Now another bird has his attention.  As you move back toward your dog, step on the last Tip-Up.  Again, another bird to entice your dog.  The objective is to get your dog to stand through all of this. If not, your good dog will learn something new and hopefully will display better manners the next time around.

You've accomplished three things with this scenario:

1)  You've given the area a lot of bird scent by using extra birds.  This is excellent for a young dog and really good for any dog if the field conditions are marginal for bird scent.
2)  You've started conditioning your dog to the possibility and probability that there will be more than one bird per point and they should be mindful of their manners at all times.
3)  You've started training him or her to keep their style up. This is especially important to a field trialer, as well as anyone who loves the sight of a stylish bird dog.

EXTRA EFFORT PAYS OFF

By training your good dog with multiple birds at a single location you will be ahead of your competition. Many trainers don't go this extra mile in their training sessions and you can see this during a trial or on a hunt.  How many times after the flush have you seen the pointing dog get loose and swivel headed?  They let down their tails and are ready to be collared and led away.  Most judges like to see grand style, with a dog on their tiptoes and a high tail in anticipation of the next bird flush. Train for it.

There are many ways of using launchers/releasers with multiple birds in single locations that will help make your good dog a completely broke bird dog.  Offering multiple birds during stop-to-flush drills will convince your dog that standing steady is the right thing to do.  The honoring/ backing scenario is also a great place for multiple birds. Get them used to multiple birds and they will start anticipating a multiple bird flush.  Soon you will have a staunch and stylish completely finished bird dog.

Have any other ideas for multiple bird release scenarios? Leave a comment by clicking on the link below.

Find products in this article by clicking on the pictures:

        all training gear including launchers

 

 

Call it Force Fetch or Force Break to Retrieve. It's a training tool that yields definite results.
But is it always necessary?
Is it better to try other training methods with your bird dog first?
The main ingredient in any training program should be teaching and learning.
So where does the force fetch come in?

We've had a number of bird dogs that have reached Field Champion and Amateur Field Champion status, Master Hunter, etc., without force breaking to retrieve.  And (in competition) there's always the knuckle-biting, stomach-knotting retrieve that can take an upland retrieving breed dog from 'first place' to 'no place' in a flash. So maybe we'd have been better off strengthening our dogs' training with force fetch breaking.

Competition aside, let's say you're out with your friends and your hunting dog, having one of your best days ever in the field. You--or worse, your buddy--makes the finest shot possible, but then your dog refuses to retrieve it. What now? Is force breaking the answer?

Let us know what your experiences have taught you. Click on the 'Leave a Comment' link below.

   

The system starts out with stainless steel pails and bowls that cleverly attach to a fence, wall, post or crate using a yoke (bowls) or mounting block (pails) and what Kennel Gear refers to as their Piranha Lox Secure Locking System.  These are stainless steel as well. The bowl or pail can easily be placed into or removed from the kennel bar mount by simply flipping the paw proof lever of the Piranha Lox system. 

What’s really nice is that all kennel bar mounts accept both the bowls and pails.  This is particularly useful when exchanging the feed bowl in the morning with a fresh water pail for the rest of the day.  And if you have it mounted high enough you won't have to worry about your male dogs lifting their legs into their water.

We like that the bowls and pails unlock easily with the flick of a tab and can be washed and sanitized. And you don't have your bowls and pails being beaten around the kennel floor, coming in contact with all that is disgusting.

We also like that there are several different attachment methods to fit your particular situation. 

The kennel bar mount comes standard with either the bowls or pails can be attached using a simple hand tightened plate style system.  This will work on most crate style dog transporters, most divider bars in your vehicle, and outdoor kennels that are not made of chain link fence. 

For a chain link fence, they offer a mounting plate accessory which gives you a nice, secure attachment.

For mounting to a pipe they offer a vertical post mount assembly that attaches to a post up to 1¼” in diameter.

And finally, for those who have left bowl after bowl along the side of the road while hunting or traveling,  they've come up with a  2” x 2” steel tube for a 2” receiver hitch on the back of you truck or SUV.  So no more leaving your good dishes along side the road or in a parking lot.

Sometimes something new comes along that not only is very cool but also serves an important function. That is exactly what Kennel Gear provides. This system keeps your feed bowls and water pails up and off of the floor of the kennel or crate, eliminating your dog's desire to use them as toys, banging them around the kennel for fun and entertainment.

Check them out at DOGSUnlimited.com or give us a call at 800/338-DOGS (3647).

Team DU Members Alan Davison, Scott Wilson & Eric Cook took away First, Second and Third Place in The Colorado Field Dog Association's American Field Classic Open Shooting Dog (Saturday) on April 25, 2009.

1st: Alan Davison w. Solo                      2nd: Scott Wilson w. Big                     3rd: Eric Cook w. Joe

More Team DU Wins:

First Place Open Derby (Saturday) - Scott Wilson w. Houston
Third Place Open Shooting Dog (Sunday) - Eric Cook w. Fanny

At long last, the American Kennel Club seems to be ready to give it's blessing for use of the Garmin Astro DC-30 in field events. The AKC Performance Events Department has made an in-favor recommendation to the board.
Is this a good thing? Or are there pitfalls?
Read the entire document HERE, then tell us what you think.

Spring of 2009 has brought a crazy mix of weather to the high plains of Colorado.
Weekdays have been mild and warm with wild winter weather reserved especially for field trial weekends. 
At the combined AKC & American Field Event, GSP Rocky Mountain Championships, despite the conditions, TEAM DU came, saw and conquered.

And the weather cleared just in time for pictures...

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Open Limited Gun Dog - 1st & 3rd
    Winning this stake finishes Dave Heller's Fiddling Jack as a Dual Champion
    (only the 10th dual in for the Pointer breed)
    Willie got third with Drew Foster.
Both placements were handled and scouted by Team DU members

Open Gun Dog - 1st & 4th
    Bell's first broke dog placement and a 5 pointer to boot
    Belle Owned & Handled by John Moreland
    Joe Owned & Handled by Eric Cook
Both placements were handled and scouted by Team DU members

Amateur Gun Dog - 1st
    Solo's first place finishes him as an Amateur Field Champion and adds to his title of Open Field Champion
Handled by Alan Davison and scouted by Eric Cook, Team DU Charter Members

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Open Derby - 1st (anybody got a picture?)
    Gus handled by Scott Wilson scouted by John Moreland
Handled and scouted by Team DU Members

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Rocky Mountain Championship (American Field)   Open Shooting Dog1st, Breaker with Eldon Hongo and Son
   Scouted by Team DU Member
Pictured Back Row Left to Right:  George Miller (judge), Eldon Hongo (handler), John Moreland (judge)
Pictured Front Row Left to Right: Johnny V w/ Breaker, Son Hongo (cutie pie) Keith Richardson (Sponsor: Sierra Trading Post)

Amateur Shooting Dog - (American Field)    1st - Karl - Handler, John Moreland (standing)
    Field Trial Chairman, Johnny V (with Karl) 
Scouted by Team DU Members. The runner-up was also scouted by a Team DU Member

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A tip of the hat to Johnny V for reporting the results and providing many of the pictures.

 

Is it a certain age? Is it a certain point of your dog's training? Is it only to accomplish certain things?

There are lots of folks out there that can benefit by your experience. Let us (and them) know what
you've experienced. Don't be forget to include stories of times when things went wrong. Those are
possibly the most helpful lessons.

Click on "Comment" below.

 
Saturday was a sad day for everyone at Dogs Unlimited.  One of our office dogs, FC/AFC Davison's Orion on the Rise MH, call name Reko, had to be put to sleep after a long bout with a tumor that affected his nervous system.  From an early age Reko was stylish on point; pointing with intensity the fluttering of a pheasant wing dangling from the end of an old fishing pole.  We had high hopes for Reko but during his early formal training it appeared that he just wanted to play with his bracemate.  After much soul searching and conversations with our pro handler Tim Hidalgo about Reko's potential as a field trial prospect we decided to continue on with his formal training.

The light came on for Reko during the breaking process and he became as biddable as any dog could hope to be.  It seems that all he really wanted to do was to have a job and please his trainer and for Reko that job became finding and pointing birds.  Many of his placements came because of his long nose and incredible style on point.  When birds were tough to find Reko always found more.

As a field trial competitor, Reko was an absolute pleasure to watch.  Though not the biggest running Weimaraner around he was a classic horseback handling gun dog.  Always to the front, searching all available cover for his elusive quarry.  During his field trialing career Reko became a Field Champion, Amateur Field Champion and a Master Hunter.  He earned many placements in all breed stakes including a number of 1st placements along the way.  At the Weimaraner National Championships Reko earned placements in the National Championship and the National Amateur Championship including a 2nd Place in the National Championship the same year that his father, NAFC/FC Robynski Deaugh Davison, received a 4th Place in the same event.  That was a very good trial.

Reko also earned a 4th Place placement at the AKC Gun Dog Championships held at Branched Oaks just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska while competing in the Retrieving Stake against some of the best dogs in the country.  The retrieving stake is a shoot on course stake consisting of two series in which the dogs have to retrieve in each series.  Making it to the second series is an accomplishment in and of itself, finishing in the top four is just fantastic.

When Reko was not on the field trial circuit trying his hardest to beat the best he was in the fields of Colorado and Kansas with me, Eric Cook and the Colorado Chapter of the FOA hunting for the elusive pheasant.  He was a pleasure to watch in the field because all he wanted to do was please and that meant finding and pointing birds.  A many a pheasant ended up on the dinner plate because of Reko.

During his later years Reko was our office dog along with another one of our Weimaraners, Raja.  Each of them slept by the main entrance making sure that everyone who entered was on the up and up and of course treats would help with that concensus.

Reko taught me to be a better handler, a better hunter and a better person.  Reko had absolute unconditional love for everyone and every day was a good day for him even up until Saturday.  Everyone at Dogs Unlimited will miss Reko, I will miss him more.

From Ken of Colorado:
This is our dog Scout with Roy Smith, Cheryl (Amateur handler), myself and Biz. Scout won the Monterey Bay English Setter Club Open Gun Dog and the Amateur Gun Dog the weekend before the Nationals. At the Nationals she placed third in the Open Championship. She is three years old and we're very proud of her.
If anyone is interested we're floating the idea of having the ESSA Nationals in Colorado next year. We need a big 45 minute course. Let me know at 303-XXX-XXXX if you'd like to help.
(Editor's note: drop an e-mail to community@DOGSUnlimited and we'll pass your information on to the English Setter folks.)


Back row, left to right: Cheryl, Ken. Biz
Front & Center: Scout with her handler, Roy Smith
You can see another great picture of Scout by clicking on March 4, 2008 on the calendar

On March 15th Dogs Unlimited made the trip to Danville, Virginia to attend and compete in the 2009 AKC Gun Dog Championships.  This was our first trip to Fred Leggett's Cloverdale Farms and we were treated to a tremendous venue and fantastic hospitality.  Cloverdale Farms is manicured to field trial perfection with quality quail habitat -- a mixture of farm fields, hedgerows and timber stands.  And the weather couldn't be any better for running bird dogs and visiting with the other competitors.

Our stay in Danville was an excellent experience and we truly enjoyed meeting people we had not met before and renewing old friendships. Tim Carwile and Bonnie Hidalgo, co-chairs of the Championships, and their volunteers did an excellent job making this event a first class Championship.  And kudos need to be extended to the AKC staff for all of their hard work and endless hours making sure this was the finest AKC Gun Dog Championships yet.

After Tuesday's running Dogs Unlimited hosted a social hour for the participants, AKC staff and trial hosts.  It was an absolute pleasure conversing with everyone about the day's running and the good dogs we saw. The evening ended with an excellent prime rib dinner.

Earlier on Tuesday our own Good Dog FC AO Wildfire's Solo Express, a long legged 7 year old male German Shorthaired Pointer, competed in the Retrieving portion of the Championships and was drawn to run in the 9th brace.  Our brace ran mid-afternoon, the weather was nice but the breeze was slight, making scenting conditions a bit challenging.  Solo's breakaway was strong and to the front along with his bracemate.  About 6 minutes into the running, Solo's bracemate was found standing so we headed to the front to find our own birds. Covering the ground with grace and speed Solo made all the right moves and hit all of the likely places; some where birds had been pointed in previous braces and places where other dogs had yet to go.  Unfortunately Solo's only bird contact came at approximately 24 minutes into the 30 minute brace with a stop to flush which he handled nicely.  He finished strong and to the front but failed to meet the requirements to be called back to the second series.

For us this was the first trial of the spring season and we look forward to what the season has to bring. 

Good luck to you and your Good Dogs for the upcoming season.

Join us for the Rick Smith Foundation Seminar in Hudson, Colorado August 21 - 23, 2009.

Rick Smith believes everyone is capable of training their own bird dog and he has dedicated himself to helping people achieve this goal by refining the system that his father, Delmar Smith, started decades ago.

Check out the details HERE.

One of our customers, a hunter, asked us if we thought he ought to buy Setter pup out of a Field Trial litter. The breeder told him that this particular pup didn't have the range or drive he wanted to see in a competative bird dog, and he thought the dog would make an excellent hunting companion.

How would you answer the question? Post your reply below.

Kenny Armstrong w. Rowdy                                                   Laylon Cox w. Major
                                                       Open Pointing Doubles

 
Amateur Pointing National Champion                  Senior Pointing Division National Champion
Kenny Armstrong w. Smokey                                 Mitchell Armstrong w.Sadie

 Open Flushing Doubles Division National Champions
Mark Sweeney and Mark Hannah w.TJ

 
Open Pointing National Champion                      Open Flushing National Champion
Mark Sweeney w.Legacy                                     Matt Behe w.Dixie (Phil Hinchman - Owner)

More Placements: Check "Attachments" (More to come)

Field Trial Club of Illinois member, Mark, sent us this picture of Reba. She's a young Spring 2009 Derby contender.