Are we ready for a bit of the real thing?

[Alice]

Thank you all for your advice and guidance, I'm going to put in a bit more training and look to taking her out with my mate shooting in a couple of weeks, thanks again. D

let us know how you get on- I'm sure she'll be great

[Dan outdoors]

Just a small update, I went out last week with the shotgun and her did a few shots and retrieves with her away from me, all went well and I also healed her up to some Canadian geese till they took off, she was good at heal, ended that session and went out later in the week with my friend and his dummy launcher for a bit more conditioning to louder gun fire, again all went well so last evening I took her out with the shotgun for the real thing, did a couple of retrieves with her next to me, throwing the dummy and firing the shotgun, all went well so my eyes were well and truly on for bringing down a pigeon, first shot I hit the pigeon but it kept on going, got over the other side of the field standing in the shade of a small tree and spot a nice pigeon coming across the field quite high, dropped it it ploughed in to the middle of the field, low grass so clearly visible, it was still flapping about so I lined her up and sent her for the retrieve, she ran out grabbed it about 60 meters and ran straight back, gave it me to my hand, I healed her back to the car and did another dummy retrieve just to make sure she still liked dummy's and she did so I called it a day, the only thing that isn't that favourable is that she wines a bit, not too concerned as she will just be out with me and my mate, couldn't be happier!! Thanks all for your advice!!

[jeffD]

Not so sure I would have sent a pup for a flapper but it seems you got away with it so no harm. I would only send the pup for dead retrieves for a while, once he has a dozen or so under his belt you should be OK.

I wish mine would retrieve dummies to hand she thinks they are toys and does fly byes most of the time probably something I have done, game is no problem and is delivered straight to hand

[Dan outdoors]

Yes Jeff when it hit the deck I thought I'd got myself in a bit of a predicament with it flapping still but couldn't immediately think of a adequate solution so I went for it and yes fortunately it worked out, hopefully we can keep building on things and keep going in the right direction.

[Dan outdoors]

Jeff just curious what could have occurred on the negative side? Her keep biting it? Being scared by it and refusing? Cheers

[jeffD]

I have known pups get overexcited and bite down a bit hard when picking up runners before they have had a bit of practice on dead game.

[Cass]

Over here we start our pups as young as 10-12 weeks on clipped wing pigeons - so they are definitely flappers. I wouldn't worry at all about a pigeon flapping, they are a reasonably small bird. If it was her first time on game and it was a flapping pheasant that would be a different thing. Here's my guy at about 5 months old with a pigeon that is very much alive and well

[Dan outdoors]

Great photo Cass, I'm very pleased it worked out yesterday, I'm itching to take her out again but don't want to over do it.. Plus I liked that quote on one of your replies! Very rewarding these gun dogs.

[Cass]

Best of luck Dan, keep us updated Sounds like you're doing well.