Wings and furr

[Dan outdoors]

What's the best age or time for them to get the feel of feather and fur, currently my pup is 5 months and the retrieve is finally coming on well, haven't seen much on here of the early introductions wonder if someone will point me in the right direction, at the moment I can visualise her sitting out of reach chomping a wing.. Think I'm going to try one of those rabbit fur tennis balls next.. Thanks all

[Springfield Pointers]

Not sure what you mean? Hunting?

I like to expose my dogs to game as early as possible. 5 months is perfect. Also not sure what dogs you have and what you want to achieve.

[Dan outdoors]

Yea she's my first gundog, she's a sprocker, I got her for pigeon shooting from a hide, I thought furr and feather came a bit later, how do you start to introduce furr and feather? Thanks

[Naj]

Not sure what you mean? Hunting?

I like to expose my dogs to game as early as possible. 5 months is perfect. Also not sure what dogs you have and what you want to achieve.

Think Dan's talking about retrieving fur & feather dummies, SP.

If so, I'd start on them right away.

Naj

[Cass]

My cocker was retrieving cold game at 4 months old. You're at the perfect age!

[Dan outdoors]

Wow, I've only just managed to move outside with the retrieve, I think I read that if I move on to cold game too early it can make the dummies less interesting, therefore needing to have cold game to teach them all the other stuff? I'm going to pinch some rabbit skin out the ferret cage tomorrow with any luck and tie it to a dummy and try from there, I've also got some jay wings that can be used, maybe I'm a bit behind but it is going well at the moment, fingers crossed

[Rascal]

Give the dog a retrieve of either a cold partridge or a hen pheasant, pigeons are too loose feathered...Do it it in a restricted area so there is less chance of the dog messing about and do it a couple of times...

The younger the better they don't normally think twice about it and when you reintroduce it at a later stage it makes it a lot easier..

Then carry on with dummies to build the basics....

Rascal

[Dan outdoors]

Thank you all, best get on with a few birds soon,

[whistleshappy]

good look

[lee-kinsman]

I start mine as soon as they are eagerly retrieving usually around 14weeks old and I start them with feathers first. I've never known a dog struggle with fur but seen lots that struggle with picking feather.