CAN SHE HUNT????

[xxmacplherexx]

Should I take her hunting?She is almost 5 years old and a great dog.Shes been trained to sit,down,come and all the other stuff for a family pet but she has never been hunting.I can walk around all day with her without a leash and she does not go out of my sight.I was gonna go pheasant and grouse hunting with a friend but I dont know if I should bring her.Its wierd sometimes I take her in the woods with me and she will see a animal and point.Of course I can see it to but still she sometimes points.What do you guys think??? STEVE

[esangler]

Idealy, a hunting dog has been gradually exposed to the sound of guns while still a puppy, beginning with something light like a .22 and slowly progressing up to a 12 gauge before it is old enough to hunt. Has she ever been close to a gun when it has been fired at close range? If they have never been exposed to the sound of gunfire, it will definitely be a gamble. I have seen dogs (labs) do perfectly fine on a belated hunt, but I have also seen them freak out at their first exposure to the sound of a nearby discharging shotgun, sometimes to the point of cowering when they hear a thunder clap after becoming gun shy.

Pretty dog, though!

[Flatdog]

How fit is she?
Thats a Heavy young lady for 5 years.

[knot for shore]

Idealy, a hunting dog has been gradually exposed to the sound of guns while still a puppy, beginning with something light like a .22 and slowly progressing up to a 12 gauge before it is old enough to hunt. Has she ever been close to a gun when it has been fired at close range? If they have never been exposed to the sound of gunfire, it will definitely be a gamble. I have seen dogs (labs) do perfectly fine on a belated hunt, but I have also seen them freak out at their first exposure to the sound of a nearby discharging shotgun, sometimes to the point of cowering when they hear a thunder clap after becoming gun shy.

Pretty dog, though!

this was my first thoughts too. the gun could ruin the dog for life. you can take your chances, but is it worth it. a dogs natural hunting abitlity notwithstanding, most aspects of hunting needs to be taught AND learned at an early age.

[xxmacplherexx]

She is very fit she just came back from the vet and is 5lbs overweight.The pics that I put up were taken in spring.She loses alot of weight do to kids,swimming and basicly going nuts all summer.She does not mind loud noises as she tries to eat firecrackers.Thunder and loud motorcycles go by all the time and not even a wince.I was going to bring her to my shooting club to get her used to the sound of shotguns.But like you guys pointed out I dont want to ruin her temperment.She really is the best dog I have owned. STEVE

[xxmacplherexx]

I forgot to ask do you thing bringing her to the range will hurt her???

[knot for shore]

you can use my brittany if you'd like.

have fun with her no matter what!

[esangler]

I forgot to ask do you thing bringing her to the range will hurt her???

If you are bound and determined to convert your family pet to a hunting dog, I would go very slowly...in lieu of exposing him to the range right away, I would gradually work up to it using a small caliber gun and working up to the noise level she will encounter at the range.

[knot for shore]

If you are bound and determined to convert your family pet to a hunting dog, I would go very slowly...in lieu of exposing him to the range right away, I would gradually work up to it using a small caliber gun and working up to the noise level she will encounter at the range.

priceless pic bro!! nice job!

[esangler]

priceless pic bro!! nice job!

thanks-that's my best friend, Hall's Southern Chase, aka Chaser!!!! His sire is out of Southland Kennels and a direct descendent of the lab in the book, Waterdogs. He has a much better pedigree that I do!