tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177950893772260581.post6340517102581695694..comments2008-08-08T04:18:52.767-07:00Mike Spiesnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177950893772260581.post-15098176072761618602008-08-08T04:18:00.000-07:002008-08-08T04:18:00.000-07:00Mike: we were lucky with Jozsi's birthdate in May... he got into his first quail (at his older brother's hunt test) at 14weeks old... and all last fall I rotated hunting with the two dogs, especially if I knew we were getting into pockets of birds to get him used to searching cover. Jozsi pointed (and retrieved!) his first shot quail 2days shy of 5mos old -- and got points on pheasant and migratory woodcock, as well. While Momo was being force-fetched over the winter, Jozsi spent those weeks at training camp being put out into a bird-field and encouraged to run. And holy heck! it shows.<BR/><BR/>best<BR/>AndrewAndrew Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00204944202954520498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177950893772260581.post-72670735732266427602008-08-07T21:24:00.000-07:002008-08-07T21:24:00.000-07:00Mike...<BR/><BR/>I enjoy your blog as well! Thanks for the comments on mine. I'm having dinner with Dale (from LoBank) and his son David tomorrow night in Denver. I first met him through the link from your blog! I'd love to share a day or two in the uplands with you some day! As I've told Andrew...anytime you'd like to chase quail in Kansas or Arizona...or chukars in Idaho or Oregon...I'm in!<BR/><BR/>ShawnShawn K. Wayment, DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423646694821820045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177950893772260581.post-14859547827828605732008-08-07T14:09:00.000-07:002008-08-07T14:09:00.000-07:00Andrew,<BR/><BR/>I agree that wild bird training is tough for probably 90% of bird dog owners. I have a few places I can do this, but requires me to drive over 50 miles each way. <BR/><BR/>Alternatives that I have used include taking my puppies on hunting trips and running them every morning in areas with wild birds... no shooting, just working the puppy.<BR/><BR/>Another alternative is a professional's Summer Camp. I had a young Ted with Keith Hickam in SD last year, and it helped - although Ted had ad much previous experience with wild birds. I have Tommy at Summer Camp with Randy anderson and Tony Falley in ND right now. This will be his first real experience with wild birds, since he was born last August and (obviously) too young to take hunting last season. <BR/><BR/>Takes birds to make a bird dog.Mike Spieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10181679891489101232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177950893772260581.post-45467470794797192642008-08-07T13:24:00.000-07:002008-08-07T13:24:00.000-07:00Mike: on your recommendation, I just picked up a copy and am working through it. Like Dave Walker's book, it's obvious that Earl has spent a lot of time around dogs and loves them dearly. Sadly, the 'Mexico method' is a little like Ben Williams's 'Montana method' (my phrase) in that the more wild birds you can get a dog into, the more likely that dog will develop into a first-class bird-dog. For those of us with limited wild bird training opportunities, the lesson I take from both is that the earlier you can get a young dog into birds, even if stocked (although ideally not by the owner), the greater your chances of success.<BR/><BR/>A+M+M+JAndrew Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00204944202954520498noreply@blogger.com