texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,413
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,764
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,988
Posts9,719,173
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Pointer more interested in rats!! #6004997 11/01/15 08:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 30
W
WEEKday warrior Offline OP
Light Foot
OP Offline
Light Foot
W
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 30
1st hunting season for my GSP (11 months). Birds are plentiful but so are the rats! Poor thing will be hunting birds but a rat will pop up right in front of her and she'll snatch it up. Of course then the next 15 mins she's hunting rats not quail. Rats and quail live on top of one another, and she looks the same hunting either of them (luckily she doesn't point the rats... yet) so I don't know when to correct her. She's so fast she catches the rat and retrieves them by the time I'm on the e-collar she thinks I'm bumping her for a forced retrieve. Can't lay on her because she just thinks I don't want her to drop the retrieve and return faster. Just took her out for an afternoon run and she's passing up birds and chasing rats. Any advice? Or maybe a good rat recipe? -soon to be sleepless in South TX.

Last edited by WEEKday warrior; 11/01/15 11:52 PM.

never explain, your friends won't need it and your enemies won't believe it.
Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005308 11/02/15 12:11 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
It's not unusual. We call it ratting. She'll grow out of it.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


[Linked Image]




Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005435 11/02/15 01:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 332
S
Sweese Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
S
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 332
When she brings you the rat tell her "no - leave it", toss the rat aside, and get back to hunting. If she goes after the rat you just tossed, offer up some correction of your choice when you say "no - leave it" and go on hunting. You may want to head out to a game farm for a bit and put her on a steady diet of quail and no rats. It could really help to reinforce what she should be looking for. Have fun.


Regards,

Jay
Photographer Afield
www.jayschwisow.com

Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005457 11/02/15 01:13 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
I wouldn't study about it.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


[Linked Image]




Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005504 11/02/15 01:34 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284
S
scalebuster Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284
I wouldn't worry about it too much since its the pups first year. Just be glad she's learning to hunt. The next season if she's still doing it I would run up to her showing my displeasure after she's caught a rat, take it from her and beat the crap out of her with it. I would repeat this every time she catches one until it stops.

Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005533 11/02/15 01:48 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
The thing is, you can learn to read your dog and bump her off them with your e-collar. It's really a pretty easy read for me.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


[Linked Image]




Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005733 11/02/15 03:30 AM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
shooterwalter Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
I am with Bill with close observation you can see and call off. My girls all summer were pointing frogs all around my pond. First time in the field fooled around with field rats and then got down to business. I like Bill again would not think much about it.


www.poetryshootingclub.com

Gun Dog Training, Flighty Quail

Guided/Unguided Quail Hunting

Group Events/Parties

700 Yard Range

CLOSE TO DALLAS

Take a youth shooting

214-728-2755

By appointment always and you shoot in private.



Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6005870 11/02/15 06:21 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 915
P
pervis Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
P
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 915
Mine was all over frogs during dove too...she had never pointed till she found mice. It's funny to watch em learn and grow exploring the outdoors like a kid. Mine had many many solid retrieves this dove season, duck is soon and she's ready.

Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6007597 11/03/15 03:00 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 30
W
WEEKday warrior Offline OP
Light Foot
OP Offline
Light Foot
W
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 30
Thanks for the reassurance all. She's my first "Quail dog" and my heart sank when she was almost stepping on birds and wasn't concerned. Took her out yesterday right before dusk and she was locked on the birds. Threw some of her sharpest points yet. Think I also started picking up on some subtle differences in her body language seeing what she looks like not distracted.


never explain, your friends won't need it and your enemies won't believe it.
Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6008026 11/03/15 12:55 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 59
S
Stoneface Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
S
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 59
Just take your dog out enough, get her on pen raised birds if you have to, and she'll stop ratting. Let her get the birds in her mouth (dead) and she'll stop going for the ratts.


Poetry Shooting Club - www.PoetryShootingClub.com
Stoneface Kennels (Setters, Pointers and Training) - www.StonefaceKennels.com
Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: bill oxner] #6008131 11/03/15 02:09 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
F
First_Chance Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
F
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
The thing is, you can learn to read your dog and bump her off them with your e-collar. It's really a pretty easy read for me.


This^^^

The more you work your dog, the easier it will be to read them.
I always train the "OFF" command on my dogs. It works well for most anything you don't want them messing with, even around the house.


[Linked Image]
Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: First_Chance] #6008161 11/03/15 02:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
Originally Posted By: First_Chance
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
The thing is, you can learn to read your dog and bump her off them with your e-collar. It's really a pretty easy read for me.


This^^^

The more you work your dog, the easier it will be to read them.
I always train the "OFF" command on my dogs. It works well for most anything you don't want them messing with, even around the house.


Also, your thread title is a little off. A GSP is not a pointer. They are more prone to ratting than pointers.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


[Linked Image]




Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: bill oxner] #6008243 11/03/15 03:12 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
F
First_Chance Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
F
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
Originally Posted By: First_Chance
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
The thing is, you can learn to read your dog and bump her off them with your e-collar. It's really a pretty easy read for me.


This^^^

The more you work your dog, the easier it will be to read them.
I always train the "OFF" command on my dogs. It works well for most anything you don't want them messing with, even around the house.


Also, your thread title is a little off. A GSP is not a pointer. They are more prone to ratting than pointers.


Ha! that's that "fur & feather" thing working it's way to the top!
At least with a GSP, you don't have to bring another breed dog with you to help those poor pointers find them and bring them back after you shoot them!


[Linked Image]
Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: First_Chance] #6008271 11/03/15 03:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059
M
MS1454 Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
M
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059
Originally Posted By: First_Chance
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
Originally Posted By: First_Chance
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
The thing is, you can learn to read your dog and bump her off them with your e-collar. It's really a pretty easy read for me.


This^^^

The more you work your dog, the easier it will be to read them.
I always train the "OFF" command on my dogs. It works well for most anything you don't want them messing with, even around the house.


Also, your thread title is a little off. A GSP is not a pointer. They are more prone to ratting than pointers.


Ha! that's that "fur & feather" thing working it's way to the top!
At least with a GSP, you don't have to bring another breed dog with you to help those poor pointers find them and bring them back after you shoot them!


Haha, good one.


Originally Posted By: Fooshman
I'll take a Black Female every time.

Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: First_Chance] #6008345 11/03/15 04:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
Originally Posted By: First_Chance
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
Originally Posted By: First_Chance
Originally Posted By: bill oxner
The thing is, you can learn to read your dog and bump her off them with your e-collar. It's really a pretty easy read for me.


This^^^

The more you work your dog, the easier it will be to read them.
I always train the "OFF" command on my dogs. It works well for most anything you don't want them messing with, even around the house.


Also, your thread title is a little off. A GSP is not a pointer. They are more prone to ratting than pointers.


Ha! that's that "fur & feather" thing working it's way to the top!
At least with a GSP, you don't have to bring another breed dog with you to help those poor pointers find them and bring them back after you shoot them!


Bite me.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


[Linked Image]




Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6010174 11/04/15 01:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
P
poisonivie Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
P
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
German Shorthair POINTER. nuff said


Pee on Photobucket
Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6010474 11/04/15 04:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 56
B
Birdshot101 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
B
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 56
popcorn

Re: Pointer more interested in rats!! [Re: WEEKday warrior] #6010518 11/04/15 04:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059
M
MS1454 Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
M
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059
Pointer meaning the breed, so a gsp is not a pointer, it's a gsp which is what I think Oxner meant.


Originally Posted By: Fooshman
I'll take a Black Female every time.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3