Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

Enjoy the collection of Layla growing up set to Eric Clapton’s ‘Layla’.

• DJ Farms Dove Lease Review After a long week of waiting, I finally got to load up Layla and my 11-87 and head to Dallas to meet up with my brother and go hunting on DJ Farms leases in North Texas. The preliminary scouting reports were very encouraging, plowed corn, lots of dove in the......
• Save the Bob Whites   Texas' wild quail numbers continue to decline     Its sound is distant as it whistles out its name: Bob-White. but the sound is becoming increasingly muted as the quail population across the state decline.  "The landscape for quail has changed very significantly over the last 40 years," said Dale......
• Shotgunning Tips I was looking through some past articles on Field & Stream's website site and came across an article with some very good tips on five tough shots for dove hunters. It covers: The Incomer You See Forever The Dove With Its Jets On The Long Crosser The Dove That Comes......

Okay, it’s been almost two months since Layla’s last video. I’m no expert trainer, but I am one proud papa. She aims to please. Notice the distance has increased and she has graduated from a toy to a camo decoy.

I spend 15-20 minutes on training a day (or most days) and Layla does the rest. Positive reinforcement has worked well. She has been sitting since she was 7 weeks, retrieving since 8, and actually is hunting the decoy when she loses sight of it.

I think the next step will be using some scent on the decoy. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes. For now, I couldn’t ask for a better dog.

• Training Time Since Layla came in my life, I've been told one hundred different ways to train her. I've read articles on positive reinforcement training, clicker training (which is positive reinforcement training with a clicker), negative reinforcement training and everything in between. Hell, last night I read an article that recommended putting your......
• Do Dove Decoys Work Every year I see hunters placing decoys around the dove fields. I've always wondered if they were worth their salt. Let's find out... Ducks, Geese, Turkeys are all susceptible to decoys. With ducks being the most social of the game birds. These flock oriented birds find safety when they spot......
• Layla Learning to Fetch Layla has rapidly became a part of our family. She is spoiled and loved by all four of my boys and my wife. My youngest son, who is 15 months, has a playmate. They fight and play just like siblings. Make no mistake about it though, she is my dog.......

• Sticking with Your Resolutions Why do we make New Year's resolutions? What's the purpose? Did you even bother making any resolutions, or did you refrain due to the associated pressure and oft resulting disappointment from trying to follow said resolutions and failing? We make resolutions because we want to move forward; we want to......
• The Positive Reinforcement Training For Your New Puppy Psychologists have been promoting positive reinforcement as a way to change undesirable behavior to acceptable behavior in humans for some time. The method can be described simply as rewarding behavior that is considered acceptable and ignoring behavior that isn't acceptable. Animal trainers have learned lately that this same method......
• How to Use Hunting Decoys Learning how to make use of hunting decoys can be a very important part of your hunting experience. Regardless if you are new to hunting, or if you are a seasoned veteran of the fields and forests, learning how to use decoys as part of your hunting can advance things......

Since Layla came in my life, I’ve been told one hundred different ways to train her.

I’ve read articles on positive reinforcement training, clicker training (which is positive reinforcement training with a clicker), negative reinforcement training and everything in between. Hell, last night I read an article that recommended putting your dog in time out for mis-behaving. How does a person know what to do?

I’ve came to a realization, it’s not how you train, it is that you actually train. Whether you want to give your dog treats for good behavior or punish for bad, just do something.

Time is the key. I have four kids, a 50+ hour a week job, a blog, three other dogs, and now Layla. So I have my own time restrictions. It is just like anything though, if it is a priority to you , you will make the time. Here are some tips to finding more time with your puppy.

First of all, we are not talking about hours a day, in my opinion, thirty minutes of concentrated time with your dog will go a long way in the long run.

Get up a little earlier than the rest of your household on the weekends. My family sleeps in to around eight in the morning, so I’ve found getting up around seven is a great time to train. Layla is raring to go in the mornings and having a good hour before everyone is up to spend with her is priceless. I might mention that having a good plan on what you want to work on is vital to making the most of the time you have.

On days that I work, getting up earlier is not an option seeing how I’m off to work at 5:00 A.M., so I make the time as soon as I get home. I greet the family and Layla and we go outside for twenty to thirty minutes to train. My kids and wife usually come out with us so the training isn’t as focused but better than nothing.

Making the training a family affair really helps. If everyone gets to see Layla’s progress then it is easier for them to understand what it is I am doing. The kids are great with her, but it is as important to train them on how to interact with her as her with them. By teaching them to use the same commands and not letting them gorge her with treats, I have four extra trainers.

Layla is already making huge progress in becoming a well minded hunting dog. By following these simple steps, I’ve been able to find time in a very busy schedule and if I (the worst at budgeting time) can do it, so can you.

Dogs are like anything, the more time you put in to them, the more reward you get out of them. When you step out into the field, having put the training time in, and your dog is head and shoulders above the others around, you will have a sense of pride so big your hat won’t fit on your head.

• Bird dog training (part I) The following is the first article, written by my brother, in a series on how to train your bird dog. Darla. his lab, is an awesome bird dog. He has trained her since she was a puppy. Not only is she awesome hunting dove, she's great hunting quail also. If you've......
• 6 New Texas Dove Leases If anyone has hunted these leases, feel free to leave a review on them. Thanks for posting them, and keep them coming. Below are the details: NAME OF LEASE: Carol Knutson EMAIL: info@muysecoranch.com CONTACT NAME: Carol CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 830-363-4281 PREFERRED METHOD OF CONTACT: Either LOCATION INCLUDING CLOSEST CITY OR......
• Twitter Updates for 2009-06-27 RT @DoveHunting101: New blog post: Man Fined Over Migratory Bird Treaty http://bit.ly/dHVQM FOR BEATING A SEAGULL # Swine Flu declared pandemic, 1st in 41 years http://bit.ly/CnWqt # Using positive reinforcement training yo train your hunting dog. http://bit.ly/Zt81d # Tips on Starting Kids Out Hunting http://bit.ly/jdFYt # Just broke 100......

• Serious Blogging as a job Serious Blogging as a jobThe blogging rush has reached such rate that presently it has gained popularity in a market where competition is overtly fierce. This is how it came that business owners actually hire people to optimize blogs and keep a close watch over what happens on the web;......
• contracting, freelancing and linklings This gruesome economy...what fun we are all having. We started asking around about listing our house and moving, and we were horrified by the depreciation in our home value.  In the New York City area, things have changed - drastically.  Most of my neighbors worked in the financial services......
• linklings, around the blogworld edition I've had a busy week, with the in-laws visiting and the external Big 4 auditors a-peckin' away at work, but I did make a little bit of time for a walk around the blog world. I read a lot of blogs and articles, and I'd divide all of what......

Well, Layla’s growing like a weed. Already weighing in at 22 pounds.

I’ve been trying to mainly use positive reinforcement during all of her training, and believe me, she knows which behaviors call for a treat or other reward.

I try to reinforce basic commands at least twice a day, and fetching at least once a day. I think the progress in tremendous.

If you remember the first training video, it took like five takes to get her to bring the sock back correctly. I’m proud to say that today, it was only one take. Forgive the camera work, as I’m not the best producer (yet).

You can view Layla in action right here.

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-21 Using positive reinforcement training yo train your hunting dog. http://bit.ly/Zt81d # Tips on Starting Kids Out Hunting http://bit.ly/jdFYt # Just broke 100 followers, THANKS to everyone. # Good night tweeters # An interesting article on dreams http://bit.ly/dWX4Z # 96 pound catfish!! http://bit.ly/Q1ITZ # Just broke 200 followers, THANKS EVERYONE,......
• DJ Farms Dove Lease Review After a long week of waiting, I finally got to load up Layla and my 11-87 and head to Dallas to meet up with my brother and go hunting on DJ Farms leases in North Texas. The preliminary scouting reports were very encouraging, plowed corn, lots of dove in the......
• Judge takes away 9-year-old's shotgun The spokesman reported that a judge in Spokane, Washington ruled that a father is not allowed to give his 9-year-old a shotgun. The court was involved due to a divorce between the boy's parents. The mother filed for a restraining order on the shotgun, claiming the boy was too young......

• How to Really Correct Your Dog [caption id="attachment_59" align="alignleft" width="205" caption="Correcting Behavior"][/caption] When it comes to dog training, perhaps the most overlooked aspect of working with a dog is understanding how to correct it. It takes more than simply knowing the right way to do something; you have to be able to "translate" what you know......
• Learn How to Speak 'Dog' [caption id="attachment_205" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Talk Dog."][/caption]Because dogs work so well with humans and seem to give an understanding eye when it comes to our behaviors, we often forget how little dogs understand. Some people even suspect that their dogs believe themselves to be humans, part of the family! When it......
• Reader Email Makes My Day Last week I got a nice email from a reader that went like this: I just wanted to email you and let you know I think your blog is great!  I just stumbled across it by clicking the link in a comment you made on MyDollarPlan (mainly because I was curious about the......

What exactly is positive reinforcement training?

According to expert dog trainer, Don Hanson, it is the practice of rewarding your dog with food or play for behaviors you want repeated. Hanson says that “rewarded behaviors tend to be repeated and unrewarded behaviors tend to be extinguished.”

By using using positive reinforcement your hunting dog will be performing certain behaviors in order to get a reward instead of to avoid being punished. Hanson says that the most effective negative punishment is “simply withdrawing your attention or the opportunity for a reward.”

Actions such as sitting, coming, staying, and fetching can all be easily taught by using this method. Furthermore, breaking your dog from jumping on you or other people or any other undesired behavior can be broke efficiently using positive reinforcement.

I have implemented this method with my new hunting dog, Layla. The results have been fabulous. By seven weeks old Layla was sitting and would come when called. She is nine-weeks old now, and is by far the most well minded dog I’ve had.

For just a pup, she has got it together. She goes to the door to potty, sits when she wants a treat, retrieves well and is a pleasure to own.

The only thing I’m having trouble with is getting her to stop biting my hand when she gets excited or wants to play.

Does anyone have any advice to help stop this? Your thoughts are welcome..

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Humane Society Trying to Control Hunters In an article from West Virginia Outdoors News, the government in Kanawha County in conjunction with the humane society has passed an ordinance requiring hunting dogs to be be brought inside if the temperature outside is over 80 degrees or below 40 degrees. I mean really, how can an ordinance......
• Bird dog training (part I) The following is the first article, written by my brother, in a series on how to train your bird dog. Darla. his lab, is an awesome bird dog. He has trained her since she was a puppy. Not only is she awesome hunting dove, she's great hunting quail also. If you've......
• Texas Weekly Migratory Bird Report Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February. North Zone Dove: The North Zone season closes at sunset Oct. 25, but reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2010. Generally, the season has been fair at best, but not for lack of birds. Rains hampered most flight patterns......

• Appropriate and Effective Dog Training For Families and Their Pets Welcome to the DogSmith and an overview of our training philosophies and methodologies. If you are embarking on a dog training career or if you just want to further educate yourself and your dog then you are about to commence a fascinating journey into the world of interspecies communication. What......
• Dog Training - Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement by Harry Littman Dogs will naturally do things that we don't want them to do. They will chew anything that they can get their teeth on, they will bark like there is no tomorrow, they will pee and poo where they please, they will dig holes and destroy the backyard,......
• Hunting Outdoors There is no shortage of specialized equipment that is available to hunters when it comes to hunting their chosen prey throughout the year. There are a number of different variables that determine what equipment a hunter is going to require including the animal that is being hunted, the setting where......

Layla has rapidly became a part of our family. She is spoiled and loved by all four of my boys and my wife. My youngest son, who is 15 months, has a playmate. They fight and play just like siblings. Make no mistake about it though, she is my dog. No matter who throws the ball , she brings it to me.

She is sitting and comes when called (most of the time). I’m using treats to reward her for good behavior and it seems to be working great.

 Here is quick video of her learning to fetch:

Layla’s 1st Lesson

So she’s not perfect yet, but for seven weeks old I’m more than happy.

By spending a little time each day, Layla is going to be a great hunting dog. Not to mention, a lot of fun.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Hunting South Texas I know we have a page to review hunting land, but I figured since this particular land is where we have our Top Gun competition every year, it deserved its very own post.     Since 2003 we've been hunting opening day of the south zone at the Las Palomas WMA in......
• Shooting, mind over matter        Shooting a shotgun is as much mental warfare  as it is fundamentals. This past Saturday my brother, my dad, my two oldest sons, andI went to the skeet range. We decided to shoot a round of trap since the skeet range was packed. All of us ,except Dad, had......
• How to pattern your shotgun Do you miss a lot? Have you ever wondered what the difference between a Modified cylinder and an Improved Cylinder is? What about the difference between a 7.5 or 8 shot load? All these questions can be answered with a couple of boxes of shells, some paper, and time. Patterning......

• Three Ways to Find Some Extra Cash for the Holidays Yeah the holidays are almost here! Many people are excited at the prospect of enjoying another holiday season. Other folks, though, are panic-stricken. If you haven’t been saving some extra cash to pay for your holiday celebrations, the holiday season may be terrifying for you. How will you get through......
• The Fab Five - Midweek Roundup Edition Below are five interesting posts I've had the pleasure of reading so far this week.  Back later today with my own post on discovering (nearly) effortless ways to shave a little extra off your monthly expenses. Now is a Good Time to Be Living on a Budget. Often times when......
• Year End Financial Planning – What You Need to Be Doing Now I love the fall months. The colors of the flowers and trees, the pleasant weather, and even school activities with the family combine to create my favorite time of year. The coming of fall brings more than good times and pretty sights, though. Fall is the perfect time to start......

I’d like to introduce you to Layla. She’s six weeks old and I just brought her home two days ago. Soon she’ll be retrieving my dove but for now I have to start the training process.

Let’s face it, at six weeks old her attention span is short and so is her energy level.

My goals at this age are pretty simple. Spend a little time each day playing and building her trust. Teach her her name and use it often so she will begin to recognize it and come when called. Start the potty training process, even though she will eventually stay outside, for now she will learn where to go. She is very curious now, which is good, but showing her her boundaries early will go along way in the future.

These things are simple and she will graduate quickly to more advanced training. Now is the time for me and her to bond and by making a little time everyday I’ll be on my way to a great hunting dog.

Dog Trainer Pet has some very good training tips for your hunting dog.

Time to RELOAD

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Effects of Drought on Dove Hunting Blistering heat, dead or failing crops, dead lawns, and burn bans pretty much describe this summer here in Texas. Most say this year's almost fourteen inch shortfall of rain is a curse, but I say it's great news for dove hunting. Before you call me crazy, let me explain. “In......
• Texas Migratory Bird Report North Zone Dove: Drier conditions have helped dove hunters the past few days. Grain fields of milo and corn continue to produce in the Panhandle north of Amarillo. Mourning doves have been best in the afternoon on the edges of fields. Abilene hunters have had good shoots in sunflowers. Red......
• 2009 Electric Collar Review An electric collar can be an effective tool when training your hunting dog. E-collars can be used to reinforce commands and keep your hunting dog from getting into a bad spot. Today's collars have many features and levels of stimulation to help control your dog in any situation. Remember, e-collars are only......

• Gearing Up And Preparing For Puppy Potty Training Puppy potty training may very well be one of the most difficult aspects of bringing home a new puppy. It requires vigilance and a dedication to constant supervision. It also requires a great deal of patience. No one enjoys the idea of a puppy going potty in the all the......
• Three Ways to Find Some Extra Cash for the Holidays Yeah the holidays are almost here! Many people are excited at the prospect of enjoying another holiday season. Other folks, though, are panic-stricken. If you haven’t been saving some extra cash to pay for your holiday celebrations, the holiday season may be terrifying for you. How will you get through......
• Easy Procedures For House Training Puppies While you are going to need some stacks of newspapers to house train your puppy, other items are needed as well. Paying attention, patience, consistency and commitment are a part of it as well. To help you train your puppy or dog, use the guide listed below. Keep in......

An electric collar can be an effective tool when training your hunting dog. E-collars can be used to reinforce commands and keep your hunting dog from getting into a bad spot. Today’s collars have many features and levels of stimulation to help control your dog in any situation. Remember, e-collars are only a tool, not the only way to train your dog. Your dog should have a basic grasp of the simplest commands before introducing them to the collar. After introducing the collar , use it to aid in training, not hurt your dog. The combination collars that have both stimulation and beep, are extremely helpful with training. Select a model that fits your dog and is easy to use and you’ll have much less stress on your next dove hunt. Your hunting dog will be right beside you, doing what the both of you love, looking for dove.

There are several new models from various manufacturers. Let’s look at the top picks for 2009.

• The Remington Sidekick Training Collar takes top new collar in the bang for the buck category. This is a new product in Remington’s arsenal. The sidekick retails for about $190 and features nine levels of push button stimulation and patented “Consistent Reliable Stimulation” technology. This feature gives the ability to apply steady stimulation, which could save fido from getting in a lot of trouble. The sidekick does give up a little range at only 400 yards. I’m a big Remingotn fan, so I give it a thumbs up.
• The Dogtra 2500/2502 T Series Electronic Dog Training Collars take the award for best all around collars. Dogtra has become one of the top manufacturers of e-collars. All Dogtra collars come standard with durable, lightweight, easy to activate collar receivers and hand-held transmitters with simple controls. The 2500 model offers 127 levels of nick and constant stimulation. The beeper activates up to 400 yards out and the stimulation has a range of 1 mile. The price range is around $380 for one dog and $540 for two dog collars.
• D.T. Systems SPT 2400 Series Electronic Dog Training Collars have the best new feature. They come with a ‘Jump’ button that automatically increases stimulation as long as you hold the button. This feature allows you to quickly get your hunting dog under control. D.T. offers the best warranty of all manufacturers of e-collars, lifetime warranty on parts and one year on labor. The collars of 50 levels of stimulation with three beeper modes and a 1.3 mile range. Prices range from $380-$600.
• Tri-Tronics has three new models out. The Classic 70G3EXP, Field 90G3EXP, and the Upland G3EXP. These are probably the simplest e-collars to use . The old style tube transmitter with single push button controls take all the confusion out of training. The ‘EXP’ models allow the use of multiple collars. The Classic EXP can control up to six collars and the Field and Upland EXP control up to three. All three models have a one mile range and can be fully recharged in two hours. There prices are roughly $320, $360, and $520 respectively.

In an article in Wildfowl Magazine, they listed the top ten guidelines from professional trainers for choosing and using e-collars. These were a consensus of advice given by several experts.

1. Use an e-collar to gently, not painfully reinforce lessons in canine obedience as taught by traditional hands-on methods.
2. Calibrate e-collar stimulation power at the lowest level that is effective.
3. Set e-collar stimulation to higher levels to stop your dog from committing dangerous or self-destructive acts.
4. Know how to use the e-collar before putting on your hunting dog.
5. Use your e-collar while training and hunting, i.e, be consistent.
6. Choose an e-collar that is easy to use, because the timing of stimulation is key.
7. Pick an e-collar to fit your dog’s temperament and hunting style, e.g., a running dog will need a collar with longer range and higher stimulation levels.
8. Determine your need for an e-collar by counting the number of times you give your dog commands for basic obedience. Sometimes it helps to have a friend count, as you are not as aware of how much repetition you have with your dog.
9. When shopping for e-collars pay close attention to warranties, expected lifetimes, and how quickly they can be repaired.
10. Learn to love your e-collar because they are one of the most effective way to training your hunting dog.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Only in Texas .... Apparently some of the people moving out to the country are surprised during dove season. I came across this article from WFAA, and couldn't help but see some humor in it. Lori Castoldi awoke last week to the sound of gunshots near her Prosper home.      "It was all around......
• Who Makes the Best Shotgun? Let's take a vote, who makes the best shotgun? My vote is Remington. I think that Remington is a great company that has introduced two models of shotguns that have stood the test of time, the 870 and 1100. What is your preference, fill out the quick survey below and......
• 2009 New Shotguns This year many popular brands have came out with new models that will make out goal of limiting out on dove a little easier, and we'll be doing it in style. Let's look at some of the different models unique features. Benelli's Cordoba Performance Shop Edition: Automatic, Available in 12......

• Moonee Valley - Top picks for Saturday Australian Horse Racing is coming back slowly now, after the recent Equine Influenza scare. As a result, many quality runners will not appear this season. Saturday's racing looks a mixed bag, with a few half decent races at Moonee Valley, late afternoon. There will probably be a couple of......
• Weekend Roundup - Sick Edition It's been a difficult week here in the Not Made of Money household. All four children have been sick. Thankfully everyone looks to be on the mend now, but what a week it was! Our Target pharmacist knows us all by name now. On to the reading for the week.......
• Platform Lift Means Wheelchair Users Can Enjoy Sports Facilities in Abergavenny Wheelchair users enjoy a wide range of sports, including basketball, tennis and athletics. Some participants go on to compete in the Paralympic Games, an elite competition for the less able that takes place every four years, while others play simply for leisure. movemanSKG recently installed a platform lift at the......