Transition from ball/Frisbee

I finally found the perfect fit for my family, and have taken in an amazing dog. He is smart as a whip, and very fast learner. He's just over a year, and the previous owners did a fantastic job on manners, sit, stay, lay down, roll over, play dead, got to ur bed and a few other tricks. His Frisbee skills are absolutely nuts, and he'll catch mid air and return to hand every single time. I stopped the Frisbee due to research in injuries etc, and we now just do a ball or a bumper I bought. My question is.....has anyone ever transitioned from all of those types of skills etc...to say a flushing and retrieving type of skills? I'm not looking to win competitions, but would like to have him as an extra tool come fall for grouse. Just looking for any advise from anyone who has done this with a dog before. Thanks in advance,

Scott

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Originally Posted by LiveBates

My question is.....has anyone ever transitioned from all of those types of skills etc...to say a flushing and retrieving type of skills? I'm not looking to win competitions, but would like to have him as an extra tool come fall for grouse.

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Congrats on finding a good fit....

You don't mention breed, the DNA of a dog is essential to understand what it will do naturally. I have a 6 month old Black Lab cross that is amazing at flushing birds in the hay field already. He's does everything right with no training yet. All-natural instinct. Gives me something easy to work with.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Congrats on finds a good fit....

You don't mention breed, the DNA of a dog is essential to understand what it will do naturally. I have a 6 month old Black Lab cross that is amazing at flushing birds in the hay field already. He's does everything right with no training yet. All-natural instinct. Gives me something easy to work with.

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That's awesome Mike. He's a goldendoodle. It's funny, I spent the last year speaking with breeders from Kansas to Saskatchewan to PEI about started dogs etc....and I ended up with a doodle as his manners, trainability and personality with my kids trumped an all out hunting machine...lol.

Pointing may be a stretch but should have the making for a decent duck dog and flusher. All a flusher needs to do is stay with in gun range and be bidable enough to stay close and come in when called.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Pointing may be a stretch but should have the making for a decent duck dog and flusher. All a flusher needs to do is stay with in gun range and be bidable enough to stay close and come in when called.

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That's what I was thinking, and hoping for, thx. He definitely stays within 10-30 yards while off leash, and his recall is amazing. He's definitely motivated by having tasks, and so far, his eagerness to please has my hopes high for a partner in the woods.

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Originally Posted by LiveBates

That's what I was thinking, and hoping for, thx. He definitely stays within 10-30 yards while off leash, and his recall is amazing. He's definitely motivated by having tasks, and so far, his eagerness to please has my hopes high for a partner in the woods.

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Guess the only way you'll know is get your hands on some pigeons. plant them in the field and see what he does. Ideally long lead him as want to discourage chasing on the flush.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Guess the only way you'll know is get your hands on some pigeons. plant them in the field and see what he does. Ideally long lead him as want to discourage chasing on the flush.

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That's the plan, thanks. I'm off for a month shortly, and will be hopefully starting some basics with him.

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Originally Posted by LiveBates

That's the plan, thanks. I'm off for a month shortly, and will be hopefully starting some basics with him.

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Good luck, have fun.
Nova's training mostly took place with a single pigeon that I live trapped when it showed up one day.
https://live.staticflickr.com/4386/3...94f1dc7d_z.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/XsFvB1]

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

All a flusher needs to do is stay with in gun range and be bidable enough to stay close and come in when called.

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Well that sounds simple lol

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Originally Posted by Cass

Well that sounds simple lol

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No offense meant, however I beleive to OP is inquiring about a dog that can flush game not so much about a finished gundog .

Just ribbing ya bud