From the Regulations & Guidelines for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers:
Chapter 4
Standards for Junior, Senior and Master Hunting Tests
Section 3.
The ability to mark accurately is of primary importance. A dog which marks the fall of a bird, uses the wind, follows a strong cripple, and takes direction from its handler is of great value.
One of the benefits to using a dog while hunting is so that the hunter does not loose any birds. Sometimes the the birds fall in heavy cover and would be lost but for the dog digging them out. Other times the birds are only wounded. We call then “cripples” and a strong cripple would be one that is still running or swimming. Obviously, the hunter wants to make sure to find and retrieve these birds because otherwise they would be wasted.
Whether you are training for hunting or tests, it is important that a dog be able to follow and retrieve a cripple. It is a good idea to use live birds in training every now and again. Sometimes young dogs or dogs who are only trained using dead birds, will hesitate or even refuse to pick up a fresh killed or cripple bird.
Last Saturday we had a chance to train with live birds.
Since Freighter is such a maniac when it comes to birds and gunfire, it was a good chance to work on his steadiness. He got to sit and watch some dogs retrieve their birds.
Finally it was Freighter’s turn and as it turned out, his bird was only crippled.
It seems (at least from the pictures) that he was fairly confident and not at all put off by the crippled bird. I don’t know how one of my dogs would react to that, but then again they are not hunting dogs so I guess it’s a moot point. 🙂
I will always remember that story of Storm and the goose, right now I can’t recall if it was a Canadian goose or a snow goose, but I do remember it was almost as big as she was. 🙂
Wow that is impressive. Molly would so love that. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly
Yikes, that’s a little scary…well for me, probably not Freighter. Well done.
Hi Y’all!
Oh what a great experience. Every young retriever I’ve had has found young, live birds, usually song birds just learning to fly, and brought them to me. I’ve always thought it was a good sign, especially when I got one as an older pup. Candy brought me a Red Shoulder hawk one time that had a broken leg. Wildlife service came and got it but it didn’t make it.
BrownDog’s Human
Oh my, that would make it even more fun since he got to chase it!
Doesn’t look like he hesitated at all. I bet he had a lot of fun, it certainly looks like it.
Does the dog dispatch the cripple, or does the handler do that one he or she has it in hand? Just curious.
It depends. This bird came back flapping. Sometimes while hunting the dog will take care of it in the field.
Looks like Freighter did just fine!
Good job, Freighter! I feel bad for the bird, though.
Good Job Freighter!
Great action shots, my gang loves training with real live birds.
I love how enthusiastic Freighter is!
They go crazy with live birds, don’t they? We use pigeons mostly, and Mia used to be gentle and retrieve them unharmed, but now she kills them on retrieving – she’s developed a grip that punctures their lungs, but doesn’t hurt the meat on game birds.
Way to go, freighter! What a good boy!