Heartland Outdoors

Pheasant Fest great for dogs, hunters

Sat, February 18, 2012

By BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN

  KANSAS CITY — The 2012 Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic has enough handouts to keep even that free-loading brother-in-law of yours happy.

  Tote bags. Mini-flashlights. Brochures. Chances to win fine guns. Can koozies.  Cool pheasant-themed neckerchiefs. Food for people. Food for dogs.

  There’s lots of food for dogs. You name the brand, and they’re handing you samples of it.

  There’s even something called DogGestive, a pumpkin-flavored, gravy-textured supplement for your dog’s digestive system. You have to appreciate the product’s pitchman, who, in order to show you how good it is, rips open a pouch and digs into it. I can’t say whether the product actually helps your dog’s digestive system, but I can vouch for its fine taste.

  Yes, all the products are fun to taste and touch and try, but the most valuable thing offered here is the knowledge of seasoned upland hunters and bird-dog trainers.

  Renowned trainer Rick Smith, for example, impressed a crowd with his seminar, “Foundation Training for Pointing Dogs.”

  Smith took a 5-month-old pup from the crowd, put it on a lead and, in no time, had it coming to him, walking beside him and sitting still. He said the key is to give the pup gentle tugs on the lead to give it a “cue” as to what to do.

  “Not yank her off her feet,” Smith said. “I’m not going to just get up here and go yanking on her and yelling at her and stuff like that. In fact, I’m not going to be talking to her at all, because in reality, she’s reading me.”

  A pup will “read” your actions and know what you want, such as when to sit still or walk alongside you, he said. How does it know what you want?

  “She’s a pack animal, she watches the pack leader,” he said. “I stepped up and became the pack leader immediately. My relationship started as soon as I got my hand on the lead.”

  After a few repetitions, Smith had the pup heeling, coming to him and sitting still with no trouble.

  “I did not teach her that,” he said. “She’s been conditioned to do that.”

  Until the pup has had a lot of practice at this and has a grasp of what’s expected, Smith doesn’t use a command — only the lead and his body language. An e-collar can be added to the practice, and is used as a sort of invisible replacement for the lead. Light, momentary “nicks” from the e-collar replace the light tugs on the lead.

  This training, Smith said, will be the foundation for all of your pup’s future training, because almost all of a bird dog’s duties involve being able to hold still, come to you or walk with you.

  It’s clear that Smith knows his stuff. At one point, the pup placed a paw atop Smith’s boot.

  “Do you see that?” he said, pointing to the paw. “That’s dominant behavior.”

  He gently nudged the pup’s rump with his knee, which removed her paw and reminded her that he’s the dominant one.

  A couple more tips from Smith:

  • If you want something from the pup’s mouth, pick up the pup. It will drop the item 99 percent of the time. A dog also will drop a bird if you gently pull up on the loose flap of skin between the rear leg and torso.

  Don’t try to use corrective measures on a dog for picking up an item it isn’t supposed to have — especially if you’re trying to teach it to retrieve. It will only learn that it’s not supposed to put things in its mouth. It your dog chews up your shoes, it’s your fault for leaving them out — not the dog’s.

  • Although it’s tempting to be affectionate with the new pup and engage in horseplay, it’s important to remember to be the pack leader. With too much rough-housing, “they fall apart,” Smith said.

  Other dog trainers at this year’s event include Jim Moorehouse, Ronnie Smith, Delmar Smith, Tom Dokken and Bob West.

  Other seminar presenters include chefs, habitat specialists and Scott Linden, host of the Wingshooting USA television show.

  Linden’s tips included opening up your choke — even using a skeet choke to widen the pattern. And have fun, Linden said, because upland hunting isn’t about putting meat on the table, “it’s about putting birds in the dog’s mouth.”

  The Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, presented by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, runs through Sunday.

  And now, some of the new stuff on display this year:

  • The Burr Paw is a mitten that brushes cockelburs, stick-tights (beggar’s lice) and other stickers off your clothes or out of your dog’s coat. It uses loop-type material, like what is used in conjunction with velcro. Information available at: www.burrpaw.com.

  • The Space trailer is a lightweight but tough trailer that will free up room in your vehicle for upland hunting trips as well as trips to the hunting camp or the fishing hole. Or load it up at the hardware store for your next project. It’s essentially a box trailer with a shell-type, hinged top. Accessories include a top rack, which can be used to carry bikes, a canoe, etc. Information at: www.spacetrailers.com.

  • The new TriStar Setter 12-gauge shotgun is an affordable over-under that retails for about $450. It’s the company’s first double-trigger, extractor shotgun, and has laser-cut checkering, steel receiver and chrome-lined barrels. Comes with three Beretta-style chokes. Information: www.tristarsportingarms.com.

  • The SportDog Upland Hunter e-collar/beeper combo system (model SD-1875) provides control via electronic stimulation, vibration or tone, and features a remotely-operated beeper. It has seven levels of continuous or momentary stimulation, and a range of up to a mile. Multiple dogs can be controlled with added collars.

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