16ga.com ~ View topic

My young friend has a puppy Brittany which shows some promise. I have an older Lab and a rescue Lab x Catahoula mix. The Labahoula is a lovable dog but an a**hole to newer dogs. I would like to invite them up to hunt some grouse this season but I’m cautious with the rescue. Any thoughts on introducing these two?

Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 259 Location: MN

A couple thoughts...

If I was owner of the young Britt I wouldn't hunt it with flushers early on. Dogs learn from other dogs. The Britt would be learning to flush grouse, not to point them. I have that situation in my house right now, young pointer, old flusher.

Second, puppies need mostly controlled positive experiences. It doesn't sound like meeting your rescue would fall into that category.

If you have good grouse habitat that you want to share with your friend this year, I suggest leaving your dogs at home.

fourtown,

As a retired dog trainer I agree 100%, the young Brit dog need to hunt by himself and learn to point Grouse by bumping them. Do not shoot the Grouse until the Brit is rock solid on point, or you will have a flushing dog. Remember the Brit is originally a flushing dog that has been changed into a pointing dog here in the USA.

al the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers

Good point on not running them together. I wasn’t planning to but only for sanity’s sake. Forgot about the “training” factor.

This will be a two week jaunt, and the wife will be along as well so leaving them home is not an option, but she would likely take a break from walking with me to read at the cabin, so she could stay with our dogs while I hunt with my friend and the Britt. He would likely only be up for a few days.

My concern was more about having the dogs together in the cabin, as it would be economical for all to stay together and there is enough bedrooms.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 443 Location: Maine

If your dog is trustworthy around other dogs it "knows", then perhaps introduce them in neutral territory, ie. not on your property a few times before the trip, and see how it goes. Otherwise I'd keep them physically separated at the cabin, if that's even feasible.

I will give the neutral territory a try, another good point.

He can be reasonable. Before my daughter left home, she brought home 2 kittens with the approval of my wife (I was outvoted immediately). I had visions of a bloodbath, but he took to them well and actually kept them in line at times. I like other people's cats at their house. Was very happy to see them go with my daughter when they moved out.

However, this is somebody else's dog, and again with a lot of promise. I would feel awful if I was responsible for an incident.