April 2015 - North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association

WWW.SANDIEGONAVHDA.COM
Volume 8 Issue 8 Apr. 2015
NORTH AMERICAN VERSATILE HUNTING DOG ASSOCIATION, SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
Hello San Diego Chapter members,
President’s Message
1
Calendar, Schedule,
Chapter Info
2
Apr. Training, Versatile Dog
Articles of Interest
R & R’s, Contact Info
& Sponsors
3
4-5
6
San Diego NAVHDA Links

Inland Empire Chapter
NAVHDA

So Cal Chapter
NAVHDA

Grand Canyon Chapter
NAVHDA

San Diego County Wildlife Federation

San Diego Sporting Dog
Club

High on Kennels
This month we travel to Prado Recreation in Chino Hills for our training
day. I know some of you have not been
there previously and I urge you to
make the drive. It will give you an understanding of the size area you need
to successfully train your dog to hunt
and test.
If you participated in the Jr Pheasant
Hunt I know you had an enjoyable
experience even though the weather
was poor and the birds did not fly well.
Every kid I spoke with had a great time.
I want to pay kudos to Mark Miller. Fresh off helping to organize the Jr. Pheasant Hunt Mark
stepped up for the second year and ran our Rattlesnake Avoidance clinic. Do to his great organizational work and the help of Richard Thomas, Bob and Jackie Smith, Bob Kendall, Kirt Gilliland,
Blake Langland, Judy Norton, Davis Arienti, Fred Presson and Greg Weiss of High On Kennels,
the staff at the Jamul Veterinary Hospital including Dr. Katzer and Dr. Sawyer we had a phenomenal day running eighty five dogs through the clinic. Your chapter increased its coffers by $3,000.
Saturday April 18th we will have a booth at the Boy Scout Fair at Qualcomm Stadium to further
our goal of exposing youth to our sport. We could use your help. There is very little set up required, but we could use you and your dog's help for two hours manning the booth and telling the
scouts about your dog, handing out flyers, and maybe doing some obedience or retrieving demos.
Please call or email Ruth Weiss to volunteer. Her contact information is listed at the end of this
newsletter.
If you know someone that missed the Snake Avoidance Training the San Diego
Sporting Dog Club has a clinic May 9th in Lakeside. There are other clinics
listed on High On Kennels' website.
Hope to see you at training day. Be safe and watch out for the foxtails.
Remember to check your dog completely after you run them. Ticks are out
there also.
Jeff Derbes
President
Volume 8 Issue 8
APR.2015
April 2015
Sun
Mon
Tu e
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Thu
Fri
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Sat
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Apr. 11th Training Day @ High On Kennels
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May 16th Training Day @ High On Kennels
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June 28th Training Day @ Prado
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July 25th Training Day @ Fiesta Island
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August 16th Chapter Summer Picnic @
The Kendall Residence
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11
Training
Day: Prado

Apr. 10-12 Grand Canyon of Arizona Mayer, Az. NA/UPT/UT (More Info)

Apr. 11-12. Great Central Valley - Ione,
Ca. NA/UPT/UT (More Info)

May 1-2. So Cal. Chapter NA/UPT/UT
Chino, Ca. (More Info)
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15
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June 6-7 Inland Empire Chapter NA/UT
Chino, CA. (More Info)
Booth @ Boy
Scout Fair
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Boat, Signs, T-shirts, Hats, Heeling
Stakes, 2 Shotguns, First Aid Kits,
Zinger Winger, Bird Launchers, Tables,
Chain Gang, Training Table, Trailer,
Whelping Box
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Please send all dues and
applications to:
Kirt Gilliland
17898 Corazon Place
San Diego, CA. 92127
Application for
Chapter Membership
(Single Membership $25 Family $35)
2
Beginning Balance:
$
6052.43
Income:
$
320.00
Expenses:
$
424.18
Ending Balance:
$
5948.25
Volume 8 Issue 8
APR.2015
April 11th we travel north to the Chino Hills Prado Recreation Park . This facility is 585 acres of
training fields and multiple ponds, If you choose
to check it out online click here. The gates to the
facility open at 7:30 am.
Normally we start the training day at 8:00am
with a short meeting to go over safety and
news/events with our Chapter.
Pay close attention to your email for further instructions from one of the training coordinators
about details and bird requests.
For directions you can click here or click on the
picture to the left. These directions show you
how to get to Prado via the 15 freeway.
Alternatively you can take the 5 to the 133 toll
road and 241 toll road which is the quicker route
from the north county , directions here. To use
the toll roads you do not need to have a fastrak
account any longer, you can now pay for the toll
online at thetollroads.com within 48 hours.
It had been described for the first time during the Renaissance (Natural History
from Aldrovandi, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris). In danger of disappearing, it
thrived again after World War I with the creation of the first club, in 1925.
After World War II, the number of births decreased and the club became less active until it ceased to function. From 1963 to 1973, there were no dogs registered in
the LOF (French studbook). The reason for this is probably a selection on secondary characteristics (color of the coat, short tail) instead of the hunting capabilities
and general construction of the dog; this led to have a Bourbonnais less suitable for
hunting than other breeds.
In 1970, Michel Comte decided to look for the last dog that had some Bourbonnais
blood. He found only mixed breed dogs, which had some characteristics of the
Braque du Bourbonnais (size, shape of the head, short tail). After some more or less inbred litters, he registered his first Bourbonnais on the LOF (under Titre Initial procedure) in 1973, 1974, and 1975; from then, several breeders joined him, who, from
those dogs, created their own lines, and the number of births increased.,[1][2]
In 1981, the Club du Braque du Bourbonnais was recreated. Michel Comte was its president until 2001. From this moment, the
successes of the Bourbonnais in field trials made the breed thrive.
In 1988, the first Bourbonnais was introduced in the USA. Since then the breed has been growing in that country, which became
the second producer of Bourbonnais pointers after France.
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Volume 8 Issue 8
APR.2015
Pop boxes are versatile in creating hunting situations. I use mine to
teach my German shorthaired pointers to stop to flush. After setting
a box in the field, I simply release the dog downwind of the bird.
When he is about 20 to 30 yards from the box and in eyesight, I automatically flush the bird and tell the dog to whoa. Within a couple
of sessions, the dog will stop to flush upon seeing the bird in flight
on his own.
Training with Pop Boxes
by Steve Borecky
Gundogsonline.com
To keep the dog from trailing man scent to where you place your pop
boxes, I always set them in the field with the bird in place, sometimes 45 minutes prior to use. This gives the wind a chance to wash
the man scent away from the boxes. Tips for training with pop boxes
or wire cages:
Always place your launchers in cover sufficiently high so the dog
can’t see it. If necessary, mark the spot with a tall, thin flag.
Always place your birds upwind of the of the direction your dog will
come from.
When using more than one training box, they should be placed far
enough apart so the dog has room to hunt and quarter before encountering the next bird.
Never let your dog watch as you put your birds down. Make him use
that nose that mother nature gave him to hunt with.
Learning to correctly plant birds is a crucial skill for the trainer.
Incorrect bird
planting can be
both very frustrating and costly.
Watching a bird
that has been improperly planted in
your training area
either fly away or be
swooped up by a
hungry red-tailed
hawk can put a damper on anyone’s training session.
Always remember that nothing takes the place of obedience training
with a dog. Before you start your bird work make sure your dog will
obey your commands in the field, at home or in your backyard.
With the number of birds you will need to correctly train a wellmannered hunting dog, you can ill afford to loose any while training.
I personally use about 200 to 300 planted birds in a controlled field
situation over my young dogs, before I ever shoot a wild bird. I want all
of these birds to be exactly where I place them during my training sessions.
If you use only common pigeons in your training at a cost of $1.50 to
$2.00 each, losing birds can be expensive. Game birds will double or
triple that cost to develop your charger.
There are several methods that can be used while placing your birds in
the field for training that will assure you they will stay put. The least
expensive is to make yourself a small wire cage that a bird can be
placed in. Chicken wire works, but a box made from 1 screening works
best. A door on top of the box makes for easy access allowing you to
release the bird manually. If the dog fails to point after scenting the
bird and goes in on it at least he will not be able to mouth it. (This type
of bird holder will not work with flushing dogs.)
Another option is a commercially made bird launcher. I favor the
Innotek launchers. They manufacture four models. Manual model ML10 is for use with small birds and manual model ML-14 is for use with
larger ones. After placing the bird in the launcher, the trainer releases
it by simply pulling a cord, allowing him to control the situation.
In my training I use Innotek’s remote launchers. Model RL-10 allows
me to use pigeons, quail and chukers. For larger birds like pheasants
and ducks I use their Model RL-14. These launchers are triggered by an
Innotek Command Series transmitter (which can also operate training
collars) or a dedicated four-button transmitter. The speed with which
these boxes open at the push of a button allows the trainer to be in
complete control at all times.
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Volume 8 Issue 8
APR.2015
The Whoa Command
your dog and put it back to the location where you gave the command; and when putting the dog down, give the command again. If
there is compliance, be sure to praise your dog.
By Paul Fuller
Birddogsafield.com
The “whoa” command is the most important tool a handler has for
working with pointing dogs. It’s a non-negotiable, stop-on-a-dime command. It has multiple applications both during training and hunting
sessions. If taught correctly, it can save a dog’s life if approaching a
highway; it can prevent the dreaded porcupine or skunk encounter if
the handler sees trouble ahead; and it will be a priceless tool when
training a dog to be staunch on point and steady to wing and shot.
A common problem with teaching any command is that the dog will
put itself in a submissive position and walk toward you. This is simply a cop-out on the part of the dog. It’s an easy way to avoid compliance. This is a good time to introduce hand signals. Extend your arm
toward your dog with the palm of your hand pointing directly at the
dog and then give the “whoa” command again. Hand signals will be
useful during many future situations.
Training a dog to be compliant to the “whoa” command is not difficult…it just takes time and patience. As with teaching any command or
exercise, the process is one step at a time. Go slow…this is not a speed
contest.
The initial process of teaching “whoa” will take at least two months;
however, it’s really a life-long process for the dog. When you begin
using “whoa” in the field to teach staunchness on live birds, the excitement might cause your dog to have a memory lapse. Don’t be
discouraged, just keep working on the command.
The only mandatory tool you’ll need to teach “whoa” is a ten-foot check
cord. An additional tool that would help the process would be a training
table. The training table helps you have more control over your dog and Teaching the “whoa” command may take time; however, the altersaves your back from leaning over. If you want to go even one step fur- native is a great deal of screaming, yelling and unhappiness during
ther, buy a suitcase handle training device from one of the mail order
the hunting season, and we want hunting season to be fun, don’t we?
dog supply houses.
As with any training exercise, we start our training based on the temperament of the dog. In general, I like to begin teaching “whoa” around
four months of age. If you have a bold puppy, starting earlier than four
months would be appropriate. A soft, sensitive puppy could mean waiting another month.
Either kneeling down, or on the training table, simply pick-up your
puppy gently and then put him down gently. The moment the puppy’s
paws touch the ground or the training table, softly say “whoa”. If you
begin teaching whoa with a soft voice, you may never have to raise your
voice with this command. I’ve watched the real dog training “pros” stop
a dog in their tracks with a “whoa” so soft I barely heard it. When the
pup’s paws touch down and you’ve given a soft “whoa” command, hold
the pup in that position for just a couple of seconds. As you progress,
beginning holding the pup for five seconds. Once five seconds becomes
easy, extend the holding period to 30 seconds.
Always teach commands of this nature in sets of three or seven. For a
young puppy, begin with three. Make every effort to do this exercise
twice a day…perhaps before you go to work in the a.m. and then when
you return home in the evening.
Early in the exercise, once you’ve seen the pup begin to hesitate when
hearing “whoa”, take your hands off the dog and continue to say
“whoa”. You just want to see how long the pup will stay still. At this
stage, remember that there are always set-backs. Your pup may respond perfectly two or three consecutive times and then completely
ignore the next “whoa” command. This is normal and don’t be concerned…it takes patience and time for this command to consistently be
effective.
Once you’ve seen progress with the “hands-on” approach, then begin
walking with your dog on the check-cord. While walking along with
your dog, give the command “whoa”.
Since you would have quicker access to your dog, here’s where a training table could be beneficial. You’ll want to be able to correct your dog
immediately if there is non-compliance. If non-compliance, pick-up
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NORTH AMERICAN VERSATILE HUNTING DOG
A S S O C I A T I O N , S A N D I EG O C H A P T E R
Matt Moore
3557 Ponderosa Dr.
Oceanside, CA. 92058
Website: www.sandiegonavhda.com
San Diego Officers
President: Jeff Derbes (858)490-0191
Vice President: Ruth Weiss - Evening (760)782-0890
Day (760)207-4108
Treasurer: Kirt Gilliland (619)977-8046
Secretary: Mark Matteson (760) 271-0607
Training Coordinators:
Greg Weiss - Evening(760)782-0890 Day(760) 7039618
Rafael Aguilar (619) 572-4016
Mark Miller (619) 384-5363
Test Secretary: Bob Kendall (619) 609-3450
Newsletter Editor: Matt Moore (619) 300-3770
We solicit newsletter contributions (stories, photographs, recipes, advertisements) from club
members. Please send all contributions to the editor: Matt Moore [email protected]
Training/Testing Days
Rules & Regulations:

Dogs are to be under control at all times (leash rule is in effect)

Everyone in the field must wear blaze orange hat, t-shirt or vest
and have completed a hunter safety class or have a hunting license

Children are welcome at our Training Days. They may enter the
training field when accompanied by an adult, and wearing blaze
orange above the waist. Otherwise they are welcome to remain
in the parking area with a supervising adult.

No Alcohol on premises

Shotguns must be break action only
San Diego’s only outlet for Filson outdoors wear