Please read this before purchasing a bird dog from this Kennel!!!!

[privatepilot]

Please read this before purchasing a bird dog from this Kennel. I bought a bird dog named Suzie from http://harriskennels.com/ in Kansas. This has been the worst experience i have ever had in purchasing a bird dog. We watched the dog work and listened to what they had to say about the dog. We liked so we bought her. We get her home, and she is completely not even close to what we thought she was. This dog has never been hunted/trained in tall grass, never seen a hedge row, and acts like she has never seen a wild bird, only pin raised birds that have to be thrown up. We notified the owners immediately with our concern and was instructed to give the dog some time to adjust to the change, which we agreed to do. The dog never came around and in fact hasn't improved at all. We were instructed to give her 30 days and see how she reacted, then never heard back from the kennel. I have just recently contacted them to see if there is anything that could be done, it has been 2 months since I have heard anything. Their response was nothing could be done, but they are sorry we are disappointed in the bird dog. IMAGINE THAT!! This dog is not worth what we gave for her, not even close. If you are considering buying from these people please contact me and come and see the product we got when we arrived home. I will buy some birds and take you on a hunt with her. If this is the type of dogs that this kennel sells I want everyone to see before wasting their money like we have. I will guarantee that they will not receive another dime of our business!! I AM IN NO WAY TELLING YOU NOT TO BUY FROM THESE PEOPLE, ONLY TO VIEW THE PRODUCT WE WERE SOLD BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION. Please contact me with all questions and concerns, [email protected]. Thanks!

 

[DUCKNDAWG]

did you supposidly buy a finished dog? or a pup? have you done any training with it or just put it in a kennel? I feel your pain for buying a dog and it not going as you hoped, but you have to put an effort into. I'm not trying to be a smart a#$ but a little more info on the subject would be nice

 

[redneck2]

I think this is probably be one of those "live & learn" deals. The problem with someone thowing in on your side is that we don't have all the facts.

I have no experience with buying finished dogs. I know a few guys that have, and they should have never done it. Wasn't fair to them or the dog.

One was a spaniel that had been trained for field trials. In that type of competition, the dog runs off and casts over a large area while the handler keeps up on horseback. My friend wanted to hunt on foot and was GREATLY pissed that the dog took off, so he peppered the dog with shot "to show him".

Another guy also bought a field dog. Same thing. Dog would run like hell and flush birds 100 yards in front of us. He kept the dog tied to a dog house every day of it's life unless he wanted to go hunting.

You have an animal that has a new owner, in a new area, under new circumstances and expect it to perform. To me, anybody that buys a dog somebody else trained is asking for problems. IMO, you're trying to buy success the easy way.

I had a lab that I trained myself. Now, he was far from a field trial champ, but he was pretty good. He'd heel, stay, and I could have him cast and follow hand signals. He was exceptional for ducks and birds. No one else could handle him because he was used to me.

I'd suggest buying the book Waterdog. It's expensive and worth every penny. You'll have the satisfaction of training the dog and you'll know the proper commands.

HTH.

 

[ArmedBear]

The dog never came around and in fact hasn't improved at all.

What, you expect the dog to magically train itself?

I'd suggest hooking up with your local chapter: http://www.navhda.org/

It's inexpensive, and you'll learn a lot about dogs and training them, from other active hunters. Our chapter has monthly field trainings, and smaller groups of people hook up more often if they have dogs that are preparing for a test, or dogs with "issues" they want to work on.

 

[privatepilot]

I did not expect a finished dog! She was sold to us as started and only needing polished off to be completed. She was sold to us as having a 100 or so wild birds shot over her, no way! She is a 2 year old female pointer and acts like she has been beaten! She is very timid! I am looking into possible options now against the kennel. I have had bird dogs all my life and have trained a couple from pups. I am looking into taking her somewhere to see if she is savageable. We will see!

 

[DUCKNDAWG]

I think its all hogwash!!!!!

 

[islandphish]

umm...if you know a bunch about training dogs then could you tell us what is wrong with the dog?

So what if she hasn't seen a hedgerow or tall grass? Then teach her. It's your dog, your responsibility. A started dog might be just taught to heel, sit, stay, down and come. It's probably not force broke. Does it whoa?

You say you watched her work, what is different about how she worked initially and now?

Personally I consider it poor form to bash a kennel with just that little bit of info.

 

[TimM]

We watched the dog work and listened to what they had to say about the dog.

Not trying to be a prick here but - how much experience do you have with dogs? Do you know what to look for, I am assuming that you do not or you would not have purchased the dog after watching her. Did you check references from the kennel? It is still possible that she may become what you want if you work with her.

Most of all, I hope you don't take it out on the dog (not saying that you will).

 

[Bailey Boat]

How many forums are you going to place this complaint on????? THR must be the 4th or 5th time I've seen it!!!!! If your beef is that big I would suggest (as many others have already) sue the kennel....... Geeze..........

 

[privatepilot]

Duckndawg - where you located? Meet me somewhere!!

I do not claim to know a bunch about training dogs. I am certainly not a professional. I have trained every other dog we have had from a pup. We lost our shorthair right before season and was wanting something that we could hunt this year. I have never had any trouble training a dog, but I will never buy another started/finished one. I currently have a pointer pup out of Illinois and he is doing great.

 

[islandphish]

I think that if he refuses to validate his claim that this thread should be closed and deleted.

Privatpilot, please respond to my above post.

 

[mgregg85]

One was a spaniel that had been trained for field trials. In that type of competition, the dog runs off and casts over a large area while the handler keeps up on horseback. My friend wanted to hunt on foot and was GREATLY pissed that the dog took off, so he peppered the dog with shot "to show him".

Another guy also bought a field dog. Same thing. Dog would run like hell and flush birds 100 yards in front of us. He kept the dog tied to a dog house every day of it's life unless he wanted to go hunting.

These are two great examples of people that shouldn't be allowed to own dogs or pets of any kind.

The first example should have served some jail time for animal abuse like that.

 

[jmorris]

privatepilot
New Member



Join Date: 11-02-05
Posts: 3

DUCKNDAWG
New Member



Join Date: 01-29-08
Location: central kansas
Posts: 4

Do you really need to know more?

 

[DUCKNDAWG]

I cant help it if I'm a new member. Oh to hell with it.

 

[islandphish]

I dont get it...what are we to assume from the membership dates? post counts?

 

[DUCKNDAWG]

that if you dont have atleast 200 posts you are dumber than a box of rocks, and dont have an opinion on anything. Us new people are to sit back and not say anthing I guess.

 

[mbt2001]

First, Private Pilot, This is THE HIGH ROAD. Welcome, although it shows you have been a member for some time. Asking people to "meet you" isn't high road.

DUCKNDAWG, THIS IS THE HIGH ROAD, Welcome. Please remember the name when you make posts. It is not common practice to bait people here. We recently had a "big change" in how things work here, wherein the mod's (God bless them) got rid of all the jerks and trolls. The let me stay, oversight on their part I guess....

Anyway, out of every litter only a few ever have the "moxy" / "ability" to be GREAT hunting dogs. Most of them might hunt some, and even have decent performance. That being said, in future ask for certifications. If the dog was two, she really have out to have performed somewhere and gotten some kind of certificate for doing so. It isn't applicable to bird hunting, but like a Schutzhund award or something.

Start by addressing your problems with the Dog. You need to relax and start working the dog so she clearly knows what to do. Unless you suspect the dog has been beaten or something, I would say drop it and move on. You will most likely not recover much if anything from the kennel and if you do, it will cost you far more than you spent on the dog and will receive in damages to do it.

 

[DUCKNDAWG]

I was not baiting and I'm not trolling The origanal post had been put on several different sites and had not been elaborated on. I guess my tact of trying to get more info upset some people. I dont understand why being a new member has anything to do with it. I was not the only one asking for more info I'm just not as poltically correct as some people I say what I mean and if someone gets upset then they are upset.