Does anybody use dogs to retrieve dove? I hunt insome pretty tall (well knee high) stuff sometimes and if you don't follow the dove all the way to the ground finding them gets difficult. When I was young we had retrievers and one enjoyed dove hunting but, my dad didn't like her getting a mouth full of feathers. I have been thinking about my next dog and I want a duck dog but if it'll retrieve dove without any hitch that would be great also.
Dogs for dove?
- Thread starter 3pairs12
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Deer Hunter
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I like German Shorthaired Pointers for upland bird hunting and dove.
My family raises them, actually. Great dogs. PM me if you want the website and details.
My family raises them, actually. Great dogs. PM me if you want the website and details.
I know guys just north of the Mexican border in eastern California who used their VHDs for doves, until one keeled over dead.
These were excellent breeders and trainers of dogs with field prizes, who knew how to care for dogs, cleared their mouths of dove feathers regularly, etc. The little feathers get deep into their throats, though, and clog things up where you can't get them out in the field.
Don't know what it's like where you dove hunt, but a mouthful of feathers keeps a dog from being able to pant, and a dog who can't pant when it's 115 degrees in the shade, is soon a dead dog.
Now if you're using a dog to retrieve them from canals, that might be okay, but I still wouldn't risk it.
As for me, I like to shoot doves more than I like to eat 'em anyway. If one gets stuck way deep in the brush, there are some other animals who will make good use of the meat. I'm not killing my dog to get another dove.
These were excellent breeders and trainers of dogs with field prizes, who knew how to care for dogs, cleared their mouths of dove feathers regularly, etc. The little feathers get deep into their throats, though, and clog things up where you can't get them out in the field.
Don't know what it's like where you dove hunt, but a mouthful of feathers keeps a dog from being able to pant, and a dog who can't pant when it's 115 degrees in the shade, is soon a dead dog.
Now if you're using a dog to retrieve them from canals, that might be okay, but I still wouldn't risk it.
As for me, I like to shoot doves more than I like to eat 'em anyway. If one gets stuck way deep in the brush, there are some other animals who will make good use of the meat. I'm not killing my dog to get another dove.
I have a German Wirehaired Pointer that I've taken dove hunting a few times. He is a young dog (18 months), but seems to do fine with them. Keep in mind that doves don't really give off a lot of scent for some reason, but that is ok. The feather issue is not really a huge deal. You might have to help him/her with the feather...available water helps. Any retrieving dog should be fine with doves. However, I have heard (have not experienced this) that the feather issue might turn a really young dog off a little bit. With all that being said, I some of this helps.
Polishrifleman
Member
We use labs here and never a problem although as stated above the weather up north is drastically different, and we can't start hunting them until September anyway.:banghead: We normally hunt disced up fields and they are tough to find no matter what the conditions are.
I had a pair of Springers years ago who could find doves easily. They just refused to pick them up. The male, Brutus, would find the bird and point his nose at it, like; "There's your damn bird, YOU pick it up".
wankerjake
Member
My lab mutts love to go hunting, and can usually find and retrieve them pretty well. One is half black lab, half golden retriever and she does the best. She finds the birds and brings them when I call to her. The other one finds them just fine but tries to eat them before I get there. They have had no formal training, they just love to find dead things. I would guess that with a little training my dogs would make fine retrievers.
MCgunner
Member
Labrador, here. Snakes are a hazard in heavy brush around here. There are folks that will snake train a dog. Not sure what goes into it.
A certain amount of showmanship and BS. I've had it done.
However, you can also get rattlesnake vaccines, which I'd trust a lot more than the "aversion training". I've seen my dog stroll right in front of a big Red Diamond after aversion training.
Next year, I used the money to maintain the vaccinations, instead.
huntershooter
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My Brittanys love to retreive dove.
They get a little tired of the "mouth full of feathers" after each bird though.
They get a little tired of the "mouth full of feathers" after each bird though.
I normally shoot more than one, so I call them "doves". 
My half Golden Retriever, half something else, Howard, who weighs every bit of 140 lbs, retrieved a dove out of the river one day. Keep in mind he is completely untrained.
One dropped into the river, so we started shouting; "Go get it, Howard". He finally went out into the river, picked up the dove and brought it to shore.
The look on his face when he dropped it said; "I'll never understand humans".
My half Golden Retriever, half something else, Howard, who weighs every bit of 140 lbs, retrieved a dove out of the river one day. Keep in mind he is completely untrained.
One dropped into the river, so we started shouting; "Go get it, Howard". He finally went out into the river, picked up the dove and brought it to shore.
The look on his face when he dropped it said; "I'll never understand humans".
So then would it be flock of doves or dove? Really I already have a retriever she is 11 and in 6th grade. This year she killed her first dove (just the one not doves) so I have a feeling the sooner I get a new dog the better. Thanks for the input so far guys.
3pairs12, she's a sweetheart! My youngest "retriever" is 30 now, and she won't retrieve anything for me anymore, not even a cup of coffee.
Just kidding on the English lesson, but the plural of dove is "doves".
Just kidding on the English lesson, but the plural of dove is "doves".
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
My Brittany's had no problems finding dead doves at all.
But they would Spit them further then they would retrieve them!
rc
But they would Spit them further then they would retrieve them!
rc
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