Mid-Ohio NAVHDA. January 2010

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1 Mid-Ohio NAVHDA January 2010 B. Revercomb-Pres.! B. Sprague-V.P.! M. Krejci-Treas.!! R. Behnke-Train Dir.! A. Hopkins-Test. Sec.! H. Hauser-publica./web!

2 From Shooting Sportsman-September/October issue: A key to successful shooting is staying in the gun -keeping the stock locked into your cheek a moment or so after firing. being as one with a gun is a key element in a successful shot. a few key elements for success are a good stance and posture, a consistent ready position, a solid mount, a dead-on visual contact with the target, and just as important is keeping the gun locked into your cheek a moment or so after pulling the trigger.. certain misses happen because we come out of the gun /dismounting the gun too soon a premature dismount disrupts the unity of the shooter and the gun, which means destroying the alignment of the barrel and the shooter s eye. Staying with the gun lets you take the recoil with virtually your entire upper body-hands, arms, shoulder, back and clear down to your hips. Article by Michael McIntosh Good shooting form: Set up so that you can take your best shot. Every wingshooter has a favorite shot so use it to your advantage. Keep your cheek down on the stock; pulling your cheek off the stock will cost you birds. Find the best lead method that works for you. You can shoot swing through lead, sustained lead or spot lead. Make sure you have good footing where you are set. Clear any rocks or sticks away that will cause you to take an off balance shot. Use good footwork. Take a half step before swinging on a dove, planting your foot on the line where you plan to take your shot. Take a step back for a straight-on bird, a step forward for a straightaway bird and a step away from a bird crossing either right or left. If a bird is coming from the right, take a short step to the left slightly away from the bird. This will allow a little more room to swing on the bird and follow through. Comments from John Frederickson from Gunnison River Farms Hunting Club in Delta, Colorado Recognizing fatigue sometimes is subtle. When shooting the gun should become an almost non-existent extension of you. The more fatigue affects you, the more you notice the gun What s different; your swing, does the gun seem heavy, are you gripping the gun tighter? Article by Barry G. Davis

3 From the autumn 2006 Upland Almanac: In training your dog, keep vocal communication to a minimum has numerous added benefits. In the early stages of walking young puppies, for example, it is best to walk silently. This teaches the pup to keep its eye on you better. Later on, when you are making a turn to go a different direction or if the pup gets behind, you can give him a little hup or whatever signal you choose. Thus, you begin to teach a pup that the voice is there to guide and help. The trainer, no matter how innocently and well intentioned, tries to talk to, soothe or whoa the pup in an effort to facilitate the point and, instead, interrupts the dog s concentration and plants the seeds of uncertainty. A dog flagging is an outward display of this uncertainty. Of course, flagging has genetic causes too, but often it is man-made. Nurture factors can worsen or lessen a genetic problem. When you are introducing a dog to birds-and in a variety of other situations that are new to the dog-it is usually better to fault on the side of silence. Let the pup figure it out. If a dog is having trouble figuring something out, find a way to show the pup. From the canine point of view, HOW you talk to your dog is more important than what you actually say, though the two should never be completely separated. Tone and vowels are what the dog really hears. In training, your dogs deliver your commands in the same tone whether you re close to your dog or the dog is at a distance from you. The dog needs consistency, close and distant, in order to understand. Article written by Dave Hughes

4 From the winter 2006 Upland Almanac: Eight Things to Do with Your Bird Dogs in the Winter.in northern climates, that is. Hook them up to a dog sled and go for a run Practice fetch and hold in the basement Go snowshoeing and look for bird tracks under thick conifers Keep them away from halilte (chemical salt used to melt ice on walkways and roads), antifreeze and holiday chocolates Try ski-joring with a dog or two-that s dog sledding, but you re on skis Set up a wildlife observation blind in the woods together. Bring your camera and practice blind manners at the same time Load the truck, drive south and find some place you can still hunt! Flushing dogs are all about providing birds for the gun or hunter: There are several ways to attack the problem of flushing dogs ranging too far. First, and foremost, some basic obedience training is needed. Sit, Stay, come and heel drills should be done repetitively, just not too long at any one session. Just minutes a day for any dog will show gratifying results. Include some retrieves, praise, and some treats. Make sure that the sit, stay, come, and heel commands are obeyed reliably and quickly; insist on compliance when the first command is given. The dog will not comply in the field if it doesn t reliably comply during the yard training. If a pup is ranging too far, go to the training field with a mix of live and dead birds, and a partner or two. With your dog with you in the field and your helpers to your sides, have one helper toss a dead bird, unseen by the dog on the ground just inside his position. Cast the dog in that direction, into the wind if possible, so that the dog will scent the bird and immediately race to it and retrieve it. Set up the same way and begin walking down the field after casting off the dog. Have another dead bird tossed unseen near a partner before the dog makes his second pass so that he again finds a bird near a person. Repeat this exercise, except use a clipped-wing bird or live flyer to keep the dog s interest. If it s a flyer, try to have it shot, and make it fairly close, though not too close. That s it. Assist your partners with their dogs and repeat the drill again. Repetition teaches dogs that birds will be near people and forms a strong interest in and habit of, staying close. Reinforcing your pleasure towards the dog with praise and loving him when he returns with a bird solidifies those good habits. Article written by John McGonigle for the winter 2006 Upland Almanac Work the dog in heavy cover to help ensure he stays close. Nearly all well-bred flushing dogs want to be able to maintain tabs on its owner. Thick cover will keep your dog closer, and the repetition of working close will transfer to hunting. Ranging too far is partially an obedience problem and partially an effort by the dog to range farther and farther to find birds. If the dog is not finding birds near you and/or your hunting partner, he will try to find them on his own. Teach your dog that birds will be nearby you by planting birds nearby. Hopefully, with a dog 2-1/2 years old or older, this will be a reminder from past lessons, additional repetition to get the dog back on track.

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6 From Your Dog September 2006 newsletter: Today research shows that not every dog needs every shot every year. Instead, their owners and veterinarians should decide on appropriate vaccinations based on individual need and evaluation of risk, such as canine lifestyle and incidence of a given disease in their area. Previous guidelines, released in 2003, had suggested switching revaccination from yearly to every three years. New research strongly supports that view. The most significant change in the guidelines is the duration of immunity has now been verified for at least three years for the main vaccines-distemper, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis) and parvovirus, said oncologist Susan Cotter, DVM, Distinguished Professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. If the vaccine is given for Bordetella- kennel cough-it is best used intra-nasally, not by injection. Leptospirosis and Borrelia (Lyme) vaccines should be given only to dogs at significant risk Vaccines against canine Adenovirus-1 (an older form of hepatitis), giardia and coronavirus are not recommended. Killed rabies vaccine should be given to all puppies at 3 months of age and 1 year later.after that, it is effective for three years, even thought some states continue to require it yearly A vaccine for measles, a virus similar to distemper, is no longer recommended as part of routine puppy vaccinations Article by Amy D. Shojai From Your Dog November 2006 newsletter: Anxious or easily stressed large breeds are prone to bloat Dog s eyes are designed to see best at dawn and dusk Dogs prefer to be petted on the chin, chest and ears From Your Dog December 2006 newsletter: Breeds with dense hair coats are predisposed to hot spots A sudden increase in appetite could indicate Cushing s disease Adult dogs.homemade raw diets can be deficient in essential nutrients Puppies they require food higher in fat and protein for growth that changes when the puppies are about 12 weeks of age a puppy s small stomach requires frequent meals with the amount determined according to his age and expected size as an adult 4 out of 5 dogs show signs of dental disease by age 3

7 Recipes from the winter 2006 Upland Almanac: For the birds: inch wooden skewers Boned breasts of 12 quail Quail Bobs with Peanut Sauce For the Peanut Sauce: 2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice (1 lime) 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. honey ½ tsp. curry powder ½ tsp red pepper flakes 1/4 tsp lime zest (grated thin green outer surface of the lime) 2 tbsp. oil Cover the wooden skewers with cold water and let soak 30 minutes. Check breasts for shot, bone chips and rough edges. Slice each half-breast in half lengthwise. In a small blender, combine the peanut butter, limejuice, soy sauce, honey, curry powder, red pepper flakes, and lime zest. Puree and set aside. Preheat the barbecue to medium-high heat. Thread the breast slices on the wooden skewers, brush with oil. When the barbecue is ready, place the skewers on the cooking grate directly over the fire. Turn every 2-3 minutes, cooking about 10 minutes in all. Brush generously with peanut sauce and serve immediately. Recipe by Eileen Clarke from the Upland Game Bird Cookery

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