Upland Bird Dog: Bird dog training camps

Paul Wells, of Region 11, flush recall bobwhites in front of his Pointer.

Dog Camp II

Johnny House Revisited, part 1: A closer look at Johnny Houses. NEW

Sage's pedigree (National Champion Whippoorwill Wild Card x Ch. Heyu Victor Dancer). NEW

Dog Camp: West/West/Gibbons training camp.

An American Field Trial: Raymond R. Rucker Derby in Oklahoma.

Johnny House: Pen-raised birds for dog training.

American Field Hall of Fame: Dogs inducted

Whelping Chart: See when pups are born.

This is part 2 of Johnny Houses Revisited; the working system and barrel JH.

Water system:
Use a 5 gallon plastic bucket. On the bucket side drill a 1/2 inch hole near the bottom. Insert a tubeless tire stem (from a passenger car tire) until snug. Remove the 'core'. Attach tubing to the stem and connect to a horizontal 1 inch pvc pipe. A float valve can also be used (see picture of valve in Johnny House Revisited, part 1). The pipe has push-in (drip) nipples attached to it every 6 inches. Push-in nipples are attached by drilling 3/8 inch holes in the pvc. The pvc should be just high enough for birds to drink.

Food:
Use any adequate food for the different bird species. The container should slope to help the food slide down for easy access. The food should be covered to protect it from contamination such as bird droppings. Make the cover wider than the bottom of the food box so that it also provides a roosting area away from the floor. Grit is usually not needed as birds help themselves when released.

Birds and training:
Obtain healthy birds, 8-10 weeks old. House and feed in JH for the 1st week. Release the 2nd week and work dogs the 3rd week.

Pictures are from Gleber and West/West/Gibbons 2000 summer training camps.

The barrel JH (from Lou Gleber's summer camp) is a portable system for recall birds. The barrel size is 55 gallons. Various opening are cut in the barrel and covered with wire. This allows birds visual orientation of the environment. Two doors near the bottom (at back) and top of the barrel helps to catch and release birds. The two pvc pipes are for food and water.

A view from underneath the barrel. Notice the funnel (bottom) for birds to reenter. The pvc pipe on the left is for food. Holes are drilled in the cover of the pipe and this allow birds access to food. The pipe on the right holds water. A the bottom of the cover is a push-in nipple. The nipple can be obtained from Farm Teck (1-800-327-6835). Drill a 3/8 inch hole in the cap and insert the nipple.
Notice that a board in a shape of a crescent moon holds the two pvc pipes. The board is at the level of the 'windows' and allow birds a roosting area. Idealy the barrel holds up tp 12 quails.

Chukars are excellent birds to use in JH. They have a strong covey instinct. Chukars are strong flyers and easily flush in the presence of danger. Chukars also test experienced bird dogs by running and flushing wild.

Another example of a JH door system. This door allows birds outside to view inside the JH. This feature helps to entice birds to walk in. However, this door is more susceptible to predators. Thus, wire surrounds the JH to protect it from dogs and predators.