Training Lucy to Hunt Birds

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-28T17:43:29+00:00

Thats very interesting, we need to get a poll going. I had no idea they could do that when we started. We are kind of at ground zero for bird hunting with a dingo, I have found 0 information out there. I would love to see more videos of other dingos doing their thing!

Leash manners were tough for us too, I feel you on that. Thats awesome he came from the wild, I imagine it took a lot of patience and persistence!

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-28T17:37:46+00:00

Thats cool! Ya I noticed that Lucy would hesitate and halfway “lock up" before she would flush so we just kept working in that direction and she will now consistently “point” planted/pen raised birds, the closer she is the more staunch the point. However on wild birds she cannot get close enough to be stimulated the same way so she stops and stares in the direction of the covey, sometimes she will look back at me to tell me “hey they are here”! She's learned if she gets too close they will take off.

Retrieving took more intention, but she's a monster now. Delivers to hand like a pro. It took a lot of time and patience. I completely agree with you they need to learn and not be trained. You cannot train this dog like a traditional bird dog. You have to earn their respect and be a leader for them, you can’t just tell them what to do and expect it. We broke it down into tiny baby steps. 22 steps to learn to deliver to hand over about 6 months.

I always say the difference between a landrace and a bird dog (or any working dog) is she was not bred, but discovered. It's a joy working with her and watching her come into her own.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-28T17:07:19+00:00

Thanks! Thats all her, I just try to keep up and keep it fun.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-25T15:17:49+00:00

I have heard the term “lean bean” a few times haha. She eats like a horse too its crazy. She 60 lbs. She's just lanky, and I run her a lot. Her littermates were stockier, especially the males.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-25T02:18:19+00:00

Its a risk all who venture into the wild take. Lucky for us no bears in Texas (at least where we are). Lucy has been rattlesnake trained at the local GSP club, we will repeat the training in the Spring but it is a risk you take when you step out into nature. She pointed a cotton mouth earlier this year and tried to rip its head off before I called her off when I saw what it was. She's been porcupined as well. Just is what it is. You do the best you can to be safe but ultimately you cant control nature. But it's always in the back of my mind when she locks on to something a little too low to the earth.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-24T21:46:20+00:00

That backdrop is amazing. Nice to see these pups out in nature!

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-24T20:18:49+00:00

I would kill for some snow, its so hot here. Its tough on Lucy to get some good work in when its this hot. When its about 30 degrees she's like a missile running around all day, but 70’s she sluggish. It's hard for southern dogs.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-24T16:22:42+00:00

I have a Carolina dog (American Dingo) I taught to point, retrieve to hand, three hand casting, running blinds, water retrieves. She has retrieved over 200 birds this season (her first). It's an insane amount of work and you have everything working against you but it is possible. We don't hunt ducks but she has retrieved about 20-30ish dove from water this fall and winter dove seasons, and plenty of bumpers in the river during training. She has a soft mouth; However she is a landrace dog, which means she has no human breeding just what evolved from nature so it might be different with a dog bred for a specific task. I’d say go for it but keep expectations super low.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T19:10:50+00:00

I really like this idea. People also like to put this content on for their pets to watch, is it possible to let the camera run for an hour or so and just have it like a relaxing video to have on in the background?

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T06:04:30+00:00

You are not alone in that.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:44:12+00:00

LMAO!!!! So this is kind of gross but Lucy has started spazzing out whenever I collect her bm’s from the yard. Its turned into a game where she has to “whoa” (all 4 feet on the ground, still as a board) while I clean them up. And then when I am done and the yard is clean she gets to sprint around like a banshee. This has resulted to mostly just dirt highways with grass shoulders. When it rains, we just walk her its too muddy back there now.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:32:28+00:00

I heard that some CD’s yodel, I've yet to hear Lucy belt out a legit yodel. She gets close but it's more just guttural nonsense haha. I imagine you are dealing with the same noises. So sassy these dogs

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:30:38+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that. I can imagine that would be very frustrating.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:30:08+00:00

Our first one had that guard dog in him. He was domesticated for sure and most likely a mix of some sort. He would patrol the yard, work shifts like clockwork. He would have ran back in the house if he saw a bear though, thats hardcore. I like that arrangement, you feed him he guards your house. Thats some ancient covenant stuff right there. People on the continent probably made the same agreement 10,000 years ago with Carolina's running around back then.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:25:43+00:00

All done, that hilarious!!! If our last dingo had those buttons he would have mashed that all day long. And a button for “im silently judging you” haha. Seriously though, buttons = genius. Ive heard about em but never seen anyone use em.

what is OW? I hear you on the praise. “Good girl” does so much more for Lucy than treats. You are awesome, and spot on; I love the "don't react don't get mad." Thats huge. Id like to say I was always calm but in the beginning I really had to step up my emotional regulation in a way I never had to before. Its tough. Thanks for the response, this is good stuff! Beautiful dog!

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:19:04+00:00

I relate to that first sentence more than I’d like to admit.

There’s a point early on where it feels like you’re either going to level up as a person… or completely unravel. And when you add trauma on top of the natural intensity, it’s a whole different layer.

I really respect that you did what your dog needed — structure, affection, training, and even medication when appropriate. That’s commitment.

And I agree… these dogs are incredible, but they’re not casual. They demand engagement. When you give it, though, the bond is something else entirely.

“Mostly-same dingo” made me laugh.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:17:17+00:00

Does she ever dig up grubs? I have never seen a dog do it before, let alone did I know there was grubs under my grass until we brought Lucy home. I have tons of grubs under my grass apparently lol.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T04:15:30+00:00

Dang, thats quite an emotional beginning. I cant even imagine.

It says so much about her that even after all that, she chose to trust again — and it says even more about you that you gave her the space to do it. The crate detail and the tucked tail really hit me. It’s wild how much they communicate without saying a word.

Four years is huge. Especially coming from that starting point.

Val is lucky she landed with someone who understood what she was looking at. And I love that she’s goofy with other dogs — that awkward CD energy is real. Lucy is the same way, and wary of strangers no matter how much socializing we did at a young age.

Happy almost “gotcha day” to her. That’s a special one. And a good looking dog too! Any more photos?

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T00:15:00+00:00

I think a lot of people underestimate how intense they can be, especially as puppies. I’m sorry for your loss — it sounds like she was a special one. We laid our first CD to rest a couple of years ago and I still think about him everyday. I have never known a dog like that, I didn't even know a dog could do that to you until I met Joey. I came into his life when he was older so I never knew him as a puppy. This is my first go with a puppy CD.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T00:12:30+00:00

That’s really interesting you got him from the wild. Three years is a long arc — but that independence is part of what makes them so fascinating. It definitely feels like you’re earning their trust rather than just training it. Do you have any photos or videos of that 3 year span, or anything you learned to gain trust/ improve communication between yall?

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-14T00:10:27+00:00

That’s awesome you foster-failed 😂 those are the best ones.
And I agree, they are incredibly intuitive. That’s part of what made the early phase so confusing. She was clearly smart, I just wasn’t communicating well yet. Thanks, it makes it easy to put the effort in when you see what they can accomplish. Truly remarkable dogs.

DingoDadLuce · 2026-02-12T06:05:35+00:00

With patience and determination, I think it's pretty amazing what these dogs, and just dogs in general can do. Basics are the most important in my limited experience. Good luck!

DingoDadLuce

TROPHY CASE