I'm sure others can address this better than I. Pointing is instinctive and I don't believe you can teach a dog to do it.

Both my dogs were trained on live birds. Never used a training dummy.

Some guys use check cords...I just let the dogs go until they figured it out....never was in a hurry.

The only concern I ever had is when my older Brittany (10) now couldn't find a bird when she was younger because she was stepping on it...but all ended well.

Time...give the dog time.

 

You'll probably get a wide variety of opinions, but if it were my dog, I would expose him to live birds under controlled conditions.
Let the dog get a downwind visual on bird: after a little teasing, hopefully he will eventually point or at least pause. I might also try wetting the bird a little to increase scent. I'd then plant birds for the dog and lead the dog in downwind on a check cord, stopping the dog on first scent.
After the he's handling planted birds, I'd get him out on the real thing--without a gun.

 

i dont think i've ever seen a dog point scent on a training dummy.

 

Fastest way will be to expose the dog to planted quail or pigeons. Let him flush if he wants to.. But keep him on a check cord so he cant run off chasing and eventually catch a weak flyer.

Right now its hot and scenting conditions arent good if the dog is wheezing and panting. Do bird work on cool days, or in the evening.

If the dog hasnt been exposed, his instincts will come out. Very few dogs wont "point naturally" if you give them a chance.

Be patient and kind, try to locate a NAVHDA group to work with, they will have birds around and help you. Second choice is an experienced dog person, just be kind and patient with the dog.

 

A lot of good advice here. I would add do not correct him for anything he does around birds for now. Keep it all positive. Even if he catches one and tries to choke it down. :yikes:
He needs exposure to birds and how good it is that he found them. Pressure/Correction comes later.

 

Personally, I wouldn't be concerned about a 1-year old dog that I just got, not pointing. Sounds like the dog needs to get into some birds and the more the better. I wouldn't use a checkcord, I would just let the dog be a dog and get him into some strong flying birds. Let him chase if he wants to. Will he point a live bird? If not, get him into some birds and leave the training dummy and scent at home. Good luck.

 

i dont think i've ever seen a dog point scent on a training dummy.

Training scents smell nothing like live birds. So, there would be no reason for him to point it. There is no substitute for live birds.

 

If your limited on birds and space, put a bird feeder in your back yard and let him play with tweety birds.

 

If your limited on birds and space, put a bird feeder in your back yard and let him play with tweety birds.

Not sure but from my experiance with just Bella. She would poingt Doves in the pack yard at a young age, in the field if she hits a scent you know it is a bird just by her reaction, and she ignores Tweety in both places. Game birds do have different scents than song bird and I would be extremely fustrated when hunting if my dog started pointing at every songbird in the country. :yikes: You could also try working the dog on a check cord with an experianced dog. Alot of times they will learn from the older dog what is expected, but this can also lead to them picking up bad habits. An older dog, especially a rescue can take a little more time and effort. Good luck.

 

I'm suggesting that to get him some interest in birds, my GSP still stalks or points any type of bird while in the yard, but out in the field he ignores tweety.

 

I'm suggesting that to get him some interest in birds, my GSP still stalks or points any type of bird while in the yard, but out in the field he ignores tweety.

That behavior will lead to sight pointing, when they should be scent pointing. Right?

 

I'm saying to get him excited with birds in general, trainer can quit if it becomes a prob for him, it has not been a prob at all for my dog. My dog scent points and sight points to be honest.

 

That behavior will lead to sight pointing, when they should be scent pointing. Right?

I'm saying to get him excited with birds in general, trainer can quit if it becomes a prob for him, it has not been a prob at all for my dog. My dog scent points and sight points to be honest.

IMO sight pointing is only a problem if that's ALL the dog will do. Bottom line is, a dog is going to see a few birds while out hunting. In those instances, I want him to remain just as staunch as if he was locked in on a scent. If your dog keeps working a scent until he SEES the bird, that's a problem. However, if he's a great scent pointer, but chases when he sees the bird, that's a problem too.

My neighbor hood is so inundated with sparrows, robins and doves, there will be birds in my yard regardless of whether we feed. Personally, I don't mind them. If nothing else, they reinforce the idea that you can stalk/chase all you want -- you're not going to get the bird unless you hold point and I get it for you!

KW

KW

 

Training scents smell nothing like live birds. So, there would be no reason for him to point it. There is no substitute for live birds.

that was my point

 

thanks for all the help so far guys this is my first bird dog and was hoping that he would be more than just a house dog. i guess i will try to find some one in my area with some pigeons to try him on. any good books that any one can recommend?

 

A check cord, and wild caught pigeons work the best for this situation........wild caught are better because they will not take people, or dog pressure. Quail at this point arent good, because they will also allow dog to get itself in a bad predicament.......they will try an hide in grass, end up caught, or run a bunch and end up possibly getting caught.
You can card board bird, or allow it to completely leave.......What I do, is take a longer cord, like 20ft, and I will cross wind the dog, I will let it take enough cord, to get to the bird and bump it in the air.........but will not allow the dog any movement forward. So the dog starts putting two an two together, it understands that it doesnt get to go further forward, once the bird is bumped, so it will then start standing an watching, before you know it, the point kicks in or comes back. This will be something that Rob from bear creek, and Mike P "grouseman 2" are discussing on talking about at a seminar I have been invited to give. We will post more on that later, but if you want, your welcome to call 859-985-2918 or pm me, be happy to help ya, its a simple fix usually, just gotta help the dog, not force it. It hasnt got a thing to do with "whoa" the dog needs to point the bird, not you, Thanks Jonesy

 

Why not look up the local NAVHDA (north american versatile hunting dog association). They can help you. Also, you'll learn and have fun at the same time.

 

My opinion if the dog is not that interested in birds I would use quail and not care if the dog caught them. Once the dog is excited about birds then you can start using a check cord.