All posts in Fundamentals

Training with good flying quail increases a bird dog’s prey drive. Good bird dogs love challenges. They are predators, and the more challenging the game, the more excited the dog. I was reminded of this a few years back while I was working dogs on some johnny house quail that had become quite tame. About ten birds had decided not to recall and formed a covey nearby. I was working a little female and watched her go into the woods and point this covey. Head and tail held high, she looked better on point than I had recently seen her. Her whole body quivered with intensity as I stepped in front of her and the birds burst out of the woods like fireworks. This experience reminded me that boring birds make boring dogs. Continue reading →