It sounds like a contradiction, but the best way to develop a young dog’s point is to let him chase birds. Every time a young dog chases birds, he is learning to point. He is learning his movements cause them to fly, and he cannot catch them. Once he realizes he cannot be successful, he begins to chase less. He becomes more cautious and begins to creep. This creeping is like a cat stalking a mouse, and eventually, he freezes into a point.
Last month, a bird hunter came by with his dog. The dog was young, maybe eight months old, and he was concerned she did not point. I loaded a releaser with a homing pigeon and planted it in the training field. I suggested he bring the dog crosswind to the releaser, and as soon as she smelled the bird, I would open the releaser. I explained that when she dove for the bird, he should restrain her just enough so she did not catch it, and then, once the bird was in the air, he should drop the check-cord and let her chase. He said he understood and brought her into the field. As they approached the releaser, she caught scent and turned towards it. As she began to road in, I pressed the button on the transmitter, and the releaser opened. Right then, the hunter tightened up on the check-cord and held the dog tight as the pigeon flew away. I asked him why he stopped her, and he explained he was trying to help her point.
Birds teach dogs to point. If you try to help your dog, he will never point birds with intensity much less learn how to handle them. Dogs that have been helped to point by their owners look as if they are indicating the presence of birds instead of freezing in a stance that sends quivers down your spine.
In the West method, training is between the dog and the bird. By letting the dog run at birds until he decides to stop chasing on his own, the bird is teaching the dog to point. With a young pup, dropping the check-cord once the bird is in the air and letting him chase as far as he wants to run is fine. You may need to restrain him with the check-cord just enough so he does not catch the bird on the ground before it flies, but once the bird is in the air, you can drop the check-cord. As the pup gets older or when grounds are not suitable to let the dog run free, keep hold of the check-cord and let him chase to the end. Once he is stopped, let him watch the bird fly off. Pointing dogs love to watch birds fly so watching them fly is a reward. A small number of dogs live for the chase, and if, after a reasonable amount of bird exposure, your dog continues to chase without becoming stauncher on point, you may want to keep hold of the check-cord to limit his run.
Bird dogs are predators. They have better noses and are superior hunters. Good trainers respect their dogs’ natural abilities and allow them to make mistakes so they can learn from them. It is foolish to think you know when to stop a dog around birds. Instead, let your dog run at birds as long as he is not catching them, and eventually, he teaches himself to stop because he realizes it is smarter to stand there, especially when you occasionally shoot a bird for him.
Anytime a dog learns something on his own, he learns it better than when you teach it. By respecting your dog’s abilities and setting up training situations where he can learn from the bird, you are developing him the natural way, which is the best way possible.
Martha, many yrs ago, Charlie Williams who was a very successful Weim Field Trialer, gave a field seminar that my late husband Allen and I attended. Charlie said “The harder a dog chases, the harder he will eventually point” Later, this was proven to us when we got in a 6 yr old Weim to train all the way from CA who had never seen anything but a song bird. We eventually got him very interested in quail but then he was chasing like a locomotive at full speed. We were beginning to be discouraged that he would never point. Then one day the lightbulb came on and he slammed into a dazzling solid point. And was had a beautiful point from then on. He got his JH and Shooting Dog titles with ease. From then on, we have urged those pups to chase and build their desire. Thanks for a very nice article.
Elena Smith Lamberson
Elena—thanks so much for your comment. I bet there is very little new information out there on training dogs. Most of what is already known just needs repeating from time to time. I enjoyed reading about Charlie and your experience with the 6 year-old. If we are willing to pay attention, the dogs teach us. Martha
I have never thought about it that way. But I must admit that it may work. We want to accelerate the dog’s development with helping him too much. Perhaps the natural attitude towards point development is much more effective. I did see many dogs that made a point FOR the owner, not because they were frozen by the scent.
I will try to use this method on my puppy.
Iza—thank-you for your comment. Some of the best advice I’ve received about training bird dogs was to get down on the dog’s level. It’s amazing how many things make sense to us but don’t make sense to the dog. If we think about it differently, we can start to see it from the dog’s point of view. Good luck with your pup and I bet you will like the results. Martha