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 →
Work Ethic
Work ethic is a phrase rarely discussed in regards to pointing dogs. The first time I heard the phrase was during an interview I did with a horseback pro-trainer. I asked him what he looked for in a field trial dog, and he said he looked for a dog with a good work ethic. I had never heard this phrase used in reference to pointing dogs, and it took me a while to understand the phrase and eventually see it in my dogs.
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Using the Wind
Bird dogs use the wind to hunt and find birds. Hunters use the wind to determine the best approach to birdy objectives, and dog trainers like us use it to help our dogs navigate a variety of bird set-ups. Basically, there are four wind situations: upwind, downwind, crosswind, and no wind. Continue reading →
Martha Greenlee: Mark---it is a tough lesson most of us have to learn. Bill West starte...
Mark Coleman: The single biggest mistake I made with my first bird dog was lack of p...
Dale Parker: Martha,
I have a lazy dog. He's a 2 yr old Pudelpointer. I call him m...
