POINTING DOG TRAINING
The early November air is crisp, and your dog’s tail is cracking as he quarters in front of you and your buddies. Suddenly he slams into a rock solid point at the edge of a plumb thicket. You approach from the side and step in to flush the covey. After the smoke clears your dog retrieves the birds to your hand, and you send him on with a “Good dog” and a tap on the head.
The only thing standing between the above described scenario and you is a few months of structured and well executed training. The fact is, that there are many dogs with the genetic potential to become good bird dogs. Unfortunately, there are precious few who have been given the proper training to reach their potential.
Think that you can’t afford to have your dog trained? Add up the initial cost of a puppy plus a lifetime of veterinary care and feed. Now weigh this against the cost of a few months of training. Not spending a few dollars to bring out the best in your dog is like buying a new car and then never putting gas in the tank.
Not every dog is the same, and not all will respond to the same training strategies. Here is where most novice trainers fall flat on their face. If your dog doesn’t conform to a set regimen, he may end up scared, confused, and untrained. It has often been said that dog training is as much art as science. It is this ability to deviate from a set program and cater to an individual dog’s needs that separates an average trainer from a great one.
A properly trained pointing dog should be able to perform the following with style, speed, and efficiency.
• Obey the commands “Kennel”, “Here”, “Whoa”, and “Leave It”
• Quarter to the gun within reasonable range
• Point staunchly
• Honor a brace mate
• Retrieve to hand (Either naturally or force fetch)
A dog that possesses the above skills is a true bird finder and will make you proud to own him. Contrast this dog with one that we have all seen but hopefully not owned. This dog busts birds, won’t honor other dogs, and if a bird is shot he will probably eat it.
We offer the unique opportunity to hunt your dog on guided pheasant hunts here in central Kansas. In just a few weeks of hunting, your dog will have more bird contacts than most dogs get in a lifetime. Only dogs that have completed our pointing dog program will be eligible to receive this valuable on the job training.
