4 month old and chucker question

L

Little Brit

New member
Ok I had the pup (GSP) out for the second time this weekend using chuckers. I would plant three birds out under some brush and under some pines all in different spots. Then I would go back to truck and get the pup. I would work her into the wind check cord draging and she found 2 (quick point then chase, catch and retrieve back to me) the third bird was a runner she got on its scent and tracked it or a good 20 min then pinned it down under some logs bird flew a bit then dog chased it down and brought it back to me.

My question is.

1. Is this ok to do for now, the chasing and catching getting her drive up with the birds.

2. When should I start getting her to hold point (she will Whoa but I haven't done it around birds yet)

Note: funny thing happened while out today. I had my older britt out and the pup and the Britt locks up on point with the pup backing probably just lucky. All the sudden out of these small pines explodes a huge tom turkey. Scared the SH%# out of me but the 2 dog stood and watched it fly off. Pup didn't flinch at all which was surprising.
 
Finding & chasing at that age enhances the prey drive. Personally, I wouldn't want pup "catching." Remember, pup's job will be to "Find," then "Retrieve" after you do your part. My 2-cents, and this is a "no refund" deal, lol.
 
So i should be on the check cord once she is on birds. So many do's and don't's my head is spinning. Training groups in my area have not started yet I hope I don't screw up this pup before then hahah.
 
I use a check cord early. By 16-weeks/4 months, pup is pointing & holding off the check. I use pigeons & when released they fly like the wind, pup chases, gives-up & comes back. Develop the intense prey drive now; retrieving comes in due time. Personally, I WOULD NOT let pup catch a bird . . . after finding & pointing, CATCHING is your job; then pup retrieves. The other negative aspect is you DO NOT want pup leaping for a flushed bird when guns are being fired (for obvious reasons.). On the rare occasion that I hunt with others, I tell whomever: "NO low shots. DO NOT shoot at a runner." Just in-case . . . sometimes dogs get over-zealous, too. Hang in there . . . it all takes time, but the time is well-worth the wait.
 
This has only been the second time on birds. I did clip the flight feathers on one wing on each bird so they don't fly that far but these stupid birds rather run. Maybe I will not clip wings next time so they flush and fly further. Other problem is we got over 6 inches of snow so there is not much cover for birds to hide in.

I might need a bigger area to let birds go in so they don't fly where I don't have permission to be.
 
Hang in there & take your time. A trained bird dog doesn't happen overnight. Sounds like your pup has the desire & is already pointing & retrieving. You're well on the way. My current pup (not quite 2-years old & Hank had an absolutely fantastic 2nd season), took 3-months to figure-out the "bring it back to me" part. They're all different; they're all wonderful creatures. Build that partnership. A dog's greatest drive is to please you; build on that. Good luck & spend the time it takes . . .
 
Yeah I guess I'm moving to fast and wanting to much to soon. You read all these things on the internet and want to do them right away. I should relax and wait until I get help in a few months, I just don't want to miss the boat on anything I should be doing now.

As for building a relationship, my pup doesn't leave my side. she is lying beside me on the couch as I type lol. Goes every where I go always in the truck with me. But she`s got the back seat as my old Britt rides shotgun lol
 
Sounds like Rox is doing well, I'm taking my pup out today to do the same type of drill, plant bird, check chord, scent find the bird, flush and chase for 10 to 20 feet, stop him with check chord and let him watch bird fly and land, then repeat. Oh yea and sometimes shoot the blank pistol when giving chase, so far it doesn't phase him.

If pup happens to catch one I have him on the chord to ensure he retrieves to me and not play keep away, and when we have a dead bird I throw it into the tall brush while he watches then send him to search on chord and bring it back.

Right now I just keep it fun and no pressure, they have the natural ability and it will shine thru.
PS, sold the last pup yesterday, I found her a very nice home.
 
its aproblem when the planted birds wont flush hard when they're flushed.i found that this paart of the problem when the birds are dizzied or rocked so they'll sit quietly until the dog comes up
I was probably to anxiuos and brought the dog up to early before they had woke up and gotten their bearings.
maybe i should have waited 30 minutes instead of 10.
i had a brittany in the 90's that was pretty good at tracking/trailing.when i worked her on planted birds she just tracked my foot steps to where i planted the bird and then would point lackadaisically and i would flush.
that's when somebody told about flying the birds in.it was like the birds were "warmed up"and ready to flush harder
when the dog comes up
that is probably easier in eastern colorado (the great plains) because the birds couldnt really fly off the training ground
that probaly why alot of dog trainers take up raising homing/racing pigeons
the racers fly away hard and they're back in the coop before you get home
 
I had one of my GSP's catch on to my foot scent also, had to really watch how I walked in and out and bring the pup from the other side, wind permitting. He also caught onto the pheasant farm quads and vehicle scents when they planted for me and followed that scent. If not the vehicle scent maybe the fact that they had a load of birds driving and spreading that scent trail as they drove? Kind of like kids and the ice-cream trucks that play the music, instead of ice-cream, it means BIRDS!!! LOL..
 
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to respond to the question of the thread: my opinion, and the common consensus is,don't let the new pointer puppies catch the birds.
this is how they learn the "arrested stalk" that we know of as the point.they realize they cant catch the bird and they lock in the scent cone
we know exactly from watching the dogs that their body language mimics the movement of a house cat stalking a bird or lions stalking their prey.
my present dog is a braque du bourbonnais, by the way,7 yrs old.she's sleeping on a chair 2 feet away,it's time for one of her other naps
i need to figure out how to put pictures on here
snowing like a banshee just now.have fun
 
A launcher is a big help.

It allows you to:
- Keep the bird in a known spot.
- Make the bird fly, at least a little
- allows you to keep your hand on the CC
- Use birds like pigeons, that fly away and show the dog that they cant be caught.
- When the dog points, then moves again, you launch the bird,.. they learn to not creep pretty fast.
 
I like the way she hunts now. Obviously she's a natural who needs but minor fine tuning: whoa, come (or here), hand signals, and range work with the check cord. For the range, I like to turn the dog and give it a hand signal and walk sideways consistent with your signal when it gets to the end of the cord. It does not take much training to instill these things in a sharp dog like yours. I wouldn't overdo it and don't expect perfection (out of a dog or a human).
 
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