The Making of a Bird Dog!

[keskam]

So what makes a great bird dog?
Genetics?
Early bird exposer?
Breeders?

What is it that kicks the light on in a dog be it a Lab, EP, GSP, Wirehair, Brit, Setter or whatever you use as a bird hunter? They all can have great dogs in them or Duds too.

Myself I have to go with early bird exposer, nothing like turning on the genetics in a dog IMO, To me just like doing Obedience in a dog once the dog has it, it is in there for life.
If no early bird exposer does a dog become a product of there environment?
I have seen Championship line GSP dog at 3 years old,(never on birds) put out a bird for it and it had no clue what it was and really didnt care.

What are your thoughts?

 

[birdshooter]

We'll all 3 things you listed are very important.

I'll give my 2 cents.

Without good genetics you can only go so far, much in the same as with elite human athletes.

Breeding can be an art form and good breeders who have been in the business for a good period of time come to learn what it takes. Just breeding two dogs with championship pedigrees is a crap shoot at best. You have to know what traits compliment others to achieve the results your looking for. When you find something that works you try to build upon it.

Birds... ahh yes. you can't make a bird dog without birds. Never has a statement been more true. Birds bring out in a pup/dog what god put into them genetically. Truly good ones learn quickly and seem to excel at what they were bred to do with minimal training.

Training -- Training fine tunes and hones those natural talents to point where you (handler/hunter) and dog work as a perfect team.

 

[quail hound]

Imo early bird exposure is a must. A 8 week old pup chasing a Japanese quail or clipped bob bird and having the time of its young life is one of the best things I've ever seen.

 

[FCSpringer]

Well said. The dogs you start with and training. Birds fall into training in my book. It is amazing at the various clubs I see how many good dogs are washed out. At our club just about every dog that comes in turns into a nice dog.Or could be if you wanted to keep every one, some we start and sell, but they could do very well if competed. Training is huge. Some just end up better then others for several reasons, but training I think is the biggest key, combined with a nice bred pup to start. You can take two 5 million dollar pups and put one with an idiot, and one with a good trainer, and guess which one will be that great dog. And I agree with the prior posts as well. Time and Patience.