Pointing Dog Training

Pointing Dog Training – Interested in learning how to start hunting with your bird dog? Do you have a young, energetic Pointer, German Shorthair, Vizsla, Brittany, etc. and interested in hunting trials or field trials? It can be confusing when you first start, especially if you are new to hunting or bird hunting games.

Where do i start How can I find someone to help me? What if I’ve never shot before, or my dog ​​isn’t a puppy, or I live in the city?

Pointing Dog Training

I know getting into the hunting and testing world can be tough at times, because I was in the same boat a few years ago. Hope this post points you in the right direction. This is not a step-by-step plan, but some general ideas to get you started.

Gun Dog Training — Fetching Feathers

If you’re interested in learning more about hunting trials or field trials, I recommend finding a local event or two to go to. You can better understand these activities by seeing them in person. American Kennel Club (AKC) breed trials and field trials can be found on the AKC website or using the event search tool Perfdog. If you see an event that interests you, contact the exam or court clerk and tell them you want to see it. Most people are happy to meet someone new and provide relevant information about when to arrive, where to stay, etc.

There are many other organizations that run tests and trials (I’ll cover many of them in a future episode of my podcast!).

If you’re new to the idea of ​​bird hunting with your dog, it means your dog hasn’t had any exposure to pen-raised (human-raised) birds like quail, chukars, or pheasants. That’s fine, and your dog’s age doesn’t matter. Although training a young dog is easier than a four, seven or ten year old dog, just because your dog is older doesn’t mean he can’t learn to hunt.

You want to find an area with live game birds where you can safely expose your dogs to birds. Finding a place to do this may require some research. Below are some options.

Training Pointing Dogs

In a field test or a hunting test, you must wash the bird after your dog goes to the point. At the AKC Field Trial, judges ride horses as shown here. You can ride a horse, ride an ATV/UTV or walk in the AKC search test. Other organizations have different rules regarding referees.

Once you’ve been exposed to different hunting situations, think about what you want your dog to do. While you don’t necessarily have a specific goal, a general point of where you want to go provides a good guide as you move forward. For example, you may like the idea of ​​doing AKC search tests with your dog, as it provides a clear standard to work with. Your first goal is to try and earn your dog the title of Junior Hunter. At this time, you know that you need to work on the correct adaptation of your dog to shoot, that your dog points to the birds and has a basic level of obedience and listens to you when he runs. field. . (Check out my podcast on Junior Hunter Levels.)

Or maybe your goal is to prepare your dog for the NAVHDA utility test because, in addition to running around the farm, your dog loves water. As in the example above, you want your dog to listen to you, point out the birds, and understand what the shot means. But you have to work to get water sequences. You really need to build their interest in hunting ducks.

If you decide to get more involved and expose your dogs to birds, you will need a regular or semi-regular training area if you do the training yourself. Although you can do many activities in your backyard or at local parks/playgrounds, depending on your goals, you should always train your dog with live birds. Perhaps the place where you take your dog to be exposed to birds is also a place that you can regularly visit and train. Or maybe not. Check out my article on how to find a place to train your bird dog for some great options to consider.

Choosing The Right Dog Park For Your Pet

Alternatively, if you want to send your dog to a trainer, you’ll want to start by looking at different trainers and what they offer. Sending your dog to a trainer can be a big decision, so make sure you find someone you’re comfortable with and like their style.

Training with my friend Steve and his short hair in January 2023. This is one of the bird dog clubs I belong to. The property consists of 100 acres of pigeon loft. It would be a great place to train though if it was closer to my house!

There are many ways to train a bird dog and although it is not necessary to have a road map or a step-by-step training plan, it can help a lot. I recommend researching different training methods and finding the one that works for you. For example, if you want to teach your dog to fetch, you may decide to use the traditional “Force Fetch” method using ear clips and later an e-collar overlay. Or you may feel more comfortable doing “toes” that lift your arms. Or maybe you want to build a pickup base with click and feed rewards. There are many ideas to consider. Below are some great resources, in no particular order, for training consistency and recovery:

Depending on the level you want to reach, bird dog training can take a lot of effort and time. Certain processes, such as strength and recovery, require regular sessions to improve your progress and achieve reliable results. It helps to create a training schedule that fits around your work and family commitments.

Gundog Training With Winnie The German Shorthaired Pointer

You may have to drive and travel more than you would like. I say this not to discourage you, but to inform you of the reality of this game. It can also be outdoors most of the time in unfavorable weather (cold, hot, rainy, etc.). Training can sometimes feel like a lot of work, but the benefits of consistent training go a long way. You will create a strong bond and relationship with your dog. You may develop a different level of confidence when you see how much you can do.

In my opinion, there is nothing more satisfying than watching a bird hunt a dog and fulfill its natural instincts. A trained bird dog looks better. You won’t regret starting to hunt with your bird dog. In fact, you may find yourself completely addicted!

I know this article contains a lot of information, but it’s just the beginning. If you need more help, I offer one-on-one virtual training sessions for bird dog owners interested in participating in hunting activities. I will help you understand the bird dog world and successfully compete with your dog in hunting trials or field trials. Visit my training page for more details. Our hot summers in Iowa limit opportunities to take our English Setter, Bonnie, out to our “farm” for some good exercise. There, we surrounded acres of running land, wooded slopes, even a cool-in pond. Exercise. We’ve had very cool nights in the past and took it out to the farm one morning before the sun had a chance to warm things up.

Bonnie is steady and firing on the wing – but we’re wondering how well she’s doing after her summer break. We planted pigeons at a distance in several pastures. After he walked onto the field, he stood and was shaking with excitement as he waited to be released. He flew like a bullet, tail wagging, into the field. About 30 feet from the planted bird, Bonnie rolled over and froze, her tail looking at 12 o’clock, shaking but not moving, she dove and blushed. The bird took to the air and followed his eyes along the path, but did not move a muscle after the shot, until he was struck on the head. The whole situation was done quietly.

Basic Commands To Master In Dog Training

This scene is the “sweet spot” for our dog training, which gives us explosives and sets the bird on fire.

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