Help!

[Hemi03]

Are there benfits to running a young learning dog with other dogs during the hunt or is it better to hunt them alone until they get it down?

[will-kelly]

If the dog is a mutt then the genetics might not have a natural point built in. Hunting him with other dogs may not teach him anything. As with any pointer you need to develop the point. Yes there are many dogs that point the minute they come out of the womb but the natural point is just a built in response before the dog pounces.

If you want him to be a pointer I would not shoot any birds he doesn't point. If you are looking for a flushing dog as opposed to a pointer then run him with the type of dogs you want him to become.

[Wyobio]

In my limited experience, hunting with other dogs will NOT make your dog "learn" how to hunt. On the contrary, any inclination to point will be overridden as other dogs get close; most young dogs are going to break to prevent other dogs from stealing "their" bird.

Some dogs do seem to learn to point on their own, without much training outside of hunting. But I would not count on it. If you are shooting flushed birds, the dog will have a hard time figuring out what you want from it. I know it is hard to not shoot at a rooster that is bumped (I have certainly done it many times myself). But until the dog shows a strong inclination to point, you should refrain from shooting.

If you don't really care about pointing and just want a good "birdy dog" than don't worry about it and enjoy the dog.

[RoostersMom]

I have to concur. Running a young dog with other dogs really doesn't do much to develop the young dog (in a hunting scenario - I do run mine with older dogs when training some to get them to move out a bit more). One on one hunting with you and your dog is the way to go for the first 5-6 hunts (more would be good as well). Until the dog understands that he hunts with you and knows what you expect.

It sounds like he's going to be a flusher - if that's good for you - he should do well for you. Less trouble (less training is what I mean - no worrying about steady to wing and shot with a flusher) - if he's a flusher - then you work on keeping him in close to you so that you'll (theoretically) always be able to make a shot.

Love my V-dog, he's a great retriever as well.

[Hemi03]

Thanks for your thoughts all. I don't think I would say he is a flusher....yet. The only live bird work we've done was with pigeons out of a sack and obviously the ducks he's retrieved. He points at things he is unsure of or if something catches his attention. From the first pheasant he flushed up to now, I have seen a lot of change in him. I can notice that he is learning the closer he gets to the bird it's going to fly out on him. I think I will hunt him in a different area by ourselves and see how he does. Have any of you given the Whoa command at point or almost at point? Like i said ealier, I can notice by his body language when he does have a bird pinned, i'm wondering if I tell him to Whoa at that point if it wil lhelp him? he knows Whoa means stop. this sounds a little to obvious and it may be, sorry if it is. Like i said, first bird dog I have ever owned or worked with so i'm still learning as well. It's fun as heck though!