Recommend a few steps

[Spotshooter]

Hello,

I have a new Brittany pup, he'll be 5 months old this week.

I've done a fair bit of work with him, and he follows what he is told (unless he's just got scolded for stealing a slipper... Then he doesn't want to come to the scene of the crime ...)

He fetches, sits, stays, settle, drop it, ... ... I have a check cord, and a vest so I can start taking him into the field.
I've had him to the skeet club and he's not afraid of shooting at all..
I'll be going to a bird game farm next weekend but don't think I should take him with me (we'll use my buddies dogs).
I put a pheasant wing on a dummy once.... He nearly came out of his own skin.... He gets so wound up with bird wings and dummies that I don't use them all that much any more.
He's retrieved a bird (a cardinal flew into the sun room windows right in front of us) he picked it up and almost didn't let me get it away from him. He still looks at the spot I throw it over the fence.


My question(s) -

Should I get a launcher to do bird training - I'll be doing it alone so I think the answer is yes.
I'm having a hard time finding birds (quail & pigeons) any suggestions here would be great (I'm in N.E. Kansas)
I'll start on whoa soon...
I gather "don't let him catch the bird is smart"...
I'm not sure the best way to introduce him to birds, I've seen guys on YouTube flip 3-4 out of a launcher with the dog on a check cord tied to a tree...

I plan on hunting pheasant, quail, dove, and possible duck, and grouse if I get the chance...

What's the best steps in bringing birds into the picture.. .they probably won't be cheap.

Thanks,
Spot

[DonF]

When the remote launcher came on the scene, every thing changed. No longer have to stop the dog with a check cord, simply pop the bird at the proper time. You have nthe remote, you think like a wild bired and react the same way, won't be long at all and the pup will be pointing.

[randomnut]

Check the classifieds. I think Meller? had some pigeons in Missouri, I don't think it was far from the Kansas line, but not sure.

I'd take anything on dog training that comes from YouTube with a grain of salt. I've got the Perfect Start Perfect Finish series, and while I have not yet used it much, it looks really good. Seems as if the dog trains themselves.

[Spotshooter]

Thanks... I will definitely go the bird launch route right. Away.

Randomnut - thanks! I found him in the classified and shot him a PM...

Spot