What's a bird dog you might ask? Well, if you are a sportsman, specifically in hunting, a bird dog could help you find that elusive animal in a bush hiding from you. A bird dog uses its heightened olfactory senses to track birds via the scent they leave both on the ground and even in the air. Pointing using their nose and body is the most common method that these bird dogs employ to call attention to their prey. Many bird dogs, if they are properly trained, seem totally focused on the pointing part of their job. In actuality, they are in tune with you waiting for a cue of action.
Training a bird dog is started when they are still in the puppy stage. Beginning when dogs are young seems to improve the results of the training rather than starting with a dog that is a little older. In addition to training your pup into bird dog status, it is important to start with some basic commands through obedience training. This obedience training provides a solid foundation and gives you a good indication of how well your dog will do for the bird dog training.
Long and time consuming could be used to describe the course of bird dog training. However, most hunters feel it is worth the efforts. One of the first things you have to do when you start training is get your dog acclimatized to the outdoors and nature. Secondly, you will have to rustle yourself up a few dead birds and use them as the items the dogs have to retrieve.
Once the dogs become accustomed to retrieving dead birds, you can start practicing with live birds like pigeons. The dead bird retrieval acclimatizes you or anyone else to the thrill the hunt dogs get when on a hunting trip with their owners. Once this process is over, you will realize why the obedience training beforehand is helpful. The come, heel and a variation of the stay command is used most often.
The come command is important out in the hunting arena. It helps keep your dog from wandering around on its own in the brush scaring all the animals away. Reinforce the good behavior of your dog each and every time he comes back to you after the come command. This could be in the form of a small dog treat or a chew toy.
The heel command ensures that your dog will stay by your side unless instructed to otherwise. You have to enforce the fact that the most secure place is beside you, its master. Constant positive reinforcement works like a charm each and every time your dog performs correctly. And when he makes a misstep, do not punish him via spanking or yelling. This makes all your previous efforts counterproductive.
The "whoa" command is similar to the stop command. However, instead of stopping a certain activity, the "whoa" is a signal for your dog to assume the pointing stance so that you know where the bird you are hunting is. Total obedience in other areas is a must before your dog can handle bird dog duties. The reasoning behind it is that when hunting, there may be other bird dogs around. The distractions can cause your dog to go off on a tangent, effectively negating any precious efforts.
It takes a lot more effort than you probably realize to train an actual bird dog. Just know that your training efforts will have been rewarded when you bring home some prized birds to eat. A good bird dog is all about teamwork and the relationship you have.
