German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America

[JJK]

What is a good method to help a pup point and hold grouse.

The birds we have been finding are very spooky. My pup has been bumping most of them he finds. He does O.K. with woodcock unless they run. Will he get better with experience ?

He is 17 months old and has not been exposed to many planted birds. I just started hunting in the woods and have almost no experience with a versatile breed.

[windswept]

That question can only be answered with a very long description of someone's training technique. We like to use the whoa boards on dogs we train. This is a gradual technique that teaches the dog to stay in place, no matter the distraction. In a nutshell, the basics of staying put are taught with no birds around, so that when there are birds around and the dog moves and gets corrected, he doesn't relate the correction to the bird, only that he moved. It would be too long of a description to write in this e-mail. You're welcome to give us a call to discuss - 517-543-3628. We train pointing dogs professionally.

Regarding grouse, this is a bird for the advanced and experienced dog. To be a good grouse dog, he also has to have a great nose, due to the bird's habit of flushing easily. The dog needs to scent a grouse from a good distance and stop to point so that he doesn't flush the bird. A good grouse dog is also very experienced and has learned that getting too close flushes them.

Lori Sargent

[JJK]

On our last couple of hunts he's been pointing grouse, but not holding. I'm not sure if they are running or he's starting to point them at distance and then just breaking. Maybe with enough exposure he'll figure it out.

I woah trained him just with treats in the house and yard, and he does well. Then I worked on in the field, and now while we're hunting. His obedience is spotty when we hunt. I don't go any easier on him, but he pushes the limits. It has gotten better each time out.

Thanks.

[windswept]

It takes a long time and a lot of work to get a dog that's reliably steady. Of course, some dogs are easier trained than others, like anything else.

Lori

[JJK]

I figure it will take a while, and with more contact he might do O.K.

Deer season starts tomorrow( MN ), so I'm taking a break from the grouse hunting. But I might hit the game farm with a check cord and flagged birds.