I have rabbit hunted, coon hunted, and squirrel hunted with hounds but now I want to get into bird hunting. I just got a GSP female pup and I'm hearing a lot of different things online and from people. Would I be right in assuming that the biggest part of the training for me should be just to get her well started with basic obedience and let the instincts of the bird dog come out with walks in the woods on wild birds and maybe a game farm down the road. Or would I be better off doing the bird wing, then caged bird, then game farm, and then real hunting situations. I work with a guy who has a pretty good dog from what I hear and he said he never taught it to hunt he taught it to listen and the dog figured everything else out on its own. He told me you can make training as simple or as complicated as I want it. In the end aren't you going to end up with comparable dogs, the only difference is just how fast you are going to get a "finished" dog. I understand that what I want and would allow my dog to do might not be the same as someone who is field-trialing or other hunt test. Also is it just me or is the whole whoa barrel just a big waste of time and effort for something you can teach on a leash and check cord. Wouldn't using a child's cap-gun in the house while playing around and feeding be better than slamming pots and pans together? Does any of this sound off to you more experienced bird hunters? Any insight into this is much appreciated. thanks