Recently lost my springer of 15 years. though we hunted more casually in her later years, Trixie was incredible partner and many more established bird hunters envied her close hunting, patience & near telepathic communications with me. regardless - woods, thicket, fields preserves, back bays, ocean, ponds - duck, grouse, woodcock or pheasant she was always ready, and a better hunter than I was a shot. I did not make a trixie a great hunter, she wanted to please. I swore I would never get another dog after losing her. Did not plan on a new dog until time healed the wounds of trix.

along came Cooper a pointer pit mix that was very sick coming from a shelter in GA. This six month old had pneumonia via untreated kennel cough near death., and my friends cousins runs a rescue and was collecting $ for his medical care. I donated & drove him to Animal Hospital, 2 months later with slightly better but weighed half what he should have. I fostered then adopted him. I took on the cooper with no plan of him being a bird dog. Now at 11 months he has a prey drive & a great nose. While he is very timid with people but non aggressive, he is great with every dog even those aggressive towards him. He is obedient and has tagged along on hunts. He was not disruptive and is gradually getting it. So as always patience & luck of the draw has a lot to do with it. So get if you have an obedient non aggressive dog - get some dummies & scent - a friend or two with well trained dogs willing to be patient and have at it. keep your expectations low, but strive for fun. I find dogs learn best from working with better dogs, if their owners are OK with it.- Trixie's best trainer was our neighbors black lab Cole ( one of the most versatile pointing labs I have ever had the pleasure to hunt over)

aside from Cooper losing focus chasing a rabbit or squirrel on occasion - he is finding well hidden scented dummies and bringing them to hand, his mouth is surprisingly gently- so will be a world class gun dog. no. will we get out in the woods or field and have fun. yep - fortunately there is a great Spedie BBQ near my weekend camp & we do not have rely on our hunting skills to eat just yet.