What method are you using? Are you using a book or tape suggesting this? From my experience, a pointing dog needs to use body scent with the head up to find and point. If a dog is using foot scent, the dog will bump most birds and not know why. I would find a training system you like and follow it. Training dogs is just like teaching kids, one needs to know what they're doing or it can mess it up. Leave the pheasant wing home and let the pup just discover the world.

Dr Fatguy