Spitfirefl

I recently rescued a Brittany Spaniel from the streets. After 2 months, he' s almost at optimum weight, has hair and energy. I suspected originally that he was someone' s lost hunting dog and lately, he has taken to " bounding" through the back yard (which is quite large and is natural in the back) and staring at trees for hours like a statue, occasionally looking over his should at me with his ears forward like he' s waiting for me to tell him what to do. I don' t know anything about bird dogs or flushing dogs as I never hunted with dogs. He' s a wonderful dog, great personality, very intelligent (had to crate train and house break), knows his name and his home and I' m frankly quite impressed. Basically, I' m wondering if the behavior he is displaying that of a flushing dog which I assume he would have had to be trained to do so and what commands is he expecting from me? At this time, I don' t plan to take up bird hunting, (but you never know), and I guess I' m more curious about the behaviors and training at this time. Any help or advise would be appreciated. I feel like I' m leaving him hanging (for hours sometimes) staring at birds!

seattlesetters

I would go out and buy the excellent book by James B. Spencer, " Point! Training the All-Seasons Birddog" and try to follow it from the section on yard training. His book works really well for those who have facilities and equipment or those who do not, and the methods are sound and humane.

Yours is a pointing dog by breed. For starters, I' d recommend retrieving games and yard work (come, release, kennel, turn, whoa and heel). After you have a handle on these commands (especially whoa), you can introduce birds to the dog.

All you really need in additional equipment is a check cord for the most basic training. If you like it, the sky is the limit.

I am in your boots, as well...sort of. I am going tomorrow to pick up a new pup and a 2-year-old English Setter that has never been off of a tie out. It is part rescue mission, and part training challenge. She is a pretty dog with impeccable breeding and a sweet disposition, and I have vowed that I am going to train her to be a birddog...the life for which she was bred. I know it will take patience, and I have my work cut out for me, but she is going to be loved and is going to be a special member of the family so I will make it work. Below is a picture of the puppy.

Good luck!!

douglasm

I' d have to agree with seattlesetters.Jim Spencer' s book is one of the best training tools I own.It seems as thogh the dog has a lot of natural instinct and just needs some direction