Trying to do the right thing for my pup

[halfpipe88]

My pup is a 6month old Brittany with lots of talent and instincts. He's only 6 months old and I've been taking him out and he's got it figured out that when we go out he's there to find birds. In all his excitement he hasn't pointed a bird yet, just plows through them. He's gone on point a couple times but they were false points. With bird season open now I want to know if it's ok to shoot the birds if he doesn't point them. I don't want want to do something now that will hurt him later on. I want to take him with me of course, but want it to be positive. Your advice for a novice dog trainer would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Stilly bay]

I would keep my gun unloaded until you got a solid point. Otherwise he is just going to keep doing what he is doing.
He is just a pup so keep it fun and short and sooner or later he will come around.

I also wouldn't hunt release site pheasants with him unless that was your only option.

[wildweeds]

What stilly said , unless of course you feel the need for a couple hundred yard flusher, It can be tough to do if your new in the game but you really need to shoot pointed birds only. I've walked 27 hours worth of hunting behind a female I've got before she pointed a bird,and I killed it for her,she also pointed the next two which I also killed,by the end of that season she was a point em,hold em till I flushed em for her.Quite the night and day difference for her from the start and the end.Best to expect little at 6 months,the first season is the dogs,the rest are yours.

[NW-GSP]

I agree with the other posts. Do not shoot the birds unless they are pointed.
Your dog will catch on and when it does it will be awesome!

[halfpipe88]

What if your dog isn't near me and I kick one up?  Same thing, only shoot if he pointed it?

[NW-GSP]

You are safe in that situation. You just don't want to shoot birds that flush due to being pressured by the dog.

[Forks]

Be patient, it will all work itself out. The more birds your pup experiences, the sooner he will figure it out. If you want him to point, don't reward him for not. Get him on as many birds as possible. Remember to have fun and don't pressure the little fella.

[wildweeds]

If you step on one or it flushes because of you and your dog is nowhere around ,that one is fair game shoot away because you were the birddog.Now all that said I'm going to contradict it and tell you this,BECAUSE your dog is unexperianced and IMO very young I would warn against shooting it because you do not want to startle the pup,at it's age it should be involved with the bird and be excited and focused,this will help his confidence around the gun.Make sense? If it were an older experianced dog I'd shoot a walked up bird everytime it happens(which by the way isn't that often unless your in a target rich environment like South Dakota).

What if your dog isn't near me and I kick one up?  Same thing, only shoot if he pointed it?

[Bullkllr]

When I had my Brit the thing I think made the biggest difference on solid points was rigorous "whoa" training.

[Stilly bay]

INow all that said I'm going to contradict it and tell you this,BECAUSE your dog is unexperianced and IMO very young I would warn against shooting it because you do not want to startle the pup,at it's age it should be involved with the bird and be excited and focused,this will help his confidence around the gun.Make sense? If it were an older experianced dog I'd shoot a walked up bird everytime it happens(which by the way isn't that often unless your in a target rich environment like South Dakota).

What if your dog isn't near me and I kick one up?  Same thing, only shoot if he pointed it?

EXCELLANT POINT!

keep the gun unloaded while the pup is hunting, if he is doing the right thing you will have plenty of time to slip a couple shells in. This might be long season with few birds in the freezer but what you do now will pay off for the rest of your dog's life.