Looking to help new dog

[Bandocknr]

I got a new German shorthair puppy early this year and have been working with him at home and he’s been doing very well I just recently took him out on his first hunt and he did way better then I was expecting I was very happy with his progress. I’m by no means a dog trainer and for the most part I don’t really know what I’m doing when it comes to bird dogs just a bunch of info I’ve researched and done with him. On the last bird of the day he actually pointed to a bird so I walked in there and there a bird flushed and luckily was able to shoot the bird and he ran over to it and grabbed it, I was really excited about his first bird. But what i noticed is he really likes to stay next to me instead of going off into the brush looking for birds I was having to walk in there with him so I was wondering if someone on here with an experienced dog would like to take us out so hopefully he would go and follow another dog and learn what he should be doing. But any help in our journey to hunt birds would be greatly appreciated.

[metlhead]

Many pointers are hesitant to enter heavy brush. Tough to see a point anyway. In heavy patches they learn to work any type of edge

[SeaRun1]

What a fine looking dog! 

SR1

[Torrent50]

I would check and see if there is a local NAVHDA club and reach out to them.   They are a great resource for helping with training and might be able to help you out.

[MR5x5]

Not unusual at all for a young dog to stick close to the owner the first year.  I'd look to get out in the field with others who have seasoned dogs.  Your dog will learn from them.  Best thing for your dog this year is getting him on scent as many times as possible.  Don't have too high of expectations for the first year.  Your pup will do fine in time.

[jackson7]

Sounds to me like you are on right track. I would get out into big open fields where pup can run and be seen. as for thick brush, generally run the edges till they get scent and then will go in. Labs tend to get in middle of it.
Year one, get them out as much as possible in various terrains. your pup will teach himself. sounds like good start.
best Jackson

[ducks4days]

I spent a bunch of time training my GWP with frozen birds. During the off season, I would grab 5 from the freezer and head to a wildlife area, or an area I hunt, leave the dog in her kennel or tethered where she couldnt see me, and go walk into the brush and toss or stash the birds in a few spots I had marked. Then would go back and let her out. At first she didnt want to dive into the brush, but if I tossed a rock in and told her BACK she would go running around to find a way in. Eventually she learned that sometimes there is totally a bird hiding in the brush, which for her is the greatest thing ever, and now she will aggressively climb through it if she catches a strong scent.

Half the fun of having a gun dog is watching them slowly get better over time. But it does take some time.

[metlhead]

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