what do you do to keep your bird dog "on his toes" durring the off-season?

[jeepster]

well, i have a vizsla..... he is an amazing dog with an amazing nose....  obviously i cant work with him 3 to 5 times a week with real birds.... so....... how do you work with your dog, in a fun-game-like setting (from the dogs perspective) on a regular basis? ive been chucking various bird dummys with scents into random bushes afield, and he finds them just fine, (except for waterfoul dummys in the lake... he will chase bugs flying on the surface for hours).... ive been thinking about putting tennis balls in zip-lock bags with bird scents and using one of those chuck-it ballthowers and just associating fetch with something that smells like a pheseant..... even though its just a tennis ball... i screamed too hard last year to re-learn everything this year

what do you guys do to keep your dog "on his toes" durring the off-season?

[Skyvalhunter]

He is not going to loose that desire for "the scent". Much better idea that you keep up with his commands. Even taking him to a field to maintain the stay, whoa, heel, or if you trained him with a whistle commands are more important. Not saying getting on birds is irrevelant but he needsto maintain commands. Even walking in an open field he is searching for that scent but that isn't a daily or weekly reinforcement that is needed. But everyone is going to give their 

[SpringerFan]

Basic commands over and over. Plus we train with birds every Sunday. I am currently doing yard and field work to get him steady to flush. This Springer is a quick learner. I think what helps is knowing what you want in a finished dog so you make sure you start them very early with consistant commands.

And of course, he loves to go on long walks (he hunts the whole time!!!) and just have some fun. I do mix in some whistle commands along with verbal as we "play".

[Rowdy]

Exercise to keep him in shape for fall with bird training sprinkled in here and there.  Most bird dogs are always hunting in one way or another.  This time of year mine is a backyard squirrel hunting maniac. 

Jake

[jetjockey]

I road my dog twice a week just to keep her in shape.  Otherwise, I do a little yard work with her to keep her honest on her commands.  A little barrel work thrown in to keep her looking good while shes standing.  However, "off" season for my dog is only 3 months.  She's on "vacation" right now and just enjoying herself.  In July she goes back to summer camp in SD for 2 1/2 months and then spends 1 1/2 months on the trail ciruit.  I hunt her for 3 months between Nov and Jan and shen she spends another 2 months on the trial circuit before her 3 month vacation again.  They never lose their desire to hunt, so I would think that roading and yard work with be plenty this time of year.  In the fall when hunting season rolls around, get them in to TONS of birds again.