How to train a lab to point

[Snowman]

Wanting to train my lab to point and not looking to send her off to a trainer. Just looking for some tips on how to go about it and don't real want to buy a book. So some input would be greatly appreciated. She is really well mannered and is a easy learner.

[Skyvalhunter]

First of all do you have a shock collar? How old is you Lab?

[Snowman]

No shock collar and she is a year and half old

[Wayne1]

If your dog does'nt point natural, then about all you can do is teach her/him is to stand game. One way is to card a pidgon and put your dog in a long lead. At first your dog will try and flush the bird, but with you holding the end of the lead, hold your dog to where he/she can not catch the bird at the same time yelling "Whoa". It'll take quit a few time's [unless your dog is a quick learner]. When I trained my dog, I had him sit in frount of me, gave him the stay comand, and with the lead connected to his collar, I would steadly put pressure, pulling the lead toward me little by little,..  at the same time repeating the word "Whoa". My lab is a natural pointer..  just wanted him to learn to hold a staunch point. After that it also made it easyer to teach him steady to flush, and steady to shot.

[Snowman]

Her first time out was pheasant hunting and the first bird she found was about 5 feet in front of her and stop on a dime and looked at the bird then at me after about the fourth time she looked at me I sent her. But since then she was sick and then in heat for pretty much the rest of pheasant season. So I didn't get a chance to work with her more on it. I just don't her to catch the scent and blow off running to where I won't be able to shoot. My other lab does that and don't want my pup to do it. I don't run them together so she doesn't get the bad habits I've been trying to work out of the other one. If she'd just hold steady on one that would be good. I'll work with her on a long lead. I can get her to sit and stay and can walk away from her pretty far.

[Wayne1]

here's an artical that might help ya some

http://www.northernflight.com/whoa.htm

[Skyvalhunter]

Make sure she doesn't start flushing on you. Once they point make her hold with "whoa" until you release her by an ok or tap on the body. If she starts flushing on her own thats not good. It would be good if you had a homing pigeon otherwise it gets expensive buying birds to train her on. But make sure she learns the command "whoa".

[Snowman]

Thanks that will help quite a bit. Ok Sky. She is already trained  for release by her name or by a wave of the hand infront of her. So I will keep that as her release when flushing, but is it a big deal when you release them if they don't stand after the flush or do you want them to stop after flush until the bird is down?

[Wayne1]

I like my dog's steady to flush and steady to shot...that way their not in danger in case another bird flush's up and someone take's the shot... plus if their steady till the bird is down...  they get a good mark on the landing...if your hunting tall grass, and your dog break's on the flush and shot..  they may not see the fall and have to put on a hunt for the retrieve

[Snowman]

Ok. then will train her to steady on flush. She's good at not going after the shot as I've worked with her with a starter gun and keep her on a leash when waterfowling to get her used to staying until sent. So will do the same them.

[Snowman]

Thanks guys for the input and any more suggestion are appreciated.

[Snowman]

Where can you get live birds and how much they usauly run? I have a bunch of wings already which would work to get her started steadying.

[Wayne1]

we raise pidgon's, but buy chucker, and pheasent on the place where we train every week. Maybe if someone's on this thread's from around the area where you live, they can point you in a direction. You might see if there's a AKC, NAHRA, HRC club around you close...   get ahold of a member in their club and see where they get their bird's from... also ask them about their training group's that you could join in.

[Skyvalhunter]

My trainer buys his from a guy in Eastern Wa. Another buddy of mine raises his own. Remember unless you are on private property you can't take the birds to the release site and practice with them during the birds nesting season. Think its march-till hunting season or there abouts. So if you know or have a field of your own them thats the best. My trainer has me just pay for the birds to practice on his property in Falls City.

[Snowman]

He'll let other's buy from him or pratice on his property. I have some private property to use, butsometimes they have cows on them and the bulls get pretty mean. They'll chase rigs down.