Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: RockChuck on February 02, 2010, 04:24:18 PM

Title: Teaching to hold point
Post by: RockChuck on February 02, 2010, 04:24:18 PM: My Gsp/Lab is 3 1/2 months old, I have been training her with live pigeons, she will go on point and when she can see them she will break point, any suggestions on teaching her to hold point?
Title: Re: Teaching to hold point
Post by: Machias on February 02, 2010, 07:21:37 PM: Build a training table, and teach her to whoa on the table. Once she is solid on the table, to the point you can walk around the table and she is steady and she even stands rock solid when you give her a slight tug on her leash, then introduce her to a tethered bird and keep her steady on the table.
Title: Re: Teaching to hold point
Post by: jetjockey on February 03, 2010, 06:51:17 AM: What do you mean that when she can see them she will break. Is she sight pointing or pointing off smell? How broke to you want your dog?

Get her "whoa" broke, and then put her on a barrel. Get the barrel off the ground and get your pigeons. You can teather them like Machia said or just remove the flight feathers from one or two and let them walk around the table. Make the dog "Whoa" at all times..... The dog will eventually get used to it and will relax, and watch the birds walk around..

You can also get a bird launcher. Put a pigeon in the launcher, and work your dog into the wind until it points. The second the dog tries to flush the bird launch it and don't shoot. The dog will learn that it can't catch the bird. Also, don't shoot unless the dog does is perfectly.................. You might have a tough time getting your dog to point real staunch and hold birds though. The GSP side will do it, but the Lab side is going to want to flush the bird every time. This is one reason cross breeds pointers/flushers are tough to work with. You have two seperate instincts in the dog pulling in two opposite direction... But I wouldn't worry too much yet, a 3 1/2 month old pup is still a baby. Birds are still play toys and ment to be chased, caught, eaten etc..... Give your pup time to develop and dont push her. At this stage in the game she should just be having fun, bonding with you, and slowly building that prey drive. Putting her on birds will build the drive, but don't expect too much from her until she gets older and matures..
Title: Re: Teaching to hold point
Post by: NW-GSP on February 05, 2010, 01:59:40 PM: I agree 100% with you jetjockey
Title: Re: Teaching to hold point
Post by: Rowdy on February 05, 2010, 02:29:30 PM: Launchers and birds. If the dog moves, launch.

Agree with JetJockey.

:twocents:
Jake
Title: Re: Teaching to hold point
Post by: RockChuck on February 05, 2010, 02:44:10 PM: She will point from smell but if she spots the bird she will break, sometimes she will hold for a little bit even when she sees the bird, I will start whoa training and introduce the pigeon then, I guess in the meantime I will let her be a pup. I am going to look into the bird launcher also, that should keep her from catching them.
Title: Re: Teaching to hold point
Post by: Machias on February 05, 2010, 03:28:05 PM: I highly reccomend the green book and the dvd is pretty good as well.

http://www.navhda.org/ (http://www.navhda.org/)