BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[Badger Matt]

I'm looking for some advice on training my 2-year-old Brittany. Beyond some basic obedience (sit, come, heel...and hallway fetching), we've done nothing yet. She points every bird that lands on our fence, is eager to please, and knows she's a member of the family. I believe I can get my hands on some quail. I've owned flushing dogs before; a Golden and a Springer and was very pleased with each. With a pointing dog, however, I'm a babe in the woods.

Any suggestions on a particular book/video? How about suggestions on working with a 2-year-old?

Thanks,

Matt

[Happycamper]

I've had quite a few pointers/setters,but i love my brittanny(6yrs old).He's just a great all-around dog and an excellent hunter as well.Not sure about training him at 2 because i have always started mine early(puppy).My uncle trained my two others who are old now,but i trained my brittanny.He isnt gonna win any medals but he gets the job done and thats fine with me........There are tons of books/videos but one that helped me is called "Best Way To Train Your Gun Dog...The Delmar Smith Method" by Bill Tarrant.....written by Bill Tarrant.I got it a one of the big book stores about 8 yrs ago.....It was time consuming and took some work but it was well worth it .....Hope that helps and good luck.

[Don Fischer]

Welcome to BGH to both of you.

The Bill Tarrent book is a great book. Some say that his son has better ways but I used Delmars on a bunch of dogs and they worked.

At two years you may just take him hunting and see what he does. If he holds till you get there, shoot the bird, if he doesn't let it go. Bad thing about pen raised birds is they are prone to either lay to tight and let the dog right on top of them or they run around in front of the dog and if they do get off the ground, they don't usually fly very well. My favorite training bird is the feral pigeon. You'll need someone to flush for you while you work the dog on a check cord but, they will not let a dog get to close if not put to sleep and they won't land on the ground again after flushing.

They caan be put to sleep or dizzied as they are planted for flushers. Give a properly dizzied bird a few min to come around and they will make a dog honest.

[huntindog]

The Delmar Smith book is a good one.
I wouldn't worry about the age. A lot of pros think that a 2 year old dog is a great age to break them. I have done it both ways with good results.

[Don Fischer]

Tried to see Rusty and the pup's, sucker for pups! But for some reason the site didn't open all the way.

Have you been down to Colledge for any of the Rick Smith seminars? If I remember, Delmar was down at one one time. I heard that Delmar has died, great loss to the pointing dog world. I don't recall the name of the preserve right off but Arlette Hennessy put's them together. She trains Britts there and guides hunter with the owner, her significant owner. Really nice lady.

[huntindog]

Don Fischer wrote: Tried to see Rusty and the pup's, sucker for pups! But for some reason the site didn't open all the way..

That's kind of an old tag line, that probably should be changed, but it is still true.

Rusty is my first gundog, and is through having litters, but her pups, having now proven themselves are now producing pups of their own.

I just went to the website and it worked fine for me. This probably a dumb question, but you do have high speed? The sight is loaded with pictures and I doubt that anyone with dial up could access it.

No I have never went to the seminars, but I have been out to Arlette's place every now and then. It's a pretty good drive from where we are in north phoenix or we'd be out there a lot more.

Arlette and Bob have snakebroke some of our dogs and micro chipped some as well.

[Don Fischer]

No I got dial up. Darn! Tell Arlette hi for me and tell Bob to go ahead and write something on the computer!

[huntindog]

That's too bad. When I built the site I even put in a few "gee whiz" features.
Like when changing pages some fade in and out, some turn to the next page in a checkerboard pattern or growing circles etc. But it definantly needs high speed to work.

[Don Fischer]

Ah,,,,gee-whiz! :lol:

[Badger Matt]

Thanks guys. I'll look for the books this weekend.

[Don Fischer]

You'll probably have questions after reading them. Come on back and ask!