I took our 10 month old to pick up at a pheasant shoot under the direction of the pro trainer we go to see every other week. We are right in the middle of FF (hold is solid and he fetches bumpers I am holding, we are working on picking up flat bumpers from the ground) he is CC to OB commands. He marked the falls pretty well, went when sent with lots of speed to the ones he saw fall, pounced on them and picked up the birds,however he dropped the birds after few steps back to us and on a few, sniffed them and then left them and came back to me. I had to go retrieve the birds, just a bit embarrassing. This is his 3rd time on birds. We got him fired up about the dead bird and them did very short throws and he retrieved about 25%-50% back to me. The pro has suggested more bird exposure, and also to go back to the moving heel/hold patterns. He said they were young dog issues, but I am concerned that he just doesn't have it in him. He is a great family dog. Any suggestions for working thru this?? Is it fatal to his gun dog abilities?? I trust the trainer, but would like to see if any one here has had these issues before and how they worked thru them. Thanks.

Hello,


Paul MacKinnon here...I would have to agree with the pro about bird exposure...if your pup has only seen bumpers his reaction would be somewhat normal.Also the fact that you are in the middle of FF might have something to do with his confusion/attitude...I would wait until you are completed FF before you have any further bird work....once completed you can find out with live birds if he has it or not..if he has had no bird contact it may take awhile but you should ber able to rev him up.

Good luck!

Paul MacKinnon
Atlantic Flyway Gundogs

I agree with all that you have been told. In fact I have been there. When my chessie was a pup I brought him to a chessie training day in NY run by Mike Twardy. My dog wouldn't look at a bird. I to said he'll just be a pet. Mike Twardy encouraged me to continue and my dog is a master hunter today and I will be running qual.