New owner of an English Pointer

[AmyinTX]

Hi,

I'm new here. I just rescued an English Pointer from the pound. He is 2 yrs old, and fitting in great.
I just wanted to say hi, and learn learn as much as I can about my new boy. I want to make sure I give him the right exercise to make him happy.
Are there any exercises I can do to keep him hunting.
His owner dropped him off at the pound and said he had too many dogs. The vet said he thinks he was kept in a pen and not fed well.
He is VERY happy and loves to run. How do you teach them to point? or do they do it naturally?

I don't hunt, but I would like to learn some exercises where he can go and point so he is happy.

Thanks!

Amy

[Winchey]

Just start running him off leash where there are birds and the dog will be happy, the dog would probably be almost as happy if he just gets to run a lot off leash in the woods or fields or wherever with a lack of birds.

[Greg Jennings]

Welcome to GDF.

You don't have to hunt, per se, to enjoy being with your EP and what he's bred to do. A lot of "dog games" just shoot a starter (blank) pistol in the air and the bird flies on.

Do some Google-ing and look for pointing dog clubs in your area. With some work, you'll find a way to run him on birds. If you get that far and you guys like it, his pointing instincts will come out naturally.

[SHNOOL]

Yeah, well, I bet they say all we have done is keep our dogs in a pen, and rarely feed them too. Good move saving him though. See our "barely fed" dogs below.

[AmyinTX]

Thank you for all of your advice!


Here is "Cooper"
<a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/dr ... ooper3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/dr ... ooper3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[AmyinTX]

Thanks for all of your responses:)
Here a couple of pics of "Cooper"