Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Folks,
I've got a 6 month old Britt who loves to point rabbits and squirrels in the yard. She does fine on planted birds, but I'm wondering if I need to stop her from pointing things other than birds so I'm not dealing with her pointing rabbits, squirrels and such this fall. Or is this something she'll learn just by me not shooting them in the woods this year?
-Chris
I've got a 6 month old Britt who loves to point rabbits and squirrels in the yard. She does fine on planted birds, but I'm wondering if I need to stop her from pointing things other than birds so I'm not dealing with her pointing rabbits, squirrels and such this fall. Or is this something she'll learn just by me not shooting them in the woods this year?
-Chris
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- Rank: Senior Hunter
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Chris,
You answered your question. The more you pay attention to a dog when it is pointing unwanted things, the more issues that arise. Just ignore the dog, and it will eventually realize that you are interested and it will follow suit with age. Keep working dog on birds. It is a good thing that you have a Britt with a lot of pointing ability. After you kill a few wild birds and more planted birds, it will soon forget the other animals. A Britt usually has a strong prey drive, and they usually enjoy the retrieve. If it never retrieves a rabbit or squirrel, it will eventually leave them alone.
Good Luck and have fun with that youngin.
You answered your question. The more you pay attention to a dog when it is pointing unwanted things, the more issues that arise. Just ignore the dog, and it will eventually realize that you are interested and it will follow suit with age. Keep working dog on birds. It is a good thing that you have a Britt with a lot of pointing ability. After you kill a few wild birds and more planted birds, it will soon forget the other animals. A Britt usually has a strong prey drive, and they usually enjoy the retrieve. If it never retrieves a rabbit or squirrel, it will eventually leave them alone.
Good Luck and have fun with that youngin.
Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Perfectly normal for a 6 month old dog. The more birds she handles the more she will realize that it's birds you like.
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- JessiNGunther
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
I have a 7 month GSP that points every thing even me. I was walking to him down hill and he stood there on point. Somedays I think his is dumber than a box of hammers :roll: Other days he is all about the birds and the smart dog I know him to be. I think in time it will click with him and every day will be about the birds. At this point in time he is still a puppy and doing puppy things .
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
OK so what if you like to hunt grouse, woodcock, pheasant, squirrels and rabbits. I would like to do all of these. I'd like to be able to take my dog for squirrel one day, then grouse the next. Is that possible? Is the training different? They're supposed to be versatile so we'll have to see. For squirrel the dog would basically be just a companion since I do just fine squirrel hunting without a dog.
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- Rank: 5X Champion
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
If thats what you want to do then do it. I have a buddy that has a brittany that will point both bunnies and quail and is dead broke either way. We have Shot limits of quail and rabbits, as well as the occasional woodcock over that dog often on the same day. its all in how you train them.mister2 wrote:OK so what if you like to hunt grouse, woodcock, pheasant, squirrels and rabbits. I would like to do all of these. I'd like to be able to take my dog for squirrel one day, then grouse the next. Is that possible? Is the training different? They're supposed to be versatile so we'll have to see. For squirrel the dog would basically be just a companion since I do just fine squirrel hunting without a dog.
JIm
A limit on the strap is nice, but the kill has nothing to do with tradition.
- birddogger
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Be happy that you have a pup with great pointing instinct.
Charlie
Charlie
If you think you can or if you think you can't, you are right either way
Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
My 3 year old loves to point lizards in the back yard, I just ignore him when he does it. He's a machine on the real thing so I dont do anything about it.
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Hope to get back out there this fall and do some hunting with Mike's son and brother. These new pups are going to be something else also. They're showing alot of promise at five weeks.Born2Hunt wrote:My 3 year old loves to point lizards in the back yard, I just ignore him when he does it. He's a machine on the real thing so I dont do anything about it.
Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
All of my Brits and GSP's were expected to point and retrieve rabbits, hares and many kinds of game birds. They had no problems doing this. I agree with the earlier posts which said don't give the dog much attention if it points on things you don't want pointed - such as rabbits. The dogs know the difference between rabbit scent and bird scent and they won't pay as much attention to rabbits if you don't.
Bill T.
Bill T.
The older I get, the better I was !
- gittrdonebritts
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Just be happy you don't have a GSP they point/flush and kill all furry Animals, Cat's skunks possum squirrel porcupine woodchucks small yappy dogs your neighbors pet rabbit then too add more embarrassment retrieve them to hand....... especially skunks !birddogger wrote:Be happy that you have a pup with great pointing instinct.
Charlie
Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
that dog will be a good one, a keeper for sure!
- birddogger
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Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
Yeah, ain't they awesome?!gittrdonebritts wrote:Just be happy you don't have a GSP they point/flush and kill all furry Animals, Cat's skunks possum squirrel porcupine woodchucks small yappy dogs your neighbors pet rabbit then too add more embarrassment retrieve them to hand....... especially skunks !birddogger wrote:Be happy that you have a pup with great pointing instinct.
Charlie
Charlie
If you think you can or if you think you can't, you are right either way
Re: Pointing Rabbits, Squirrels, etc.
My EP points everything from the mailman to my mother in law... but when she's birdy... it's all about feathers... don't fuss. The pup will figure it out all by itself...
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
- Mark Twain.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
-Abraham Lincoln
- Mark Twain.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
-Abraham Lincoln