Attention Deficit Pointing dog?

[nitecapt]

I have owned French Brits for over 30 years. I have had great success with them. They have great noses and are generally solid on point to the extent that you can stop and have lunch and they will stay on point.

I now have 3 dogs, one is an intact male. Unlike any of them I have ever had, he is ALWAYS on the alert, always running around, always active and even when in the car when the other two sleep in the back seat, he will stand on the console and watch out the front window. He has done this for hours at a time on long trips (standing all the time). He gets 2x the food that the others do and is skinny as a rail due to his activity level.
Now for the issue. He will lock up on point and will stay there until I get there, but more often than not, while he is on point, his head is moving around to check out the surroundings. He gets distracted and will turn his head to see what any noise of other activity is in the area, yet he doesn't move his body. Kind of strange isn't it? I suspect that the head movement would disqualify him if I trialed him, but he produces birds and that's what counts.
Has anyone encountered this and does anyone here have an idea what this is all about? I've never seen such a thing before.

Thanks
Ray

[gonehuntin']

I've seen a lot of dog's do it, mainly on planted birds. A launcher stops it. If he moves his head or wags his stub, pop the bird.

[Sharon]

That's very interesting nitecap. Dogs are all different - just like people. I have a very affectionate setter , and another one that always keeps her distance . Lies down in the kitchen when we are all in the den etc.. What Ray said should work for birds, but as far as otherwise - that's just the way he is.

[Trekmoor]

My present Brittany pup was trained using wild game, mainly pheasants. She often slowly turns her head to watch my approach while on point. I don't like that but I can easily live with it. I'm not sure what a trial judge in this country would make of that behaviour, I might possibly lose a mark or two for "style ?"

Bill T.

[nitecapt]

Any other thgoughts on fixing this? I am convinced that if I called him off a bird, he would come. No other bird dog I have ever had has been able to be called off.

[CDN_Cocker]

BUMP....any other thgoughts on fixing this? I am convinced that if I called him off a bird, he would come. No other bird dog I have ever had has been able to be called off.

You were given a solution - use a launcher.

[slistoe]

Use a launcher. He moves his head fire the bird up.
Only solution I know of - and if it doesn't work......? I have never seen it not work.

[DonF]

yep! Launcher!