Gun Dog Forum

Son has 1 yr old GSP. quail hunting he will run to the downed bird and run off to hunt more. I stopped him, gave him the bird and said hold. First he just dropped it. After more tries he started chomping on it. Earlier this year we had a bird buried in a bush, told him to get it. He caught it and started to eat it. I am an amateur trainer. what do I do? On the ff table or home playing he loves to fetch.

Take the bird home and work him on the FF table with it.

You haven't ff'd him correctly if he loves ffing on the table and won't in the field. Better revisit your ff. Also keep in mind that a anything a dog is taught in the yard has to be reinforced in the field.

A good no nonsense recall would help a lot. ( when I say here I mean here, and right now! no bull)

FF usually prevents this from happening!? So I agree that it is back to the table with FF and use a few birds....be very strict on the 'hold' command! No mouthing, no movement at all, just hold!

Thanks. Was thinking that. Just looking for more ideas.

oldbeek wrote:Son has 1 yr old GSP. quail hunting he will run to the downed bird and run off to hunt more. I stopped him, gave him the bird and said hold. First he just dropped it. After more tries he started chomping on it. Earlier this year we had a bird buried in a bush, told him to get it. He caught it and started to eat it. I am an amateur trainer. what do I do? On the ff table or home playing he loves to fetch.

Don't take this wrong but why would you tell the GSP to get the bird in the bush he's a pointer ? He shouldn't be aloud to try catch birds that are alive. If its pen raised birds its easy for them.