New Pointer Puppy Near Bird Feeder

[coopdegra]

I have an 8 week old English Setter that I got about a week ago. I spend a lot of time with her in the back yard where she generally eats and plays. There is a bird feeder nearby and a variety of birds pick up seeds from the feeder on the ground. My dog has shown some moderate interest in the ground birds in the last day or two, but has not chased them. The birds (including doves) are used to our non hunting dog who died two months ago and never bothered the birds. My question is, should I ditch the feeder and get rid of the birds or is this a positive or at least neutral experience for my pup?

[Sharon]

Either way it won't make amy difference in the long run as long as you say nothing. My 3 love that bird seed, which won't hurt them UNLESS it is falling rancid ( got wet) from the feeder.

[coopdegra]

Either way it won't make amy difference in the long run as long as you say nothing. My 3 love that bird seed, which won't hurt them UNLESS it is falling rancid ( got wet) from the feeder.

In other words, if I say or do nothing and my pup ends up chasing birds away from the bird feeder, that is ok?

[Sharon]

That is great!. You got yourself a bird dog.

[birddogger]

I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Charlie

[RayGubernat]

Puppies need stuff to chase and to point and to just DO stuff.

If there are tweetie birds to stalk and point and chase they will do that. If there are butterflies, dragonflies, bumblebees, hhorseflies, whatever...they will chase them and point them. I love to watch a youngster chase butterflies. They get so much exercise, they develop so much agility and they have sooo much fun doing it.

I had a dog that, when there was absolutely nothing else in the field, would point field mice and then dive in and start digging after them. It was hilarious to see a 65# pointer bouncing around in the clumps of grass like a puppy chasing those field mice. She did this 'till she died at the age of 12 and I firmly believe it was because she loved, no... she LIVED to hunt. If there was a bird out there she would find it, but if the field was barren, she was going to have some fun, one way or another.

In the field, puppies will point and chase meadowlarks, killdeer, doves and all sorts of trash birds. If you just kinda watch, but ignore, the dog will get the idea that you ain't really interested and will begin to leave thenm alone. When they start finding gamebirds , they will sense your heightened interest and start to focus in on those birds because that is what gets you excited too. When you start killing those gamebirds, the youngster will put it all together and "GAME ON".

As has been previously stated, let it be to the extent possible...it will pass.

[coopdegra]

Thanks guys. Consensus seems to be that my pup's interest in wild, "trash" birds at feeder is probably a good thing.

[SHORTFAT]

Pups & bird feeders are hilarious! They're like a teenage boy out in front of a brothel! They can't help but be interested but have no clue what to do! Mine pointed everything that moved & still does! Enjoy & stap some pictures. The distractions make them stand still for half a second and you can get a good look at what your dog is gonna grow into!

[coopdegra]

Shortfat:

Thanks. This morning she just sat there and watched birds from about 10 feet away. Watched them in the sky too.