Wearing two hats during hunting season…Trainer or hunter?

I suppose one of the most difficult things a new owner of a newly trained bird dog has to do is decide whether he is hunting his dog or training it.  Example:  You walk past your dog to make the flush…   and forget to watch your dog (You’re in ‘hunter’ mode).  He takes several steps without you noticing, then the flush and you make a kill.  Without knowing, you just taught your dog that it’s ok to move on point.

A simple thing to do with your young dog is forget that you’re a hunter and decide before you pursue game that you will be a trainer thus dedicating more attention to the dog then worrying about the shot.  As your young dog becomes more and more experienced you will one day realize that you are hunting more and training less.  This approach makes for a well trained dog and a smooth transition from trainer to hunter.

Most folks who are just learning themselves have a difficult time being both (trainer and hunter) at the same time which is why I recommend you focus strictly on training.  Yes, you will sacrifice some shots and game on the table but your dog is a lifetime investment in future trips afield.  They can be pleasant or unpleasant depending on the foundation you lay down.  Just one bird shot over the properly trained dog is worth a dozen hurriedly shot birds over an unruly dog.

This past week I had the opportunity to work with a client on wild birds.  Much of the training was reminding the owner of what what to do and to watch his dog instead of worrying about the birds.  Quickly he refocused on being a trainer first and hunter second.  By the end of the week he and his dog were performing as they should, as a proper team.

Hope this bit of advice helps you and your young bird dog on future hunts.

Take care and give your dog a treat for me,

Dave