Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    	Did you say puppy?  There you have it!  :*)
    
    	Seriously, I wouldn't sweat it.  I think all of us who have
    	gone through all the hours of training and the other tasks
    	of puppyhood get our hopes up too high for the first few
    	hunts.
    
    	It sounds to me like she did pretty good.  Just keep doing
    	what you're doing.  Correct the bad behavior when it occurs
    	and keep reinforcing what you want her to do with lots of
    	praise and treats.  Above all, have patience.  She's only
    	a pup.
    
    Clay
    
    ps	Jimmy told me that trying to catch your dog was like a greased
    	pig contest!  :*)

Mark,

I tried to send mail but I can't see your node.  I was wondering if you
could tell me where you got your vizsla??  My wife grew up with one (they
make great house pets as well as bird dogs).  I fell in love with it myself
and hoped to get a puppy some day, but they're hard to come by.  I'm 
located in Mass.

Thanks.  /marc

    amen to .1  My brit's first year was a joke.  pointed butterflies,
    every moving objext would break concentration.  deathly afraid of
    water, wanted to follow me (result of fear of alone in the wood s
    training).
    
    The sceond season was much better.  More as you describe.  This brit
    was never allowed to run free, kenneled all the time unless in training
    or inside the house.  I DID spend a bunch of time in the woods.  by
    second year, I had to have a cord attached to pull him out of the
    water he loved it so much.
    
    The third season was awsome.  He bring back birds I swore I missed.
    "Now where is that damn dog!"  then up he comes, grouse in mouth. 
    Often, live grouse in mouth (how he did that I'll never know).  Once in
    on a very bad day, when I missed seven in a row over his point, he
    would turn to look at me after the shot with the most disgusted
    expression.
    
    A buddy missed both of brace of pheasants over his point once and Jason 
    promply walked over and peed on him.  Ask John Moncelli, if that's not the
    truth.  When John did get a woodcock, (Jason hated woodcocks) Jason
    went on point at a puddle of water.  We were just thinking that this
    dog has lost his mind, when he reached down in the puddle and lifted
    out the dead bird and promply spit it out on the bank.
    
    Once, when he put up a brace, I drew on the first and missed, but
    nailed the second which was a big old cock.  Jason's still on point.  I
    said "well get the bird!"  He just looked at me, so I took a few steps
    that way and two more went off along with my chance to limit out on a
    single point.  Yep, there's that look again.
    
    The best years were 4-9, then the dog started to fade to old age and
    arthritus.
    
    Sound like you have a very good start.
    
    /bob
     

Clay,

She wouldn't settle down until I got her away from Dean's chocolate lab, Dixie. 
Her social graces are not one of her strong points at this time.  Like Jim said,
she was quite a pain in the rear until she and Dixie got acquainted.

Marc,

I bought the vizsla from Rebel Rouser Kennels in Schuyller, Neb.  She comes from
a long line of hunting stock.  I believe that they started this line in 
1962/3.  The blood line is loaded with hunter/hunter champions.  It took almost
a year to find a puppy from a good line of hunters.  There are quite a few 
breeders back east.  I'll send you a list of phone numbers.

Be careful.  There are a lot of scatter-brained dogs/breeders out there.
Many breeders are breeding the hunting instincts out of the line in favor of 
the long ears, lines and larger size (for the show arena).  

Bob,

That is what I'm beginning to think.  She'll still be a puppy (8 months when the
real birding seasons start) and really don't expect her to point this winter at
wild birds. (She's been pointing at bird wings in controlled training situations
since she was about 8 weeks old.)  The important thing is that she really 
    develops a love for hunting.  

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Mark

    

    
    I'll second what other have said.
    
    My first season with my dog was a roller coaster ride. From the first
    duck downed 30 ft from shore and I couldn't get her to go five feet
    from the bank, or when upland hunting she had to say hi to everybody in
    the field. And last year I didn't loose a duck all season, she still
    was a little bit of a social butterfly in the field but not anything
    like the year before.
    
    They say the best years start in the 3rd or 4th season out, I'm now
    into the 3rd, and I can tell when I'm putting her through the preseason
    drill that she is all bussiness, even with the new puppy running around 
    her she will continue to work for me.
    
    I loved the frustration so much the last 2 years that I got another dog
    last Thanksgiving, so I can go through it again.
    
    Enjoy watching her grow, at six mths it sounds like your well on your
    way to having a good hunter partner for years to come.
    
    T
    
    
    BTW they are both LABS......
    
    

    She is young........ but, hard mouth is something I would not 
    let go unchecked. Hard mouth is easier to prevent then correct.
    Being a puppy (after having adult teeth) is the best time to introduce 
    exactly what you expect from your dog, when handling birds and retrieving 
    to hand.

    At a minimum you should teach the "Hold" and reinforce the "Here" 
    commands. So if you need to come down on her for munching a bird she 
    will clearly understand what she is being corrected for.
    
    You may want to consider teaching her the Trained Retrieve, there
    are a lot of good books on it. Gun Dog just ran a few articles on
    the Trained Retrieve also. The primary purpose of the trained retrieve 
    is to insure delivery to hand.

    "Unlike a child, a dog will never reach the age of reason."
        
            - James Lamb Free
            
            
    You must teach a dog what you expect from them and correct for lack
    of effort, not for a mistake.
    
    Good luck with your puppy. 
    
    Michael