Training my French Brittany.

[CaliPheasantGuy]

I have 1 1/2 year old French Brittany. He has already hunted a California pheasant season. he pointed on two hens and a rooster last year. problem is he acts like he isnt hunting until the bird is in his face. he walks right next to me in the field. any ideas on how to make him go out a little further? i need to get him in the zone for this year's season due to my oldest dog just becoming blind.

[lamike]

Is this a family pet or strictly a hunting dog?

[CaliPheasantGuy]

he is a hunting dog.

[bucking-horse]

I sold some bobwhites to a hunter down here sat. to train . He is working a french brittany puppynow.
                                                       Chris in souyhwest Ga

[greyghost]

Are you hunting him INTO the wind? And, during his training was Hunting/ retrieving a game? Drug dogs are taught that what they do is a game and are rewarded for it. Ghost.

[CaliPheasantGuy]

yes, im sure to hunt him into the wind whenever it is possible. and i do try and reward him. his mom was great and i never had this problem with her. so im confused by it. i went out for some wild valley's today and couldnt find anything. flushed up a hen RN and saw a rooster take off down the road. he smelled him by the time we got down there.. but i dont know. he just walks next to me not really hunting. too bad it isnt pheasant season yet. and the terrain i was hunting today, was just a couple ditches and a levy covered in thick brush, tules, and some berry bushes.

[lamike]

Sounds to me you have made your dog too much of a friend instead of a hunter.
try taking affection from it.
Treat it more of a tool than a pet.

[CaliPheasantGuy]

hmm ill try that, thanks for the input

[Theaver]

I have had a half American half French bred brittany. She was a bit bigger than a wholly French bred dog. She was easier to train than the French bred dogs I have worked with. She could and did work on our grouse moors alongside pointers and setters. She won two grouse trials competing against members of the other H.P.R. breeds. I prefer the "American" brit to the purely French one but that is based on that one @$$$@.

If what I have heard is true, while the French trial bred brits can run like stink, they often have a rather poor retrieve instinct. The French standards for retrieving seem to be less than those in Britain . It seems to be the case in French trials that as long as the bird is brought back - that's fine. Given a choice I'd go for an American bred Brit.