Recently, I was asked if I would take a
look at the bird work of a one-year-old Vizsla.
The owner had very good luck force breaking the dog to fetch but was
having serious problems with pointing. I’m
not a professional trainer, however; I’ve watched many accomplished trainers at
work and usually can provide productive suggestions. I’ve also walked (and ran)
behind some of the finest pointing dogs in the country.
Let’s begin by defining a point.
Most four legged predators pause before they strike their prey…it’s a
natural instinct. Many of us have seen
predators such as fox or house cats in a field searching for mice. Once
located, usually by scent, they pause in an attempt to identify the location of
the prey and then they strike. Over a
few centuries, mankind has made our pointing dog elongate that pause into what
we call a point and has gradually made the point instinctive.
Now the water gets a little muddy.
An argument can be made that the elongated point is not instinctive
since dogs are predators and predators pounce on their prey. Or, have those two or three centuries of
training created a genetic propensity to hold the point? In my opinion, it depends upon the
breed. The traditional English setter
and pointer (often referred to as an English pointer) are truly natural
pointers. The gene is firmly
entrenched. For the versatile breeds,
and the Vizsla is a versatile breed, pointing was just one of many jobs they
were assigned. Tracking was most often
given greater importance than pointing. Therefore,
developing the point with a versatile breed often takes just a little longer
than with an English pointer or setter.
Before we get back to the gentleman who asked me to look at his young Vizsla,
it’s important to understand that nothing is guaranteed in a breed. It’s possible to have a Weimaraner (versatile
breed) that excels in pointing over every pure pointer it encounters. It’s
difficult to predict which trait in a dog is going to rise to the top and make
a superior hunting dog. I have a friend,
Tom Rideout of Sturtevant Pond Camps in Maine, that always has a world class Vizsla. Tom’s dogs are a treat to hunt over.
Now that we’ve added some breed background, let’s go back to the
gentleman who asked me to look at his young Vizsla work in the field. With all dog training, it’s important to go
back to very basics. Whether this dog
has a great deal of pointing instinct or just a smidgeon, that instinctive seed
can be nurtured and developed. If you’re
short on time, then take your dog to a professional trainer. If you have time and enjoy watching your dog
develop, then here’s a good exercise to begin the process, and this is what I
recommended to the Vizsla owner. First,
teach your dog the “whoa” command. After
your dog demonstrates a full understanding and compliance with the command
“whoa”, introduce it to birds in a controlled manner. Here’s an old and tried method that is in the
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association “little green book”.
Get some penned raised quail or a barn pigeon. Tie about an eight foot string to the
bird. Tie the string to an eight foot
pole. Plant the bird in some heavy cover
with a friend holding the pole and keeping the string fairly straight. Approach the bird with at least a ten-foot
check cord attached to the dog. Two
important points are to be made here.
Don’t let your dog see the bird or catch the bird. As your dog approaches the bird, it will
eventually identify the scent and hesitate.
When it hesitates, give it a gentle “whoa” command to firm up the
dog. Then approach the dog and gently
push the dog forward from his behind.
He’ll resist and stay staunch. If
the dog makes any effort to pounce on the bird, hold the check cord firmly and
have your friend quickly pull the bird from its hiding place and thrust it far
forward of the dog. Do this exercise
several times over a week or two and you’ll make great strides in developing
the pointing instinct in your dog.
Paul Fuller is host of the Bird Dogs Afield TV program. Paul’s website is www.birddogsafield.com.
