Do most brittanys point at non-game birds?

[Birdhunter1]

After having owned about 10 Brittan'ys I can tell you some dogs will point anything, some will hardly point anything and some just don't do nothing!

My oldestBrittay, who I would say is the best dog I've owned and hunted over, points anything that he thinks belongs on a dinner table (including copperheads and turtles) and will retrieve anything. He's even pointed possums, coons and a skunk once.

What I have learened through my experience is to let the dog figure things out for himself, let him point things he wants to point but most importantly teach him the obedience commands he needs to know. For mine they HAVE TO know to come to me, the word "NO," hold and easy. Those 4 are must haves and I like to get them to sit, but I go for the life safety commands first such as come here and NO.

Have you worked the dog on a wing yet, often with dogs I have taken a quail wing and tied it to a stick and played the point the wing game. If ya need some wings let me know as I still have a few in the freezer.

 

[Skoghund]

I've been training gun dogs for 40 years. Never had to use a shock collar.
Don't knock a little bribery to get the dog to do what you want.
As i said lazy mans way of training a dog.

 

[ArmedBear]

What kind of dog is that, Skoghund?

 

[Skoghund]

Armed bear, The dog is a Cocker Spaniel. I work him 3 days a week in the hunting season. Great working dog he will work all day and some. He's my first cocker having had only springers in the past.

 

[Shawnee]

Hey ! High-5 to Springers (and Black Labs, of course) !!!

Is your Cocker out of a pure hunting line ?

 

[ArmedBear]

Sadly, the Cocker is almost completely a wrecked breed here, due to their popularity as a pet and concomitant unethical breeding.

I've probably seen fewer than ten in my life that looked like they might hunt if given the opportunity, and they're all from somewhere far away from here. Never seen one at a training or in the field. It's a bummer.

It's good to see a good Cocker, put to good use!

 

[Skoghund]

The Cocker was bred by a friend of mine in England. Both parents come from the Larford kennel one of the leading kennels breeding working Cocker Spaniel in England. He is quite long in the leg unlike a lot of cockers.
The Cockers have made a big come back in England and are quite popular again. They have a small but dedicated following here in Sweden

 

[Shawnee]

Aha ! I thought those legs in the picture were from a hunting/working strain ! Congrats. I'm glad to hear somebody is doing the breed some Justice ! Armed Bear is right - here in the States the idiots have long since made a mess of the Cocker (among several other breeds).