Train your own pointing dog, pointing dog training, gun dog training, Ontario Gun Dog Training, Ontario Pointing dog training, Ann Harris, Versatile dog training, e-collar conditioning in Ontario
Field Training
Here at Bear Point Farm we spend a lot of time with young dogs teaching them that if they move the bird is gone. I have found that it is a tremendous advantage if handlers are out of the equation at this point in training upland pointing dogs - we allow the dogs to own the birds and only start to try and handle the dog when they are showing natural steadyness. When the dog has learned that it's them that caused the bird to flush we start the real pointing training. Sometimes this process takes quite a few lessons, sometimes the dogs have such a strong pointing instinct that we go ahead very quickly. I do not like rushing young dogs and feel that the longer you take, the more you have to show off in the end. Owners are very involved in the training process.
Brook learning her job - 7 month old G.S.P. - 6 months later brook is being steadied
My lessons are one hour long and you need no equipment at all - everything is provided here. We teach you to handle your dog in the field, what it takes to train a dog, and we also run mock hunt tests so you know what to expect when you enter your dog.
I try to encourage people to stay and watch other dogs work as there is so much to be learned by just watching, and great friendships are born when you share the training process. You will, however, need crates for your dogs so they are safe when you are away from them watching other dogs work.
Sally (Jerryu's Island Grove Sally) Pointing and Retrieving 2007
I'd like to say that we only teach upland pointing dogs at Bear Point Farm but I would be a liar! Last spring I was contacted by a David Godfrey who had a field trial bred labrador - he wanted to teach this dog to point. So we got together and taught her to stop when she smelled birds. This dog has been a terrific success, I spent time hunting over her last fall and we are now in the process of starting to steady her. She is a very immature girl so we do not expect to complete this until 2009.
In previous years we have had group training days, followed by a luncheon - they have all been such fun. We will probably have another soon. Here are some photos from our last training day. Unfortunately we still had lots of snow - I had managed to blow paths, and there was enough cover to hide birds - hopefully all had fun.
Getting Ready Jenn, Tess and I off to work
