Question: I am tuning my two-year-old German Short-haired Pointer up for hunting season. My question to you is, what is the proper way to punish my dog for unwanted behavior such as chasing birds or not holding point?

Greg G., Jackson.

Answer: After talking with Greg, we decided he was the one who needed the punishment. I instructed him to put his electric collar on his own neck and administer a high-level charge to himself whenever he did not follow my orders. I then gave him orders in a mixture of French, English and German languages. When he could not understand what I was saying, I told him to shock himself and see if that made things more clear. Of course, it did not.  Commands can be reinforced with a training collar once they have been learned by the dog. Greg's dog would not stop on the ‘whoa' command in any environment, let alone in the highly-charged environment of game birds and shotguns. Whoa-break your dog before you get to the bird field, then, only use the e. collar after you have given the command at least twice while the dog is chasing. Your timing has to be perfect or don't even try this exercise, and the correct level of intensity must be determined before doing this around birds. The two commands then the stimulation must all be done before the dog travels more than twenty-five yards from the place he was pointing. If he stops, praise him. Do not continue stimulating him with the collar if he is beyond the twenty-five-yard mark. Go to the dog, leash him and tell him loud and clear to ‘whoa those birds.' Then repeat the exercise one more time before stopping for the day.

I highly recommend first using a check cord on young dogs. Restrain them while saying “whoa” when the concept of holding to flushing birds is introduced. This is true with flushing dogs.  Punishment-based training will ruin many good dogs and will not be effective in re-channeling this dog's energy to productive behavior.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: I have a young male German Short-haired Pointer named Luger. He hunts well and listens well in the field although not always so good at home. My concern is that Luger's head seems quite small for his body. Is there anything that could be done for this condition, maybe a different feed?

Mike G. Clinton Twp.

Answer: This is a rare condition called Headis Veri Smallis. Quite often fatal, the reverse cranial growth factor of HVS can be quite contagious for the owner as well. The cure is quite simple. Wear a hat and stay out of the sun. Seriously though, some dogs' heads finish growing after their skeletal mass. Don't worry about it.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: I had my English Setter, Remington, neutered last summer. I was wondering if there are any personality changes I should be looking for, such as feminine behavior, and what your opinion is on the prosthetic testicles that can be implanted.

Tim R., Grosse Point.

Answer: Tim, I don't think that neutering a dog induces more feminine behavior but you might try a nice pink ribbon in his hair. I think the prosthetic testicles would make a nice necklace. They certainly would be a conversation starter at your next party. Bottom line, don't worry about it!

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: I read an article that said animals don't have the same emotions as humans. The article stated that they don't feel love, happiness, sadness, or remorse and that we are only trying to place human feelings in animals that only have instinctual reactions to what goes on around them. I don't believe this. As a professional trainer, do you think dogs have emotions?

Kerry L., Detroit.

Answer: For the sake of this discussion, I will refer to pets that are warm-blooded. Scientists have told us for years that we are misreading our pets' reactions and that our pets do not share emotions with us, that they only respond to incentives and outside stimuli. Recent studies are starting to debunk this behaviorist theory. I need to make it clear that I am not a scientist and I don't possess the scientific mind to be one. My job requires creativity and often deals with intangibles that cannot be explained scientifically. Having said this, I know for a fact that dogs and cats have emotions. I also know that many pet owners attempt to incorrectly place complex human emotions on their pets. I believe our cats and dogs do have the ability to feel some of the same emotions that we do, but in different ways. Dogs do not suffer the same remorse that we do. Take, for example, a dog who loses a leg. Rarely does the dog sit around, longing for the times when it had four legs. They tend to take what life gives them and make the best of it. The same can be said for young children.

I have trained thousands of dogs over the last thirty years and I've dealt with hundreds of human owners. In nine out of ten cases, the owner misses the dog much more than the dog misses them. Young dogs have the ability to change masters with very little remorse, provided their basic needs are met such as loving attention, exercise, and food. I would say this holds true for dogs up to around three years of age. After three, dogs, being creatures of habit, have more difficulties adapting to new environments when compared to their younger counterparts. I agree with the scientists who say that owners tend to read too much into their pets' reactions and that animals are often motivated by outside stimuli.

However, to say that they don't possess the ability to have emotions or that their sole motivation is either food or reproduction is short-sighted. As a field trainer, I rely on the pack instincts that say you should curry favor from the alpha. Seeking an alpha's approval is a key issue when training canines. Predatory animals such as dogs have a different outlook on things than, say, prey animals such as horses. Non-verbal signs and cues from the trainer are an important part of this communication with dogs. Word-based language is our thing, not theirs. In field training, we don't carry little bait pouches to entice our dogs to do our wishes, as they do in other dog training venues. Many breeds such as the English Setter are not food-motivated. Even the breeds that are food-motivated, such as my Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, don't respond well to food motivations when around game and guns. So what motivates them? The desire to please the alpha. I am quite sure that my dogs' devotion to me is based in love, not dog food.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: My wife and I are looking to buy a gun dog pup. Do you have any suggestions as to what breed, and whether we should get a male or female? I grouse hunt and I also do some duck hunting. The dog will be a house dog since we aren't allowed to kennel a dog outside in our subdivision. We have two sons, six and eight years old, who would like to make the dog a pet. I have heard that a good hunting dog can't be a good pet also. Is this true?

Dan P., Westland.

Answer: Dan, I am asked this question concerning what breed is best quite often. My standard answer is, don't ask a breeder. Go to a Chevy dealer and ask who builds the best truck. Do the same with a Ford dealer. Are you getting my drift? Find a book on hunting dogs and read the description of each breed. Pick one that meets your ideal and that looks pleasing to you. The breed you pick is not nearly as important as the bloodlines. When you start interviewing breeders, insist upon seeing both of the parents and make your decision based on how well you like the parents.

If this is your first hunting dog, don't pick the most aggressive or active dog in the litter. Don't choose a shy or skittish one either. Many of the pointing breeds will do a good job on ducks as well as hunting grouse in the woods. Check to see if the parents have water desire and retrieving instincts for a decent duck dog. Beware of dogs with too much emphasis on ‘champions' in their bloodlines. A champion field trailer is often a big-running, horseback-type race dog that is too much dog for a novice handler. On the other hand, many of the ‘show champions' are lacking the field instincts and desire for game that it takes to make a good field dog.

If you're looking at the flushing or retrieving lines, check to see if the parents were hunted in the uplands. In both cases, try to see the parents work in the field. Remember, this animal will become a member of the family for the next fifteen years or so, so don't rush into buying any old pup. Take your time to research not only breeds, but the breeder. A breeder who doesn't hunt can hardly be considered an expert on what traits a good hunting dog needs to preform in the field.

Keep in mind that a well-bred dog will set you back a few bucks. There is usually a good reason why one breeder is asking $400 or more while the guy around the corner wants just $50 or $100 for a pup. Also keep in mind that the majority of this dog's life will be spent as a family pet. Look for a pup that is outgoing and friendly, one that wants to cuddle up and lick your face. Let your boys come along when checking out pups, but make it clear to them that you won't be buying a dog that day. No impulse buying.

Even the most avid bird hunter will spend no more than fifty or sixty days a year hunting. That leaves another three hundred days a year in a non-hunting situation. As far as that old wives' tale goes that a hunting dog can't be a pet, don't believe it. By all means, allow and encourage your sons to play and bond with the new pup. Hopefully in a few more years, they will be accompanying you to the field to learn the joys of hunting, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: I have decided to purchase a hunting dog. My wife has agreed to the deal as long as she can participate in the selection process. We have decided on a Brittany Spaniel. After talking to some of my older relatives, I am wondering if keeping the dog in the house will affect its hunting.  I would like the dog to be a pet for my children. Do you think this will be a problem?

Calvin S., Gaylord.

Answer:  Calvin, I think that most people will have a better rapport with their dog if they keep it in the house. The more time spent with your dog, the closer the bond will be. At least once a year, I get asked this question. Several years ago, I worked on an English Setter for a fellow. Upon completion of the training, I turned the dog back over to the owner. Several weeks later this, fellow's wife called to complain to me about why her children could not play with this young dog.  He had explained to his wife that you cannot allow a hunting dog in the house or let the kids play with it because it will lessen the dog's ability to hunt. I am not sure where he got these ideas but I am sure I do not agree with them. I see no reason why a bird dog cannot be a pet also. In fact, I think allowing your children to enjoy the dog's company will benefit both the dog and the kids. One idea is that a house dog will not have the same scenting powers as a kennel dog. This may be true, but only to a very small degree and should not make any noticeable difference. One bit of advice for anyone bringing a puppy in the house, buy a crate and put the puppy in it when you are not home.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: If you could  have only one dog for all of your bird hunting needs, which breed would you pick?

Becky A., Grand Rapids.

Answer: I am a waterfowler as well as an upland hunter, so I would need a dog for both the marsh and the field. I would not chose a dog with a short coat since a hard-working dog needs protection from both the abrasion of field hunting and the cold water when waterfowling. However, there are vests sold today that can protect a dog if you choose a short-coated dog.  A well-bred German Wire-hair or a Wire-haired Pointing Griffon would be my choices from the pointing breeds. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever or a Springer Spaniel would be my choices from the non-pointing dogs.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training

Question: I have a two-year-old German Short-haired Pointer. My friends make fun of me while we are out hunting because I keep her so close. At what range should a hunter allow his dog to work?

Mark G., Howell.

Answer: That question is best answered by the handler. It's your dog, make it hunt how you want. Most pointing dog people allow their dog considerable range compared to a flushing dog. I know I do. I want the dog to do the work. Let it cover all that ground instead of me walking every square yard of it. The key here is to have your dog trained well enough to range out. If the dog holds point, I don't mind him ranging out as long as I can see him most of the time.

Charlie Linblade

Mighigan Wing Shooters Hunt Club

Michigan Pheasant Hunting

Michigan Bird Dog Training