How would you suggest going about this, I was thinking about doing the feather on a stick thing to have it learn to point, teaching it how to retrieve, and crossing a pigeons wings and have the dog find it but I know there is much more to training a bird dog, so how do you guys do it. I don’t know when I’m gonna get one but I know I will eventually and I want to train it properly. Also I have hunted with bird dogs a few times so i got I decent idea of how they should act. Also I think I’d rather train a pointer than a flusher.

I've never trained a bird dog, but I've trained a few obedience dogs. I'd probably start there with a few simple commands, correction and praise. Then find yourself a trainer that knows what he's doing and hope he's willing to help you out.

Join your local NAVHDA group, American Field, field trial club, breed club, etc and they should have training days. Also the book by Joan Bailey called "How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves" has been immensely helpful to many a versatile dog (most pointing breeds) trainer.

The one I have is from '97 and not aware there were other editions. I'm sure it's all the same info with some edits thrown in or minor updates?

100% correct. Great books and I have trained many dogs using his methods. Son is working with a 15 week old pup making blind retrieves using those books.

Get a German Shorthair. They're natural bird dogs.

I have/had several GSP. Get the book Speed Train your own bird dog by Larry Mueller. Read and follow it.

I always wanted to own an Irish Setter. Ain't no dang birds around here to hunt with it though.

Teach the dog to follow your commands first. A dog that minds its master will be a lot easier to train on birds.

what scout said teach your dog to listen to you, sit, stay, come, heel, this should be done by the time the pup is 6 months old , I use to raise an train German shorthair pointer , used a wing on a pole to get pup to point ,never let pup get the wing ,

I'm no expert but have started 5 bird dogs from pups and from my experience id be disappointed if I had to teach a pointing breed to point. My advice is pick a breed and an individual pup that is easy to train and wants to please its master for your first one.

I've had several GSP's over the last 25 years or so. Get a dog from a good line.

Start with obedience training. The pointing stuff is easy.

It's a good idea to work with someone that knows what they're doing...to train you and the dog.

Good luck and enjoy!

that's what I thought, but went BACK to Brittanies.

Gun Dog and Water Dog books as already shown you
I've trained several with those books as guides and they were the best investment!

I had conversation with myself on a this subject. I found out I didn’t want to be a dog trainer. I wanted to hunt birds with a good dog. So I bought one darn near finished. I have little patience, little time and little experience to train up a pup from scratch. It’s been great so far. I’m gaining patience and experience. Later on I may train a pup, who knows? I’m out almost everyday during bird season hunting em up and loving it. You may very well want to train a dog, if so, do it. Being honest with myself about my wants was a good decision, especially for the dog. I grew up with shotguns and dogs. Shady is way ahead of any other dog I’ve had.

Wild birds and wild times. Go get em!

Ok I’ll stop

Nice birds, was that on public land or private.

I like brittanies also

If you could only have one dog training book, this is THE one.

American Hunting Dog Club
ahdc.org/ahdcsite/storeitems.php

Private land. There’s a couple public spots that hold birds. I hit em all