GSP retrieving help?

The Britt that I am currently hunting did not retrieve until near the end of her first full season. We got into a bunch of partridge and she was able to pick them up easily. After that she started picking up pheasants. I know partridge are hard to find but it did work for me. You may be able to simulate this by buying some quail and a remote release cage.  

my gsp wont pickup a live bird but will retreive dead ones.  He was like yours and wouldnt retreive at all until last year for some reason he picked the first rooster up I shot and then he was fine but no flopping birds will be brought to me.

I hear that all the time with pointing breeds. You could force fetch her or just be happy she finds the birds and waits for you.





Or you could just get a lab

I've got a yellow lab.  Good nose but someone told him he does not have to retrieve.  Will fetch a ball until my arm falls off.  Brings it right to hand. But not a bird.  He will run over to it, check it out and continue hunting.  Weird thing is if a duck falls in the water, he will bring it to shore - but not to hand.  If that same duck falls into the stuble field - no retrieve.
Believe it or not but I had a Golden who was exactly the same.  Can't imagine what I did to deserve this.

Riveriew, I would get a "lap dog" before I got a lab. After reading hottoddy's post I don't feel so bad.

ouch that hurts. I realize there are labs that dont retrieve i have seen some in my kennel but the majority of the pointing breeds i see dont retrieve.

hottoddy, I think you know what you did to deserve it. Probably deserve a lot worse too.

One of my labs is the opposite. Not interested in retrieving dummies/balls but will not stop until he brings the bird back.

I get to work with a lot of dogs mostly pointing dogs. I think what you described is very common. I also worked with a lab for a guide, but my advise to him was to find a good pet home for the dog. It had zero interest in hunting activities.

You could hunt the dog with a dog that retreives well. I have used this trick with good results. If the dog is compettitive allot of times they will start to retreive just so the other dog doesn't get the glory. You could force fetch the dog, but in my mind that breaks the dog down a bit. But it can make them do the task for you. Another way is to take the dog duck hunting. I think the feathers are not quite so fluffy or something. With a duck  the dogs seem to pick them up better. Also with starting them on ducks you don't have the duck kicking the crap out of their mouth as sometimes you can with old roosters.


Or you could live with the dog just finding the dead birds and you picking them up.

Personally , our Springer does a good job of finding downed birds and heaven help them if they try to get away or try to flap or spur him , he'll rip their heads off. When
he does find a downed bird he stands on it and looks at us like , get the heck up here
losers , I can live with that .