Thread: Pointers and chickens

bit unfortunate but heres a suggestion for what its worth.
Keep the pup away from chickens for a couple of months.
Then use a caged bird; say pigeon and hide it in the scrub somewhere upwind.
Hunt the dog on a fairly long lead into the wind and allow him to wind the bird. When your close, shorten up on the lead to about 3-4 m and steady the pup as he approaches the bird. Make sure he stops (don't be rough) about 3-4 m (no closer) from the hidden bird. Make sure he stands or points nice and steady and quietly stroke his neck and back for a minute or so, all the while keeping him from getting exited. (if he gets jumpy and excitied, lift him bodily and carry him back to his kennel and leave him alone there at least an hour. ) Assuming the dog is steady for a minute or two, continue behaving very calmly, praise him quietly and then lift him bodily and carry him to kennel still patting or praising him quietly. Repeat this excercise once a day, each time in a different location. Make sure you set the bird out when the dog cannot observe you and take a roundabout route so that the dog cannot folow your track (scent) to the bird in order that he must use wind (air scent) only.

Continue this excercise until you a re certain the dog will not rush in and try to capture the bird. Continue with the other training, especially stop , stay , down etc so you have full control at all times, eventually progressing to hand signals.

Next steps are to use release traps, such that if the dog get too close to the bird you can release the bird (homing pigeon) and growl the dog (no treat or reward) for rushing. Of course, if the dog remains nice and steady you can capture the bird while he remains on point, and then praise him and reward him (treat) for enabling you to capture the prize.

Those are the principles, but you can adapt to the particular dog. Any error on dogs part, go back to the previous stage and fully establish it before progressing further.

Hope this helps.