Dog is "Bird Shy"

[30-06 lover]

I took my Brittany out on pheasants for the first time yesterday, and sadly, she was very scared when the birds flushed. I would kick up the bird, and she would run in the opposite direction once the "pheasant druming" started. She could care less about the shot, only the bird flushing. Any suggestions of what I should do? Thanks!

 

[ArmedBear]

LOL

How old is she?

Has she been trained on other birds?

Where in CA are you?

(I'm sure she'll be fine. Hunting dogs are intelligent and more cautious than, say, terriers and bulldogs. They want to check out unfamiliar things before they figure they're safe.)

 

[wyohome]

I thought maybe "Bird Shy" was a movie.

 

[ArmedBear]

Me, too. I was going to rush out and see it.

 

[tunnug]

Is your dog trained? a lot of dogs will go after the birds by instinct but then try and eat them or continue running after them while they fly away, either way an untrained dog out birding is more trouble than anything, get it trained or be ready for disappointment.

 

[Flintknapper]

Is this a "pup" or a mature dog, ever been trained on birds of any kind?

 

[30-06 lover]

Opps...sometimes I think faster than I type...

I have put her on pigeons when she was about 8 months, and she is now 11 months. She has always been birdy with wings and pigeons, but when I flushed them, she chased them. Never retrieved or mouthed them, but never was timid with birds like she was with the pheasants. The reason I am worried is because toward the end of the day, I could tell she scented the pheasant, then she would run back to me and not get anywhere near the bird again, no matter how much I couxed her. Thanks for the replies!

 

[JimKirk]

Is she "gun shy" or both? I've helped train Quail dogs and it seems that the dog wants to be part of "the finding", "the shooting" and "the go after". If any part of the puzzle is missing they may not do the other parts. I had an old dog that if you did not kill some of what you shot at, he would almost quit hunting!
Jimmy K

 

[ArmedBear]

Where in CA are you?

I used to be active in NAVHDA down there, and there are places where you can get pheasants for relatively cheap. Seems like she was just surprised by their size and sound.

Anyway, our Vizsla is a bit cautious around the big Canada geese we have around town. He is interested, but he looks at them and looks back at us like, "Uh, that bird might kick my ass!"

 

[Zeke/PA]

Was there a previous owner of the dog?
Did you acquire the dog as a pup?
Sounds to me like you might have what is termed a "Blinker" that actually panics when game is scented.
This attribute is caused by a handler disciplining a dog at the wrong time.

 

[buck460XVR]

She's a young dog used to flushing pigeons. Odds are, she'll put two and two together once she gets used to the size and noise of the pheasants. If you have access to the pigeons yet, I'd try putting some pheasant scent on them.