What Does a Bird Dog Mean?

Don't be confused by the term "bird dog." It doesn't refer to a genetic oddity or a mutant animal that is part dog, part bird. A bird dog is a hunting dog, one who's trained to hunt, flush out and retrieve game birds during a hunt. Proper training hones the dog's natural skills, making him a valuable partner and often creating an unbeatable team of the hunter and his dog.

  1. Hunting Breeds

    • There is no one breed of bird dog. The various breeds of hunting dogs make the best bird dogs as they naturally possess the characteristics needed for the job. Spaniels, pointers, setters and retrievers are the most popular hunting breeds that are trained as bird dogs.

    Natural Talents

    • Among the desirable characteristics for bird dogs is an above-average sense of smell, even for a dog. They have a strong hunting instinct and will display tenacity in searching for game. A talented bird dog will have a strong point, one that cannot be mistaken for anything but a signal that he has found a bird.

      Bird dogs are hard workers because they love what they do, and they love working with you as a team to bag game. They are also accomplished trackers and retrievers and enjoy the water. In his 2009 book "Training the Versatile Hunting Dog," Chuck Johnson writes that a desirable quality in a talented bird dog is that he perform equally well on upland birds and waterfowl.

    Importance of the "Soft Mouth"

    • Bird dogs must have what is called a "soft mouth" -- the ability to carry a bird, whether dead or injured, to the hunter without biting down and mutilating the body. It's possible to come across a bird dog who has an instinct to hold a bird gently, but most of the time this behavior has to be learned through training with feathered dummies and much practice.

    Training Starts Young

    • Puppies are curious and playful. It's to your and your pup's advantage to use playtime and their natural thirst for knowledge to start training early. In an article for Gun Dogs Online, Jackie Mertens defines "early" to be as young as 7 weeks old. Start with basic obedience training. It will come in handy later in life when your bird dog needs to perform commands like sitting or lying patiently in a blind. Fetching stuffed toys is something he'll want to do naturally and a behavior he'll enjoy working on with you. Just remember that training a young pup should be done in short increments that don't outlast his attention span, and should feature small treats as a reward for a job well done. Don't worry that you're starting your pup too soon. In his 1990 book "Speed Train Your Own Bird Dog," Larry Mueller points out that coyote pups start accompanying their mother on short hunting trips when they're 8 weeks old.