How to Train Grouse Dogs

Hunting grouse is somewhat different from hunting other birds. The flush occurs close to the bird and requires a good bird dog and a quick gun. How do you train a dog to have the patience he requires to flush the grouse out of heavy cover? The primary skill is to teach him how to work heavy cover thoroughly and patiently.

Instructions

    • 1

      Train your dog to respond to a verbal or whistle command. The easiest way to do this is to teach her to come to you in response to a whistle or verbal command. Sit the dog opposite of you, give a verbal command or short whistle blast and tug on her leash to bring her to you. Give her a reward. Continue practicing until she will come to you on command from anywhere.

    • 2

      Teach him to zigzag. Take the dog to a small, heavily covered area. This will serve as the starting point for the training. Ideally, your dog will have already been taught to respond to either verbal commands or a whistle, making the transition to grouse hunting simpler. Allow the dog to begin looking for his quarry. Keep him close to you, allowing a distance of no more than 20 yards. When he strays too far, give a verbal or whistle command and have him work back toward you. As he approaches you, give your command and send him back away from you again.

    • 3

      Increase the size of the area to cover. After your dog has mastered the basic zigzag, begin working her in a larger area. This time, add some positive reinforcement. Plant dummy birds covered with grouse scent throughout the field. This will give your dog an incentive to work. The scent may overexcite her. Stopping the dog by forcing her to come to you and heel for a few moments will allow her to reset and refocus on finding the quarry.

    • 4

      Move to real quarry. The last step in training a grouse dog is to let him practice on real birds. Work the dog in a typical zigzag fashion and allow him to flush the bird from the cover. Understand that this step will take practice and there will be many mistakes. It is important to refrain from negative reinforcement or your dog will be hesitant to work. If he becomes overly excited or strays too far, fall back a lesson or two and perfect his technique.