Natural Instinct - Can it be learnt

[greyghost]

Holly has always been a towny til she moved to the country with me almost 4 weeks ago.

She has passed many pheasants not knowing what they are but would like to chase them anyway.

I have not seen her go on point once. Abbie used to do this all the time. She is a real 'sniffer' and shuts off completely when sniffing around. Just wondering if there is any natural instinct in her at all or how I could encourage her.

[syrinx]

Lesley, this is a topic I will be following with great interest. My LH Lara is a dog that has to carry things around, greet you with things, even carried an egg around. Her son is even more so, if that is possible! But I have never seen her point. I have two that do all the time, a girl that does sometimes, and I am interested in starting field work this year.
Wendy

[marjolein]

I just told Les, that some dogs just don't do it. Pointing that is. Pointing is not one of the strongest instincts of our versatile dogs. It can be learnt though, but it depends on a couple of factors. For example how much hunting instinct a dog has, how eager it is to find and catch game and the abilities of the owner.
The more you do with a young dog, the bigger the chances he'll become a good pointer. The later you start, the more difficult it gets. The way to teach a dog to point is to introduce him to game while he's on a long line. Hold the line tight as he has game in his nose and praise him big time for being on point. He will learn that pointing is what you want, as long as you have proper praise when he does it, preferably a pheasant to retrieve.
Most dogs will find out themselves though. Flushing isn't much fun, b/c the chances are only small that game will be caught while doing that.

[Alkemist]

Les, don't know if this might apply to you, but Anya often points by raising her rear leg - I think its her left leg. I know that she is indicating something because we see it, or it flies off, or she runs in on it, but maybe Holly is not doing what you expect to see?

Nina

[marjolein]

A dog doesn't necessarily have to lift a leg to be on point. Lifting a leg is nothing more than an unfinished step; freezing while walking so to say.