Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs vizsla problem

have a vizsla, he started off hunting a few years ago pretty good,then one day we were coming around a corner in some thick brush and he was hot on the trail of a bird,the next thing I heard was a pheasant cackling and he's coming back at mach 1. since then he seems not interested in pheasant and will head in the opposite direction,I think the bird spooked him.Any ideai's on how to get him back on track? he is still interested in smaller birds.

Might have been spurred.

I suppose that you could try a low-pressure reintroduction with a dead pheasant. If he's brave enough to sniff/mouth it, maybe play a little fetch with it. Once he's doing that happily, maybe a trip to the preserve to shoot a HEN or two (no spurs and a bit smaller). I'll bet you can fix it with something like that. Just make sure the dog does it on his terms and not out of fear of correction.

And as i am sure you know, careful with your V, they get timid with too much stearness. My V got spooked at about 6 months by the neighbor kids and some fireworks. I thought I was toast as far as gun breaking her. But lots of affection and attention sittin in the truck parked 1/2 mile away from our club on trap night started us out real well and in 2 weeks she was gun broke and does not care about fireworks either.

Start with a wing, make him happy he gets to handle it wioth you.