• A properly trained bird dog will be both a loyal companion and useful hunting partner.hungarian vizsla hunt dog pet hunting upland bird image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
  
  Training a bird dog is a challenging process that requires a great deal of patience and commitment. While most professional trainers recommend that owners read multiple books on dog training, there are a few main tips that apply to nearly every training situation.
  
  

Breed

• Choose the right breed. No amount of training can replace the love for hunting and retrieving that is inherent to certain breeds. Carefully research your decision so that you are certain you choose the best dog for the job.
  
  

Bonding

• Raise your puppy in the house. Dogs that have bonded well with their masters become devoted to pleasing them, which makes every part of training easier.
  
  

Timing

• Start early. The most successful bird dogs begin training as early as 6 weeks old. For example, you can help your puppy hone its sense of smell by hiding treats in your pockets or other places and letting him sniff them out. Simple exercises like these will help your little one learn to use his sense of smell early on.
  
  

Rewards

• While your puppy is still young, reward her every time she shows excitement over a bird. Help her understand that you are looking for this type of behavior. Later, you can fine tune her excitement into something that can be useful on a hunting trip.
  
  

Authority

• Don't shout at your dog or repeat commands multiple times. Dogs have excellent hearing and rarely fail to obey a command because they did not hear it. Instead, address other problem areas in your dog's training that may cause him to ignore you or question your authority.
  
  

Toys

• Familiarize your dog with pointing by allowing her to practice with toys that resemble birds. You may want to attach pigeon feathers or wings to a ball or other toy. This will help the puppy become familiar with both the look and smell of a bird.
  
  

Hunting

• Take your dog on hunting trips with more experienced pointers. This will provide an opportunity for him to learn by observation rather than by verbal commands. During these trips, you may want to keep the dog on a long leash, allowing him to follow the other dogs without being out of your reach.
  
  

Consistency

• Be sure not to change the rules when you take your dog hunting. This is a time to practice the preseason training you and your dog have worked so hard on, not an excuse to ignore the rules you've established.