Developing a Work Ethic
Each
pointing dog is an individual and goes through formal training differently.
Some are always ready to work, while others aren’t able to handle the pressure
and occasionally need time off. Some may even lose interest altogether. Amateur
trainers often feel responsible when their dogs have problems in the field, but
they may have nothing to do with it. Simply put, their dogs may lack a good work
ethic.
The first time I heard this phrase in relation to pointing dogs was
during an interview I did with a horseback pro trainer. I asked him what he
looked for in a field trial dog, and he said he looked for a good work ethic. It
took me a while to understand what he meant, and eventually to see it for
myself: Dogs that can handle the pressures of training generally have a good
work ethic, while those that quit often lack it.
Generally speaking, work ethic is inherited from the breed
and, more specifically, from the pup’s parents. In order to understand this
concept, you have to look at the type of work your dog was bred to do. Pointing
breeds are bred to hunt birds, so the more desire they have to hunt, the better
their work ethic. Some breeds, such as pointers, have been specifically bred to
hunt birds, and thus have a superior work ethic. Versatile breeds may excel in
other qualities—such as retrieving, swimming, or hunting other types of
game—but may lack some of the pointer’s desire to hunt birds.
While your dog’s work ethic is inherited, there are
some important things you can do to develop it, beginning when he is a pup. Expose
your dog to birds and build his prey drive by taking him for runs in the field
and letting him find birds. Don’t rush him or have lofty expectations. Each
breed is different, so be patient and give your pup time to become totally
focused on finding birds before you begin any kind of formal training.
Remember: He isn’t on your timetable—you’re on his.
Maurice Lindley believes that the more desire a dog
has to hunt birds, the easier he will go through formal training. “Dogs without
a good work ethic are fine until you start asking more of them,” Maurice notes,
“and then they decide training isn’t fun anymore and quit.”
I have owned both kinds of dogs. Some were always up
for training; it didn’t matter what happened yesterday, or last week—they were
ready to go at all times. I could make training mistakes, even put too much
pressure on them, and they would still be ready to give me 100 percent.
Sometimes these dogs were more challenging to work, but they always ended up
going through the program faster. Their desire to hunt birds was so strong,
they didn’t need any time off. On the other hand, I have also owned dogs that
lacked a strong work ethic. They couldn’t take any pressure and were difficult
to train. They frequently needed time off, and as a result, the training
program took longer.
Bottom line: Not every dog is going to make a finished
dog, and unfortunately, the issue isn’t always training; sometimes you just
need a better dog.
Pointing dog breeders and owners often overlook this
component, but a good work ethic can make a huge difference in how a dog goes
through training. When purchasing a pup, look closely at the breed and the
parents. Each parent should have one or more champions in a four-generation
pedigree. Qualities such as a strong pointing instinct and natural ability are
important, but if a dog don’t have a good work ethic, he will be more difficult
to train in the long run. If you do your research and invest time developing
your pup’s desire to hunt, you should have a dog that wants to give 100 percent
in the field. Once you train a dog with a good work ethic, you will never want to
go back.
