Can Golden Retrivers be taught to be point birds or do they just flush them.

[flyman]

Can Golden Retrivers be taught to be point birds or do they just flush them.

[Brian Lynn]

Hi flyman, Goldens are one of the flushing breeds, however, all canines possess "the point" ...it's a genetic thing. In flushing breeds, though, "the point" might only last for a second (or fraction thereof). What separates pointing from flushing breeds is that we have bred for "the point" and enhanced it, stretching that time out and making it more pronounced; then we train for it even more.

To answer your question: Yes, a Golden (or any dog for that matter) can be trained to point (or react a specific way when encountering scent; think of drug dogs, diabetic alert dogs, etc). It's probably not going to be stylish and he might not like it, but he can be trained to do it.

Probably better than trying to get a stylish point is to teach him to sit on scent. If you insist he stand, like I said, he probably isn't going to look like a majestic setter with a feathering coming off a high tail; he'll probably just want to stand there...but then again, you never know!

Is there a reason you want your Golden to point/stand birds?

[flyman]

Thanks i was wonderin and that helps alot.