If you are an experienced hunter, you may think that you've seen and experienced everything pheasant hunting can offer but if you've never used a dog to aid you then you may reconsider your knowledge regarding the matter. Even though, compared to other hunting activities, pheasant hunting is not dependant of dog assistance, they play an important role in making the experience more enjoyable and in getting better results at the end of the day. Deciding to buy a hound or a puppy that you can train yourself can be the step forward you never knew you needed.

For many pheasant hunters, choosing to buy their first pheasant dog is the peak of a lifetime's dream. You may have hunted with borrowed hounds at a pheasant preserve, or hunted alongside a buddy and his canine friend - possessing your very own trained hound beside you, watching him anxiously waiting for you to shoot, hearing him bark at the spotting of the prey can be all you need on the field. But training a dog to be a good and helpful companion is not effortless and requires much patience and devotion. You can always choose to buy a hound that's already been thought the basic commands though.

Many of what you will be experiencing depends on the kind of hound it is, retriever or pointer, and how excellent the training has been up to that specific point. First and foremost, make sure your dog is "birdy" (meaning he has bird hunting instincts) and after that you can work on improving his skills. Regardless of the breed, the fundamental obedience commands are decisive and any professional trainer can confirm this for you. The dog has to know how to stay, sit, come, heel and whoa prior to going hunting. Whereas in the real estate domain they say the key words are location, location and location, in training a fine hound the keywords are obedience, obedience and obedience. Nothing is worse than yelling and screaming at your dog and spotting birds dropping at 80 yards. Another thing worth mentioning here is that whoa is the utmost command any dog must learn since it is vital that you are able to make your dog stop when you wish for him to.

Which is the best pheasant hunting dog? It's a tricky question, with various possible answers to it because each hunting breed has advantages over other breeds in particular applications, but also disadvantages. English setters, for example, make exceptional grouse hounds in thick cover, but can also be high-strung, whereas Wirehair Griffins are known to be effective, versatile hounds. Pointers are meant to cover a lot of ground on wide-open countryside areas, but require hard training; Griffins are excellent ground-scent trackers, whereas English pointers tend towards being air-scent hunting dogs.

An important aspect that most people seem to overlook is keeping their dogs in good to great physical shape, because hunting a whole day requires increased endurance and strength. If you think you can keep your four-legged friend in shape by walking him an hour or two a day then you need to read on. Instead of taking him for a walk take him on a day of hunting once in a while. This will force him to adapt to the rigors of aggressive field hunting and it has proved to be the most effective way to bring and hold your pheasant dog into shape. However, you must be careful for how long you maintain the rhythm that first time because exaggerating can even lead to losing the dog.

As you can see, bringing the element of dog backing to your game can be a decisive step towards complete hunting fulfillment but, although it has benefits, it is not designed for everyone - not an easy thing to handle or adapt to. So if you think that pheasant hunting has no secrets stored for you, try the aid of a hound and you may never go back to hunting solo again in the future.

A great Spaniel breed, the Brittany has a good ability to point and retrieve. They are energetic and solidly built, without being heavy, though. They also have long legs and floppy ears, but they are sensitive to correction when being trained. Brittany is great for a hunting dog, as well as for living with a family.

A breed entirely developed in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a versatile dog, good in the family and also as a hunting companion. They are tough and capable to resist very low temperatures, thanks to their thick and wavy coat. Also, they have a large and powerful chest.

These dogs are highly intelligent and easy to train. They are known to have best smelling abilities of all the bird hunting dogs. The German Shorthair requires a lot of physical exercise and a lot of training. This loyal dog has athletic legs and the ears are long and floppy.

This breed is characterized by its wiry coat and well-muscled body. It is known to be a determined and ambitious hunter, having a great pointer character. Also, it is able to hunt almost any game on different terrains. However, if they don’t receive enough exercise, they can become hard to deal with.

This medium sized dog is a flusher and usually runs in front of the hunter to flush upland game. Their coat is short and coarse. They can easily get used to living with a family, being a breed which is quick to learn and willing to obey. The English Springer Spaniels are very energetic and have a very good sense of smell - Read more info.

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