Bird dog training can be very enjoyable.  It is important to begin the bird dog training program long before you plan your first hunting trip.

It is true that the bird hunting breeds have natural instincts that make them good hunters, but through bird dog training you learn how to control these instincts to insure a more enjoyable hunt for you and your pooch.  It takes away from the hunting experience when the hunter is yelling at a dog that will not listen. 

Learning to communicate with your dog is the main goal of any good bird dog training program.  This lesson takes many weeks and at times years to learn.  The key for all the lessons in bird dog training is consistency.  
It is second nature for a dog to want to please his owner, especially the hunting breeds. 

The hunting breeds are quick to learn and want to hunt, that is what they have been bred to do, but they need the trainer to be consistent in the training methods.  Bird dog training teaches the dog to follow the commands of the hunter.  By understanding what the hunter wants and using its natural instincts the bird dog will help insure a successful, plentiful hunting experience.

Bird dog training is not limited to upland game hunting.  Bird dog training is also used in training dogs used in hunting water fowl.  The training techniques for water dogs includes more emphasis on staying and marking where the fowl lands, but the communication lessons in bird dog training is still essential to maximize the hunting experience.

Bird dog training needs to be consistent, but it does not have to involve a great deal of time.  If you spend five to ten minutes each day at feeding time to practice a technique your dog will learn.  Any time you are spending time with your pet can be used as bird dog training time. 

Play retrieving games with your pet to provide exercise, but also teaching marking, staying and retrieving to hand.  You do not have to expect dog show quality from your pet through bird dog training, but you can save yourself the frustration of yelling at your dog to get them to perform on your hunting trip.