West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Bird Dog

This dog WILL hunt! Find out why from DNR Director and bird dog expert Frank Jezioro.

October 25, 2006
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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Frank Jezioro/DNR Director says:
"You want to get down? There you go."

DNR Director Frank Jezioro knows bird dogs and he thinks this little girl will turn out to be a good little pointer. He also knows you can never be absolutely sure you pick the best hunter out of the litter.

Frank Jezioro/DNR Director says:
"In our state, we're grouse hunters, woodcock, but you can also use the same dogs all over the country. You can go to Montana and hunt sharp tails, whatever, it's all the same dogs. But is there some way to pick the best pup in a litter? No, if so, one person would probably have all the best dogs.

Jezioro says there are some things to avoid in picking out a pup, and some things to definitely look for.

Frank Jezioro/DNR Director says:
"You look for some physical things, you look for a dog that's physically sound, this is an English Setter pup.

"You're gonna be all right, yes you are."

"I like to see a pup with big feet, strong front legs, this will grow to be a good sized dog. You want the ears to be low set, you don't want a dog with ears on top of its head that look like they're sticking up all the time and again, in an English Setter like this, you want to see a nice coat. This one has a nice coat."

Once you pick out your pup, Jezioro says you need to be patient-let the pup be a pup. It's never to early to put a wing on a fly rod and let the pup chase it, if you have a natural born pointer, you'll soon get a kick out of watching it do this. Even though it's pointing, this pup is still a couple of years way from being a first class bird dog.

Jezioro says there are some things you can do, and absolutely shouldn't do in the early stages of the pup's development.

Frank Jezioro/DNR Director says:
"When you walk through the kennel, bang the food pan, make noises, clap your hands, things like that. What you don't want to do, and I've seen people do that, people walking up behind it and shoot a blank pistol to see if it's gun shy. If it wasn't, it probably is now."

So pick out a pup and good luck.