I'll try to make this as Short as possible. My 8 year old male Brittany (Gabe) is the third male Brittany we've had. Hands down he's the best hunter. Super nose, great tenacity, all the superlatives.

The one bad thing is that I missed at least 4 or hunting seasons with him. Taking care of family members, family (both sides) deaths and the aftermaths, And I had (have) medical problems that saw me laid up two whole seasons and too weak to REALLY hunt last year.

He hunts beautifully. He does get walks in the woods 5 or 6 days a week throughout the year, and if he gets out of sight for very long he'll always come back if I whistle for him, occasionally call his name. Many times he just comes back. He gets into anything I command "Drop It!" and he does, usually right away, sometimes the second command.

This morning we had a great hunt, although the weather was too warm. Anyway, I cross-shot a cock pheasant as he cleared the woods into a field. Nice set-up. I got to him before Gabe because he missed his flush and was still holding for him. He came in a bit. The bird had a few last breaths, so I merely was stepping on him with pressure while he died.

Well, Gabe saw the bird, must have sensed he wasn't yet dead(?) and tore into his side, and didn't drop it until I forcefully yelled it. He sat as told. The bird died but nerve impulses flapped a wing an inch or so. Gabe saw this and tore into his tail, tearing through its skin and into the meat. He wouldn't let go with my voice command alone, I found myself pulling at his back, maybe lightly spanking him (pure instinctual desperation. He finally did. By the way, finally means like 4 seconds tops.

He again sat on command. I told him to stay and I reached down and picked up the bird. I couldn't reach back into my vest, so I held it out, took off my vest, put it in and then went on. Gabe remained inert this whole time.

It's a shame that the bird got ripped to the point where I didn't want to bother making it a meal. It's still in my vest in the trunk.

What should I do? Would it be a good thing or a stupid thing to try to train him some more with the dead bird, planting it in the yard with a scent trail or not?

A big part of me thinks he wouldn't have been so ardent if the bird was stone dead and I guess I want to test that out.

Comments?