Plant a bird in grass of medium length.
Leave it there for several minutes before bringing the pup into the scent cone.
You should have the pup on a check cord and as soon as the pup scents the bird, control his forward progress by tightening the check cord.
Stand still and when the pup stands still pointing towards the bird, go hand over hand up the line until you get to the pup.
Don't say anything, pet the pup on the shoulders when you get to him, still keeping quiet.
If the pup wants to go forward restrain him until he settles down.
After the pup has stood there for maybe twenty seconds and drawn in the scent, lift him up and carry him away from the place and bring him back to his crate where he can now think about what just happened.
The pup doesn't know there was a bird there but he knows that there was some scent that he was interested in and that he was supposed to stand still.
After waiting an hour or so plant another bird in a different place and repeat the sequence just described.
It is important that the pup doesn't run around after the sequence.
Just allow him to be quiet in his cage.
Repeat the same sequence after a few days in a different area.
By now the pup should be very staunch in his point, if he wasn't already after the second try.
I have actually taken a Brittany that had never seen nor pointed a bird and led him into a bird on Saturday night using this method and then have observed the pup test the next day and earn a 4 in Pointing in the NAVHDA Natural Ability Test.
Another more complicated method is to place a bird in a bush three feet off the ground.
This creates an easy scenting condition and it helps to keep the pup's head up.
Lead the pup into the scent cone from the side.
As soon as the pup indicates scent but doesn't stop, immediately give the command: Whoa.
It is important that the pup learns to stand the birds as soon as he makes game instead of following the scent cone in and crowding the bird before locking on point.
It is natural for the pup to move closer before pointing, especially when scenting conditions are weak.
Allowing the pup to move in after he has made game may cause two problems.
First the pup may develop a tendency to sight point and secondly wild birds usually won't hold if a pup comes too close.
Swing around the pup to one side so the pup knows you are moving forward but not from behind him.
This way the pup will not develop a tendency to look back at you.
He can see you out of the corner of his eyes.
Get at least ten feet ahead of the pup and look right at him.
This is a position you have also used when training him to obey the command, Whoa, on the training table.
Release the bird from its launcher.
Continue the training using more than one bird.
Place one bird in the bush and two in launchers on the ground near the first one.
After the release of one bird, wait a few seconds before you release the second bird, making sure that the pup does not move between launches.
Let the third bird go.
You will notice that the pup is getting more and more staunch and that his pointing style will improve.
Lift the pup away from its location and away from the bird in the bush.
This will prevent him from charging in or chasing the flushed birds.
Repeat this procedure in another location and when the pup is showing great willingness to stay in place, fire one blank before any launch of bird to reinforce the command, Whoa.
If the pup is steady, launch a bird.
If the dog remains steady then you can shoot the next bird and reward the pup with the retrieve.