After our opening day hunt, we ran into another more experienced bird hunter who also had a Brittany. He asked how our day went, and we told him it was great except for Peat eating the chukar he stole from Angus. He said, “Well, they all have to eat a bird once in a while!” He suggested that it wasn’t a big deal and we should just let Peat be a puppy until next season.
My friend Sam, also far more experienced than I – I’m sure he’s got at least 60 seasons under his belt – told me that his current dog ate the first three birds he shot over her. She hasn’t eaten another one, and she’s eight or nine and an incredible all-around upland dog. I asked Sam if he did any “corrective” work with Hannah after she ate those birds, and he said no, she just figured it out.
Does anyone have a different take on puppies eating birds shot over them? I’m curious, but inclined to follow my two senior hunters’ advice and just let Peat be for this season while getting him over as many birds as I can. Thoughts?
