Pretty darn close. I’m on my second Britt. The first was trained professionally and the current one was not. Not much difference between the two as far as I can tell in the field.

Sage is a retrieving fool until it has feathers. Ducks and quail no problems. Grouse she sort of points them out?? Pheasant she would probably retrieve once she’s done plucking the thing but I’ve never waited that long.

She usually comes when called unless, god forbid, she flushes a rabbit or [gasp] a mink then forget it. Also doesn’t like to come when she’s cold and wet and I need her to get back in the boat. But that’s what Puperroni’s are for!

She is not steady to shot. Oh occasionally she’s so surprised I actually hit the thing that she’s stunned to steady but usually a hit bird almost hits her in the head.

Rarely does she chase a hen to the next county. Usually the hens hold to point long enough for the cock to run to the next county. It might be the most frustrating thing of all watching as a cock pheasant takes off running while she’s holding a perfect point at the wrong bush.

On the other hand none of that bothers me and it sure as hell doesn’t bother my pup. I hike while she hunts and occasionally we shoot something.

The one thing about pointers is that they take a couple of seasons to learn the ropes. A good pointer can only learn to be a good pointer by lots of time in the field which unfortunately I don’t have. Like coug says some simple commands and a flusher is pretty much good to go. Not so with a pointer.

Once I realized neither me nor my dog was going to win field trials and I just started to enjoy our trips afield my hunts became a whole lot more fun for both of us!