Training a pointing breed

[hank77]

Have A 9 yr. old Yellow Lab. (Tama) that is my first true bird dog., we have gone through The trials and tribulations of training, right and wrong on both our parts and it has been a wonderful learning experience and for a few years we did very well on pheasants, woodcock and if the stars aligned a partridge or two.
Alas, Tama's time in the field is ending. His nose is going and his desire to hunt is waning. Quitting on the scent and just doesn't have "it" anymore.
Looking at pointing breeds for a few reasons...have a camp in the Great North woods, Maine and Vermont are short trips away, partridge heaven...have seen many pointers come in behind me and my buddies in the fields/woods and found birds...they just hunt better in my opinion (hope I dont get my ass kicked for that one!)...and finally the challenge and family time it would give me are high priorities now that my girls are entering "tweendom".
I have been doing a lot of research and a Llewellin Setter seems to be the ideal pointing breed for our family. My wife runs a family daycare and having a great family dog as well as an outstanding upland dog would be a dream come true. I want a pointing breed for the wild birds, the pheasant fields in New Hampshire are becoming like Bolton Flats in Mass. insane!
Looking for advice and pointers (no pun intended) and tips on properly training a pointing breed as opposed to a flusher...bells vs beepers, etc....
Looking at late winter/early spring for a pup.
Any advice GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
Thanks, HANK

[regnar]

Go to NAVHDA. Lots of great info on training. A llewellin is not a versatile dog but a lot of the training is the same.

Good luck.

[NHGriff]

Hank,
I'm a member of the Merrimack Valley NAVHDA and we usually don't do much training now during the season, but we will be starting out again in February with some training days. Llewellin's can be trained to be versatile dogs but usually the swimming gets them. Recently a member took her English pointer to a prize one utility and an invitation to the nationals. She has really had to work to get him there and she is a trainer by trade but it can be done.
Good luck and shoot me a PM if you ever want to meet up and talk dogs.

[hank77]

Thanks guys,
Not looking for a super versatile dog, upland is the primary reason but we'll see.
Griff, I will be hitting you up for training info (and to steal some of your partridge coverts ;D)
HANK