We recently added another American Brittany to our family.  We got her from a breeder in Ohio who had plans on using her for field trails.  However, because she does not range far enough and hunt fast enough, we were able to purchase her.  She is about a year and nine months old.  I know she was trained with pidgeons and quail and an occassional chukar.  I'm not sure if they used pheasants in her training.  I know that they used the e-collar for whoa training, to help her hold her points.

I've had her out about 4 or 5 times this year.  I hunted her with chukar's and pheasants.  She's done exceptional on chukars, having found and retrieved every one we put out.  The problem is that she's done so-so with the pheasants so far.  She seems to have a problem finding downed pheasants (no problem finding the downed chukars).

I'm not sure if her problem stems from her earlier training with the e-collar where if she broke point, she would get shocked.  They really stressed the whoa training with her.  Or maybe they were using a release box and the birds didn't run, and she does not know to chase them.  Also, it seems like she might not be quite as enthuiastic with pheasants as she is with chukars (she loves to retrieve the chukars, not so much the pheasants).

What I have been doing is gearing the hunt more towards chukars, at this point, and making it a fun and rewarding experience for her.  She is doing fantastic with them.  She seems to have a lot of drive and natural ability and the making of a very good hunting dog, as well as family member.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how we might be able to work with her to increase her interest in pheasants?  Has anyone had a similar situation, and if so, how did you work with the dog?

I would take her to a Game Farm or Preserve and buy her a few pheasants. Then have them released where, when they are shot the weeds are very sparse. That way when a bird drops she will see it and if runs she can see that to and learn to give chase with encouragement. When does the whole thing give her praise, lots of praise. Make her feel she has really done something to please you, that will make her happy too. Being field trial stock I will bet she is trained Steady to Wing and Shot. If she is, I don't envy you your task for that makes it double hard to get her to the bird in time.........Bob

I'd bet that she got spurred by a rooster or they used to many pheasants with her. But what Bob said is the way to bring it back out of her.