Somebody opened a treat jar somewhere!

• I believe bird dogs take on personality traits of their owners.

• I believe bird dogs “recognize” individual dogs they’ve “met” before.

• I believe my bird dog can hear the lid of her treat jar from distances greater than sound should be able to travel.

• I believe my bird dog knows if we’re hunting for pheasants versus ruffed grouse when she leaves her truck kennel by assessing the habitat around her.  A forest equals ruffed grouse, while grasses equal pheasants.

• I believe bird dogs recognize their own kind.  Released into a group of other bird dogs, I’ve watched golden retrievers sniff other goldens first, Labs sniff Labs first . . . same goes for shorthairs, Brittanys, and springers.

• I believe bird dogs are the key ingredient to getting a new generation interested in bird hunting and wildlife habitat conservation.

• I believe bird dogs equate blaze orange with “it’s time to go hunting,” even if they don’t see colors the same way their human hunting counterparts see colors.

• I believe bird dogs enjoy fireplaces, sleeping in on Sundays and quality habitat as much as his/her hunting master.

• I believe if you name your bird dog “Trouble,” “Tank,” “Precious,” or “Crash,” then that dog is going to live up to their dubious name.

What about you?  Are there things you believe about your bird dog that may be considered a little left of center?

The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Marketing.  Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre.