Can you train hunting dogs to point/flush and retrieve birds and big game?

I was just wondering if it is possible to train a hunting dog to point/flush and retrieve birds such as waterfowl and upland birds and also train them to hunt big game possessing two skills in one dog? I am trying to get two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but would like them to hunt birds and bay big game such as deer and bears. So, with that said, is it possible to have them learn both hunting skills or is it only one skill or the other?? Thanks!Can you train hunting dogs to point/flush and retrieve birds and big game?
Dogs usually cannot be trained to do both because once he comes across another scent like a deer while bird hunting he will run off on that trail....unless he is like a blood hound trained to chase one scent.



Get yourself 2-3 dogs......because deer hunting is about being quiet unless you use the dog to drive the deer like mine. My black lab is amazing.....he is a great water dog for ducks and he loves to chase deer and anything else you let him scent sniff. I let a buddy hold him until I get in position at the clearing south of a about 100acres of woods and then we let him lose on the North side and he tracks all deer in the woods and flushes them out to the clearing were I take them down. He also will flush quail,dove and retrieve them cause he has a super nose.

I could never find a bird in the tall grass or wheat without him........He is just so damn smart. When I get my gun he gets excited and goes and gets my boots........
Those really are two completely different animals (pun intended)... Upland hunting requires a dog with a good nose and a lot of energy. I'm assuming you mean deer as big game "hunting"? Deer hunting is about being quiet and patient, and any dogs trained for upland hunting will not have the patience to sit and do nothing.



Overall I would say no, unless whatever big game hunting you're talking about requires lots of walking %26amp; noiseCan you train hunting dogs to point/flush and retrieve birds and big game?
You probably wouldn't want to use a dog to hunt big game unless your in a very remote spot where the deer are not used to humans or have natural enemys....Thus if you need a way to hunt deer just get a tree stand and scout out a good area and sit and wait



----Hope this helps----Can you train hunting dogs to point/flush and retrieve birds and big game?
* No *
Rhodesians ain't bred to be bird dogs. Did ya know that they are bred to hunt/track lions? That breed of dog would be suited more so to tracking large game, not pointing and flushing.



And- training a dog to track large game and point/flush birds will confuse the dog. Teach them to recognize one scent. If not, when your out bird hunting, and the dog catches the scent of a bear your up a creek without a paddle.



Before ANYTHING, check your state laws to see if you can hunt deer and bear with dogs. In some states that is illegal to do so with dogs.
ya you can train them just leave them outside
well with the ridgeback i would say no because if my research is correct the ridgeback is in the hound family and they have no instinct on pointing the would just want to get in and go so it would be a hassel for you on the birds but the bears and deer i would say yes it would work but if you want to point and retrieve get a pointer breed or a retriever breed if your doing a retriever breed i would suggest the labrador retriever but for pointing i wold recomend the either a gsp or a springer spaniel but you need to train them as soon as you get them