Yeah, my females a little skittish, haven't shot around her yet, but will with 22 shorts first. My male loves the gun, he comes to the shot, I started him at 6 wks with the 22 pistol, while I was working him Id wait for him to get around the bend in the road and shoot the opposite direction with a 22 pistol. No birds here, I have him trained on the flush now. Turkeys and short chase deer. Hes ruthless. I wish I had some birds, my female is very very birdie, but, I will probably just get her involved in the flush game, I have the genetics I want so, one of their kids might get the bird life, if I can ever afford to start buying and planting enough birds to make it worth it. Nothing more striking than a rigid point, with a second dog offering a backup. G