Does Your Gundog Chase Rabbits

Gun dogs seem to have the tendency to chase rabbits but there are solutions to this problem below

Is a excerpt from a old Manuel on gun dog training. I find this Manuel is better than most modern books available
 
While our gun dog may not be guilty of chasing rabbits yet, when he is old enough to take the field, we will proceed to so train him that he will never pay rabbits the slightest attention.
 
We always obtain, if possible, a pair or more of our common wild rabbits; if these cannot be had the tame variety will answer. Then we build them a hutch alongside the puppy's pen, if we keep our gun dog outside, which I recommend for training even if you let him live in the house as a family pet once he is trained.
 
Make a hole from the hutch to the kennel just large enough for the rabbit to pass through, that they may visit your gun dog at their pleasure and readily escape should he be too familiar.
 
If you do this when training your puppy you will never have your spaniel gun dog point or chase another rabbit again.
 
There are a few other ways which I will let you in on later this year.
 
Ron told me a story about a friend of a friend who got a magnificent spaniel gun dog, for free as it was entirely worthless because he chased every rabbit he see. Although he had an excellent nose, and was perfectly staunch, he would point every rabbit that came in his way, and would 'draw" on their trail, and you could never make sure but he was leading you after rabbits instead of a bird.
 
He took him home and placed him in a large yard, with several of his rabbit friends, and left him to his fate. He pointed them steadily all the afternoon, and refused to leave them to eat his tea.
 
When he visited him the next morning, although he was lying down, he was fit and staunchly pointing, but apparently very tired. He did leave them long enough to eat his breakfast, but as soon as it was down he immediately resumed his work.
 
This went on for nearly a week before he appeared to weaken, and before the start of the second week he evidently had had enough of it. We then took him into the field, taking pains to go where rabbits were plenty, but not once did he pay them the slightest attention, nor was he ever known to notice them again.
 
For the same reason we like to have cats about the house that our pup may become well acquainted with them before he commences hunting.
 
Once your gun dog becomes accustomed to all animals he is less likely to chase them when you bare on a shoot. The younger your puppy is when you start to introduce him or her to rabbits and other small creatures the easier it is for him to ignore them.