However, dogs can also wind-scent pheasants by detecting molecules of scent that are drifting in the air. Have you ever seen dog lift its head and sniff the wind? He was checking for or had detected air-borne scent molecules.

Olfactory acuity varies from one dog to another, and dogs that posses a greater sense of smell have a greater potential to become good pheasant dogs.

If a dog's nose isn't good enough to sense its prey, then he probably isn't going to be a good pheasant dog. To avoid getting stuck with such a dog, do your homework and know what you're looking for when picking your gun dog's breeder.

Reflexive
A reflex by definition is an involuntary response to stimulus, and belongs to the autonomic nervous system. Although reflexes are important for all living animals, it is not super important in a dog's ability to perform as a pheasant dog. However, the quicker the reflexive reaction time, the better the nervous system, and that would include all nervous tissue, including the brain.

For example, when a good pheasant dog is working a field, you'll often notice a sudden change of direction while he is running or walking as he scents the ground or the air in search of Mr. Ringneck. The sudden change of direction is stimulated by the dog's nose picking up a variance in the scent trial, but the amount of time it takes for the dog to physically change direction is reflexive (i.e., the quicker the change of direction, the better the reflexes).

Of course, not all dogs need lightning-fast reflexes to be good pheasant dogs. As dogs get older, their reflexes will diminish, but they can still be very effective at finding and flushing birds. It just might take a little longer.

Instinct
Level 3 is instinct, and instinct is considered to be inborn and also unlearned. In the hunting breeds, the instinct to hunt or seek out prey is what is desired.

There are instincts of self-preservation and species preservation. A wild dog's instinct of self-preservation (stalk and capture) is most important for survival. If a particular dog can't successfully catch and kill its prey, that dog most likely won't survive long enough to breed and produce offspring.

As Darwin said, "It's survival of the fittest." This theory is somewhat modified by domesticating the dog to a point that it doesn't need to hunt food; however, it is important to realize that all dogs are direct descendants of wolves, and obviously a wolf's hunting instinct is essential for survival.

Dogs are bred to take advantage of their genetic predisposition, and the hunting instinct is high on the list. Therefore, it is the hunting instinct that we breed to the best of our abilities.

It can be said that hunting instinct is proportional to a dog's enthusiasm in the field, or its desire to hunt. This needs to be differentiated from the desire of the dog to just go hunting (with or without with his master), and the desire to actually seek out specific game species (not squirrels, song birds or rabbits). When you drop the tailgate on the truck, open the kennel door and say, "Hunt 'em up," a good pheasant dog's hunting instinct will be stirred. The most basic of wolf-like traits should be awakened. Pheasants beware!

Emotion
Yes, dogs do have emotions, too. We've heard them whimper and cry when they think they're getting left behind. We've seen them with tails wagging vigorously as they greet family and friends with excited glee. We've also seen them bark or even growl angrily when they perceive a danger to themselves or their master.