I trained my last dog, poorly, with pigeons.  The breeder recommended quail so I bought some for the first bird introduction.

1st thing.  Fuckers are hard to get out of the pen.  I lost 2 altogether and another two got out of control but landed close enough that I could shoot them but still not live quail for the dog.

These were obviously farmed raised so once they flew they didn't fly far.  Some just ran for it so the pup got to run them down.  He got the feathers in his mouth and likes birds, but he is kinda a fucktarded moron who doesn't get the idea that he is supposed to find the birds.  Oh well, we'll get there.

He is a "pointing" lab (which I am still not sure is real or just a lab trained to point.  The instinct is clearly not there like with a real pointer.  But my wife will only take a lab so you do what you must.)

So feathers in the mouth.  Time for the discipline training starting tomorrow.

Quail can be a poor choice for a pup.  Most pen raised quail are poor fliers, a dog that catches birds is going to learn bad habits that will take years to break.  Get some bird launchers if you're going to use quail.