protecting bird dogs from porcupines.

On my quail lease in OK we have porcupines,,, about once every 3rd hunt or so, someone will kill one. THe prevailing theory is,, kill one if you see it. Several dogs have had major vet bills after attacking one of them. It seems that the dogs dont learn their lesson and attack again at the next opportunity. THis is counter intuitive to me, but it is factual------ less aggressive dogs just bark at them a little and come away when called.
I dont like killing a porcupine, is there another solution that we are overlooking?

Hmmm maybe something like snake avoidance training but with Porkies? If some come when called and some don't, tell me obedience is not where it needs to be. Then I imagine sometimes the dogs are out of site when these encounters happen.

I got rid of a nice young male pointer derby once he found and attacked the porcupines for the third time. He was mad at them and went to hunting for them. Every once in a while...maybe. But to find one every time I turned him loose proved to be too much for my taking.