Search found 19 matches

by jtg
Sat Jun 09, 2018 3:58 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

I think that, given enough chances to learn by experience, most dogs will eventually do what is wanted to suit the situation. Bill T. thanks - encouraging - seems to concur with Higgins - he posits (more or less) that these dogs have more talent than we typically acknowledge - with encouraging faci...
by jtg
Fri Jun 08, 2018 6:56 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

...seems to me the cooperation behavior to bring me stuff he finds while out hunting is highly similar so I have encouraged vs discouraged the behavior. I think Higgins would approve - his method is all about trust and cooperation - seems your problem is not so unlike mine: the difference between h...
by jtg
Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:47 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

...a man who'd worn a baseball cap to a shoot had been told to take it off or go home ! :lol: He'd gone to an ultra - posh shoot ! :lol: Bill T. thanks for the informed commentary and heads up: should I ever get an invite to a "posh shoot" I'll remember to sport my snap-brim...as for denim, typical...
by jtg
Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:29 am
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

... In Britain we use whistle more than voice for any gundog purpose but overuse of the whistle is also a fault in our trials. Bill T. whistles common here too, and likewise, one can be judged down for overuse or over-hacking (too much vocal command) - Master Hunter standards permit no hacking, not...
by jtg
Thu Jun 07, 2018 6:06 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

polmaise wrote:You have a nice day now :wink:
likewise, cheery bye

ps: by comparison, here are winning performances from the 2009 Ames Plantation Championship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9FukGHrhm0
by jtg
Thu Jun 07, 2018 4:28 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

OK guys, sorry for the weak choice in video demo of UK trialing - this '2008 Championship' (with ample commentary) has got to be the "real deal" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0sQa9K13Xg - and the birds do appear wild, unless they were liberated the week before - again, any confirmation welcome ...
by jtg
Thu Jun 07, 2018 12:56 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

DonF - thanks again - AKC regs state clearly that retrieved birds should be delivered to hand in good condition - this should never be ignored the UK guys (polamise and Trekmoor) seem to have missed the point of the original post - it's not about retrieving in competition, rather about bringing back...
by jtg
Wed Jun 06, 2018 7:27 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: The Unique Higgins Method, Classic Falcon Training for Dogs
Replies: 21
Views: 8817

Re: The Unique Higgins Method, Classic Falcon Training for Dogs

have descried your method to handlers at field trials - most are suspicious - all insist the need to "break" the dog - don't like the term nor the way most of them do it - plan to spend a couple days down at your spread, working your method on my hard-to-break 3 year old with loads of promise and a ...
by jtg
Wed Jun 06, 2018 12:13 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@Trekmoor - thanks for your commentary - these are pointer trials (retrieval on call back only - no birds shot on course) - understood, retrieved birds should never be mangled ever, in trials or hunting - in trials, dog should ignore all dead birds unless sent to retrieve - my original post about tr...
by jtg
Wed Jun 06, 2018 11:37 am
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@DonF - thanks for your informed input - one of the most seasoned and winning handlers I know was ordered up at a major (30+ starters) last year when within minutes of the breakaway his FC/AFC/MH dog brought him a dead bird - nobody saw anything more than that - he didn't argue, just accepted the ju...
by jtg
Tue Jun 05, 2018 5:54 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@polmaise - thanks - wish the judge, that DQd my pup last year for failing to honor his brace mate on point downwind from a dead bird, concurred - pup didn't steal the point, just crossed in front acknowledging neither the pointing dog nor the dead bird - later back in camp, judge took me aside to r...
by jtg
Tue Jun 05, 2018 9:32 am
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@shags - actually on 2 recent trials others were bringing them too - one delivered by a champion - everyone complained about weak birds - one my dog brought was well soaked, out of a swale @gonehuntin - the mangled one (only one) had a leg ripped nearly off - could have caught it running or taking f...
by jtg
Tue Jun 05, 2018 1:08 am
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@Sharon - yeah, have to wonder: how warm is too warm ? killed in previous brace or by a hawk or a hard throw-down, as mentioned above ... who knows ? other thread discussed judging this scenario - one seasoned judge wrote: "can't judge what you can't see, so if you don't see the chase/catch/kill, ho...
by jtg
Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:48 am
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@birddogger2 - thank you and everyone for the kind advice - yeah weak FT birds probably too tempting - never jumps one in training, even in zero wind pointing almost on top of them - only blows up in competition - guess we gotta start driving out 2-300 mi. to train on wild birds, if I can learn wher...
by jtg
Sun Jun 03, 2018 9:57 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

Re: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

@bustincover - thanks again - advice always welcome
by jtg
Sun Jun 03, 2018 2:51 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch
Replies: 48
Views: 15533

FT dead bird retrievals and training fetch

I found another good thread on this topic, mostly addressing judging standards - after going through it, I still have a question dealing with this problem: dog has started bringing me dead birds while running FT braces - result: DQs, no forgiveness from judges around here - but, I suspect he's not c...
by jtg
Sat Sep 02, 2017 3:33 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: American brittany lines
Replies: 66
Views: 30165

Re: American brittany lines

Why no talk of Blaze Dakota Trucker lines? On the trial circuit, he's produced some awesome dogs. While I understand some people don't like the roan, you can't argue his production of dogs who have competed against the best 1 hr All age dogs in the country. Heck, there are several of his grand sons...
by jtg
Wed Jun 07, 2017 3:35 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: solid in training, blows up in trials
Replies: 6
Views: 3830

solid in training, blows up in trials

33-mo-old brittany finally holding well through wing, shot and release (either to hunt on or retrieve a trown bumper) on training fields - performance virtually 100% for last 4 months (3-5 days/week) - but now half-way through his first broke-dog, field trial season, in every gun dog stake, he blows...
by jtg
Tue Jun 06, 2017 7:35 pm
Forum: Please Welcome New Members - Introduce Yourself Here!
Topic: A little about you...
Replies: 1099
Views: 846591

Re: A little about you...

semi-retired - winter 2015 inherited 5-month-old Brittany from brother who passed away before training began all new to me - hunted birds as a kid but without dogs - now training for field trials and hunting when possible, just for training - good exercise and love getting out background: composer, ...