Gun Dog Forum

Higgins

Here is a link to a video I recently posted. I have included here, a copy of the text explaining the training scenerio. http://youtu.be/1OUKQihPqwM Higgins Gundogs are trained and managed to a high level. They must be able to adapt to new and unusual situations and control their excitement level. We...

Higgins

My first impression on tail set of the pointing dogs is low tail has IMO, always indicates conflict or lack of confidence in what the dog was doing. Where as the high straight tail IMO indicates confidence. Hello Gundogguy, I think I'm misunderstanding your comment. The difference between the tail ...

Higgins

Still prefer my long tailed setter/pointers to hold that tail high - makes them much easier to see. Hello Sharon, All of my dogs are Scottish imports. That's how they like them in the UK. Can't blame them. These dogs have a great balance of drive and cooperation. Here is another one. I'll have a co...

Higgins

I filmed a portion of one of our training hunts earlier this week. I thought some might find it interesting. Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/EZ3JvUEjNXo

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Wolfeman, all the information you'll need is in the video. Go watch it at least 5 times before working with your dog. Lot's of information there to digest. It works if you're willing to think outside the box. My method gets you thinking like a dog. Take a look at my other videos, you'll see what I m...

Higgins

Hey Wolfeman, Here is a video I did a few years ago. Shows how to get a young dog walking with you and not pulling. I'ts about claiming space. The way a dog sees it. This is not obedience and it's not a heel command. The results are much better. http://youtu.be/I3FEQcCY1E0 I can send you a leash if ...

Higgins

Would I have to get around the fact of shooting pheasants in pheasant country if I were participating in a field trial or hunt test? Do you know how they "get around the law"? yes but most of the time that is on private property. i thought that might be the answer, plus you are probably have leg ba...

Higgins

Here is a video we shot earlier this month. Did some advanced training here with covies of chukar. Covies are great to really tune a dog up. The birds are great dog handlers.

http://youtu.be/VSegnBq1oIQ?list=UUSyx4 ... j8yqdoZR3g

Enjoy,

Brad Higgins
http://www.HigginsGundogs.com

Higgins

Exactly, and so do I.

Higgins

Would I have to get around the fact of shooting pheasants in pheasant country if I were participating in a field trial or hunt test? Do you know how they "get around the law"?

Higgins

This is a video we shot last week during one of our chukar training hunts. Once the dogs understand that steadiness leads to success and they begin to trust in our ability to help them, it's time to "season" them. I set up different, realistic hunts to help them gain experience and confidence for th...

Higgins

Never thought of my videos as "theatrical productions" but now that you mention it, I agree. Crackerd, let's agree that we all have different goals and expectations and leave it at that. As the Dalai said, "Disagreement is something normal". Good luck in all that you do. Brad Higgins www.HigginsGund...

Higgins

Hello Crackerd, I don't know much about the Dalai Lama. I do like some of his quotes though, like these. "Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open" and "Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace". When it comes to leaders, I'm more of a Jim Jones I...

Higgins

Hello Elkhunter, Thanks. When I said "unique sport" I meant from a dog training perspective. I prepare my clients and their dogs for real hunting scenarios. This separates my training from all the other dog sports ( hunt tests, field trials, tournament hunting, etc). I have a video I'll post soon of...

Higgins

I like to use chukar or sometimes a covey of quail.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Before I go into this, it's important to understand my unique sport. I call it "Classic Hunting". There are many sports where hunting dogs are used. Field trials, hunt tests, tournament hunting, retriever events, etc. All include their own specific rules and expectation. My training and my sport, pr...

Higgins

great video as usual....I have been kicking the idea around of finishing a dog off that same way for sometime now ..as a matter of fact I have a young setter that's just about a year old right now that I may consider to turn out to flush on cue .if so any tips ...should he be solid to flush wing an...

Higgins

Hello Robert, The dog in the video is Glenn. He is a year and a half old and is one of my Scottish imports. He was trained with my Higgins Method (including the Magic Brushpile) and is steady to flush, shot and fall. He also honors, stops to flush and has a natural retrieve. He now also understands ...

Higgins

Here is a young, finished pointer we're training to flush on cue in the UK style. This is a short clip taken from a video we're working on. http://youtu.be/7AS45jbjEwE The following is the information I included with the clip on YouTube. It will help explain the process. "Here is a young Pointer lea...

Higgins

Hello Bill,

That's one of the biggest differences between the American style of training and hunting and what I see in the UK method. Here in the States, most don't care about what the dog thinks.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Hello Elkhunter,

Glad you liked the video. Myra is a very cooperative dog. She sat down because in her mind, she was asked to.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Here is a recent video we did of a young dog in training. http://youtu.be/pNQWwqRUx7M There are lots of successful ways to train a gundog. My method is based on training from the dogs perspective. I say it like this: "When a dog finds you trustworthy, steadiness comes naturally. " Enjoy, Brad Higgin...

Higgins

Hello Greatwhitenorth, That was an older version. Here is the updated version from my website: 1. Dog training is dog psychology. Learn to understand your dog. Try to see everything from his point of view. 2. Dogs don’t see things in terms of “packs” or “leaders”. Any social structure they display i...

Higgins

Generally, if the hawk misses the bird on the first flush, it will follow it and land in the area where the bird put in. And yes, the dog and hawk quickly learn to work together with no help from me. I'm just a perch to hunt from. The hawk learns to follow and read the dog. She knows when the dog ge...

Higgins

Lets just say we have different venues and leave it at that. My venue is to hunt and shoot birds over steady, classy dogs. If you want to see the kind of excellence I expect from the dogs, take a look at my videos.

Brad Higgins
www.HigginsGundogs.com

Higgins

Hello Buckshot1, It's all one bird. She jumps the chukar on the ground, it gets away and she swings behind me when she chases it. You can hear her wing brush against the camera when she flies by me. Her goal is to eat the chukar. If she sees it, she may try to catch it on the ground, if it flushes s...

Higgins

Hello bb560m, As you know, there are many venues out there including walking and horseback trials, hunt tests, tournament hunting, etc. Our venue is foot hunting and shooting wild and released birds. What I call '"classic hunting". You mentioned "natural submissive cowering". What do you think would...

Higgins

Hello Bhulisa, Good question. The dog has learned that steadiness is rewarded. He knows that if he moves, he won't get the bird. He is in control of any pressure associated with his bird work. In training, When the dog is waiting for the reward, we often see this natural, what I call "respectful sub...

Higgins

Here is a video of the same dog a couple of days later when the owner came to pick him up. I started a new topic with this updated video but I think it would be useful to post it in this thread too. http://youtu.be/V3letgmhir4 Hope it is helpful. Let me know what you think. Brad Higgins http://www.H...

Higgins

You guys are misreading the dog. His reaction is not at all what you think. It's not based on obedience or pressure. Read more about what I do. Might give you some new ideas about training and working with the dogs.

Brad Higgins
http://www.Higginsgundogs.com

Higgins

In the prior topic "VIDEO, Steady to Wing, Shot, Fall", some were asking to see additional fieldwork with this dog. Here is more video shot a few days later when the owner came to pick him up.

http://youtu.be/V3letgmhir4

Enjoy.

Brad Higgins
http://www.Higginsgundogs.com

Higgins

Thanks very much for that video. What do you do in the case of a dog for whom the chase itself is a bigger reinforcer than seeing and smelling the bird, and then getting the bird in its mouth? I have a pointer where I'm working on taking the chase away to get him steady to wing, at least. Currently...

Higgins

That's a mouthful right there. So, did the dog go to a trainer to get started before you? You had the dog for 6 weeks, that makes dogs age 6 1/2 months old. Where did the pack leader pressure start from? Prior trainer? Hello Tailcrackin, There has been no pressure put on the dog and it has had no o...

Higgins

Hello Kelli, I'm glad you liked the video. Before I answer your questions, it's important you understand that the foundation of my method is different from conventional, obedience based training. Instead of teaching commands that are then enforced in specific situations, I train the dogs the same wa...

Higgins

Jack is a nine month old German Shorthair. He has been in training for six weeks and is steady to Wing, Shot and Fall. In this video he does a nice deferred retrieve, where he waits for the shooter to bring the bird back to him. Now that he understands that steadiness leads to success (a bird in his...

Higgins

http://youtu.be/XXasIBaco2k Here is a short video of some of our training/hunting today. An important part of the Higgins method of gundog training includes the use of hawks and falcons. Especially useful in helping gun-shy dogs build hunting desire and focus before the reintroduction of the gun. Th...

Higgins

I believe one of the main reasons that those in the States don't allow the pointing dog to flush is that in many of the tests and trials, the pen raised birds can be caught by the dogs. Hard to keep a dog steady when he learns he doesn't need you to be successful. With wild birds or good quality pre...

Higgins

Sure AZ.

Higgins

Here is a video of a young pup learning about birds and hunting. I don't put any pressure on them. It starts with his first bird contact and ends shooting a pheasant over him that he chooses to retrieve. He is now ready to steady. http://vimeo.com/56924329 There are lots of ways to train gundogs. Th...

Higgins

Hello 4dabirds, When I see a dog move, I look at his intent. You're right, the dog moves as the bird flies to the left, followed by the gun. He moves (pivots) to see where the bird is going but his intent to run does not happen until after the shot. In fact, he does not release himself until he sees...

Higgins

Here is a short video I shot a few days ago. It shows a Griffon steady to flush. I included some slow-motion footage so you can see exactly at what point the dog chose to break for the bird. The actions in a shooting scenario that dogs respond to (when they make a decision to be steady or unsteady) ...

Higgins

Lot of great responses. I agree, there are lots of variations and degrees of steadiness. Different tests and trials have different requirements. What I'm looking for here is a consensus of opinion for personal hunting dogs. Steadiness can include just steady to wing (leaving at the gunshot or the fa...

Higgins

Hello Del Lolo,

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I'm referring to pointing dogs.

I reedited the original post.

Thanks,

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Seems the word "steady" means different things to different people. I'm trying to figure out if there is a definition most would agree on. Would you say that a pointing dog with an AKC Master title is "steady"? How about a dog with a Senior title?

Happy 4th of July.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

When I can't find wild birds to hunt and train with, I create my own.

http://youtu.be/NAGGBQIKWPo

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Sharon wrote:I enjoyed that video very much but I have to ask: Why did you use a setter who didn't raise his tail?

Hello Sharon,

The client enjoys her dog. He is a 7 year old show setter. Tail doesn't matter to either one of them.

Higgins

Here is a recent hunt/training session with some of the dogs and their handlers. We try to keep it as natural possible. I release pheasants in the hunting field, wait 30 minutes and bring the dogs out. You'll see steady to wing, shot, & fall, relocating on a moving bird, honoring and retrieving. htt...

Higgins

Hello roaniecowpony, I agree. Here is the flowchart of my training method. It has been very helpful to clients. http://higginsgundogs.com/about-us/our-method/method-flowchart/ I also have videos of young dogs in training that help to visually show how the training progresses. Brad Higgins Higgins Gu...

Higgins

Here is a video of one of our pups. We introduce him to birds first, then associate the gunfire when he is excited, chasing a bird. Steadying, (no more chasing birds) begins as soon as he is gunproofed. The pup in this video is ready to begin steadying now. http://vimeo.com/56924329 Brad Higgins Hig...

Higgins

Congratulations on the new pup.
Here is a video of how we start them.

http://vimeo.com/m/56924329

Have fun

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

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