Gun Dog Forum

Higgins

Here is a short video of some of the dogs we worked this past weekend. When I talk about "flow" I mean the excitement of the hunt. As the handler, I'm responsible for controlling the dog's excitement level. I want to see all the dogs style, intensity and drive but I can't let him go over the top (g...

Higgins

Hello Whatsnext, The truth is, most successful field trailers don't hunt their dogs. Field trailing is a very specific, high performance competitive sport. I stand by my statement. Brad Higgins http://www.HigginsGundogs.com Higgins Gundogs hunting etiquette Dogs: Stay in touch and handle well. Alway...

Higgins

Hello Vernal, I like the way you worded that. Very thoughtful. That's a great question. It tells a lot about how humans see training. Just the word "correct" speaks volumes. From the dogs point of view, when he is "corrected", he is being punished for using his free will and making a choice. That wi...

Higgins

You say they are Scottish. What is the foundation? Almost looks like a black vizsla. Ebercombe. Stephen Frank's Embercombe line is legendary in the UK and Europe. He was a long time falconer who lived and hunted grouse with his falcons and pointers on the moors of Scotland. http://higginsgundogs.co...

Higgins

I like to introduce the gun as an association to bird success. Here is a video of a young pup being introduced to the gun. It's all timing. When his excitement level is at it's highest, at the end of the chase, (the moment the bird is in his mouth), bang. http://vimeo.com/56924329 Hope you find it u...

Higgins

You two are missing my point about terrain and a dog's method of search, I want a dog to run edge's and hunt objective's not quarter in front of me. Those FT dogs are running to find bird's not distractions they happen upon and they do this because of prey/predator drive. As far as my boy's one is ...

Higgins

Guess it all comes down to controlling the dogs energy and not it's natural desire to chase so I am changing my feeding program and no feed for the dogs for three days preceding a hunt, bet that will make them steady and will let me be even lazier. lol Hello Ezzy333, You're beginning to see the big...

Higgins

Hey Whatsnext, You spoke about different types of terrain. Here is a video I thought you might like. Nice terrain if you're a goat. :D http://youtu.be/6MvorphRLQo Brad Higgins http://www.HigginsGundogs.com Higgins Gundogs hunting etiquette Dogs: Stay in touch and handle well. Always honor another do...

Higgins

Mr.Higgins, Would you please put up this video again? I used to have a Weimaraner that had no desire to find birds. But she loved to retrieve. In fact she got excited only when the gun went boom because that was her que to get a bird. Wonderful house pet though. Helo Vernal, I'm looking for that vi...

Higgins

Hello Will-Kelly, I don't use field trials as a basis. Trial dogs are no longer predator/prey based hunting dogs. To me your word "polished" denotes obedience and training. In my dogs, I want to see natural, instinctual hunting. When I allow them free will, they give me everything they have. That's ...

Higgins

Hello Gundogguy, I don't hunt or breed any US dogs anymore. All the dogs I breed and hunt are my own Scottish imports. These dogs have been used for generations as falconry dogs. They have a great balance between drive and cooperation. Trialers here would not like them. They have a natural, stylish ...

Higgins

Another great video Brad. Having followed your method for a few years now I think it is one of the method that can really change training. My latest questions are... Have you been able to implement your method on dogs that are already trained with problems? - The reason that I ask is a ton of what ...

Higgins

Hello Oldbeek,

You should not have shot the gun or said fetch. These are the associations she has tied to pressure. You need to get her happy about birds first, then reintroduce these association to successfully getting the bird.

Higgins

Hello Oldbeek, I''ve seen this before. It's easy to fix. First, here is why she is becoming sensitive with birds. You are adding pressure. The fix is to REMOVE pressure. Take a quail, pull a few wing feathers and set it up so she can chase and catch it (remember, she sees retrieving as chasing birds...

Higgins

Very thought provoking. Is ure learned that lesson of not coming up in front of the dog to flush. Dog was on point. I moved ahead ready to shoot, took off the safety, bird flushed, dog broke and hit my legs - could have easily shot my toes off. :( With your method - which I am not real familiar wit...

Higgins

Hello Vernal, The link should work now. I have a lot of training and hunting videos available. I rotate some of them depending on current training and the dogs/clients we're working. Here it is again. I'll leave it up for a couple of weeks. http://vimeo.com/61679149 Thanks for your interest. Brad Hi...

Higgins

Hello Dottie, I don't consider you a novice. Anyone who can read a dog and handle accordingly, is more talented than your average trainer. Here is a video I did recently. http://vimeo.com/104148324 This is handling without training. Don't need to train what they were born knowing. It's amazing, but ...

Higgins

I think it's important to keep a dog "connected" at whatever range. I do that with body movements. No commands, whistles or hand signals. Here is a link to a video I did recently showing a dog how to handle. There is really no training here. Dogs instinctively know these things. http://vimeo.com/104...

Higgins

That's what I call a hissy fit. Normal behavior. Here is a video I did a while ago. I think you might find it helpful. http://vimeo.com/95909927 Good luck. Enjoy that pup. Brad Higgins http://www.HigginsGundogs.com ___________________________ Higgins Gundogs hunting etiquett e Dogs: Stay in touch an...

Higgins

Hello Siker, Some of the best Gundogs I have worked with were rescue dogs. Even mutts. Dogs are predators and most have the instinct to hunt. You need to expose them to field and birds first, to see what you've got. This is also the best way I have found to fix gun shyness. Here is a video showing h...

Higgins

Don, you are incorrect. Dogs do have this kind of talent if we show them what works then step out of the way. If you ever make it out here to Northern Nevada, I hope you'll stop by. I'd like to invite you to join us on a hunt. It's a kick. Brad Higgins HigginsGundogs ___________________________ Higg...

Higgins

I don't know why but the photo is larger than the frame. On a smartphone, tap on it and you can move it around. On a computer you can drag it around in the frame.

Higgins

I agree with others that a pup this young is not mentally ready for any formal training. When the pup gets a bit older, I would begin with a gentle introduction to the "here" command. I did a video recently showing how I begin teaching a young dog the "here" command. Here is the link: http://vimeo.c...

Higgins

When I'm training birddogs........I use birds.

Higgins

IMG_4859.PNG Three dogs left alone to manage the bird for the gun. A pretty exciting scene to walk up on. No e-collars, no voice commands, no hand signals. This is an example of group cooperation and bird management. Now they're just waiting for me to step in and kill it for them. A great example o...

Higgins

Hello Wolfatomic, Here is a video I thought you might find helpful. These are pointers but the handling is basically the same for flushing dogs. This is an effective, no pressure way to get it done. I use only body movement to control a dogs range and direction. No voice commands, whistles or hand s...

Higgins

Kinda like training falcons huh Brad, like when a bird is about to snatch a piece of meat from a hand, with experience you can see it coming and react before they do. Steve Great analogy Steve. My dog training is based on my falconry experience. Dogs and hawks/falcons share very similar predator mi...

Higgins

Here is a young dog we recently trained. He is steady to wing, shot and fall. He also stops to flush and has a natural retrieve. http://youtu.be/3WGiru5xBCM?list=UUSyx481CEJhKij8yqdoZR3g People often ask how we can get such a young dog (6 months old) understanding this level of steadiness and still ...

Higgins

Hey Soarer31,

Great response. You stole my thunder.

I just started a new topic about reading a dog.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

I've seen some comments recently concerning my posts. Seems some take issue with my comments concerning how and what a dog may be thinking at specific times. Virtually everyone would agree that reading a dog is the most important element of successful training. That means taking note of his reaction...

Higgins

Here is a 6 month old pup just finishing up his steadiness training. Here he demonstrates a natural retrieve with a pheasant. http://youtu.be/mcCRR10Hy3A In reality, this was really just a "here" command. He decided to turn it into a retrieve when he chose to pick up and bring the pheasant. No press...

Higgins

I encourage anyone interested to view both videos. I believe it could start a good discussion on the differences between obedience based training as is shown in your video, and mine. The dogs will tell you which method is more natural and easy for them to understand. Watch where their focus is. Brad...

Higgins

That's true. I wanted the audience to understand that this dog in the video had had no training in heeling before that day. He would just go out front and pull. By the end of the 10 minute video, he would not only walk at my side, but he also understood how to be steady while I walked out front (who...

Higgins

Hello all, My video has nothing to do with "breaking" a dog. The end result is not related to obedience. I train the way dogs think. He does not go out front because I claimed that space as another dog would. I didn't tell him what to do (stay, heel, etc.). As long as he stays out of my space, he ca...

Higgins

Nothing personal here DonF. I didn't mean an attack by you. Usually when I post here I have to be ready to defend myself with those that believe differently. It's all good though. I thank them for the emotion they invest.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Hello DonF, Your description of what I do is incorrect. Unlike all the other methods you described, I'm not teaching the dog to heel. My method is completely different. Heeling is simply a byproduct of what I'm teaching. It is proven in the video. What I did in the video, was much more than a typica...

Higgins

Hello Jegan, Here is a video I did a while ago using what I call my "Packleader" leash. It works great for young dogs in getting them to understand my claiming of space. I don't use it as obedience or a "heel" command. Dogs don't understand that. What they do understand, is a dog (or human) that sim...

Higgins

Here is a link to a recent training podcast I did about steadiness and retrieving.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/HigginsPodcasts ... Steady.mp3

I thought you might find it interesting.

Enjoy,

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Hello Polmaise,

What is a "target"?

Higgins

I find what I call a Flush/Stop cue, to be very useful in certain types of cover. I teach it to all of my dogs. They must be steady, understand stop to flush and steady to flush, and be a bit experienced in the field before I start allowing them to flush or retrieve. I believe dogs see this new comm...

Higgins

Hello Smitty, Yes, the dog in the video has been trained and finished without an ecollar. I understand your surprise. I do finish many of the dogs without the use of ecollars. But, you're right. Not all dogs possess the cooperation necessary to be trained and finished without the use of an ecollar. ...

Higgins

Here is a video I did recently on how we handle the dogs. I thought it might start some lively discussions.

http://youtu.be/heNMhNaumko

Enjoy.

Brad Higgins
http://www.HigginsGundogs.com

Higgins

Twistedoak, Exactly. You understand the Griff personality. Basically, in order to be successful (getting a bird in their mouth), they learn what NOT to do (don't get pushy or chase the bird). In my training, I don't tell them what TO do. I don't give them a "whoa" or stand command. I don't need to. ...

Higgins

ACooper wrote:However it is my opinion that this dog and the last dog that also sat in the video are "saying the same thing".

Yes, they are saying, "good shot boss, is it my turn to retrieve?"

Higgins

Hello Becassier, Yes, they are Griffons. As you know, they are intelligent dogs with plenty of natural drive. You must be careful training them though. They are a softer breed and they need to understand what is being asked. Here is a recent photo of that young pup that bumped, chased and grabbed th...

Higgins

Thanks Shags, Gundogguy and Mask. I'm glad you like the videos. I'll keep them coming. And to others that may disagree with my methods, there are many ways to train gun dogs. Do what works for you. I'm always interested in seeing videos of other methods. Post them here and we can discuss the similar...

Higgins

I don't "whoa" my dogs on first scent. They are allowed to manage their birds. When they're finished, they know the game and the prey. We actually harvest more Kansas pheasants with these dogs that have learned how to stop the runners. A dog that is stopped or "whoa'd", can't track the runners and w...

Higgins

Hello Carolina, I guess it all boils down to individual expectations and what makes us happy. We're all spending time with our dogs and that's a good thing. For me, I don't consider hunting a competitive sport. Me and my clients hunt to relax. We want to see beautiful, high class dog work and a calm...

Higgins

You're misreading the dog ACooper. I respect this forum and I don't want this to get into a ******* match. Any other questions or comments, please PM me. I would be glad to discuss it.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

Higgins

Hello ACooper,

I don't teach them to sit. Some dogs naturally sit, some don't. What's important is the steadiness. We train dogs to hunt, not to compete in trials or tests where sitting is against the rules.

Were you impressed with the steadiness?

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gundogs

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