Lack of intensity?

[gspdog]

My 4 year old GSP is flagging on point with her tail at 10 o'clock. She is bird crazy and not a soft dog at all. She is green broke and we have been doing alot of training to get her there. I have never been hard on her physically or with the collar. Any pointers on getting her intensity level back up? This has not been a problem in the past. Thanks!!

[AHGSP]

My 4 year old GSP is flagging on point with her tail at 10 o'clock. She is bird crazy and not a soft dog at all. She is green broke and we have been doing alot of training to get her there. I have never been hard on her physically or with the collar. Any pointers on getting her intensity level back up? This has not been a problem in the past. Thanks!!

If she is flagging, your problem lies in the bold lettering. Take her off birds for a few weeks and just have some fun with her without demanding performance. It's not about being hard on her, it's likely the pressure your putting on her to perform, or the method your using.

[vzkennels]

I agree with Bruce to much training & she is getting bored.If possible put her on some wild birds after giving her a break,I think you will see a big difference.

[snips]

What exactly have you been doing in your training...?

[Sharon]

I was tempted to say too much pressure but dogs also flag due to a lack of confidence. Good question Snips.

[Sprig]

a few questions about your training......

do you train in the same area?

are you using the same kinds of birds?

do you use a bird launcher or are you planting birds naturally?


The reason i ask is the dog sounds like it is getting too familiar with your training program and need to mix it up a bit with a new area, new birds or something else to add a new twist for the dog. If you use a bird launcher try letting a few go, flyaways, without shooting them. pigeons work great for this, especially if you can find some strong flying racing homers.

the most valuable piece of equipment, next to an ecollar, for a pointing dog is a remote bird launcher.

[R-Heaton]

he most valuable piece of equipment, next to an ecollar, for a pointing dog is a remote bird launcher

I would have to say a good pair of hiking boots,,, but thats just me.

You might try killing a bird or two for him in a complete controlled situation,,,, and kill the bird up close and personal,,,, so that bird is fluttery all around. I have heard of a pro that packs a 10/22 and hits em in the head and lets the dog watch them flutter,,,, great for intensity.

That and quit doing whatever you are doing,,, cause it doesn't sound like your getting the desired results.

[kninebirddog]

e collars have nothing to do with putting to much pressure on a dog to much pressure can be the check cord cause they know they won't be able to get the bird
to much pressure can be the dog having to stand to many flushed birds


a lot of training can bore a dog also not changing things just being same spots over and over

mental pressure can cause flagging faster for some dog faster then others

could be the dog also

do you know the dam and sire do either of them flag

[Ricky Ticky Shorthairs]

I agree that the dog is getting bored for a number of reasons, and there have been several good suggestions on how to cure it. ie different locations, different birds, DON'T TALK TO YOUR DOG WHEN BREAKING THEM, etc. Here is another; I have seen Dave Walker shoot at a carded pigeon on the ground that the dog can see and is pointing. Not really hitting the bird but kicking dirt on it and making it move or fly. It stopped more than one dog from flagging. I have seen this in person at 3 different Walker seminars as well as working full days on problem dogs with Dave on days before and after those seminars.
Your dog may break the first couple of times you do this so be ready with the checkcord.

I would not just go out and do this unless you have a helper, and I would also suggest that you buy Dave's dvd Help For The Problem Dog. http://www.davewalkerdogs.com/ This is kinda the same thing that R-Heaton suggested, it just kicks up more dust, and you don't have to kill the bird unless you really want to. I think it helps keep their head up when they can watch it fly away. Kinda all depends how broke your dog is, and how you broke him.

If you haven't broke many dogs, you may want to get the help of a local pro who only trains pointers, and has experience with flagging problems. Lots of good fixes here and they all work. Just keep in mind, it's hard to fix a problem without seeing the dog in action, and the ability to read the dog comes into play BIG TIME with these kind of problems. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Doug

[gspdog]

Just an update. We trained at another location today with bobwhites and her style and intensity was back. I was hoping it was just going to take a change of scenery. Blinked a back but backed real nice a couple times so thats good for her.

[Sprig]

I would have to say a good pair of hiking boots,,, but thats just me.

I agree, that is also a much needed piece of equipment.....ESPECIALLY for those people that chase chuckars

[Mr. Crappie]

When I was breaking my last dog he pointed tame birds with intensity at first. Later in life he would point tame birds ok, but would flag and you could tell he was thing," ok these are the easy ones". On wild birds he had incredible intensity and no flagging.