VIDEO: Steady to Flush, Shot & Fall + Retrieve & Honor

[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 Higgins
HigginsGundogs

[Ez4]

Great video.

[mask]

Thanks Brad. You have a great system and know how to use it.

[polmaise]

Nice video Brad.
Perhaps more engaging replies elsewhere. I would concur with 'naj'
Regards
Robert

[Vision]

What happened to your nice grassy fields and tree lines that you used to train on?

[Elkhunter]

Why did the dog sit down on point? And why is that a good thing? Just curious

[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

[gozz21]

Sitting on point is not a good thing.

[DonF]

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

??? That hurt your credibility a bit.

[Trekmoor]

I thought the dog had sat because the lady held out her arm in what possibly looked like a "sit" command signal to the dog ?

Bill T.

[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

[DonF]

I thought the dog had sat because the lady held out her arm in what possibly looked like a "sit" command signal to the dog ?

Bill T.

I don't think the dog sat because of the hand raised. My thought is that the dog had the bird sight pointed and was very close to it. The girl came from the side of the dog and was actually to close to the dog. Then as she got really close it looks to me like raising the hand was a caution. The bird was not moving and all three were to close to one another. It appears to me the dog was confused and the girl was simply cautioning the dog.

On the first bird the dog doesn't appear to have the bird located. Give the dog the benefit of the doubt and it had the bird but the bird moved out on it and it didn't move to keep the bird located. The bird ends up well to the right side of the dog and the dog has been moving it's head a lot. When the bush in front of the dog is kicked, the dog does move it's head again and it's feet, it had no idea if there was a bird there or not. Then the camera goes to the right side of the dog and the dog does turn it's head and looks at the girl, ends up the bird is even a bit farther to the right of the girl and behind her. The dog is going through a trained routine and appears to have no clue where the bird is. Could be the dog did have the bird but the bird moved out and the dog did not keep it located. My thought here is that the dog did not manage the bird well. The dog obviously had no idea where the bird went, it's looking back and forth between the girl and the shooter.

On the second bird the dog was definitely sight pointing, it happens! But with all the movement in the dog, a wild bird would most likely have left the country. If the first bird had been a wild bird it also would most likely have been gone. Planted birds are a necessity but that is a problem with them, they act like a pen raised bird. You need to make the dog think it's a wild bird and that isn't gonna happen with most pen raised bird's turned loose. They act like a pen raised bird. I like the way she turned to mark the fall. Good dog work! Nice retrieve but didn't want to just give up the bird. Little tugging in there.

On the third bird the dog doesn't look around much until the girl get's close. Then the dog appears to start looking around. Until that point the bird, clearly in view of the dog, held the dog's attention. Gave up the third bird on the retrieve much better.

The video itself was a really good video but if there's one thing really obvious it's that the handler needs to be quiet around the dog and needs to learn to read the dog. The problem with the dog doing all the looking around and not locating/holding the bird well will be corrected by wild birds. Get to wild birds and the rules will change, the dog will change with them or get left behind.

if this seem's to be critical it's meant to. There are a lot of people on here that do pick up these same habits and use them on their own dog's, especially noticed is that the handler is not reading the dog well at all.

[crackerd]

Perhaps more engaging replies elsewhere.

Good thing about the engaging elsewhere, Robt. - otherwise that place ("elsewhere") is as dead as a dozen doornails.

Appreciate what you're trying to do, Brad - just doesn't hold any interest for someone who always wants their gundogs - including pointing dogs - to retrieve whatever falls or is shot on the ground. And other than when in the duck blind, that's the only time I want them sitting, too - when delivering what they've retrieved.

MG

[Elkhunter]

Different strokes for different folks.

[aulrich]

The POV camera footage rocks regardless, The clamps on the wallet are working their way loose, might just have to get a go pro.

I could see it as being a useful tool to document progression of the dog, and even your own handling.

[Del Lolo]

Slight amount of flagging by Myra. All in all though, the dog was fine.
I DO like the fact that the handler (Katie?) walked to the dog before it was sent for the retrieve..
This reinforces to the dog that it can't go until the handler arrive3s at the dog and gives the command.
By doing this, you seldom need to deny any retrieves to the dog.
I sure wouldn't want my dog sitting without being commanded to do so.

Do you ever let the dog make a flush ?

.

[Nutmeg247]

I find the evolution from the West method -- which, if I am correct, I believe Mr. Higgins taught previously? -- to what might be described as a cooperative approach interesting. I'd be interesting in hearing what spurred the shift in training methods.

[birddogger]

Being steady until released is fine and shows a well mannered and well trained dog. But what about being staunch on point and style? It is just not there. Well done video though.

Charlie

[tailcrackin]

I find the evolution from the West method

to what might be described as a cooperative approach interesting.

It is, and all dogs work with the method very easily. It makes sense to the dog......and the people working, or teaching it. Thanks Jonesy