polmaise wrote:Fellow Gun Dog folk,
Looking for your thoughts/views on how you train the process or would ? (even if you don't) for hunting flushing breeds - Bird dogs! ,yea spaniels too !
Find the game and on command 'Bump' the game to move (ie touch it with it's nose to move it from seat ) in order to be shot whilst the dog remains steady after the 'flush/move' without whistle ? primarily ground game ,but feather is ok ?..Gundogguy I would respect a reply later rather than sooner
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Thanks
"what makes a spaniel a spaniel"
1. Drive, strength of quest, quartering style
2. Nose, bird finding ability
3. courage in the face of heavy cover
4. Strength of flush, boldness
5. Retrieve, marking ability and mouth
6. The dogs kindly acceptance of training
All though it has been quite some time since I have hunted or shot any rabbits I would expect me dogs to transition to fur quite easily. "Bumping game" would place the training prospect on the re-home list very quickly. One of the determining factors when getting ready to steady a dog to flush and shot is the strength of flush and boldness. Lack of which, probable dooms the pup to be raised in a new home environment.
I really could not give you much insight into how to control the flush so as to make it an easier shot for the gun. I personally love the challenge of testing shots anyway, both in angles and distance. In training when running a dog I always ask the guns to ride birds for as long as they can, wanting the longest mark that can be set up is of more value than a short easy shot and simple mark, the bag be "bleep". Some of the videos I see are just awful in the way the birds are chopped up close.
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