Let the dog hunt the bird, You hunt the dog! ???
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I've always thought it was exactly what it says. You don't hunt, let the dog do it, leave him alone he'll find the birds, you just keep track of him.
I could be Stu Pudasol though too.
I could be Stu Pudasol though too.
For upland birds to me it means to let the dog do what its meant to do, find the birds. Then you find the dog on point to find the birds.
With the field trials and hunt tests the handler/trainer controls the dog to the mark. I like the dog to have the basics and then let that super nose do what its capable of doing. To see the dog look and search for a downed bird and then see the tail and body posture change when the scent is found. One of the joys of working with a dog.
With the field trials and hunt tests the handler/trainer controls the dog to the mark. I like the dog to have the basics and then let that super nose do what its capable of doing. To see the dog look and search for a downed bird and then see the tail and body posture change when the scent is found. One of the joys of working with a dog.
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This guy I birded with in Kansas (Fort Riley) would not watch his dog very close and he always had to hunt like crazy to find her. I watched the direction she went and then went to her. She would be stuck on a point like a good liver spotted pointer. We would argue sometimes and I would tell him to go whatever direction blew his skirt up. I was going in the direction of the dog. I don't miss him but I think of Suzie a lot. She was one fine bird dog. If you have never hunted Kansas, you ought to try it sometimes. That state is filled with Pheasant and Quail from stem to stern. A few dove here and there. There are some big deer there too. And Catfish. Why did I ever leave? (Military orders thats why)
Yet another aspect of this statement, from the Field & Stream tip of the day:
"When you knock a bird down, do not rush in with the dog to help find it. Instead, stay back a bit and let the dog do its job alone. Dogs often seem to shut off their noses when the area is all tracked up with human scent."
In fact, however, we should ask Gordon Setter what it means--he does have it in his signature after all.
Many's the time I've had a dog look at me reproachfully when I miss the bird. A really good bird dog is in charge of the hunt
"When you knock a bird down, do not rush in with the dog to help find it. Instead, stay back a bit and let the dog do its job alone. Dogs often seem to shut off their noses when the area is all tracked up with human scent."
In fact, however, we should ask Gordon Setter what it means--he does have it in his signature after all.
Many's the time I've had a dog look at me reproachfully when I miss the bird. A really good bird dog is in charge of the hunt
Some guys control the dog and force it to go where they think their are birds.
Some guys chase after thier dogs trying to locate them on a point in the next county.
Some guys stay behind their dogs and let them hunt just using enough control to keep the dog within a good walking range.
I feel the statement is a great one! To me it is a reminder that the dog has the nose and the hunter doesn't. You dont see the dog telling you how and when to shoot do you?
Some guys chase after thier dogs trying to locate them on a point in the next county.
Some guys stay behind their dogs and let them hunt just using enough control to keep the dog within a good walking range.
I feel the statement is a great one! To me it is a reminder that the dog has the nose and the hunter doesn't. You dont see the dog telling you how and when to shoot do you?
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Sorry it took so long to get back to you on this one. Opening of Iowa pheasant ya know! I was unplugged for a while.
What I mean is the dog will know better than you where the bird is. Follow and watch the dog, trust the dogs ability to hunt down the birds. If you are in a field and you think the birds are to the left and the dog keeps going to the right, trust your dog. If you try to keep calling your dog off that area and make him hunt where you think the birds are then you and your dog are going to have a very stressful day. Now as with any rule their are exceptions which is why I use the "no bird" command. If my dog knows the birds are to the right but I don't have permission to hunt that field I give the dog a "No Bird". That lets the dog know I understand her but we can't hunt that bird. You need to work as a team with the dog, if done correctly the dog will understand it is hunting the birds for the pack (you or the hunting group). This pack mentality will keep the dog in close enough that you should not need to chase it down and you should always know within a few feet where the dog went on point. In a flushing situation this will keep the dog close enough to give you the shot you need.
I put it in my sig line because I had the "I'm the man so I'm in charge" problem. It reminds me that I am part of a pack, I might be Alpha, but it's a pack non the less.
What I mean is the dog will know better than you where the bird is. Follow and watch the dog, trust the dogs ability to hunt down the birds. If you are in a field and you think the birds are to the left and the dog keeps going to the right, trust your dog. If you try to keep calling your dog off that area and make him hunt where you think the birds are then you and your dog are going to have a very stressful day. Now as with any rule their are exceptions which is why I use the "no bird" command. If my dog knows the birds are to the right but I don't have permission to hunt that field I give the dog a "No Bird". That lets the dog know I understand her but we can't hunt that bird. You need to work as a team with the dog, if done correctly the dog will understand it is hunting the birds for the pack (you or the hunting group). This pack mentality will keep the dog in close enough that you should not need to chase it down and you should always know within a few feet where the dog went on point. In a flushing situation this will keep the dog close enough to give you the shot you need.
I put it in my sig line because I had the "I'm the man so I'm in charge" problem. It reminds me that I am part of a pack, I might be Alpha, but it's a pack non the less.
I think it is a great tag line. I have repeated this to myself when I am hunting. It comes back to recognizing that the dog is better at this than you. The dog wants to get the bird more than you do and will do a better job of getting the bird than you will. This goes for WHOAing your dog when it is in the scent cone. A well trained pointer will not flush the bird and I need to remember that!
There are times when I override my dog's desires. He may have not covered a spot well enough for me or not ranged far enough in one direction or the other to cover the turf my hunting party is working. It is my right as Alpha dog to be a pain in his backside from time to time. All in all, I just try to let him do his thing and just admire the gifts that God has given him.
There are times when I override my dog's desires. He may have not covered a spot well enough for me or not ranged far enough in one direction or the other to cover the turf my hunting party is working. It is my right as Alpha dog to be a pain in his backside from time to time. All in all, I just try to let him do his thing and just admire the gifts that God has given him.
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