just a quick couple of questions that i havent been able to answer from 'the archives'.
if you were asked to quarter a beat of 100mtrs, would that mean 50mtrs either side of you or 100mtrs either side?
my Viz has a tendancy to check his runs, not always. but he'll get so far out and will stop, looking at me for further instruction. i have just be re-casting him from there pushing him out again. is that the correct thing to do, anyone have any tips for getting over it, or any explanation as to what i have done/may be doing that is the cause of this.
any reply welcomed
T
munstyman
hi Althrey,
The `beat' is the area your dog has to cover, so in this instance ( 100m) would mean approx. 50m either side. ( however depending on the terrain, wind conditions, and the dog, it need not be an even 50:50).
There are a variety of reasons a dog will stop on its cast, most ARE to do with your training. It could be a dog lacks confidence or hunting drive, a lack of gamey ground in early training, unfit/lazy, over control or over use/ inappropriate timing of the turn whistle ( often associated with a lack of confidence by the handler to let the dog gooooooo )
As Bill pointed out on a similar issue, there are some dogs which need to be into game before you put in the control, and there are some you need to put in the control long before you get them into game, and of course everything inbetween I would guess that yours is closer to the former, so would grit your teeth ( without the whistle ), relax ( easier said than done ) give the dog some encouraging words as it crosses in front to gee it up a bit, and if possible arrange your cast to a distant game holding area, like a hedge or ditch allowing this to draw the dog out.
Peter
windem bang
I agree with Peter. As a general rule I have found H.V.'s to be a more sensitive breed than many of the other H.P.R. 's. They do seem to need a bit more "gee-ing up" and a bit less strict obedience to begin with.
I would put my whistle in my pocket, cease getting onto the dogs case and let it enjoy the joys of running - and probably even the joys of a few chases after game !
You may think you are training your dog for shooting but the dog is thinking of going hunting - chasing - catching ! Or it should be if it is going to run hard and not just polish your boots. With a dog that is a bit on the sensitive side or which isn't by nature a very keen hunter , to inhibit what hunt drive it has by insisting upon absolute obedience and text - book type patterns is almost certainly going to be counterproductive.
H.V.'s can run big areas very well - I've seen them do it - give yours a chance to with only minimal interference .
Let the dog teach itself to "go" before you teach it to stop.
)
I would guess that yours is closer to the former, so would grit your teeth ( without the whistle 
), relax ( easier said than done 
) give the dog some encouraging words as it crosses in front to gee it up a bit, and if possible arrange your cast to a distant game holding area, like a hedge or ditch allowing this to draw the dog out.