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JDEMPZ · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 13 **Breed:**

Ok Helen,

thanks for the help. Might try and get him over to Scotland for some counting next year. Will get back to ye later on in the season.

Regards
John

JDEMPZ · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 13 **Breed:**

Well just an update, every time I came across a pheasant since then I brought my fella into the area, after a few flushes he started setting rock solid. Now I've been told to keep him away from pheasant as it will cause him to start dropping his head and follow the ground scent. I still haven't cracked the grouse problem, but we have only ever came across grouse three times, however the last time we came across a grouse he did show a lot more interest and stopped but he didn't set solid so hopefully all he needs is a bit more exposure, but grouse are fairly scarce down my way.
Now another dog I have will set any planted bird but will not set any wild birds is this again a matter of exposure?

DesO'Neile · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject:

Helen S · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:47 am Post subject:

This is interesting. My dog has had the opportunity to point hares more than anything else. She is rock solid on a sitting hare even if it is under her nose and she will wait for me to cross a field to get to her and flush the hare. She then sits to whistle - not quite cracked the sit to flush yet!

My point is that I am now convinced that given enough opportunity to point pheasant she will also become more staunch. We have good access to a shoot but more often than not the cock pheasants creep off and make her track and she has not yet really learned how hard she can push without bumping the bird. She also needs birds shot over her.

Good luck with your Irish!

Helen S

DesO'Neile · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:49 am Post subject:

Helen,
It is difficult to tell if q bird is moving when your dog comes upon it. If it is moving, then it can be difficult to pin but if it is stationary then your dog should be able to pin it. This is the essense of "Knowing the distance". Too far the bird will run, too close the bird will flush. Just right and the pair could stay there for hours.

Helen S · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

Des, you're absolutely right and Liesel and I are learning together how to handle this situation.

Helen S

sako75 · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

At Di Arrowsmiths seminar that I attended a few weeks back she talked about a dog "dominating" the quarry whilst on point. The dog on point is fixated on the quarry and the quarry is pinned. Not sure if this has any relevance but the way I see it the dog should learn through experience what the optimum distance of the point is to achieve complete dominance over the quarry.

Any thoughts ??
Confused

Barry.
_________________
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DesO'Neile · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:01 am Post subject:

Barry,
Your comment is very relevant. There are two ways to teach it.
1# If you have access to a lot of game let the dog make it's mistake, making sure you don't admonish it too severely.
2# If you use a bird launcher make up your mind how close you want the dog to get to the bird. If say you decide on ten yards you trigger the bird if the dog gets within that distance and it hasn't pointed. Again if there is a mistake don't admonish too severely.
As with other things some dogs can square this away very quickly while others may never full master it.