THE Golden Rule for any Pointing Breed

Assuming the dog is properly sound conditioned and has basic training complete, the number one rule that one must obey when hunting is so important that if you do not obey it, you are actually undoing proper training.  What is the rule?  …

Before answering the question, please understand that this rule applies to ALL pointing breeds and it applies to all levels of steadiness, whether it is until flush, to wing or to wing / shot.  This rule is so simple yet it is disobeyed by thousands of bird hunters every year.  These same hunters wonder why they continually have issues with their dogs steadiness as the season progresses.

The number one Golden Rule when hunting (or training for that matter) is this:

Never Shoot A Bird Not Properly Pointed AND held to the level of training you expect!

What does ‘to the level of training you expect’ mean?

It means that if your dog is suppose to be trained to hold until you get to him and he doesn’t, then don’t shoot if he breaks early.  If he is suppose to allow you to walk out front and he doesn’t, then don’t shoot.  If he is to stay steady to wing and break at the shot, then don’t shoot if he breaks at wing.   Always, always train on the spot when your dog makes an error of this magnitude.

To ignore this rule would be contradictory to the level of steadiness you expect.  Disobeying this rule usually leads to busting and chasing at its worst extreme.  Crowding and pressing birds causing them to run or flush out of range is another symptom.

The first years (plural as in the first several years) of your dog training is all about the dog and not about shooting the bird for the cooking pot but that’s another rule we’ll talk about at some point later on.

Take care and give your dog a treat for me.

Dave