Using Stop to Flush Foundation Teaching Backing and Pointing

This is actually 2 different outings that I am combining. The first outing we are doing what we call a backing drill. The second outing we are combining stop to flush with breaking the dogs/teaching them to be steady on point.

Using Stop to Flush with Backing

Our backing drill consists of:

• backing dummy
• Treads and Tracks bird launchers
• live birds
• Dogs that have prior experience with Stop to Flush

So the way we set this up is that we put the backing dummy behind a bush so that the dog does not see it until it is 5-10 yards from it. The birds are set down wind from the backing dummy.

Here is how the backing drill is performed:

• We walk the dog up the trail to the place where the backing dummy is set
• The dog is taking in toward the dummy
• As soon as the dog sees the dummy the bird is launched and released.
• Note the dog should stop as soon as it sees the dummy or another dog on point. As in the past if the dog does not give correction and set back.
• Since the dog is conditioned to stop when the bird is in the air it stops and waits for the command to go ahead
• Note the importance of having the bird down wind so the dog does not scent the bird prior to seeing the backing dummy.

Why backing is beneficial:

• Dogs are very competitive (most are)
• Another dog stealing point/encroaching a bird can be too much for many dogs
• Without this, results are often a bird that is bumped
• To add salt to the wound when a bird gets bumped in the field there are often time multiple birds that are bumped due to the lack of steadiness of a dog.

Combining Stop To Flush with Breaking dogs/ Steady On Point

The Setup:

• Anytime you are working dogs on birds wind direction is vital (see my beautiful artwork for illustration ;))
• Set out 3-6 birds
• Use launchers (Preferable) to set birds
• The first 3 are set down wind for stop to flush
• The second 3 setup wind and using the 90 degree rule. This will give you more advantage/tools in breaking the dog

Procedure:

• Dogs are taken so that the the first 3 birds are up wind.
• The bird is launched when the dog is close and one can ensure the dog sees the bird when it it is released
• Dog will stop as soon as the dog is flushed (if it doesn't refer to the earlier posts for Stop to Flush procedures).
• The second 3 set at a 90 degree angle to the approaching dog cause the dog to turn 90 as it enters the sent cone (this makes reading the dog easier).
  
  

THE GENIUS OF TEACHING STOP TO FLUSH AND THEN TEACHING STEADINESS ON POINT!

I am to going to give Josh McPherson and those that mentored him kudos on these training techniques. In our earlier posts you see the dogs are taught to stop as soon as a bird is flushed or seen in the air.

• We ran the dogs on 3 stop to flush birds this day and then the 3 scented/pointed birds.
• Already conditioned to stop to flush
• 3 birds stop to flush as before bird in air dog stops and awaits the go ahead
• 3 birds pointing/in the scent cone

Working the dogs on the scented birds:

• Dogs establish point instinctively
• As soon as the dog moves we blow/launch the bird
• Dog stops (because it is conditioned to stop)
• If the dog does take a few steps after the bird is in the air we give a correction and set it back.

In conclusion, the genius of teaching stop to flush provides for an easier process in breaking the dog, getting them steady to wing(flush) and Shot. Stop to flush takes away the chase and the dog quickly learn to be steady until they are told to move ahead. Please comment on this post and ask questions. Feedback is always good.