[Losthwy]

What are the mechanics of pointing out guns for the dog on the line? Do you start with the last bird to be thrown and work back to the first bird down :?:

 

[AmiableLabs]

What are the mechanics of pointing out guns for the dog on the line? Do you start with the last bird to be thrown. . . .

Generally the last bird down is the flyer, so with an experienced dog, the handler does not have much choice but begin there! :wink:

In all seriousness I have sat at the line and seen it done a variety of ways. The most common appears to be, after getting the dog to stop looking at the flyer :wink:, showing the marks in order of the throws, take the dog back to the first bird thrown, locking the dog, and then signaling ready.

 

[Charles C.]

What are the mechanics of pointing out guns for the dog on the line? Do you start with the last bird to be thrown and work back to the first bird down :?:

There's a lot more to it than you could write in just a few sentences! :lol: Generally, you would point out any key birds or birds that might be missed because of the sequence of throws, but you would not point out a very visible, close flyer station.

 

[Angie B]

Sit the dog on the mat and let it bobble head around for a moment to get a good eye full before you try to "talk to them". Line up the dog for "key bird" and tell them sit, emphasize that bird with a command and a hand down. Then show them the marks in the opposite order of pickup so they end up at the memory bird or the first bird down. Much less movement on the line that way...

Angie

 

[Steve]

I've seen handlers show the key bird and then shorter birds or the flyer and then try to go back to the key bird. I go the shorter ones early and once I've locked on the key bird, I give a solid sit command and signal for the birds.

 

[ErinsEdge]

What Angie said except you let them see the flyer guns in the surveying phase rather than specifically pointing them out.

 

[Roger Perry]

Sometimes the judges have a walk-up where you have until your dog gets seated (or 5 seconds) before the birds are called for. In that case, I try to walk the dog to the line so he/she sees the short bird and then try to fet dog focused on the first bird down.

 

[AmiableLabs]

Sometimes the judges have a walk-up where you have until your dog gets seated (or 5 seconds) before the birds are called for. In that case, I try to walk the dog to the line so he/she sees the short bird and then try to fet dog focused on the first bird down.

In a field trial?

 

[msdaisey]

I have been fortunate (so far) to have dogs who come out of the holding blind assessing the situation.

As I exit the blind, I head straight toward the long bird, and start from there. With my retired dog, I hardly had to point out anything at all. He had usually picked them all out on his way to line, and knew the deal.

 

[Roger Perry]

Sometimes the judges have a walk-up where you have until your dog gets seated (or 5 seconds) before the birds are called for. In that case, I try to walk the dog to the line so he/she sees the short bird and then try to fet dog focused on the first bird down.

In a field trial?

Absolutely! When entries are high some judges give you to the count of 5 after your dog is on the mat to signal for the birds. then they wave for the birds. Had this happen more than once in an all age stake.

 

[Richard Halstead]

I have experienced the situation Roger describes where the judges call for the birds. I would approach the line so when the dog sat it was inline with the pickup bird and hoped he marked them all.

 

[Losthwy]

Interesting. All the HT I have been to the jugdes have always waited for the handler to signal they are ready, except the walk-up of course.

 

[Ted Shih]

In most tests, there is one bird that is the money bird. Typically, that is the bird retired punch bird. Sometimes, it is the short retired. Rarely - other than at a National with the huge hen pheasants you get - is it the flyer.

I come out of the holding blind in the manner that optimizes the look my dog gets at the money bird. We come to the mat, I tell the dog sit and start working on the money bird. From there, I will go to the second retired bird and work on that. Then come back, work more on money bird. Then once I have lock (assuming money bird is first bird), call for birds.

I rarely need to show the dogs the flyer. When they come out of the holding blind, they are looking for it. I may make an exception for a breaking flyer - where I want to take the mystery out of the flyer and minimize the likelihood the dog will go before sent. But, mostly, I do not show them the flyer in my setup on the mat.

 

[Granddaddy]

I agree, most dogs don't need to be shown the flyer (esp a short flyer). From a training prospective, I want my dogs to come to the line focusing on the long bird as routine. Notwithstanding the short flyer which they find readily, I want the dogs looking out for the long gun. If they don't focus there during the first few seconds at the line, I direct their attention to the long gun. Many times this turns out to be the money bird anyway in a trial (long retired), so not having to struggle to get a long bird focus seems appropriate to me. From that point, I will show the guns in the order to be thrown, with an appropriate cue for a retired gun. I generally don't point out a short flyer in that process. Then I sit the dog focused at the first bird to be thrown & call for the birds.