Starting to train on Backing/Honoring

[roghatch]

I am having a problem trying to get my Vizsla to back. I am looking for hints, ideas, techniques, etc to help me along. My girl is 2 1/2 going on 3. Can do everything required for a field trial and hunt test except backing/honoring. I am not entirely sure she knows what I expect of her but I may be wrong.

The tools I have are...
1. Vizsla
2. Live Quail
3. Wooden cut out - spray painted rust (I could not find an auto backer anywhere)
4. Bird Launcher
5. E-collar
6. Check cord.
7. Me... alone... to do the training.

Help.

[KY Grouse Hunter]

Put a quail into the launcher and stand off the cut-out on the bird on point. Then Check your dog in on a cord to where he cannot see the cut-out pointed, (maybe behind a barn or brush). When you bring the dog around the obstacle that is blocking the view of the situation, the pointed cut-out will catch the dogs immediate attention and maybe even surprise him into backing. Now what I like to do is as soon as the dog sees the cut-out on point, I command WHOA and immediately lauch the bird. This makes the dog feel as though he or she caused the bird to flush and not the cut-out dog. After the bird has flushed I like to pick up the dog and reset him to the point where the infraction was made, just to kind of show him what he should have done.

[Sharon]

Suggestions:

I'd be using pigeon not quail so you can be sure of a strong flush.

I put some short white streamers on my cut-outs tail ( They move in the wind a bit.)so it gets the trainee's attention better. Don't bring the trainee straight behind the cut-out. Come from the side a bit so it can see a better dog silhouette. Coming up to the top of a small hill where the fake dog is standing works well too.
Make a real effort to team up with some one else who has a dog who points. Nothing beats the real thing.

How are you going to handle it after the bird flushes?