Gun Dog Forum

Guinness has a great nose. The problem i am having is that as soon as he picks up the scent, he'll sniff in until he is very close to the bird and THEN point. I want him to point as soon as he picks up the scent. My trainer indicated that remote launchers should do the trick because it will teach him that he cannot creep in. He also advised against using a checkcord because he said from his past experiences that the dog will eventually "learn" to have that checkcord behind him and will cause him to rely on it. What do you think about all this?

Remote launchers are the way to go. You can stop him with a checkcord on planted birds and have an assistant flush but then you will have to slowly ween him off the cord. The other way is good flying alert birds or better yet wild ones. When he crouds them they will flush then he will figure it out.

We use launchers and check cords also...
If you use a check cord and let the pup pull while having the bird flushed then your teaching it to pull against and that the check cord is holding it...only allow flushing when the pup is not pulling on the check cord
launchers you'll still end up hvaing to teach teh dog to stand its birds...every dog is different I hvae one that anticipates the launcher and will begin to turn and chase ..so we hvae the check cord and again flushing is only done when the pup is stnding and not pulling against the check cord...

If you pup is on a check cord and winds a bird you need to just check the pup to a stop when contact is made just keep nagging the check cord not allowing forward motion on the bird at point of scent ..again once the pup is standing still then reward with the flush..if the pup starts to pull at start I use the smith method and will hold the pup at the lead and one arm lightly around the flank to help stop forward motion..but no flushing or launching of bird till the dog is standing still on their own..not leaning or pulling on the check cord or anything else which may be aiding in stoppping forward motion

ohiogsp wrote:Remote launchers are the way to go. You can stop him with a checkcord on planted birds and have an assistant flush but then you will have to slowly ween him off the cord. The other way is good flying alert birds or better yet wild ones. When he crouds them they will flush then he will figure it out.

Great advice. Wild birds are best but hard to find for many. After early exposure to pen raised quail my pup did the same. Some good flying pen raised Chukar and flights of woodcock cured her of that. I bought a launcher but never needed to use it.