VIDEO: Higgins Gundogs: The Nature of the Dog
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 11:58 am
For those of you interested in understanding the fundamental difference between the Higgins Method and others.
Here is the bottom line, as I see it. Some questions first. When we talk about hunting with a dog, what things do they (the dog and the hunter) both want, enjoy and agree on? They both like to hunt birds. Take a young, untrained dog, turn him loose and he will enjoy hunting and finding birds. I believe we can all agree on that. Let's continue. Who's bird is it? Again, ask that untrained dog. I think we can all agree the dogs answer would be that the bird belongs to him.
This is where my method takes a different route from the others. I understand and agree with the dog that the bird belongs to him. I never try to change that. I will never take a bird away from him (steal his prey). I just show him that by working with me, trusting me, I will increase his odds of getting that bird in his mouth. He already knows how to cooperate in this way. Soon he will choose to be steady to flush, shot and fall, he will flush birds (present the bird to the gun) when I ask but never chase, and he will willingly bring his bird in and share it with me. I simply show him a new, successful hunting strategy that includes me. I nurture trust and cooperation. It's the nature of things. It's why they hunt in packs.
https://youtu.be/snraJmkyGv8
Brad Higgins
www.HigginsGundogs.com
Here is the bottom line, as I see it. Some questions first. When we talk about hunting with a dog, what things do they (the dog and the hunter) both want, enjoy and agree on? They both like to hunt birds. Take a young, untrained dog, turn him loose and he will enjoy hunting and finding birds. I believe we can all agree on that. Let's continue. Who's bird is it? Again, ask that untrained dog. I think we can all agree the dogs answer would be that the bird belongs to him.
This is where my method takes a different route from the others. I understand and agree with the dog that the bird belongs to him. I never try to change that. I will never take a bird away from him (steal his prey). I just show him that by working with me, trusting me, I will increase his odds of getting that bird in his mouth. He already knows how to cooperate in this way. Soon he will choose to be steady to flush, shot and fall, he will flush birds (present the bird to the gun) when I ask but never chase, and he will willingly bring his bird in and share it with me. I simply show him a new, successful hunting strategy that includes me. I nurture trust and cooperation. It's the nature of things. It's why they hunt in packs.
https://youtu.be/snraJmkyGv8
Brad Higgins
www.HigginsGundogs.com