Bushings and flushing

[dogman1 5]

Hi there I wonder if anyone can help here, I use my terrier for flushing and beating to the shotgun but tend to pick n choose which cover to go onto. They are probably just following there nose but I want them to go through stuff regardless if they think nothing is there. Has any one got any advice or training tips? Much appreciated

[spec 45]

it sounds like you want to teach them to quarter- the following article is one I found for teaching quartering to spaniel pups, so it may prove a bit of a challenge to terriers who've already learnt to follow their nose and it's not all relevant but you might get something from it-

 

From an early age encourage the dog to quarter in short sessions – as a very young puppy you can capitalise on its natural curiosity and dependency upon you by walking tight zig-zags and encouraging the pup to follow by whatever means works for you and the dog. As the dog gets bolder you can reinforce the distances by using the lead or a longer check lead (if needed). It’s never too early to start introducing the turn whistle either – when at the extent of your flanks/turns give a ‘pip pip’ and turn the dog at the very same time. If the dog ignores the whistle – stop it, run that particular part of the task again correcting it and using EXACTLY the same commands. If it is successful reinforce it with positive praise. Don’t expect instant results or a young dog to understand the entire process of quartering – deconstruct the exercise, train one bit at a time (i.e., teach the cast, then the turn, then the distance, etc…) eventually putting the parts all together into bigger parts until the whole discipline can be practised as a whole.

 

Think also about the environment you are training in – make sure it has been walked clear of game and there are no real distractions, try and find a bit of very light cover (white grass) to stop a young dog from pushing too far ahead. I use a long paddock exactly the right width I want my dogs to quarter, each time they approach the fence I pip-pip the whistle and turn them back towards me in the opposite direction – they will soon get used to the distances - I know not everyone has the luxury of a paddock but think about an area that could fit the bill.

 

With a younger dog you can use a wing, rabbit skin, tennis ball, etc… to gain the dog’s desire to ‘hunt’ simply by tossing them slightly forward and out to the flanks, point to the ball/object with your finger and when the pup ‘finds’ it praise him and toss it out in the opposite direction into the prevailing wind, as he turns give the ‘pip-pip’ reinforcement, again point to the ball – this is useful for later when you can simply send your dog on a route anywhere into cover where you point.

 

Whenever the dog starts doing its own thing STOP it and correct it again – remember to break quartering down into component parts and then rebuild it. If you have to do it on a lead then so be it. But DON’T let the dog decide what it should do. With a slightly bolder pup EVERY time it gets out too far STOP it and take it back to the spot and recast it this time closer and then turn it almost instantly before it gets any speed up in any one direction - keep repeating this consistently.

 

Ensure you cast your dog out to the side or very slightly backwards, NOT forwards – and STAND still while you cast it – if you walk forward and cast your dog forward, then hey, that’s the direction it will always head! Also vary the time between taking the lead off your dog to when you cast him - that way it lessens his anticipation and develops patience and response to your cast command. When you cast your dog give the first turn whistle command at only a few yards to start with – that way you can stop/correct the dog if it doesn’t pick it up quickly.

 

If you secret a number of tennis balls parallel to each other about 15-25m apart in cover and work the dog forward INTO the wind then your dog will use its nose to pick up on the scent cones so long as it is interested in tennis balls, etc… If you cast a young dog downwind you are asking for trouble because it will range outwards trying to pick up scent. Quartering a dog effectively back towards you is an advanced skill - work first on the easy stuff.

 

Always use the turn whistle and insist 100% on compliance to turn. Again if it doesn’t turn stop it get out after the dog as quick as possible taking it by the jowls, physically turn it whilst reinforcing the action with the exact same whistle command. If you can get to the dog as it is disobeying/ignoring you then add a growl or gruff voice make the correction and reinforce with the right command followed instantly by praise.

 

You can also start adding hand directional commands to aid quartering too – this can be started early when you feed the pup – put down the food to one side and give the appropriate command – amazing what the gutsy little things will do for food! When you start the pup quartering you can also toss out little tit-bits in the areas you want it to hunt in - if that’s what motivates your dog and use the same directional hand commands when quartering training. Personally I’d be aiming for a dog that will bid without food – but its horses for courses.

 

When the dog is getting bold then quarter it in thicker cover to slow it down making sure you move forward SLOWLY also turning your body in the direction you want the dog to go – as the dog picks it up you can give hand commands until eventually you can drop the whistle and hand commands and simply turn your dog by dropping your shoulder in the desired direction. From an early age also try to encourage your dog to turn into you when it passes – as you slowly work forward you can toss out a dummy or tennis ball near your feet to encourage it to come in and seek it close to you – over time this will make condition the dog to always be mindful that there may be something close to your feet - quartering should be like a herring bone pattern with the dog turning inwards and towards you.

 

I also train quartering in the dark as the dog is more intent and attentive and will look/hear closer to you for directions and commands. I do this simply by standing on one side of a paddock fence with the dog on the other side – I walk, or move in the direction I want the dog to go and then turn about giving the turn whistle command or hand commands.

 

Sounds easy, eh? Well it’s not… this is why you will hear so many times that you have to ensure that you have the STOP and RECALL pretty much in the bag concurrently – contrary to some dogs I see ‘working’, quartering is thorough, slow (moving forward – the dog will be shifting tho’) , deliberate and consistent. When you have mastered quartering into the wind then you can start training for crosswind and downwind quartering.

 

Oh yes, once you have got your dog quartering well the worse thing you can do is put an young inexperienced dog in a beating line and expect it to quarter methodically and diligently because the effect of all of the other dogs - if not as well trained - will be to pull your dog out further and faster until you end up with a dog that keeps questing on forward disregarding your commands and missing game.

[dogman1 5]

Very helpful mate thank you I will give it a try

[TRF-JRs 6]

Nice little post that, thanks for sharing

[Ideation 8,216]

Out of interest, why would you want the dog to enter and work cover that it 'knows' is empty??? Or am i missing something?

[Lab 10,979]

Out of interest, why would you want the dog to enter and work cover that it 'knows' is empty??? Or am i missing something?

Beat me too it.... If the dog has a decent nose and its not interested in hunting out empty bushes then why try and force it......? It will be burning enough energy in a day without doing extra for no reason....there not daft you know! (some are obviously)...

[dogman1 5]

There's every chance it could miss something guys or just not catch the scent, or scents that they don't kno what it belongs to. Plus there still young so I want them to get used to going through the heavy stuff.

[Lab 10,979]

There's every chance it could miss something guys or just not catch the scent, or scents that they don't kno what it belongs to. Plus there still young so I want them to get used to going through the heavy stuff.

If it smells something that it doesn't recognise it will go for a look.... if its not catching the scents of stuff then it will be pretty useless.....

[dogman1 5]

The other day there were 4 young pheasant chicks that had flew out some cover the other day, when I tried to send the terriers in to get the scents they wernt interested, why do you think this is?

[tiny tim 22]

spec that is a very good post by someone that obviously knows what they are doing

[Lab 10,979]

The other day there were 4 young pheasant chicks that had flew out some cover the other day, when I tried to send the terriers in to get the scents they wernt interested, why do you think this is?

Terriers have a crap nose on them......

[Ideation 8,216]

The other day there were 4 young pheasant chicks that had flew out some cover the other day, when I tried to send the terriers in to get the scents they wernt interested, why do you think this is?

Terriers have a crap nose on them......

 

 

Seen dogs that get into the habit of working cover on auto, without really using their noses, go over the top of the odd tight sitting bird and not even notice it.

[Lab 10,979]

The other day there were 4 young pheasant chicks that had flew out some cover the other day, when I tried to send the terriers in to get the scents they wernt interested, why do you think this is?

Terriers have a crap nose on them......

 

 

Seen dogs that get into the habit of working cover on auto, without really using their noses, go over the top of the odd tight sitting bird and not even notice it.

See it often mate when am picking up.........3/4 dogs in the 1 spot looking for a 'dead' bird' only to walk over and get the dog on it and he ends up about 50 yards away on a runner............

[Dave C 63]

The other day there were 4 young pheasant chicks that had flew out some cover the other day, when I tried to send the terriers in to get the scents they wernt interested, why do you think this is?

 

How old are the Terriers, some are a little cover shy when young, get them out with a more experienced dog and they will soon get the hang of it.

 

Dave.