Hunting with a champion

[huntervinni]

FFF’s dog’s pointing style is a perfect example. This was once how all setters pointed (crouching). The high-head, high-tail pointing style we now typically see in setters is purely a North American construct of the field trial system.

English setters have been taught to have the high-head, high-tail pointing style for the simple reason that you can see them better in tall grasses as opposed to the European setters that crouch. However when an English setter gets too close to a bird they still hit the ground and "set" (crouch) as that has been bred into them for decades if not centuries.

In my opinion all pointing dogs used for hunting any species of upland, should at the very least be steady to wing and shot.

[huntervinni]

that the point of a pointer isn't it. I have hunted behind pointers and personally don't like it, I prefer a flusher myself. My lab would just flush them then retrieve them back to me.

Depends what upland species of bird you plan on hunting. Flushers would not work very well out west hunting Grey Partridge.

[finsfurfeathers]

English setters have been taught to have the high-head, high-tail pointing style for the simple reason that you can see them better in tall grasses as opposed to the European setters that crouch. However when an English setter gets too close to a bird they still hit the ground and "set" (crouch) as that has been bred into them for decades if not centuries.

In my opinion all pointing dogs used for hunting any species of upland, should at the very least be steady to wing and shot.

I'm happy with steady steady to wing. If I was a better shot maybe to shot too. Sometimes heading off a cripple a head start is a good thing. As for their point I let them be as if they are strung out I know its a woodcock. Though they'll stand to attention for a grouse.

[ninepointer]

...if they are strung out I know its a woodcock. Though they'll stand to attention for a grouse.

Its a spectacular sight to behold!

[Cass]

Personally, I hunt mostly by myself and my requirements or I guess expectations have loosened quite a bit over the last few years. My cocker was my first dog and I was obsessed with training and making sure he was steady as could be till I sent him for the bird. He's 11 now and I'm extremely lax with what I let him away with. I don't care if he's steady to the fall anymore. My munster's "training" has basically just been going hunting aside from a bit of pigeon work early on. She's 2 so maybe that will end up biting my in the rear but she points and waits for me to flush without me really training her to do anything. I've never even trained her to "whoa". She breaks on the flush which is fine with me. I love seeing a dog steady to fall but I can't imagine not sending a dog for the retrieve unless of course they're hunting with the hawk. If you play dog games, you need to train for that. But I do believe the average hunter probably doesn't need all that polish to fill the game bag. Plus it makes for a much more relaxed hunt if you're not focused on perfection the whole time.

[Sharon]

Good post!
I saw someone almost shoot their dog once so being steady to the flush and shot is essential imo.

[finsfurfeathers]

Good post!
I saw someone almost shoot their dog once so being steady to the flush and shot is essential imo.

That's a case for better training of the shooter not the dog. Anyone who can't hold off on a questionable shot for any reason should have the e collar on them.

[Cass]

That's a case for better training of the shooter not the dog. Anyone who can't hold off on a questionable shot for any reason should have the e collar on them.

I agree 100%. That's a shooter issue.

[huntervinni]

That's a case for better training of the shooter not the dog. Anyone who can't hold off on a questionable shot for any reason should have the e collar on them.

Wouldn't really be a questionable shot if the dog was steady to the flush and shot......

[finsfurfeathers]

Wouldn't really be a questionable shot if the dog was steady to the flush and shot......

I don't know, you would hunt with a guy who would take a low shot irregardless of what else might be in front of him?