recall and stop

[falcones s]

ok so this is my situation. I've started taking my dog (red healer/mix?) out to chase the pheasents in a field by my house. Shes gotten great on finding and flusing them but when she starts chasing them it is almost impossible to get her to stop untill she reaches the horizon no matter how hard I yell the recall. Other than this instant she is a very obediant. So any tips on getting her stop the chase when I call her?

Melissa Wardle

woops i forgot to log in

[Chris]

only loggin if you want to age.
your dog is too smart i have had two heeler crosses and once they know that you cann't do anything to them you're out of luck they do what they want. That or she's trying to herd the pheasant back to you.

[Weasel]

Two words.....Shock collar. ;D

[Bob Dale]

I have the same problem with my three year old pound dog. When he spots game his ears seem to slam shut!
I did use a shock collar, and it worked. HOWEVER!!! I only used it when he went after unintended game (bird dogs aint supposed to go after rabbits). Don't create an association between the collar and the game you want to hunt.
Start giving your dog the stop command ("whoa") any time you stop i.e. while walking on lead. Stand the dog still while gently petting it, repeating your command ("whoa") over and over again. Don't let it move.
Get a pair of pigeon wings (Wolter's method), or whatever, tie them to the end of a fishing pole. Let the dog go after it. Make a game of it. Then, once the dog is good and interested, hold the wings just out of reach and give the "whoa" command. Since it can't reach the wings he will eventually stand still and look at them. Reward with praise, not by letting the dog get the wings.
Hide some birds (pigeons, quail, pheasant, whatever) in a field. Mark their spot with orange surveyors tape. Put a 50 foot check cord on your dog and let it find the stashed birds. As the dog gets close to the birds (you'll see the surveyors tape) take the check cord in hand and start to give the "whao" command. You have control over the dog. Don't let him get any closer to the bird than is necessary to make and hold a good point. Praise the dog big time when it stands still.
From here you get into using bird launchers and all that stuff.
This is much easier to do if your dog is young. I'm having a hard time with mine. Good luck with yours!

[Beibhan]

Why not use a check cord? That's what people used before shock collars. You can always use a collar if you need to for touch ups. I teach things on leash first. I don't take them off leash till they know the commands.

And yes set it up so the dog has to do the right thing and praise it. Later I'll set it up to screw up on leash and throw in a correction if needed. But pos. training is better.