Naj wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 2:53 pmIn America they place great importance in a spaniel working the line of a moving bird, what they term as a ‘runner’. The handler stops the dog each each time it reaches the limits of gunshot until they catch up and send it on its way again, repeating this until the dog and handler catch up with the bird a force a flush for the gun. Not much good in a beating dog but an effective hunting strategy when game is in short supply.
Who "dey," Naj? Only time them tactics be deployed is the artifice of FTs and with "hot" springers or cockers in "hunt tests" on a bird course - and the artifice of planted/liberated birds.
Nick, on the ball (almost said balls pl.) "flashing" or throwing thingy for quartering, I've substituted in cc's post what holds the dog's interest:
CockerCanuck wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 6:32 pm
In early training for competitive spaniels two helpers walking 15-20 yards to each side of you can by voice and alternately flashing (not flushing) a bird to encourage the pup to go back and forth in front of you.
Even the most laidback spanners will wheel and deal their way into quartering pattern for a whiff of nice fat pheasant.
Meanwhile, quartering and taking a line is the perfect MO for some spaniels - them would be the little nonslip models called Boykins.
I agree tossing or flashing balls or birds would not likely be a long term solution for a dog who really does not want to quarter. My experience, thankfully, is that well bred spaniels rarely need much encouragement to quarter. In fact its usually more difficult to get them to take a line for any distance without slipping into quartering. My belief is all the artificial methods mentioned to encourage quartering are usually only needed for a short time. If the dog has desire to find game they quickly realize that quartering is the most effective way to do that.
With my own dogs I don't ever remember doing anything other than when pups walking a zig zag pattern myself to encourage them to turn back and forth.
I'm suspicious of people who don't like dogs, but I trust a dog when it doesn't like a person. - Bill Murray
A strong turn and draw whistle should keep your dog in a pattern.
Although here in America we allow our dogs to put there nose down and take a runner allowing a dog to take off on a bird it has air scented is not the best idea. Making the dog quarter up the field to the scented bird is preferred by many. It takes good control.