Gundog Training Forum

Confidence and trust (from dog and handler) on game is an important thing to build. Once a dog knows that there IS a bird where it's going, it will go as far as you need it to.

Naj wrote:

Springfield Pointers wrote:

Naj wrote:Again, you should really say what you are training the dog for, otherwise we are talking apples & pears.

I'm just trying to see what would be a realistically accepted distance for a shooting spaniel. My logic dictates that past about 50m it wouldn't make sense. But my logic may be flawed. Hence the question.

I was agreeing with you, may 'observation' was aimed at BIKRS

A general purpose spaniel, capable of fulfilling various roles.

Thanks. Still not convinced about the practicality of a spaniel that hunts out to 100m though...

Think BIKRs is referring to handling out to 100 yards on a blind retrieve, SP, not quartering out like a pointer.

Ok. I wasn't sure. I was hoping he would clarify.

Naj wrote:Think BIKRs is referring to handling out to 100 yards on a blind retrieve, SP, not quartering out like a pointer.

Correct Naj.

Springfield Pointers wrote:Ok. I wasn't sure. I was hoping he would clarify.

The title of the topic is distance handling with spaniels, quartering range is another topic.

BIKRS wrote:

Springfield Pointers wrote:Ok. I wasn't sure. I was hoping he would clarify.

The title of the topic is distance handling with spaniels, quartering range is another topic.

Ok. Thanks for the clarification. To me "distance handling" includes hunting.

Springfield Pointers wrote:

BIKRS wrote:

Springfield Pointers wrote:Ok. I wasn't sure. I was hoping he would clarify.

The title of the topic is distance handling with spaniels, quartering range is another topic.

Ok. Thanks for the clarification. To me "distance handling" includes hunting.

To throw another wee befuddling spanner into the interpretive works from our side, SP, if, during "distance handling" on a blind retrieve, a dog (including a spaniel that runs retriever events) starts to hunt - i.e., drops its nose down rather than continuing on its line - it gets the old heave-ho from a trial or test for lack of cooperation.

MG

Not befuddling at all. Totally understandable MG. Depending on the situation though, one might exclude the brilliance of a worthy competitor and credit to the breed.