To Break or not to Break… Your Dogs That Is

A broke pointer -intense
A broke pointer -intense

For most Pointing Dog Enthusiasts having your Dog(s) holding point  until you can cover and the birds flush is good enough to get the job done.Fair enough as it is usually the owner and a couple of friends shooting over the dog.But what do you do when your dog starts taking out the birds because it thinks thats the right thing to do ? Your Dog’s safety  is a factor especially if you  hunt with people you really don’t know ? The answer is its time to “break” your dog(s).

Dixie points a running covey of Huns -
Dixie points a  covey of Huns –

My definition of a broke dog is one that holds point until the birds are flushed and is released by verbal command,the dog also  stops if birds are  bumped re. “stop to  flush”.The advantages you have with a broke dog is it is safer for you and especially others to shoot over  your dog will be steady if it accidentally bumps some birds  leading to possible shooting opportunities as you are not trying to call your dog back in to the area that the covey or birds got up.The dog is there and on point,giving you a shot at  stragglers.

A Brittany and a Pointer relocate on a covey of Huns .The birds are either going to flush wild,or a dog may bump them as they move forward if that happens the dogs will "stop to flush" allowing shooters opportunities
A Brittany and a Pointer relocate on a covey of Huns .The birds are either going to flush wild,Freeze , or a dog may bump a straggler  as they move forward if that happens the dogs will “stop to flush” allowing shooters opportunities.This covey ran across the road and the dogs picked them up again resulting in some good shooting and dog work.
Relocate and the Huns are pinned
Relocate across the road  and the Huns are pinned
The reward
The reward

Breaking a dog is not that difficult ,depending on what you have access to ,you can work  with either wild or planted birds.In a nut shell you are discouraging the dog from  chasing the birds once they flush.This can be accomplished by use of a check cord and/or an e-collar turned down very low.I use both.

A check cord is used on Tank to keep him steady as a hunter moves past a Broke Pointer once the birds get up Tank and Buddy will be released using the verbal command "OK"
A check cord is used on Tank to keep him steady as a hunter moves past Buddy.Once the birds get up Tank and Buddy will be released using the verbal command “OK”

I am breaking all my dogs that are older than 1.5 years,of course every dog is different and it will take time  because  you need to expose your dog to a lot of birds.Whoa  training via yard work help reinforce steadiness.You want to be both consistent and patient.If you are training on wild birds forget about carrying a gun as you need to focus on the dogs that you are working,the shooting will come.There are a lot of great resources out there on breaking a dog, find a method that will suit you and go for it.

A pair of broke pointers stick a covey of Mearns Quail
A pair of pointers stick a covey of Mearns Quail-Tight Dogs means more shots especially with the camera

Field Trailers have a much more disicplined definition of a “broke” dog,which is great for that  game.My standard works for me and my dogs allowing for great,safe shooting opportunities at the same time allowing the dogs to naturally relocate and use their initiative  in hopes of locking up or pinning wild running birds.

a couple of pointers locked up,despite the distance the twill stay locked up until they are released after the flush
A couple of pointers locked up,despite the distance they will stay on point  until they are released after the flush.
Admiring Huns
Admiring Huns