Abby had we let her would have been out 100+ yards easy hunting to find birds. She really gets into it and goes way out how far out should I let her go before I reign her in or should I just let her hunt as far out as she wants? I dont want to suppress or make her feel like she needs my permission to hunt but also wanted to make sure I am not letting her run too big. I am wanting to do real life hunting (pheasant, grouse and possiably ducks) and hunt tests but am also considering field trails but not sure what all in involved in field trails. Do you need your own horse for field trails I read somewhere forget where now that everyone is on horseback is that true?

Jana

Nothing wrong with dreaming big. I'm a dreamer too. I want to put an OTCH on my girl Halo and a DC on Ringo.

Winning HIT at the Nationals this year with Halo was also a dream. I joked about going to the Nationals like Velvet did in National Velvet and winning. I told my friends the title of my story would be National Halo. Guess what I put on the subject line of my emails after she took HIT.

Dreams are good and sometimes they do come true.

Couldnt have said it better myself.

Personally I like a big running dog in the open and a close one when hunting the thick stuff. Only you can determine how far you want her. If you dont want her as far as she is running reign her in.

Pixie Bee had it right, it depends on what and where you are hunting, I hunt Grouse in up state Pa. and where I hunt you better have a dog that stays close, and as a hunter you must be quiet and pay attention to every move the dog makes, those Grouse don't wait around before there gone, our dog stays around 100'/150' out and it seems to be o.k. alot of places you can't see any farther, As Pheasants go, all we have is stocked birds on game lands that would rather run than fly,and alot of hunters, you also have to keep your dog close because it seems there is always hunters (and dogs) every couple hundred yards, then you have to worry about your dog getting in fights. Good luck and have a good hunting season

I wouldnt be encouraging a dog to stop and look at me when it should be hunting. They see you all the time the dog shouldnt have to stop to look at you, your dog will be docked points if this happens too much in the higher levels of testing and trials. It shows a lack of independence in a dog if its looking to you for direction. A good dog knows where the birds are and keeps one eye on you. When your body turns left the dog should cast to the left. The only time we use hand signals is if we are standing still but want a dog to cover an area otherwise they read our bodies quiet well.

I have both here, my setter is always looking at me to see what way I am going where as my GSP it apprears he could care less about what I am doing. Yet both dogs cast and quarter infront quiet well. The GSP's style is much nicer to hunt over because 1 I dont need to be waving my arms around, and 2 it looks pretty good when you can just walk and your dog seems to know your very next move. That will score you points with judges.

Whistles are a good way of reigning a dog in because the dog can hear them in even the strongest winds.