How to correct a dog that busts/chases birds (quickly)

Sometimes, even with the most careful planning and training, your dog will bump birds and chase. Usually this is secondary to having caught a bird such as a pen-raised quail or putting a young dog on running birds too early in its bird dog development. Keep in mind, the following’ quick fixes’ assume the dog was properly trained to begin with, knows heel, whoa, quartering, etc.

The other method that is not discussed here is to go back to yard work and reintroduce the dog to birds in the controlled fashion we describe in our yard working plan. If your dog is ranging too big, teach the dog to hunt close. There are a couple ways to address busting and chasing. The old way that works is to have the dog on a very long check cord. For this scenario, we like a 50 to 100 feet long light weight ski cord. Tie a big knot in the free end. You will need a bird launcher and a quick/nimble partner to help. Plant the bird in good cover so that the dog cannot see the launcher. Allow enough time for the scent to build a good scent cone. Have your partner hide near the bird, but out of sight. If the launcher is remote controlled, let your partner hold the transmitter. If it’s a manual launcher, have your partner hold the string that is attached to the launcher release mechanism. The handler releases the dog several hundred yards away and ‘hunts’. This distance allows the dog time to forget that it might be a training situation. Just before the dog reaches the scent cone, the handler hides too. Now your partner takes over. While remaining hid, he waits for the dog to establish point. If the dog does not hold point, takes a step or more after establishing point, or does not point at all, he puts the bird up by pulling the hidden cord. This teaches the dog that it will fly away if it does not hold steady and wait for the handler.

Bird busting ‘wise’ dogs will often look around for the handler just before they jump in to bust the bird. Now at this point the chasing habit will reveal itself. The dog will chase because he
thinks he’s alone since after he established point, he didn’t hear or see the handler anymore. Your partner needs to be quick and nimble because he must allow the dog to start the chase, then run out from hiding and grab the long check cord. When he grabs the cord, he allows it to run through his gloved hands to the point of the knot then immediately sets the cord firmly thus flipping the chasing dog backwards. The partner who flipped the dog needs to sit down and hide when he does this. The startled dog will be looking blankly back in the direction of the handler and not see him. The dog will think the bird has magical powers that caused him to be flipped backwards. Many times, this is all that is needed to stop the dog from busting and chasing.

The high tech easy way that is if done wrong, will forever mess up your dog. Substitute the check cord with an e-collar. If you choose to use an e-collar be careful! Make sure the dog is in full chase and has covered a good bit of ground (100 yards – a football field’s length) before employing its use. We strongly recommend using the collar away from your normal training grounds. We real like D.T. systems SPT 7302 training collar with the humane vibration feature. Stimulate in continuous mode using the minimum response level until the dog stops or turns away from the bird. Then immediately stop the stimulation. Say nothing let the dog think that if it pursues flying birds that were not shot at they can ‘get him’.

CAUTION: If you stimulate the dog too close to where the bird flushed from, you can create a blinker which is a BIG problem. There are some very subtle techniques when using an e-collar. Not knowing exactly what to do can ruin your dog. Always seek the help of a professional if there is even the slightest amount of doubt.