What Does Pre-Season Mean to You?

Scouting for wild birds before the season begins is one form of pre-season training.

Play Like You Practiced…

In the distance, from a dead-run, the fine Rastafarian Draht-Faced Putz-a-Doodle Pointer (yes, the true breed is being withheld to preserve its otherwise fine reputation) spun to a stylish point. Soon, it is joined by its hunts-mate who felt compelled to honor in similar fashion. “Ralph is on point, hustle-up!” my quick-stepping buddy counseled. I could see the lead dog take a step, then another. “Ralph, whoa!” my buddy warned in between puffing breaths. Too late; seeing the movement, the second dog rushed forward causing both dogs to bolt into a feathered explosion of giggling sharptails!

Having occurred at the very extent of reasonable range, for my taste anyway, I decided to refrain from blasting into the prairie sky. Contrastingly, my buddy’s twelve-gauge semi-auto unabashedly unleashed a barrage of one and an eighth ounce loads of number six shot down-range. Miraculously striking the right wing of a straggler, it tumbled to the ground where both dogs scrambled to arrest the lively grouse. The winner retrieving while dodging the other dog’s attempts to pilfer its prize.

“That’s some fine shooting, Tex.” I (rather dubiously) congratulated my friend amid his wrestling the bird from one dog, while trying to ward-off the other. “Thanks” he replied, then continued, “These birds sure require tight chokes, don’t they?”

He politely asked why I hadn’t shot and I found a reply that satisfied the moment. Thankfully, he has never really pressed as to why I don’t wish to run my dogs along with his - I’m running out of excuses.

In brace or as singles, dogs that lack polish are prone to have bad days and are often just a bit better than having no dog at all. Practice the way you play, is a phrase often coined in various sporting endeavors. For gun dogs, the other way around seems more appropriate - “Play the way you Practiced!”

In other words, the requirements between practice and the real-thing must be consistent. With dogs, there is a strong emphasis placed on hunting techniques and manners. So, how come dogs sometimes act completely different during hunting opportunities? Perhaps, through the actions of their owners, dogs have learned that practice and actual hunting are two separate events. Let’s have a look.

Dogs may handle quite differently in controlled practice situations.

As is often the case, both dogs in the example might work quite well in the yard or at a training facility. Then, when the season begins, hunters often revise the required behavior in an attempt to shoot (at) more birds. Distracted by this goal, dogs are often allowed to range with less control; ignored commands are excused away and unsteady bird work is positively reinforced by shooting birds flushed by (pointing) dogs. The dogs get a sense for the new set of rules and will begin to test the limits. It’s the proverbial rolling snowball!

Before actual competition, sports such as baseball can be broken down into three basic phases; preparation, practice, and pre-season. Preparation includes everything that keeps you in shape to play the sport. Maintaining a healthy physique by what is consumed and the addition of plenty of appropriate exercise prepares the athlete to enter the stages that follow. It’s the next two stages that, in my mind, dog owners bunch together (or skip entirely) - practice and pre-season.

Practice is the use of repetitive actions to develop basic skills such as teamwork, muscle-memory, hand-eye coordination; all reflexive and conditioned skill-sets relative to the sport. In training sessions, the dogs are in familiar settings, using similar techniques; the reality of the conditions is controlled and repetitive to create the response we want from the dog. Akin to taking infield or batting practice, even the birds used in this training are in managed situations more conducive to the repetitive nature of practice. Thinking in these terms, you can see how these sessions, I often refer to as “maintenance,” are much different than real hunting situations.

After a term of practice, most sports put their athletes through a series of competitive events against real opponents. What is often referred to as scrimmage or sparing, these events are used to observe performance and make corrections. The atmosphere is a bit more realistic and serious - especially for those wanting to make the cut. In the matter of upland dogs, pre-season work should include the same level of control as practice with field conditions and feathered game as wild as the real thing.

Though using wild birds or preserves with realistic conditions can be done before the start of regular upland seasons, August and into September, the conditions are often too harsh for a lengthy scrimmage. To off-set seasonal conditions and complete the training experience, I extend the pre-season mentality into early hunting season. (For young dogs, like the minor leagues, I accept that the entire first season is simply for development.)

Dog is held (behind right shooter) during the flush.

(Little Canyon Preserve, Peck, ID)

Early in the season, rather than going into the field intending to fill a vest, I have learned to lower my expectations, and my level of anxious behavior, by making the opportunities more about the dog(s). Using the same basic tools (check cord, e-collar, etc.) and level of scrutiny (range, commands, etc.), the attempt is to connect the lessons learned in practice to authentic hunting opportunities. Being consistent during these forays into the field will tie everything together. Making the dog(s) predictably respond the way they did on the practice field and not treat them as two distinct events.

Pro trainers have been doing this for decades by using early season prairie grouse as pre-season opportunities. Many western states open early seasons for prairie and forest grouse or introduced species of quail and partridge. For those fortunate enough to have hunting buddies with similar life schedules, these pre-season “games” can make the experience more enjoyable as well as successful. Here’s how!

First, decide to use one dog at a time. If each hunter has a dog(s), you can alternate dogs and roles. The dog owner will take on the primary role of dog handler and the companion, the shooter. The handler (should) know their dog and have an idea of the miscues the dog might attempt; say, lax staunchness - creeping or bolting to flush birds. The handler will apply the basic techniques used in practice to complete or transfer (dog) understanding in hunting situations.

Handler controls the dog and waits for the shooter to arrive.

Prior to heading into the field, the handler and shooter must agree that chatter is kept to a minimum, no shots are fired until the dog is in the control of the handler, and no birds taken if flushed by the (pointing) dog. Once the dog is in control, the shooter will go through the process of flushing the birds while the handler makes any corrections required for the dog. The handler should dutifully accept the role through the entire outing; their turn to shoot will come soon enough. Of course, if the dog owner doesn’t require the dog to be steady to shot and fall, they may likely release the dog after the flush (or first shot) and take part in shooting.

In scenarios similar to the one described at the beginning of this article, we have a case of competitive drive between two dogs compounded by the hunter shooting birds flushed by misbehaving dogs. If both dogs have been properly trained separately, the easy fix is for the dog handler to control the backing or honoring dog through the process. From there, all other requirements should be maintained.

In all situations, training should be enforced consistently - from yard through forays into the wild uplands. Meaning, hunters should be “trained” to be consistent in their actions; enforcing self-imposed training stipulations in hunting situations. Among them, keep close tabs on the dog’s activity - not relying solely on GPS units - only shoot birds correctly held by the dog, and take the time to reinforce training as needed.

Handler takes control of a “creeping” young dog while backing.

It’s easy to understand how the discipline works. Sure, it’s tough to let some shooting opportunities pass, especially as scarce as wild birds have become in some regions. Yet, on early hunts, the mindset that you are still in training should relax the situation, make early season hunts more enjoyable, and develop a better hunting dog for the long-term.

So, whether your dog requires a few flushes or a few months, after the workouts (exercise) and practice (maintenance) sessions, revise your strategy by being consistent with your dog work in the field and…

Enjoy Your Dog!