Hifive Kennels

Training

Here at Hifive Kennels I strive to bring the best out of your dog. I have a lot of patience and take no short cuts.

During your dog's stay he will receive the best possible care and attention. 

I have a proven training program that develops a dog's natural instincts. It will build your dog up to be very confident around birds; and in their own ability. This is done by training the fundamentals first and progressing only at the individual pace of the dog.

Puppy: (phase 1)

Yard work : (whoa, come, release, & kennel)

Patterning : Your dog will learn basic handling & quartering skills.

Birds : Your dog will be introduced to liberated birds during his field workouts; bringing out his natural pointing instincts.

Gunfire : Your dog will be introduced to .22 caliber gun fire during his bird contacts.

Dogs enrolled in the puppy program should be a least six months old.

This is a 60 day program.  Most puppies will be staunch on birds after completing 60 days of this training.  I recommend that first time pointing dog owners come and watch while the pup is being worked, to learn some basic handling techniques. 

 

Derby: (phase 2)

Yard work : (continuation of whoa, come, release, kennel, plus heel and collar conditioning) Whoa will continue on bench & barrel to develop style and intensity.  He will stop on command while running a field during workouts.  The heel command and backing will be introduced at this time.

Hunting : Dogs will learn to hunt for birds under all conditions.

Staunchness on point : Dogs will learn to hold birds for the flush.

Gunfire : Light gauge shotgun & .32 caliber blanks.  Including liberated bird kills for the staunch dog.

Stop to Flush : Stop to Flush workouts are introduced.

Backing : Honoring a brace mate will be introduced.

Wild birds : Workouts will begin in proven grouse woods, with special attention given to handling, patterning and range.

This is a minimum 60 day program.

After phase 2  you will have a dog that has been through a program developed to enhance a dog’s natural ability as a wild bird finder.

Upon completing a season of hunting and  wild bird exposure,  your bird dog will be ready for the advance training program. (phase 3)

 

 

Shooting dog: (phase 3)   Dogs in this phase must have completed the above phases or be evaluated on performance to be entered in to this level of training.

Yard work reinforcement : (continuation of whoa, come, release, kennel, heel, and collar conditioning) Whoa will continue on bench & barrel to develop style and intensity.  He will stop on command while running a field during workouts.  The heel command and backing will be finished during this time.

Stop to Flush : Dogs will learn that chasing flushed birds is a unwanted behavior.

Backing : Dogs will learn to honor their brace mate during hunting exercises.

Steady to Wing and Shot : Dogs will learn to stand for the flush and shot.  A lot of care goes into to this part of training to insure that your dog will retain all their style before and after the shot.

Wild bird polishing : Dogs will learn how to hunt and handle wild birds.  I take special care during this phase to ensure that your dog will retain all the natural style that they were born with.

 

Conditioning : To get your dog in shape for the upcoming season I offer a conditioning program.  This will include a brush up on bird work and ATV workouts (roading).  This is a 30 day program.

 All dogs in for Field Trial Competition will be in the roading program.

Going hunting