Flash point

[Spear]

I am still learning the language for pointers. What are you all talking about when you say your dog "flash pointed" a bird.

[Maverick]

The term Flash Point refers to a dog establishing point and then quickly moving off point, In most case after the bird. Sometimes the point is merely a second if that.


Mav....

[Huntingonthebrain]

I am not even there yet...but just in case how does one deal with that???

[Big Bird]

Good flying birds that puppy will not catch are a hugh asset. If he can not catch them he can chase his heart out to build the bird desire. Once he starts to hold the point he will need to learn cooperation when working with you that he is to hold the bird... point until you arrive.

The best is to expose him to birds on a long lead, Pointing the birds for periods of time, building on the lenght of time and with the long lead you can restrain him from moving in on the bird. Be patient unless the dog is a breeding where the parents lacked good natural pointing instincts it will fall all nicely into a package. Best let the natural instincts on the student fall into place.

Some folks will use the whoa command here... I preferr to let the dog learn the point on his own, naturally. Usually at this age the whao comand is not strongly embedded in the pup to be a command, and more often makes the pup disobedient of the command.

[Spear]

I like what Big Bird is saying about not telling your dog to whoa. I would preffer that the dog knows what he is supposed to do with out telling him while on point. That being said there are a lot of times I want my dog to whoa for other reasons, as he approaches a road for example.

[Maverick]

That is one of the reason we teach whoa. We also use it to caution a dog on point not to establish a point if it looks like the dog may want to rush in.
A running bird or another dog may cause your dog to want to break, something you do not want him to do.
You can also use it in the future when you start working on backing.

Mav....