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My gundog lies flat out on the ground to the shot!

My young Cocker dog stops well to flush and shot, in fact, too well: things wouldn’t be too bad if he just stopped, or sat, but instead he lies flat out on the ground.

ShootingUK
ShootingUK 3 October 2012

When this happens in cover he loses his mark on the bird. What can I do to stop him doing it?

GUNDOG TRAINING
Jemma Clifford
I wouldn?t pay too much attention to this at the moment because in time the dog will learn to watch the direction of the flight of the bird, and, with experience learn to mark effectively.

Watch carefully and you will probably find that the dog, when he lies flat, is actually looking back at you to see whether you are happy with him or not.

In the fullness of time if you?re not too hard on the whistle and remain passive he will learn to stand and watch things away.

The most important thing is that he stops to flush and shot ? believe me the rest will come in time!

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