Gun Dog Training

Gun Dog Training

Higgins Gundogs and Newtown Kennels now offers 'In-House' Training.

We now offer boarding/training available on a weekly or monthly basis. Puppies/dogs spend some of the day in a secure pasture and some of the time watching other dogs working. They spend the evening socialising with the family and other dogs (free time and crate time) in the house and sleep in the house (this is a major difference between us and the other guys, dogs will not be kenneled 24/7). It is very important that each dog receives daily one on one time, this is not a gun dog factory. For this reason we are limiting the number of dogs in training to six at a time.
We nurture the dogs' natural ability. S/he will learn about birds and how to hunt. Training includes learning to handle, bird management, steadiness, retrieving, etc. Brad uses only the highest quality birds (pigeons, quail, chukar, pheasants) that behave as closely to wild birds as is possible.

Upon completion dogs will receive a Higgins Gun Dogs Certification.

Handler/Owner certification is also available. Handlers/Owners are required to spend time during or at the end of the training period learning to work with their dog.

This gives owners the opportuntiy to place their dog in a safe and productive learning environment without the pitfalls of more conventional training. All owners are encouraged to come shoot over their dogs while in training. Additionally, weekly progress videos will be available.

This training/boarding arrangement gives gun dog owners nationwide access to Brad Higgins' method of training.

For more information about Brad and his methods contact him at info@higginsgundogs.com or see his website, www.higginsgundogs.com.

Below are some descriptions and examples of our theory and practice of dog training. Please contact us if you have any comments or questions about the content on this page.

A Short Video Clip Showing Early Bird Exposure (please turn your volume off!)

Here is a short video of Bindy at 5 months old. Brad dropped a Bob White Quail in the field earlier in the day. The pup has already bumped this bird from upwind and has now tracked it to the point where this clip begins. She finds the quail, points it and finally flushes it. It has already flown quite a distance and does not have enough energy to go very far and the puppy catches it. She then proceeds to proudly carry the bird around. This type of early, pressure free (we do not tell her to "whoa" or force her to bring the bird too us, etc.) bird exposure is extremely valuable at this age. She is learning to enjoy hunting and recieves a reward for her efforts. She also learns about scent (when she was upwind she startled the bird and it flew quite a distance away, she then had to go find it again. The next time she encountered it she was downwind and had the opportunity to enjoy it while on point. She then flushed the bird and had the reward of catching it.)

The gundog trainer below is Brad Higgins. For more information about Brad and his methods you can visit his site: www.higginsgundogs.com
I know this site is dedicated to Griffs but I couldn't resist showing a photo of Brad's English Pointer, Winston taken 10/27/07...

November 2009
Bruno, 3 year old Griff finishing his second duck search.

A lesson in Steady to Flush, September 2007

The Chain Gang
The Chain Gang is the place where dogs wait their turns and watch. All of the dogs watch each individual or brace in the field working birds. The less experienced dogs pick up the behavior and excitement of the more experienced dogs.

Before going into the field to work birds Brad takes the young dog for a quiet walk and asks the dog to stand. He walks a distance from the dog, when she stays in place without moving, Brad returns and calmly strokes then releases her. This exercise prepares the dog for the lesson to follow. It also tells Brad whether she understands the previous lessons.

On a check cord Libby searches for the bird. Here she has found and pointed the bird. Note the slack in the check cord, Brad is not holding or restraining the dog. The pigeon has been released but does not feel enough pressure from dog or handler to flush.

The pigeon has flushed. Libby took a step toward the bird as it flushed so Brad Checked her back to her post, then quietly rewards her for holding her position.

Next, Brad steps in front of Libby to discretely drop a bird out of his bag at his back (as if he was flushing another bird from the cover where she pointed the original bird) to test her steadiness.

Libby held her position while the second pigeon flushed. She maintained her desire and focus throughout the exercise. Brad returns to reward her and the lesson is done for the day.

Brad narrates a stop to flush exercise.

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