Used in the context of training pointing dogs
A system designed to teach a dog to control their impulse to self release to chase and wait to be released by the handler. When done correctly the dog will remain in a capped state of drive through the steadiness sequence. They will remain attentive to the bird and retain the desire to chase, but they will understand that releasing before a formal cue will result in various consequences.
Consequences
Collar recall
Simultaneously punishes self releasing to chase while negatively reinforcing the alternate behavior of recall. Recall removes the dog from the highly stimulating chase and helps lower arousal without creating conflict at the point oh highest state of drive.
Stop and Stand
Stop and stand is the final position expected of a finished dog between initial contact with the bird “point” and release from handler. Enforcing stop and stand at the point of the flush or while in chase can be challenging as it requires the dog to sustain capped drive. Use of too much pressure in these scenarios can be detrimental to the dogs attitude and drive state.
Why is chase management valuable
By removing the self release and putting chase on cue. The trainer can impact the dog’s desire to flush birds and break at any point in the steadiness. By going through an intentionally slow process the dog can be conditioned to channeling between expressive states and capped states while avoiding conflict in high states of drive. In other words we’re rehearsing building an off switch for chase. This conditioning allows us to gradually increase criteria in high states of drive while controlling for the level of collar pressure required to gain compliance.
When paired with traditional check-cord and pinch collar work chase management can make the transition to loose bird work happen more quickly and hold up longer with less maintenance.
When is it employed
I usually begin this process once I have dogs staunch on launchers with the check-cord and pinch collar only. I may have developed a stop and stand, but its not necessarily important at this point as I will not be bringing chase management into the field until we move onto loose bird work.
How is it started
I will entice a chase of a hand released pigeon in an open field. I will allow the dog to chase til it’s heart’s content. Once the pigeon is out of sight, but while the dog is still highly aroused, I’ll perform a collar recall. Personally, I will offer a verbal recall immediately followed by a continuous collar stim until the dog has pointed their nose in my direction and made action towards me, I relieve collar pressure at that moment. (It’s important that the dog is well collar conditioned in my system and highly fluent before starting this process). Over time the duration between the release of the bird and the recall will shorten. There is no prescription for how quickly to move, but if you’re unsure, slower is always safer. I will move to a farm road as I begin pulling the dog directly out of chase (as seen in the video with Rider the Vizla). Eventually and most often but not always, the dog will begin to anticipate the recall and pull themselves out of chase prior to the verbal cue or stim. Sometimes they come back to you and sometimes they stop and watch the bird away. Either way, I release directly back into chase.
Once this is the norm, I put it away and go back to work in the bird field with cc/pc.
How it’s used in finishing
Once the dog is green broke in the launcher field we’ll make our loose bird transition. Often times when working with young dogs I allow for a hunting season between these phases. I will begin my loose bird transition with full post flush restraint on cc/pc in light ground cover. Once I’m satisfied with the work while restrained Ill move the loose bird transition to a pine stand with very little ground cover. I want the dog to see the bird after making it with its nose. As soon as the point is established I drop the cc and repeat the process of chase management from this perspective. If the dog clearly understands this process usually results in a dog that stays pointed stylish and engaged in the face of a walking bird in open cover and remains steady until released through the flush and shot (and eventually fall, but that is sorted in a separate context first).
I will of course develop a collar cue around the “Stop and Stand” prior to finishing here, but I will never let that be where a fight is picked. The dog is always welcomed to leave with the bird and will always have the same consequences available. Sometimes I will use a “rolling stop” after starting with a nick, but if the dog is running through I’ll default to recall.
If I ever see attitude suffer, I will err on the side of longer chase, and may even shoot out a bird or two until balance is achieved.
It’s simple, but it’s certainly not always easy. Don’t try this unless you’re highly confident in your skill and your dog’s understanding of the e-collar and all the signals, punishers, and reinforcers associated with it.
I have more to say on this topic, but this will do as a primer.
