"Last season my two-year-old Cocker bitch was working very well, but all of a sudden she started chasing flying birds. She is steady to thrown dummies, dummy launcher and cold game. What would you advise me to do?" Nelson Shergood

H&C blogger and gundog expert Howard Kirby replies: " I'm not quite sure whether your Cocker is chasing song birds around your garden, or that you mean she is chasing flying game birds in the shooting field.

Chasing flying game is the more serious of the two, but of course both are linked.  A dog that has given chase and caught a wounded flying bird will often pursue flying game, particularly if it senses the bird is pricked or injured.  The reward the dog gets from the chase coupled with the possibility of catching the bird outweighs the effort.  Most experienced dogs will do the opposite, knowing that to chase a healthy bird is futile, but will give chase to a wounded bird. 

To sort this problem, we would ensure that the dog sits sharply to the flush, ensuring that it does not give chase to anything unless sent.  Teaching a dog to sit to the flush is fairly straight forward.  Start with ensuring she sits tight to a moving tennis ball, gradually moving up to rabbits or game. Access to a well stocked rabbit pen would be helpful. 

Maintaining a consistent sit to the flush is only possible if you are hunting your spaniel close to your feet.  If however, you are picking up with the dog out of sight, this will prove to be difficult. 

I hope this is helpful, please let us here at H&C know how you get on.

Best Wishes

Howard."