Join us as Bryan Camper of Swift Rock Kennels takes us through the initial stages of his Starter Dog Program, featuring two field trial prospects, Big and Spur. Both dogs naturally run big, making them well-suited for field trials rather than regular hunting. In this video, we’ll cover the foundational skills that prepare these dogs for success in the field.

Transitioning from Fun to Focused Training
Big and Spur, like many young bird dogs, are at a point in their training where they’re transitioning from just enjoying themselves in the field to learning essential obedience skills. Both dogs are still in the early stages but are already showing promise in pointing, backing, and basic commands.
Bryan explains that these dogs are nearing the end of the beginning phase of the Starter Dog Program, a critical moment when they start pushing boundaries and need more guidance. Spur, in particular, is just beginning to learn about Whoa, a crucial command in bird dog training that helps keep the dog in position once a bird is found.

What Is “Whoa” Breaking?
Whoa breaking is the process of teaching a dog to stop and hold its position upon command. This skill is essential in both field trials and hunting, ensuring that the dog doesn’t break too early from its point. In this video, Bryan begins to introduce Spur to the concept of Whoa by singing the command during training, helping him associate it with positive reinforcement and style.

Pointing and Backing in Field Trial Training
Bryan’s approach to pointing and backing helps ensure the dogs are working in harmony. Pointing is when a dog freezes upon finding a bird, and backing occurs when one dog stops to honor the other dog’s point. These skills are crucial in field trials, where teamwork is often judged.
Big and Spur both exhibit these natural instincts but still need refinement. As Bryan continues their training, they’ll begin to hold their points for longer and back each other with more consistency.

Working with the Kawasaki Mule
To maintain control over Big and Spur’s large running range, Bryan uses his Kawasaki Mule. This allows him to keep up with the dogs, ensuring they remain out front in a Ten-to-Two formation. While machines can sometimes lead dogs to key off the vehicle, Bryan ensures that in the early stages of training, he walks them to birds, preventing them from becoming overly reliant on the machine.

The Mule allows Bryan to quickly get to the dogs when they find a bird and point. This efficiency is crucial when training multiple dogs daily, as it allows him to give immediate feedback and adjust the dogs’ behavior as needed.

Avoiding Yo-Yo Behavior
An issue that can happen in bird dog training is yo-yoing, where a dog returns too quickly to the handler after being sent out to hunt. Bryan addresses this by continuing forward after dropping a bird and not immediately turning back. This teaches the dogs to stay focused on hunting in front of him rather than constantly returning to his position. This strategy ensures they maintain their distance and cover more ground.

Advanced Techniques: What’s Next?
As Big and Spur progress, Bryan will start to refine their Whoa breaking and overall control in the field. These dogs have already shown their natural talent for field trials, and now it’s time to shape them into reliable, high-performing dogs. Part 2 of this series will dive deeper into advanced Whoa breaking, where the dogs will learn to stop on command and hold their position during a point, further refining their skills.

Why Choose Swift Rock Kennels for Your Field Trial Dog?
Swift Rock Kennels is a premier training facility specializing in field trial dogs and hunting dogs. With over 20 years of experience, Bryan Camper provides expert training for pointing and flushing breeds, preparing them for competitive field trials such as NSTRA and American Field trials, as well as real-world hunting. Whether you’re looking for a reliable hunting companion or a competitive trial dog, Swift Rock Kennels offers personalized training programs tailored to your dog’s unique needs.

Conclusion
In this first part of our Starter Dog Program, we’ve focused on building foundational skills such as pointing, backing, and Whoa breaking. Big and Spur are well on their way to becoming accomplished field trial dogs, thanks to Bryan’s expert guidance. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll cover more advanced Whoa breaking techniques and further refine their training.
Subscribe to Swift Rock Kennels on YouTube and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all of our training videos. If you’re interested in professional field trial training for your dog, contact Swift Rock Kennels today!

#BirdDogTraining #FieldTrials #HuntingDogs #WhoaBreaking #EnglishSetters #GunDogTraining #NSTRA #FieldDogTraining #SwiftRockKennels #PointingDogs #dogtra #kawaski #utv