Sit To Flush or Not?

[SnowDog]

Recently I've heard some trainers saying they prefer dogs (labs in my case) not sit to flush. Their reasoning seems to be that the dog gets a bit of a head start to the bird and can often have an easier time recovering the bird when it is winged or goes into thick cover.

Thoughts?

Cheers!
SD

[AspenBud]

Some would say they have an easier time marking the fall if the handler uses a whistle sit. I don't run labs or spaniels, but if I did I would teach it. Why? Because the spaniel guys have done so for years and had success with it.

Pointing labs might be a different story??

[furiouzgeorge]

I read this topic and had a totally different picture in my head of what you're talking about. Thanks for making my morning!

[boneaddict]

I was thinking the same thing.....   I was preparing for this debate.   Sorry, back on track

[Blackjaw]

There will always be debate about this one. I train my spaniels to a field trial standard and that standard is 'sit to flush' and don't move until given the command to either retrieve or 'leave it' and continue hunting if the bird was missed or was a hen. A couple of the most common reasons for steadying a dog is that (1) they will not flush more birds if they are out chasing a bird that was missed (2) they will not be in danger of being shot when there is a low flying bird (3) They are more likely to mark the fall of the bird.

The most common reason I have heard for not steadying a dog is that they will get to the shot bird faster, making it less likely to lose a cripple.

[Stilly bay]

I have never trained sit to flush, never saw the need for it in my hunting.
I am always aware of my dogs location before I shoot.
I don't shoot at low birds - EVER -EVER-EVER -EVER!!!
I don't shoot multiple birds aside from the rare double every now and then, Im usually focusing on getting the birds I have shot to hand rather than killing more.
Wether or not my dog can mark better sitting or on the run I have never been able to determine, he seems to do well in both scenarios.
I usually hunt alone, so safety is all on me.
If I hunt with someone that isn't experienced they are briefed on the matter that no pheasant is worth my dog's safety and they are strongly encouraged to pass up any and all iffy shots.
And last but not least I want my dog on that pheasant when it hits the ground, a wounded rooster can put some serious distance between itself and the dog.
If I hunted covey birds with my labs I might be singing a different tune.

I do teach remote sit and find that to be a very valuable command when upland hunting.

There is nothing wrong with training sit to flush if that is what you want from you flusher/retriever, its just not something I ever felt I needed.

[AspenBud]

Again, I don't hunt with labs. But I would assume that sticking to this command can come in handy from a steadying standpoint. In other words, the dog should sit when you tell it to, birds or no birds. Last thing you want in a blind or in a boat is for the dog to launch into the water the second shots get fired and birds start dropping. By maintaining discipline while upland hunting you created fewer issues while duck hunting.

But again, I don't hunt with labs. Take the above for what it's worth. I just find consistency in all situations to be best with my pointers so I would assume the same holds true for the flushing dog world.

[Stilly bay]

Again, I don't hunt with labs. But I would assume that sticking to this command can come in handy from a steadying standpoint. In other words, the dog should sit when you tell it to, birds or no birds. Last thing you want in a blind or in a boat is for the dog to launch into the water the second shots get fired and birds start dropping. By maintaining discipline while upland hunting you created fewer issues while duck hunting.

maybe I don't know what sit to flush means.  I thought when the bird comes up the lab's ass goes down without using any sort of command or whistle.

If you tell the dog "sit" in a duck hunting situation ( or any situation) it better keep its ass planted until released no matter whats going on. same with remote sit using a whistle.
IMO They really don't have a problem figuring out the difference between a duck hunt and a pheasant hunt; so steadiness in the blind isn't impaired by lack of steadiness in the field.

I would think in a duck hunting situation "sit to flush" ( the way I understand it anyway) would be a major hinderance on long retrieves where the dog might flush healthy ducks on his way to the crippled bird he has been sent after. but I am sure you can train to prevent this.

[AspenBud]

Again, I don't hunt with labs. But I would assume that sticking to this command can come in handy from a steadying standpoint. In other words, the dog should sit when you tell it to, birds or no birds. Last thing you want in a blind or in a boat is for the dog to launch into the water the second shots get fired and birds start dropping. By maintaining discipline while upland hunting you created fewer issues while duck hunting.

maybe I don't know what sit to flush means.  I thought when the bird comes up the lab's ass goes down without using any sort of command or whistle.

If you tell the dog "sit" in a duck hunting situation ( or any situation) it better keep its ass planted until released no matter whats going on. same with remote sit using a whistle.
IMO They really don't have a problem figuring out the difference between a duck hunt and a pheasant hunt; so steadiness in the blind isn't impaired by lack of steadiness in the field.

I would think in a duck hunting situation "sit to flush" ( the way I understand it anyway) would be a major hinderance on long retrieves where the dog might flush healthy ducks on his way to the crippled bird he has been sent after. but I am sure you can train to prevent this.

I was just throwing it out there. I'll have to defer to lab owners and trainers to be honest.

[Don Fischer]

A steady dog in a safe dog. The dog that sit's is out of the way for shooting. If it wait's to be sent and there is another bird in the way, it'll flush it going to the shot bird, but, most importantly the dog did not risk being shot. I have a friend over in Idaho that used to argue for the un-broke to flush. He shot and killed his own dog. He doesn't go for unsteady anymore. It doesn't matter if it's pointing, flushing or a retriever, a steady dog is a safe dog!