How to Teach Whoa
Standing still is one of the hardest things for our bird dog athletes to do. These dogs are bred to run and hunt game, but to develop finesse and good manners in the bird field, that natural drive needs to be channeled and guided. Having an unfailing stop is one of the most valuable skills we can teach them.
E-Collar Introduction and Cues
We introduce the e-collar after cues for the desired behaviors are fully taught and the dog consistently responds to a physical cue with confidence. In our training system, all cues are introduced in the Foundation Level, which is the first level of training. The transition to the e-collar occurs during the Intermediate Level, once the dog is proficient with all of the Foundation concepts.
Introducing Your Bird Dog to Gunfire
With properly prepared dogs, we rarely see one that is sensitive to gunfire. However, we always pay attention to any subtle response from the dog to the gunfire. A momentary glance, a flinch, or even quitting the chase are indicators that the dog was negatively impacted by the sound.
Introducing Your Pointing Dog to Birds
We believe in imprinting young puppies with the things that we want them to excel with as adults. Puppies that we raise are typically imprinted with bird experiences before 8 weeks of age, and those experiences are consistent predictors of their future performances. Like athletes in any sport, the best dogs start early and build on their experiences throughout life.
Developing a Bird Dog Puppy
Every time we interact with a dog, we're training them—whether we are thinking about it or not. The Smith Method of Training puts a strong emphasis on how we interact with our dogs throughout their life.
What is the Smith Method of Dog Training?
The Smith Method of Training focuses on studying the individual bird dog and applying the training in a way that builds the dog’s confidence and proficiency.
The Wonder Lead
The Command Lead is one of our training tools that teaches dogs how to heel on a loose lead. It is designed to get dogs to “join up” and to make the decision to walk beside you. The lead was developed by Ronnie’s uncle, Delmar Smith, and continues to be a trademark of our system.