English setter has stopped setting

barleyman

Hi,

I was wondering if somebody could give me some advice on a 12month old english setter. In the last 2 months I have been taking him out hunting at least 2/3 days per week and meeting a lot of birds, which mostly he set and held perfectly. The last couple of times I have had the dog out he has flushed everything without any sign of him setting. I'm really at a loss with this dog as I was beginning to wonder whether he was going to get too sticky and now he's the total opposite flushing everything in sight. I haven't taken him out with other dogs and I haven't shot any bird over him yet. Is there a way to sort this problem out or do i need to give him a rest from hunting for a while?

deeksofdoom

barleyman wrote: »

Hi,

I was wondering if somebody could give me some advice on a 12month old english setter. In the last 2 months I have been taking him out hunting at least 2/3 days per week and meeting a lot of birds, which mostly he set and held perfectly. The last couple of times I have had the dog out he has flushed everything without any sign of him setting. I'm really at a loss with this dog as I was beginning to wonder whether he was going to get too sticky and now he's the total opposite flushing everything in sight. I haven't taken him out with other dogs and I haven't shot any bird over him yet. Is there a way to sort this problem out or do i need to give him a rest from hunting for a while?

Well if your bringing him out 2/3 times a week and not shooting anything and he's setting the whole time I think its about time you shot a bird for him.

westwicklow

12 months old....
nothing shot over him....
time to get shooting and start to build his experience.

stevoman

agrred. shoot a few birds over him only when he sets them. and dont worry, you'l not have a shrewd dog until he's 2 and a half - 3 years old

irish setter

although you haven't shot over him it shouldn't affect him as to stop him setting. if you shot birds over him when he didn't set them then i'd agree with the other lads. do you let him chase birds? if so he just might find chasing more fun therefore he will get em up as fast as possible. it could be poor scenting conditions or just a phase but if you let him chase i'd correct that first

Charlie 22

Did you try Resetting him? it usually works for me

locum-motion

Charlie 22 wrote: »

Did you try Resetting him? it usually works for me

What?
Have setters got a little recessed button on their bellies that you push with the point of a pen?
Wow, never knew that...








I'll get me coat.