Spend any time in gun dog circles and you will notice that there is an awful lot of terminology. You will hear people throwing out terms like “staunch,” “steady,” “started,” and “broke” when referring to their gun dogs, and you may even be tempted to think that each of these terms has a hard and fast definition, one shared by the entire community of trainers, handlers, and enthusiasts. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The fact is that these terms of reference, that are intended to describe a level of training or a dog’s expected behavior in the field, are largely subjective. Nowhere is this subjectivity more on display than in a conversation about “finished” dogs, and flushing dogs in particular. I can tell you that I have seen several dogs described by their owners as “finished” which I would say are a far cry from. In this installment of the Flush, I’d like to provide my definition of a “finished” flushing dog, and I’d also like to provide some thoughts on why a “finished” dog is desirable. For those who feel my definition is inadequate, or who think there is more or less to a finished dog than I describe here, well, we will have to agree to disagree.

What Does it Mean to Steady a Flushing Dog?

Let me start by defining “steadiness,” which is one attribute of a finished dog. A steady dog, and a steady flushing dog notably, hunts close and obeys whistle commands. On the flush, the steady dog will hup (sit) and mark the downed bird and will only release to retrieve or keep hunting when the command or cue to do so is given. As discussed in an earlier Flush column, steadying a flushing spaniel is not always deemed necessary by hunters or handlers. There are those who will stop short of steadying a dog, saying that they would prefer a dog to chase on the flush to get a head start on a retrieve in thick cover, or to get a jump on a cripple. My belief is that steadying a flusher serves a few key purposes, all of which eventually serve the goal of making a finished gun dog.

First and foremost, steadying a dog makes for an inherently safer hunting experience. A dog that avoids chasing or jumping after low birds or hoppers, one that stays put at the moment of the flush, generally keeps himself out of harm’s way when the shot is taken. The composure of a steady dog lends to a more manageable shooting environment, particularly when green or overeager shooters are in the field. The safety implications of steadiness are inarguable. Additionally, a steady dog that hups on the flush will be composed, watching, and in better physical position to see the shot and fall, and to mark the downed bird. This will enable the released dog to take a hard line directly to the bird, rather than ranging about in the general area of the fall hoping to cross scent. This will result in more effective, quicker retrieves. Finally, hunting behind a steady dog is just more pleasant. The hunt can be paced and managed to a level that works for the hunters involved.

A steady flushing dog is well on its way to being finished, but finishing demands a few additional skills and attributes.

What is the Difference Between a Steady and Finished Dog?

A finished dog must first mind all whistle and voice commands and must maintain an appropriate range for the cover. He must quarter thoroughly within gun range, keep attention on the handler, and hup on command. He must handle with minimal noise, meaning he need not require multiple whistle blasts or voice commands to turn, recall, or hup. He must walk, stand, or sit at heel in a composed fashion on or off the lead.

A finished flusher must retrieve with intensity and deliver birds to hand. He cannot crunch cripples, shake dead birds, and he must hold retrieved birds in a soft mouth until the handler asks for them. After a flush, if the bird is not shot, the finished dog continues hunting upon being released, rather than chasing the un-shot flyer and potentially bumping unscented birds in the field.

Finally, a finished flusher needs to be able to execute short blind retrieves on land and in the water. The finished dog should have some capacity to handle remotely.

What is interesting in all of this criteria about the “finished” flusher is that there is nearly complete overlap between my definition of a finished dog and the criteria necessary for completion of an AKC Master Hunt Test title. Note, that though I come from a field trial background, I would not necessarily say that every Field Trial Champion would qualify as a finished flushing dog, nor would that same dog pass the Master Level Hunt Test. When I think of a finished flusher, I think of a dog that performs beautifully for a walk-up hunter in a range of authentic hunting environments, one that can hunt purposefully and effectively to bring birds to bag with efficiency and style.

The Value of Having a Finished Flushing Dog

So, why finish a flushing dog? What is the value of a finished dog? Well, the answer is two-fold. I suppose that foremost, a finished dog will behave predictably and in a fashion that simultaneously creates a safe, manageable, and productive hunting experience for the shooter. In the end, the ostensible job of a gun dog is to help the hunter realize more success, and a finished dog will do so in spades. The finished dog will cover ground thoroughly and efficiently and will produce birds within range. He will hup on the flush, allowing for safe and confident shooting. He will mark well and charge to the retrieve, making a prompt and classy delivery to hand of a dead bird or a cripple. He will locate unmarked game, take direction from a distance in land or water, and will aid in putting more game in the pot at day’s end. Finally, he will be a mannerly companion in route to and from the field and make an enjoyable day of hunting all the better. Our days afield are so few, why not make them as productive and enjoyable as possible?

The other value I see in finishing a dog is that as a trainer, it is amazing to see what can be accomplished in the relationship between human and dog. Finishing a dog requires that the trainer really lay out a plan and work hard to achieve it, modifying training to suit the individual dog, and maintaining a high degree of training consistency over the length of a dog’s life. The dog, for his part, must exhibit the drive, tenacity, and biddability to ingest a whole range of lessons, build upon them in stairstep fashion, and deliver on that education in the field. The process of finishing requires that humans and dogs are invested, trusting partners who are willing to put in hours, sometimes years, of work. Ultimately, isn’t this why we have dogs? Even as they show us all that they are capable of, they help us find the best in ourselves. I’ve never known a trainer to finish a dog and decide it was a waste of time.