Definition: A check down bird is a mark that dogs have a tendency to overrun, or deviate away from because there is a slightly deeper, more attractive gun station or mark drawing it away. A check down bird is not defined by the length of the retrieve.

The following list identifies the characteristics of a check down bird situation:

• A lack of elements that cause your dog’s momentum to deteriorate while enroute to the mark.
• Retiring the check down gun station.
• Protecting the check down bird so that your dog can’t stumble on it, see it, or wind it easily.
• Positioning the longer gun station so that it is highly visible/attractive when your dog is sitting on the mat and in route to the fall area of the short bird.

*Please note, I failed to mention an important point during the webinar. When setting up a check down mark, you should avoid adding factors like terrain, cover, and technical water entries & exits that can cause your dog to deviate from the line to the retrieve. Instead, concentrate on the concept and teach your dog to fight factors by doing marks that don’t involve the check down bird concept.

This video covers:

• HOW TO CREATE A CHECK DOWN BIRD SITUATION
• CUEING
• TEACHING THE CONCEPT TO AN INEXPERIENCED DOG
• WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU RUN YOUR DOG
• HOW TO REACT TO SITUATIONS THAT ARISE
• RECOGNIZING WHEN YOUR DOG IS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE CONCEPT, AND
• UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO HELP YOUR DOG OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTY
• UNDERSTANDING WHAT CAN CAUSE CHECK DOWN BIRD MARKING TO ERODE