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What is a controlled break?

Dog leaves the retreiving line before being sent. It breaks and will not stop on its own, but due to a handlers command the dog stops and returns to heel. This dog is not considered to be steady, but does show some degree of control by returning to heel.

Instead of waiting to be sent by the handler, the dog breaks for the retrieve but is immediately stopped or controlled by the handler.

Dog breaks for the bird. Handler says "Heel" or "Sit" or whatever and the dog quickly returns to heel.

says "Heel" or "Sit" or whatever and the dog quickly returns to heel.[/quote]

Usually proceeded with NO, HEEL.

usually proceeded with a scream of....NO, HERE, HERE, HERE..............

And if it happens at the Grand on any bird other than the go bird, keep your mouth shut and let the dog make the retrieve. That was a $200 lesson hopefully I'll never forget!

cdwyer wrote:And if it happens at the Grand on any bird other than the go bird, keep your mouth shut and let the dog make the retrieve. That was a $200 lesson hopefully I'll never forget!

Excuse me??? Are you saying that the dog would have been fine and saved your $200 if you simply allowed him to go get the bird?

I'd always use whatever I could to prevent the dog from getting the bird if he broke.

ldh,
cdwyer's CB at the grand was a different scenario then your typical CB when the birds are being shot and dog breaks. His dog left his side without being sent on a memory bird after picking up the go bird and I think the second mark as well. Charles was shocked and promptly said "here" and dog returned to side and was sent and retrieved the last mark. After a 5 minute discussion the judges called it a Controlled Break and was asked to honor ON LEAD!!!! Charles, as well as well as the rest of us, got a $200 lesson that if your dog leaves your side on a mark without being sent LET HIM ROLL and all is good. You only have to send/release your dog on the first bird retrieved at least that is how I remember it was explained. Charles correct me if I am wrong. t

Yea was one of those kinda grey areas but the judges decision at the Grand level was correct. We picked up the go bird, next bird was short, set him up and said "easy" I could tell he knew where the bird was and was ready to be sent. When I said "easy", he took a step or two and I re-heeled him. Had I let him go, the judges would not have known the difference. It was ruled a controled break. I got a break in my favor on the same test with the next dog so everything is good.
A lesson that I will not forget and hopefully not do again at the Grand level.

Another lesson was a walk up shot flyer at a Master test. We did the walk up blew my sit whistle, dog sat and watched the marks go dowm. I was anticipating a creep or worse and let out a unconcience "sigh" which the judge took as a verbal command and dropped us.

No big deal rather than get mad over the little things, use the experience and come out a better more consistant handler which you need to be at the Grand or Master level.