1. YARD TRAINING / SHOW PUP STAGE
THE GEORGE HICKOX METHOD DESCRIBED IN A CONCISE MANNER

2. Six Rules of Dog Training Success
Dogs are pack animals, you are the leader
Dogs are creatures of habits-reps, reps,reps
Correction or reward must be made at the place of the dogs action-1.3 seconds
Your dog must know what the command (demand) means
Give the command once is the goal
Don’t ever teach WHOA around birds

3. SHOW PUP TRAINING
Always train with e-collar on dog/ prevents dog from becoming collar wise
Kennel Command - Repeated w/ no correction
Repeating w/ stimulation & command

4. KENNEL COMMAND Stimulation, Command, Response Stage
Command, Stimulation, Response
Command, Response
(before CSR stage, make sure dog knows how to turn stimulation off)
make commands w/ and then w/o check cord

5. HERE COMMAND Make command while kneeling Make w/wo check cord
Stimulation, Command, Response
Command, Stimulation, Response
Command Response Stage

6. WHOA COMMAND
Use WHOA board, table, barrel, & suitcase rope in show pup stage w/no stimulation until dog understands command
Familiarize dog thoroughly with WHOA command

7. WHOA COMMAND II
Use WHOA command w/ stimulation and no board (if dog whoa’s w/stimulation, it knows how to turn stimulation off)
Stimulation, Command, Response
Command, Stimulation, Response
Command, Response

8. WHOA COMMAND III Move to use WHOA Board Stimulation, Command, Response
Command, Stimulation, Response
Command, Response

9. INTRO TO BIRDS (quail, pigeons)
Have Dogs chase, point, retrieve, catch birds with no commands-let the have fun
Do not intro to pheasants until later
Introduce dogs to Gunfire by using velcroed birds and use blanks fired at a distance

10. INTRO TO GUNFIRE Fire blanks at 75 yards plus
Move closer & closer firing blanks and tossing birds until dogs are used to or ignore the noise
Use 20/28 GA. Shotgun moving closer & closer until dogs ignore gunfire while chasing birds tossed near them.

11. WHOA BOARD TRAINING
Walk dog on to board, say whoa, stroke , pet, praise dog
Pull dog off w/ checkcord. Turn stimulation on continuous/low & set dog back on board, remove stimulation. Dog learns safe place.
After continuous reps, dog won’t come off board when pulled. Move on at that point.

12. WHOA WITH BIRDS Use Whoa board, w/quail & no stimulation at first
Move on to using quail using repetitive commands
Stimulation, Command, Response
Command, Stimulation, Response
Command, Response

13. PROPER COLLAR CONDITIONING
Show pup stage, when dog stays on board, introduce birds while dog is on the board
If dog comes off the board w/ bird thrown in front of him & no stimulation, keep repeating until he gets the idea
Then go to stimulation if he comes off the board

14. BIRDS WHILE ON BOARD
Throw bird down. If dog leaves board,bring dog back w/ check cord while applying stimulation. Repeat until dog “gets it”
Once he does, pick him up and carry him away from the bird in a different direction.
It is important to do this for later point drill training afield

15. DOG ON POINT TRAINING
At first while introducing dog to birds he has pointed, pick him up & walk away in a different direction.
Point drill - Tie a Bird to a bush a couple feet off the ground.
Bring the dog in at a 90 degree angle to the bird. This prevents creeping.

16. POINT DRILL II
When dog first smells the bird, say whoa once. If the dog moves, place him back on the “imaginary board” where he was when the command was given.
Do not apply stimulation until show pups are completed.

17. POINT DRILL III Walk around dog on point,kicking grass, bushes, etc.
Toss a few stones, if dog creeps, put him back on the imaginary board
WHEN When dog has been put back, constantly rub dog, face, feet, legs, & praise him, say whoa repeatedly.

18. FINISHING POINTING DOGS
Make dog steady to wing and shot
Go Back to the board
Put bird launcher downwind of board & dog
On first 8-12 reps, do not use stimulation until show pups are done and dog is steady

19. STEADY TO WING & SHOT
Then use stimulation & check cord to bring back dog to board if he leaves it upon release of bird from launcher.
When dog is steady to wing or flush, move to the field for more intensive bird training

20. BANG, WHOA- Steady to Shot
Walk with the dog at heel, fire blanks into the air, say whoa
Dog should stop at whoa & shot
Repeat until dog stops at shot only

21. BACKING - HONORING POINT
Run dog downwind from (from dog to launcher)
Pop up autobacker. Dog should back or honor other dog. Then flush several birds with launcher.
When dog is used to this, quit the autobacker and use live dogs on point

22. BACKING II
If no autobacker, have on dog point and work new dog towards 1st dog. Make sure he backs first dog.
Plant a Pheasant by folding his head under a wing. This puts the bird to sleep. Works w/ pigeons too.

23. FORCED RETRIEVING Use a forced retrieve bench
Use wood dowel 1 1/2 in. thick
Take 4-8 weeks of training to complete. Once started, you must finish training
Tie off Dogs collar to post with 1/4 in. rope
Use toe hitch to force dog to accept wood dowel.

24. FORCED RETREIVING II
Make slip knot in small diameter (Starter rope) rope about two foot long. Put slip knot around leg above joint.
Run rope under and around outside toe, and around two middle toes, then loop rope under and out. Let end hang off table.
Pull on cord and toes, when dog say’s ouch, put dowel in dogs mouth & release pressure

25. FORCED RETRIEVE IV
Say hold or fetch when sticking dowel in dog’s mouth
After many reps he should take dowel when you say hold/fetch without any toe pressure
Once bench work is started, don’t have dog retrieve live birds until retrieve training is finished

26. FORCED RETREIVE V After used to this drill, release dog from post
Then go to stimulation, toe pressure, command to hold

27. HUNTING IN RANGE Show pup stage for quartering Hunt into the wind
Use two beeps on whistle for left or right, w/ hand signal & use yep command
Put short 6-8 foot command lead on pup with loop around one ear for better control

28. QUARTERING
Walk back and forth, giving whistle command as you pull him in different direction using short 6-8 ft. command lead, until dog gets the idea of quartering
Switch to using a long lead and no stimulation

29. QUARTERING II Switch to using stimulation, command, response training
Then use command, stimulation, response
Then go to command , response
Then graduate to above training w/o check cord

30. QUARTERING III
Have a bird in your vest and throw it down near you if dog is running wide. This makes dog realize birds are found near the boss.