Spaniels are trained to quarter in front of the handler and to flush game and should have the following skills:
- Steadiness – When hunting all flushing dogs should sit when a bird starts to fly or a gun is fired over it. He is expected to mark the bird (if the handler/gun manages to shot it) and only go for the retrieve of the bird when the handler instructs it to do so.
- Retrieve to Hand – All Test or Field Trial Judges require that a dog delivers a bird to hand, meaning that the dog is expected to hold the bird until told to give it to the handler.
- Hand Signals – Hunting gun dogs are expected to respond to hand signals from the handler to direct it to cover and habitat of the game.
- Soft Mouth – It is a requirement that all gun dogs deliver game with a soft mouth, which means it does not puncture the game with its teeth. The game should always be ‘fit for the table’. If a gun dog damages the bird, it may be classed as ‘hard mouthed’. This is a serious fault, and it can be difficult to determine whether it may have been genetic or caused by poor training methods.
- Quartering/Hunting – Dogs must work in a zig-zag pattern in front of the handler. The dog must be taught to stay within the gun range to avoid flushing a bird outside of the fair and safe shooting distance. This pattern is one of the major criteria’s used to judge a dog in a field trial.
- Scenting – Having the ability to scent game is of vital importance to the handler. A gun dog should have a good nose in all weather conditions. A dog with a good nose will learn to use the wind in its quests for game, adjusting its pattern according to the direction of the wind.
- Flushing – The hunting dog should have a confident flush. It should not hesitate when encountering game. It should flush/push the bird out with confidence but it should sit and wait for the handlers command as soon as the bird takes flight.
- Hup – This is the traditional command to sit and stay, translated to a whistle command with a single pip. ‘Hup’ is your brakes, and should stop your dog in any situation. A dog that does not stop on the whistle is like running your car without any brakes.
- Blind Retrieve – A well trained and experienced working gun dog is expected to use all of the training and experience above to be directed by hand and whistle to a position whereby an unmarked bird can be picked and retrieved to hand.