ORIGINAL: Phil from Maine
First of all welcome to the forums..
Looking to point, hold, flush, and retrieve to hand.
To point, hold, and retrieve to me is OK, but when you throw flush into the mix well? that will confuse the dog as to what you want it to do. You get it to point and hold point, but why not you flush the bird up? Having the dog point and hold, then get it to flush to me is saying stop holding and pointing for me. Flush em up buddy it's ok so the dog thinks it's ok to flush and then the next thing you know it's no longer pointing for you. I think you get the idea on what I am trying to say.
I have had good luck with my Brittany pointing, holding, flushing and retrieving. I think it is probably what each persons dog is capable of. When she points she holds her point until I tell her to flush, then if we take and make the shot she retrieves. Maybe I got lucky with my dog to be able to get her to do that. She is really good in thick and light cover. Her size helps her get in more places also. Hunts Pheasant, quail, prarie chicken and grouse. Just my 2 cents....