I say Beaver is wrong. I'd like to be if front on them if possible. What say you?

I like to come in from the side

When meat hunting from the side or right beside them. When working on staunching one up I come from the front to make the birds blow up in front of them. Never did that with meat dogs though.

From the front. To pin the birds between me and the dog

from the side

I approached my Britt on point a few years ago from the front. Got to see my first covey on the roost so far.

I had a pointer need Sis that would leave point, go around and cut them off.

Wide and around to the front and then back to the dog. I have always thought that coming in from behind the dog somehow gives the dog the invitation to come in with me. I need him to stay planted.

I get up there as soon as possible from what ever angle I'm at. Our birds run like a champ.

^^^^^TRUE^^^^^

I've seen that plenty of times.

This is probably the biggest lesson I have learned from this forum. As a kid I hunted with my dad and uncle. We always walked up from behind the dogs. That's the way I was taught. We never hunted with other people much so I assumed that's how everyone did it. Is it possible that walking up behind the dogs was common practice "in the old days " (40's 50's, 60's) and that coming in from in front came about as an improved method, or has coming in from in front always been the preferred method?

Our Bozo used to do that too.

pharmvet I think it is evolution of training myself.

A pointed dog will stay stauncher and will not jump in if it can see you in his periphial vision. The wide and to the front approach also aids in curing a dog that flags on point. The dog is most comfortable and confident with you in his field of vision. Also, STHU around a pointed dog. Silence Is Golden!

"Silence is golden."

My theory on zipping your lip is that a dog goes into a trance while pointing or backing. Talking breaks the spell.

I always come in from the front. I started mostly cause the birds were always running. Then it turned into a way to praise my dog. I dreamt this up in my head one day but it might be valid. She does her part and locks em down. Then I come in slow and easy. She makes solid eye contact with me while on point. I see it as part of the process like tag team wrestling. Now I'll do my part and knock one down for you. It's part of the bond that makes bird dogs so special. That eye contact is priceless. I wouldn't do it any other way as long as I can come in that way

It's been my experience that you should slow down while training, but get here as soon as you can while hunting.

Absolutely! Sometimes the only way to walk in is behind the dogs, but on wild pressured birds I prefer to circle wide to front asap to block any birds from running ahead. Especially for birds like sage grouse and pheasants.

On the Texas birds I deal with you better get to it from whatever direction is quickest because it's getting to where they don't hang around long unless a dog really has pinned them down and is starring at them.

I strongly believe you should run in screaming, questioning the dogs heritage and all the while with your finger on the shock coller on high. does not hurt to pepper the dog while he is running off.

If he stands staunch he might make a dog

I had a setter that when I was hunting the hedge rows in MO. alone, he would go around and come back into the birds.

I see this more than you can imagine. Me and one handler who was on my lease had to have a little meeting in the field a couple of years ago. Thing is...his dogs were doing nothing wrong.