Kaimaicockher nailed it, nothing to do with prey drive or softness, although a softer dog may be predisposed to it, I can't answer that one. The reason why people use a long line to stop a dog chasing at the flush was twofold, firstly the obvious one, it makes it easier to get your dog back, and the most important one, to stop you using voice or whistle. When the dog hits the end of the check cord at full speed, he associates the cartwheel he has just involuntarily done with the chase, as opposed to you stopping him by whistle or reprimanding him at the flush, which he may associate with game. From what I am told, once you have create a blinker, it can be hard to fix, often easier to start again.
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