Steady to shot

[gundog]

Hi everyone,

Finally resumed training and my GSP is doing great. He has always been steady to shot however I'm finding now when I shoot a bird released from a launcher he immediately goes for the retrieve. If I miss the bird he will stay steady even though I fired a shot. He will even take as much pain from the e-collar as long as he retrieves the shot bird. Is it time to backtrack to the checkcord? I would like him to be consistently steady to shot regardless of the conditions.

Thanks

John

[Maverick]

Perhaps having someone do the shooting for you while you leash and make sure the dog does not go until released.
Is the dog whoa broke?
Will he whoa anywhere on command?
If not, go back to yard work until he will whoa on commad reliably every time.
Then introduce birds, when he is been whoa'd throw a bird down in front of him and let it walk around. When he will stay on whoa reliably with this exercise move to the field.


Mav.....

[gundog]

Thanks Mav,

Yes he will stop to the whoa command at any given time or location. I think it's just the excitement of the bird falling.

[Big Bird]

Gundog

Another important step here is to make sure the dog is steady to the fall. Do not let him retrieve until he is steady to the fall. Make him stay while you pick up the bird, repeat this gradually letting him retreive. Keep him off guard, varing allowing him to retreive and you making the retreive. Just keeps him honest!

[gundog]

You were right Maverick. He will whoa on command anywhere. Now I placed a pigeon in front of him and he will stay steady until the bird starts walking , then he will start barking. Should I just keep doing this exercise consistently in hopes that he will start to get it?

[Maverick]

When he starts barking just pop him up with the check cord and tell him whoa quietly. Have some one else flush the bird for you. Make sure he stays steady, fire a blank and make him watch the bird fly off.
Heel him off and do the same thing again with another bird.
He is barking because he is excited and wants at that bird, if you can get him steady here then you can start to fully break him if that is what you wish.
The other good thing about a strong whoa is that it makes training a dog to stop to flush so much easier. using a launcher bring a dog in upwind of the bird, when he gets to 30 yards or so, launch the bird and tell him whoa.
After a bit he will learn to stop to flush on all wild flushes.
BTW, you coming out to any of the upcoming tests this spring? I would love to see your dog run with all the training you have done.
Mav.....



You were right Maverick. He will whoa on command anywhere. Now I placed a pigeon in front of him and he will stay steady until the bird starts walking , then he will start barking. Should I just keep doing this exercise consistently in hopes that he will start to get it?

[gundog]

Thanks Mav,

I think it's just going to take time. I made a whoa board today and can get him to whoa NO PROBLEM, even with distractions. You are absolutely right in that he wants the bird. Cross my fingers and keep plugging away. I will be in Canfield on May 19th and Luther Marsh on the 26th and 27th. Hope to see ya there if you attend.

John

[Maverick]

I will be at the GSP and the Brittany club tests. Come on over and say hi.
I will have the orange and white brittany...:redface:
Driving a white GMC Jimmy.

Mav......