Steady

Steadiness separates beginning or novice hunting dogs from their more advanced brothers and sisters. A steady dog is always under control, even in the mayhem of a flushed covey. This control is shown by the willingness of the dog to break off a chase, to sit in the field even when outside of any direct reach of the handler, and ultimately, in a finished dog, to be steady to wing and shot.

Joe's seminar focused on steadying the hunting dog. The exercises included some simple sit/stay drills without birds. Joe said that "game changes everything," and that you need rock-hard steadiness before introducing game.

During the course of the weekend, we went ahead and introduced pigeons even though the dogs were not entirely steadied without them so that Joe could show the types of exercises we would progress to.

Larsen is steady without birds, although he is just now learning how to sit at the whistle. This is something we practice daily on our walks. So it was time to introduce game to the exercise. Here is a pictoral essay on that introduction with Larsen and others.


Bill hups Hampton at the line and prepares to walk away from him.


Having hupped Larsen, Frank walks away. Larsen is steady.



Venee has walked a few paces from Murphy. Murphy is steady.



After having called Larsen, Frank stops Larsen in midstream.




Frank calls Larsen, then whistles and motions Larsen to a "sit" in mid-stream. Joe holds the bird high, which catches Larsen's eye and reinforces the sitting motion as Larsen follows Joe's hand.



Larsen starts to learn to stop at the whistle.


Frank M. keeps an eye on Bibi as Joe tempts her with a tossed pigeon. Bibi stays put.


Larsen remains steady as he watches a pigeon land in the grass. Good boy, Larsen!


Larsen is given permission to retrieve the pigeon.