Steadiness exercises and intro to game.

[Lloyd90]

What is everyone doing for steadiness exercises and their introduction to game process?

Do you have a process or steps that you follow in-order before introducing a dog into the shooting field?

 

Personally I am going back to some basics and lots of exercises to get the dog used to sitting and waiting. Would be good if we got a collection of drills or exercises we can all use.

 

Lloyd

[ilovemyheckler]

right from a pup walking her on lead where there is game (birds & rabbits) and every time she flushes a bird/rabbit I give a gentle tug on the lead and get her to sit. Effectively I am teaching her to sit to any type of flush.

Next stage is doing the same off the lead.

Next stage is shoot over training days

Only when she is 100% steady (ie. sitting every time she flushes) would I consider taking her shooting.

If the dog isn't 100% steady at training there is no chance it will be in the shooting field and all the training to date will quickly turn to rat **** as it's in their DNA to chase

If you struggle to find rabbits they can often be found around the grassed areas of industrial estates. I would use this before I try a rabbit pen. little steps and all that.

[Lloyd90]

27 minutes ago, ilovemyheckler said:

If you struggle to find rabbits they can often be found around the grassed areas of industrial estates. I would use this before I try a rabbit pen. little steps and all that.

 

That's a bit part of it I think.

If you can have regular walks with flushes the dog becomes accustomed to it and I think isn't as excited around game.