Steadiness on released Birds

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:23 am

As you may recall I was having steadiness issues in the rain. Well, this problem creeped up in a NSTRA trial in Ontario. It was 92 dgrees and my dogs are not in great shape right now. Mercy does have this desire to be close to the birds.

How do I re steady her with out knocking down her style? She had been steady untill this winter now she creeps. My usuall was to go pick her up and place her back dropping her from a foot off the ground and saying Whoa! That has created a style issue when I walk up to her. She drops her tail etc. I suspect some of her creeping is she is out of shape and not getting as good scent as she wants or is losing it. I know how it is in hot conditions and changing winds. My Brit doesn't do this and he is fatter than she. She is not fat just not in running condition.

I have not used an e-collar on her at all.
Should I pop birds from a launcher? (from a safe distance)
I will be taking her to the grouse woods as soon as the little ones are flying. ( acouple more weeks)
I have started a conditioning program (when we have time for she and me)

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:54 am

I am new to this myslef, but I have seen this work. Get some remote launchers. Plant the launchers and run the dog. When the dog makes scent pop the bird. Don't say a word. Just keep popping birds when she makes scent. The birds will train the dog that if she moves a muscle after making scent that the bird will fly and the game is over.

I'm sure other more experienced folks on here have some other or better ideas.

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:39 am

Sounds like she wants to see the bird. Don't let her. Buckeye has it pretty well right in my mind. The only thing I would emphasize is: Pop the bird the second she indicates scent, don't let her move up the scent cone at all. You are trying to simulate a very spooky wild bird that won't take the pressure of a close dog. You'd be amazed at how few repetitions it will take for the dog to learn to stop at 1st scent! Has she seen or caught many birds??

NDBDHunter · Post by **NDBDHunter** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:46 am

I would also add to this that you should have the dog on a checkcord the whole time, so you can control the situation. If the dog runs over the top of the launcher you may have other problems to deal with.

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:02 pm

Thanks Guys:

I do use the launchers. Some times they work and sometimes they don't (meaning activating). I will be trying the launcher deal again this week. Was wondering if there were any other methods that have fool proof success.

Mercy is a VC and MH and a NSTRA 1,2,3, and 3 placements. She is 5 years old. This whole thing started this winter at the NSTRA trials. Same with the style thing. She has had tons of birds shot over her wild and liberated. Perhaps just stick with what I know and keep at it.

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:12 pm

Ruffshooter wrote:Thanks Guys:
Mercy is a VC and MH and a NSTRA 1,2,3, and 3 placements. She is 5 years old. This whole thing started this winter at the NSTRA trials.

Sounds like she was, or should have been, DEAD BROKE for those Titles! What happened? Somewhere, someplace, something broke down for her to lose the steadyness those test/placements would have required! What caused her to creep? Did she catch a weak bird or 2??

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:58 pm

Its been my experience that most dogs will start to creep or lose the steady to w&s if you dont continue to correct every time out. Shouldn't be too hard to correct. Most trial dogs need a refresher every year after hunting season from my experience.

Ezzy

Casper · Post by **Casper** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:33 pm

AHGSP wrote:
Ruffshooter wrote:Thanks Guys:
Mercy is a VC and MH and a NSTRA 1,2,3, and 3 placements. She is 5 years old. This whole thing started this winter at the NSTRA trials.
Sounds like she was, or should have been, DEAD BROKE for those Titles! What happened? Somewhere, someplace, something broke down for her to lose the steadyness those test/placements would have required! What caused her to creep? Did she catch a weak bird or 2??

At a guess possibly a brace mate stole point or did something that made her want to get in close?

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:08 am

Thanks:

I too suspect some thing happened, I just don't recall what it may have been. It must have been something I thought would not be a big deal. She is very competitive and will blink an honor if she thinks she is clever enough to hide it from me.

I will be giving her a dose of launchers and I am going to throw in some pheasants just to mix it up. But of course today Saturday it is raining. I won't set my self for that fiasco again. I will let you all know how it goes.