Advanced Steadiness Drills for Gundogs

"Steadiness learned slowly lasts longer than steadiness rushed."

Once your dog understands that sit means stay and has nailed basic steadiness around food, toys, and simple distractions—it's time to raise the bar.

This article introduces real-world steadiness challenges to prepare your dog for:

• Working tests
• Field trials
• Group training
• Shoot days

These drills increase arousal, complexity, and environmental realism without losing control.

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📍 Before You Start

Your dog should already:

• Sit confidently until released
• Resist breaking on basic dummy throws
• Work comfortably around low-level distractions

If not, begin with Building Steadiness in Young Gundogs first.

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🧱 Key Principles for Advanced Steadiness

✅ Never let your dog self-release ✅ Always have a release cue ✅ Occasionally reward not retrieving ✅ Vary when and if they’re sent ✅ Stay calm—never nag or punish for breaking. Just reset.

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🔁 Drill 1: “Seen But Not Yours”

Purpose: Build control and emotional neutrality around exciting retrieves.

Setup:

• Have a helper throw a dummy ~20m ahead
• Dog remains sitting next to you
• Another dog retrieves

Progression:

• First watch dummies fall without a send
• Then occasionally release your dog
• Occasionally walk out and pick up the dummy yourself

🎯 Your dog must learn: not everything is for them.

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🔁 Drill 2: Delayed Retrieves

Purpose: Increase patience under arousal.

How:

• Throw a dummy as normal
• Ask for a sit
• Wait 5, 10, 20 seconds... then release

Vary delay times randomly. Always reward a calm, still wait—even if it’s hard.

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🔁 Drill 3: Double Dummy Trap

Purpose: Test judgment and control.

Setup:

• Throw dummy A to the left
• Then dummy B to the right
• Sit your dog throughout
• Send for dummy B (second one)

Repeat later but send for A instead. Mix it up.

🎯 This builds listening, not just muscle memory.

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🔁 Drill 4: Walk-Up Line (Simulated Shoot)

Purpose: Simulate shoot day distractions and other dogs.

Format:

• Train in a line of 2–4 handlers and dogs
• Walk across the field
• At intervals, dummies are thrown
• Only one dog is sent; others stay sitting

Rotate roles. Add starter pistol or clap for realism.

🧠 Great for shoot prep, trial readiness, and honouring under pressure.

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🔁 Drill 5: Steadiness Under Gunfire

Purpose: Desensitize and maintain composure around bangs.

How:

• Fire a blank (starter pistol or .22 with blanks)
• Throw dummy
• Dog remains steady throughout

Never fire from too close when introducing this. Build distance and positive associations gradually.

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🔁 Drill 6: Distraction Recall

Purpose: Test ability to stop mid-motion or ignore temptation.

Setup:

• Recall your dog
• Throw a dummy as they run toward you
• Blow stop whistle before they reach it

Only release them if they stop clean. Otherwise reset.

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⚠️ Common Pitfalls in Advanced Steadiness

Problem	Fix
Creeping forward under pressure	Reinforce stop whistle + reset calmly
Dog anticipates the retrieve	Mix up walk-out vs send. Use blinds + honouring drills
Dog breaks with other dogs	Use longer lead, reward watching others work
Losing drive due to over-control	Re-balance with drive-building retrieves & reward-based recall work

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🚫 Pitfall: Taking a Young Dog to a Shoot Too Soon

It’s tempting to take your young dog on its first shoot and let it pick up birds. But many experienced handlers agree:

“The first season should be all about watching, not working.”

Why?

• Shoot days are chaotic – noise, scent, falling birds, shouting, other dogs
• Excitement overrides training – even a well-drilled young dog can break under the pressure
• Live game is unpredictable – it doesn’t bounce like a dummy, and the consequences of chasing are real

What to do instead:

• Bring your dog as a spectator
• Sit with them quietly through the drive
• Let them watch other dogs retrieve
• Reward calmness and control
• Don’t send them, even if the bird falls right in front

📈 This investment in patience now will pay off in future seasons. You're showing your dog that steadiness matters—even when real game is involved.

Remember:

• The goal is not “my dog picked a bird at 9 months”
• The goal is a lifetime of reliable, controlled performance

Letting excitement win early on can undo months of training.

🧠 Steadiness learned slowly lasts longer than steadiness rushed.

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🎯 Weekly Training Sample

Day	Focus Area
Monday	Delayed retrieve + walk-up
Wednesday	Double dummy traps
Friday	Seen-but-not-sent + gunfire
Sunday	Group line with distractions

Rotate exercises weekly. Keep them short, focused, and fun.

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✅ Summary

Advanced steadiness is about teaching calm amidst chaos. You’re not just training a dog to sit—you’re training composure, judgement, and control in real-world scenarios.

A steady dog:

• Wins tests and trials
• Keeps the line safe on shoot days
• Becomes a true pleasure to work with

Don’t rush it. Build patience as carefully as you built drive.