Reflecting back on my first walked-up in January 2015 I feel as though I've come a long way with my four year old black lab, Ivy. She is a joy to work in the field and I adore her quirky personality. One of the key lessons I've learnt this season is to continually work on steadiness. Having a dog that is calm, quiet and stays put in the field is fundamental for the picking-up role. Ivy has been calm and quiet but not always steady, especially on the first drive! I know she's rock steady in training sessions but in the field it's different. The excitement of a shoot day, the scent of birds and the anticipation of what is to come teases the calm state of mind. In an attempt to manage her enthusiasm I sent her for a few easy retrieves on the first drive. This gave her a chance to warm up, kept her calm and gave her some experience in the field.
It's great when all goes right but hard to know what to do when things go wrong! So what's the solution? I know everyone has their own approach when it comes to achieving steadiness. Going back to the basics is always a good starting point for us and as a novice I realise steadiness is the foundation of training. It is one of the most important lessons I'll have to install in my dogs. As the lighter evenings are just around the corner I'll be working on Ivy's steadiness and hopefully by next season she'll be ready and steady for the first retrieve of the day!
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