A trained retriever needs two very important skills: to be steady and to honor another working dog. These two skills are almost as important as a nice retrieve. They are not only important for hunt tests, but they are also important skills for a hunting dog to master.
In yesterday’s post, I showed Freighter training “honor“.
“Honor” is where the dog waits in a specified area while marks are thrown for another dog. The “honor” dog must not enter the field or interfere with the working dog. It can be difficult for the honor dog to just sit and watch, but sit there he must.
A dog is considered “steady” when it can sit quietly at heel until its handler releases it to retrieve.
I took a few pictures of Saturday’s training with my old camera. It was snowing quite hard, so I did not want to chance taking my new camera out in that weather.
Many elements that we train to use in hunt tests carry over to hunting. Steadiness is one thing that we continuously train. You don’t want your dog moving around in the duck blind scaring off the birds. But more importantly, a steady dog is a safe dog. You don’t want a dog to dash off to retrieve until all the birds are down and the hunters have finished shooting. Of course any dog can break so you have to be vigilant and never assume that a dog is completely steady.
Honoring another working dog is also an important skill for a retriever. You never know when you may be hunting with multiple dogs. You want your dog to understand that there may be times when it is not sent to retrieve a fallen bird. This skill is also important for hunt tests. It is a terrible day when you get all the way through the test and then blow it because the dog breaks the honor. We train honoring as often as we get the chance.
What do you train most often?
They really are remarkably good. I should think it’s a skill that is wonderful no matter what situation they find themselves in.
I love how eager they look, just begging for their turn. It’s wonderful to see dogs getting to do what they love!
I would think that both those skills would be helpful in other areas not just hunting.
Blessings,
Goose
We watch some Labs train in a field not far from out house and it is amazing how they can just wait! Mom wanted me to say that the camera thing frustrates her too with the weather. Now in the winter she doesn’t want it out in the cold to long, or when it is snowing…seems like they should be made to endure all weather…maybe they need to invent an all weather camera that is as good as the ones we use indoors???
There are some waterproof cameras, but the ones that take good pictures are expensive. My new one is weather resistant, but I worry about the lens. 🙂
Steady, honour,,,,hmm not me and certainly not when there are squirrels about. Joking apart it makes good sense as shooting can be dangerous. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
Great pics. I would say we train for honoring alot but that also goes along with steadiness, if you are honoring you have to be steady.
Except when you honor, you never get the bird. That is the hard part for our dogs. They think everything is all about them…lol.
Steady and Honor are good commands to teach any dog. I am trying to get my Aussie mix Pierson to stay and honor my Labrador Maya when she fetches. Otherwise, he beats her to the toy and she doesn’t want to play anymore.
Sit. That is the one they get the most use out of. We’re bad at training, I need the structure of a classroom setting in order to really work. But we do use sit, down and stay as much as we can. Of course, we’re not training for hunt tests either. 🙂
“Honor” makes so much sense. I didn’t realize its full importance until you explained it here. Love the pics too!
We did an honor exercise in Rally, but of course that wasn’t nearly anywhere as difficult as this! I can see why you would need that, both for safety in the field and when you compete.
Reblogged this on Eastern Expeditions.
I’ve heard of honor but never quite understood what it meant.
Hmmm, I wonder if a terrier can learn “honor” and “steady”? We are so excitable sometimes…I wonder if we could control ourselves like that. Since I am not a hunting dog I never heard of these commands before…a very interesting post.
You Brown Dawgs sure are clever! And well behaved! I have a feeling mom might be getting some ideas from all this honor and steady talk 🙂
I love reading about your training, and seeing the pictures! I’ve never heard of Honor before reading your blog, and can really appreciate its usefulness. I’ve kind of wondered how that worked, multiple hunters with multiple dogs.
I think we might use “Wait” most often. “Wait” to go out the door, “Wait” on a street corner (after “Sit”, of course), “Wait” to pick up a treat or go upstairs. It’s not as rock hard as one wants “Stay” to be, just a control yourself until X sort of hesitation.
“Honor” is so hard for a dog that loves to retrieve…They just quiver with excitement, their whole body just vibrating with eagerness…And when they do honor it’s a proud moment
Oh how we love your posts. Like Gizmo and some of the others have said, there is so much excitement and restraint as they wait to do their thing. We love your photos.
bert and my vickie
Goodness me your training puts us to shame. Flo and Elsie will be over on the next flight. If you could just get them to sit on command when you don’t have food in your hand that would be great. Thanks. 🙂 At the moment Flo, when asked to sit, walks around a bit, then sits a few feet away, facing the other direction. Unfortunately it just makes me laugh, which doesn’t help the situation!
Err… had a bit of deja vu when I was writing that comment… I said it on your last post. Sorry, senior moment! 😀
Great job Thunder and Freighter! I learn something new every time I read and am amazed how well they are trained:-)
I don’t know how you can concentrate with all that fun snow around, maybe you’re used to it? I’d be so excited I’d just want to play! 🙂
At the moment Dad is teaching me to listen to him off leash, the pieces of hot dog are really helping with my focus!
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂