Ever since Freighter was a puppy we have been working on his steadiness. Lately he has been doing pretty well sitting still for marks even when it is accompanied by a shot. He has also been doing pretty well when honoring (or watching) other dogs.
That is until the duck calls came out last weekend. Our trainer set up a double marking scenario. The handler at the line signaled he was ready with a duck call and the gunner sounded a duck call before throwing the mark.
Freighter was excited just watching and waiting for his turn.
When Freighter got to the line he was ready to go.
Bad dog! Freighter was recalled back to heel.
When hubby and I train together we normally use duck calls so Freighter hears calls all the time in training and he has been steady. We cannot fire guns at our local parks (obviously), but he hears shots at group training all of the time. I am not sure if it was the shot with the call, or just the call that got him going. Maybe he was just running his own program? (That was probably it.)
At any rate, our plan for this summer is to use duck calls, shots, ducks, and holding blinds just like we are at a test to hopefully make Freighter understand that he has to sit until he is released no matter his excitement level.
Good luck and you are right it is the excitement that overtakes. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly
Freighter are you on your own program??? Steadness is so hard! He will get it hopefully soon. Great pictures.
Steadness is not easy…I know :o( but I’m sure you will have a great brown dawg summer :o) we used a duck call once to see what Easy would do… he looked puzzled first and then he ran back in his crib with mach 2… he is a hunting breed of course LOL
How can any pup sit still with all that excitement going on?! lol good luck pal!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Sad to say, if I were Freighter I would be jumping the gun/call! Admire all of the effort to have such steady dogs and all of their accomplishments. The new girl is working and training to become an assistance Chessie, there are some parallel issues. Young and eager with a little of her own agenda! The goal is a
solid, thinking partner.
Its so hard being a excited happy boy!!! And impulse control is so hard to get under control. Loved the pictures, you can tell how excited he is getting with each one.
I have yet to have a dog that could sit through that excitement. Loved the pictures!
You never know what noise will cause a distraction, so it is always best to train for anything and everything.
We are impressed no matter what! Freighter, we bet you’ll figure it all out, buddy … that’s a lot of distracting stuff going on for you!
It has to be tough when he is so excited! I’m sure with more work you’ll be able to get him over that.
aw man, he was SO EXCITED. That picture of him taking off is great, even if it was a false start!
I could see that excitement brewing in Freighter right before he tried to take off early! His body language is crystal clear. 🙂
I would have had a hard time sitting still with that much excitement too! LOL!
Mom it is getting spring and it is so fun to run and get my bumpers. I just can’t wait that long!!
Oh, it’s hard to sit still when you’re so excited! Looks like he’s having a great time!
The excitement is too much for him. LOL oh Freighter, you just have to learn patience.