Prolly doesnt appy to the OP;s personal dog, but, if you think about a dog that may well be somewhat steady at Hunt tests,(Master Hunter Titled dod) I wonderif you can really expect to see that same steadyness and controll on an exciting hunt?
Everthing is differentwhen hunting. People are sitting very close to the dog, they are excited, blowing calls, their body english telegraphing something's up.
Birds circle and pass by several times working the decoys. Then the quick motion to either stand to shoot, or sit up to shoot, combined with the shots being very close to the dog, instead of 150 yrds away
)
) makes a Hunt totally different than what level of excitement the dog has been conditioned to at HT.
The OP says his dog "sits" when hunting, but may exibit being unsteady or excited at HT.
I bet, if he were to find someone that UNDERSTOOD what "sit" should mean,,, The sit standard isnt being held to a high standard.
Hunts (at least mine) can be long and boring. You may start out with good intentions,, the dog is told to sit,, but then with the bordom of waiting,, the Bull Shi!! starts with your buddies,,, and the dog is allowed to move,, beg, walk around a bit,, WITHOUT you releasing him to do so.. What did he just learn??
I think,, the same CAN apply, with guys that run tests that incorporate buckets, calls, and guns at the line with the handler.
I would be very careful with a high drive dog, listening to your training group tell you, that Judges will allow the dog to "Reposition" when swinging with the gun.. I dont think MOST dogs know "reposition"... They know they can "MOVE"... If the handelr also has all the resposiblity in training days ,Blowing that duck call to sound like a champion caller, shuckin that noisey action of a rusty old pump shotgun,,, spinning on the bucket shooting the marks at the top of the arc,,, right next to the dog,,, AND ALL THE WHILE,, makin sure his dog sits DEAD STEADY,,,, Good luck with that!
I think all this should be brought on gradually in progressive steps, and at seach step,, a very close attention to "sit" incorporated.
I think,, like I have said before,, MY mistakes in the past, has been bringing all this stuff on to quickly for the dog.. Really,,, It was probably done all at once,, and no attention was paid to the dogs movement.. After all,, they can "Reposition" right?
Again,,,, Gooser Opinion..