[Stephen Whitley]

If you had a 4 month old puppy that is enthusiastic about his retrieving would you gradually start working him towards being steady or would you continue to wait and let him keep building on his retrieving desire? By gradually working toward being steady I mean having him atleast start out sitting at heel and releasing him as the bumper hits the ground instead of just getting him all worked up and then throwing the bumper while he is jumping around.

Need some live pigeons bad!!!!!!!!!!!! He hasn't been introduced to birds yet!!

 

[lablover]

I would certainly have him at heel when you throw the bumper. If he's all rev'ed up to go, that will not hurt. Then release him when the bumper is at the top of the thrown arc. Let him get used to that. You may need to have someone else throw, so you can use both hands to keep pup in sitting position.
If pup shows any indication that he doesn't want to go after being held, stop holding pup and let go immediately to the bumper.
Slowly, as pup gets used to watching the bumper and waiting, do you progress to holding pup until the bumper hits the ground.

 

[Angie B]

Sure go ahead. That's what I'm doing with my 4 month old. I hold her sitting until the duck hits the ground. She's also honoring and waiting in the holding blind. As soon as they don't need all the excitement to get them out there then quit using it. You don't necessarily need a pigeon. Go get a duck.

Angie

 

[Rick Hall]

Adopting the UK practice of steadying from the git-go has sure made working with my last three easier than the old way of building bad habits to later be broken. Can't say that I've tried it with a pup with no drive, but am confident it's taken nothing out of mine.

 

[Miriam Wade]

My first dog was older when we started, so obedience was already solid & she was easy to steady. Not knowing what was appropriate for a pup & having heard about steadying too early diminishing desire-I didn't put any emphasis on steadying w/ my new pup. Big mistake! When the judges in Junior look at you & ask if you're "hanging on tight" before they signal for the birds-it may be a wee indication that steadiness is an issue

It's all good now, but like Rick says-better to instill good habits than have to break them later. I certainly plan on starting early with the next pup. A birdy pup isn't going to be any less birdy for having been taught good line manners!

M

 

[Georgia.Belle]

If you had a 4 month old puppy that is enthusiastic about his retrieving would you gradually start working him towards being steady or would you continue to wait and let him keep building on his retrieving desire? By gradually working toward being steady I mean having him atleast start out sitting at heel and releasing him as the bumper hits the ground instead of just getting him all worked up and then throwing the bumper while he is jumping around.

Need some live pigeons bad!!!!!!!!!!!! He hasn't been introduced to birds yet!!

I'm not that far ahead of you, mine is six months. I've transitioned to a slip lead and it has made the world of difference. Also, we have started to use a piece of carpet and the "place" command. Both have worked well. The wife loves the place command and has been using it around the house, I think that this has helped the dog realize that I sit here until I'm told to move. Gradually is the key, it sounds like you are having fun.

Also, if you get a chance work with someone else. Making your dog wait for the other dog to retrieve helps.

Mike