[Chris Atkinson]

So, I've got this FC Candlewood's Joe Black pup, bred to Nate Baxter's Diamond QAA (out of Honest Abe x Nate's MHR Raven MH).

He's a lot of fun and hes' proving to be quite smart, sensitive, and loves to train.

He was born June 30, so he's between four and five months old. After hunting with and talking with a buddy of mine, hearing his thoughts, and then talking with some Amish training buddies, I've decided it was time to work on steadying my "Bus" pup.

I started this last week and he took to it quickly.

I've found that some buds are surprised that I've steadied him this early.

Thought I'd throw it out to you guys. Did I steady too early?

He shows tons of drive and loves to go. I just decided that he was smart enough and big enough that it made sense to set up one consistent set of rules that will apply from now on, rather than change the rules on him later.

What do you think?

Chris

 

[K G]

Seems to me that steadiness is the root of basic obedience that needs to be dug the deepest. It's all in how it's accomplished...but I say no, 5 mos. is not too early to be steady.

JMHO.....

kg

 

[ducksoup]

No, I think that you're doing fine with "Bus" pup -- I started out making my pup sit and wait for his food before he ate (until I released him to) -- then I progressed to field using checkcord at first -- gradually getting him so I could say "Dog", "number 42", etc. and he wouldn't go until his name was given --if he broke I got thrower to pick up bumper and gave him a "No Here" to get him back on line and reran mark

 

[Peake]

Chris,
The under lined you didn't go missed on me! :wink: But I can't help remember the good old days of Steady Early vs Steady Later discussions that circled around a certain popular book at the time. And for my money the one valuable piece of info that came out of it was yes to steady early and consistantly. As I recall the non-retrieve hand thrown marks was a big help in training for this?
Yes Early Regards,
Peake
________
Dodge Journey History

 

[Buzz]

I would say, it depends on the dog... Not knowing your dog, I wouldn't have an opinion.

 

[Mike Hutzler]

Steady

Alot of it depends on your pup I think Chris. I don't like to sready one until I am to the double T and I have just gradually done it because of all the pitching bumpers back to diffrent piles during yard work, and I gradually demand it more in the field as I progress. I don't train Amish at all so my dogs probably deal with a little more pressure than what you are going to put on a dog. Although yard work weather it be conventional or ecollar can be alot of stress on a youg dog and I like to read the dog and keep the old tail wagging. I know that alot of these fire breathers that you see today can handle it fine.
Good Luck,
Mike

 

[Charles C.]

A pup would have to be awfully high and out of control before I would steady it that early. I might have it on a taut lead and give it a little stick for bouncing around just to get it in the habit of being steady. But I don't think I would make the dog responsible for being steady all on its own. It would depend on the dog, but my question is how do you steady a dog before you've gone through formal obedience? BTW, take my post with a grain of salt. I am NOT very good at training dogs.

 

[Fire Angel]

The guy that helped me with a lot of training questions with my dog, told me just to watch the dog when we started steadying. If the dog started to lose enthusiasm on the retrieves then it may be time to wait a little before steadying. With my dog it worked well and we started about the same time as you.

 

[HarryWilliams]

The BUS shouldn't take off until you step on the gas. HPW (I voted no)

 

[Tim Carrion]

Not knowing your dog, your interest or program I voted that 4-5 months is too early based on my dogs, interest and program.
I will teach basic obedience (heel, sit stay) at this age but want my puppy to look at retrieving as a fun reward/pressure release. I want this fun concept to help carry the dog thru force and hold sessions that I usually start at about 6 months.
Allowing the dog to break or releasing it for birds that are still in air IMHO is a pressure release for these backyard disciplines.

Tim

 

[Richard Halstead]

When I think I was so sure a certain level of training was too early, I saw Len Ferrucci with a dog so young it blew away with it's level of training compared to it's age.

So what is the correct age?

 

[Guest]

Depends on the dog. If it's wild and out of control and CANNOT MARK AS A RESULT, then I'll steady earlier. But if it's very focused with light restraint, I'm not going to waste time steadying. I don't want them to be pre-occupied with steadiness. I want them to MARK. Steadiness is very easy to teach (when you introduce it and teach it at the right time in the right way -- I normally start reinforcing it some time around 3 handed casting/early pile work -- which is the time in the yard a young dog starts sitting still while you throw bumpers around).

So... On average, I'd say yes, it's too young. But it does depend on the dog.

I suppose as long as drive stays high and marking is strong, do whatever you want!

-K

 

[Diane Brunelle]

I think you're fine with early steady...you obviously knwo your dog that it's ready.

I have a high drive Golden that I taught to steady very young so she could focus on marks. As a result, she passed her UKC started test on water at 5 months old, the same test you set up in Vermont as a double for Seasoned!

And she's still doing great, earned a WC at 8 months old, which involves a land double. It has not harmed her marking abilities at all, if anything, improved them.

I think steadying her early helped her immensely, but as others have said, it depends on the dog.

So my vote is with you.

 

[Howard N]

if it's very focused with light restraint, I'm not going to waste time steadying. I don't want them to be pre-occupied with steadiness. I want them to MARK.

I feel just the opposite of Kristie. If they're focused with light restraint I believe they'll be just as focused once they're steadied. I don't want them to learn with a crutch, and that's what the light restraint is.

I also want them to MARK, and I feel they'll do fine if they're steadied.

 

[Guest]

if it's very focused with light restraint, I'm not going to waste time steadying. I don't want them to be pre-occupied with steadiness. I want them to MARK.

I feel just the opposite of Kristie. If they're focused with light restraint I believe they'll be just as focused once they're steadied. I don't want them to learn with a crutch, and that's what the light restraint is.

I also want them to MARK, and I feel they'll do fine if they're steadied.

Well poo on you, Howard... LOL

 

[Howard N]

Well poo on you, Howard... LOL

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Uh, oh, Jesse01 might be here.

 

[RemsBPJasper]

Not that I have a lot of experience training but I threw this question out here awhile back with my pup. He was approx. 5 months and we were creating bad habits out of not steadying. Trust me, the desire was there and has not faded in the slightest. During the process my "monkeyboy" was so distracted by trying to go get it that he had a hard time marking. Now that he can sit and watch, he's fine. The response that I got was TO steady him. And I think it was a wise move and we can now move on to other things. I can remote send him now so that I can get some distance when I throw his marks. We now have focus coupled with desire instead of just insane desire.

Kourtney

 

[Pete Marcellus]

I would also say that it depends on the dog and the type of program you follow. I don't use a lot of pressure in my program, so I don't think that 5 mos. is too young. Diesel, my current project was steady at 5 mos. with no pressure.

Someone that I learned a lot from, who used a lot of pressure, told me that not letting a dog getting into a bad habit to begin with was better than trying to correct it with pressure later, unless there is some extraneous circumstance, like low momentum in this case.

Pete

 

[lab&springerguy]

I never understood the notion of steading a dog too early. The common belief that it takes drive out of a dog does not hold water in my opinion.

 

[Mike Hutzler]

I never understood the notion of steading a dog too early. The common belief that it takes drive out of a dog does not hold water in my opinion.

I totally disagree with this. If you put a young dog through demanding yard work where no matter how light handed you are just the mental pressure can get to some pups, you need to leave some outlet and to me the field is the outlet and by not demanding alot of control. I think the pup needs to be undercontrol on lead but I don't like to make him be responsible for that himself.