Advanced Steadiness

At this level, steadiness becomes a key part of almost every area of your training.

Your dog should now understand the foundations of steadiness, and we are beginning to bring this into more advanced exercises. The aim is to create a dog that can remain calm, controlled and focused, even when exciting things are happening around them.

Do not allow your dog to have every retrieve. Sometimes, sit your dog up and go and collect the dummy yourself. This teaches your dog that not every opportunity is theirs and that remaining steady is part of their job.

As you progress, you should be working towards your dog remaining steady off lead while retrieves are being thrown and during more exciting situations.

At this level, we are also developing steadiness to shot. Your dog needs to understand that the sound of the shot does not mean they automatically move or begin searching. They should remain focused on you and wait for your instruction.

Remember, steadiness is not a separate exercise — it is something that should now be included throughout your training. Whether you are working on retrieving, heel work, recalls or other exercises, your dog’s ability to remain controlled and listen is essential.

It is always encouraged to revisit earlier stages of training. Returning to the basics is not going backwards; it is how you maintain and strengthen the foundations.

Continue to practise simpler steadiness exercises regularly alongside your advanced work. A reliable gundog is built through repetition, consistency and clear expectations.

Take your time, keep your dog successful and continue developing the self-control that makes a truly enjoyable working partner.