Why It Matters
A GSP's instinct to chase movement is strong, and once a chase becomes self-rewarding — the dog succeeds, or simply enjoys the pursuit itself — it becomes very hard to train out. The window to prevent that habit is before the dog is deliberately exposed to game, not after.
This is why control comes first. It isn't about suppressing drive; it's about making sure the handler, not the moment, decides what happens next.
The Principle
How To Do It
- Establish a reliable recall (see Recall) before any intentional bird exposure.
- Build a stop, sit or stand cue — whichever fits your training system — that works even with real distraction present.
- Practise handler awareness: the dog checking in and staying broadly connected to you during off-lead time, not just running its own pattern.
- Introduce basic lead control around distraction before removing the lead in similar conditions.
- Only then begin the earliest steadiness foundations — brief moments of controlled stillness — well before formal point or flush work.
Common Mistakes
- Taking a young, undertrained dog into deliberate bird contact 'to see what happens'.
- Treating chasing as harmless fun in early months, then being surprised when it's a serious problem later.
- Skipping stop/steadiness foundations because the dog 'seems naturally good' at pointing.
- Correcting hard around birds instead of preventing the uncontrolled chase in the first place.
When To Move On
Once your dog holds a stop/sit/stand cue reliably with real-world distraction, and recall is solid, you're ready to begin structured field foundations — see First Walks in the Veld and, eventually, Understanding the Point.
Skill: Control before game · Session notes · Readiness assessment
Log control-training milestones against your GSP's Field + Performance phase — this becomes useful context before entering any Natural Ability or field event.