Doc E, yes, she's collar conditioned. Like Phil, I do not use it alot. I only use it when absolutely necessary and I've used it only for recall. Last year, only 2-3 times. Once forwhen she went off to 'hunt' for another party. That could have ended badly if the other party didn't want my dog hunting for them. I have yet to apply it around the belly for point of contact training, ie. I normally use a check chord around the belly for point of contact 'woah' training.

Phil, this dog I don't really know about exercising before training. The moment I start giving a command is when she goes 1/2 speed, no matter the situation. Running for us is checking out the woods for ducks, squirrels, etc. During socialization time, she could really care less of the other dogs most of the time. If the other dog initiates play then she will play. But taking walks with other dogs, she'll just follow along. When we are alone, she's more hunting and running which she enjoys. During those times, I can woah her to pick brambles off her coat with no problems. Come to think of it, she does exceptionally well listening in the field, like she wants to listen. Like calling her off chasing shorebirds to get back to real hunting she'll come running. Strange. I'm more confused then ever. She listens better in the field then the yard? Am I reading her wrong? Could her reluctance be that she's just bored with training?

Sorry for rambling but this has been bugging me for the past year. She use to stand briefly then go to me in the heeling position. For months, I've been trying to correct herof it. 1/2 the time she'd do it the other she won't. But,recently she'sbeen doing it perfectly so we stopped.Now, I wonder if making her do it perfectly twice was causing her NOT to know when training was at anend.She known the command long before the woah post but got tired and bored? I wondering boredom because of excitement level. In the field, say 'woah' and she'll just do it. In training, I have to be firm then calling her,have to wait while she slowly drags her feet.

EODLT, this summer I'll be training her on birds for sure. In the meantime, I've been looking for ways to get birds. When this weather breaks, I'll dig up my old pigeon trap and try to trap some pigeons. But I have to ask my friend first as they feed them and think of them aspets. Leave it anywhere else and it will be stolen by the next day.

p.s. Sorry for jumping all over but this post took well over an hourwritting because I've been seriously thinking about why she's been doing what she's been doing. I wanted her woah yard work to go perfectly in order to overlay it in the field. But thinking of all the times in the field I've used it and how well she listened kinda gave me an epiphany.