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I am training my first gun dog - 7 1/2 month springer x clumber puppy (just 1/4 clumber!). He's doing pretty well at basic commands, sit, stay, here, retrieves, directions etc. However, I've ready quite a bit about "steady to game" and want clarification on what this means. I've heard it's essential, but on the other side, I've heard if you teach this to a puppy too soon they can loose their drive. I don't want to get it wrong. At the moment he occassionally flushes bird from long grass on walks, and loves to chase pigeons / blackbirds on fields. If he sees rabbits, he'll fly after them (and has caught 2!). If he's walking to heel and I see birds etc. - I say "leave it" and he usually (but not quite always) stays by my side. If he's wandering ahead, then he's off! What should I do - never allow him to chase or what? If he does chase something, as soon as it takes off or gets away he returns straight to me perfectly. He is good at the stop and "here" whistle too, but if he's got the scent of a rabbit, or I've sent him after a dummy, then he will ignore. How do I correct / improve this? Many thanks Angela