The first real hunting seasons form the bridge between controlled training and the practical demands of wild bird work.
These months reveal how well the foundation built at home and in the field has taken hold and how the dog handles pressure that cannot be simulated with planted birds.
Wild birds introduce unpredictable scent, irregular movement, complex terrain and genuine pressure. The dog must apply everything it has learned without constant guidance.
The goal of the first season is not perfection. The goal is to evaluate progress, protect confidence, guide the dog through real mistakes and reinforce the behaviors that training has begun to shape.