Post-Season Review: What Went Well in the Field?

The guns have been cleaned and oiled, the tweed is packed away, and the muddy boots are finally dry. The 2025/26 shooting season has drawn to a close.

There is always a strange mix of emotions at the end of a season: relief that the early mornings and grueling weather are over, mixed with a slight sadness that the unique camaraderie of the field is paused until autumn.

Before we rush headlong into spring training plans (like the ones we discussed in our last post about 2026 goals), it is vital to hit the pause button. We need to conduct a post-season review.It is human nature to dwell on the mistakes—the bird that was dropped, the squeak on a retrieve, the moment of broken steadiness when the pheasants flushed thick and fast. But if we only focus on the errors, we damage our confidence and blind ourselves to progress.

Today, we are focusing squarely on the positive. Grab a notebook and your beverage of choice. Let’s ask the most important question: 

What went well out there? Why Start with the Positive? Training a gundog is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s easy to become disheartened by the gap between where your dog is and where you want them to be. Celebrating wins is crucial for two reasons:

  1. Confidence: Recognizing progress validates your hard work and boosts your confidence as a handler.

  2. Baselines: Knowing what your dog does reliably under pressure tells you what skills you don't need to drill repetitively during the off-season, allowing you to focus your energy elsewhere.
Your "What Went Well" ChecklistDepending on your dog’s age and experience, "success" looks very different. Here is how to frame your positives based on your dog's career stage.

1. The Youngster’s First Season
For a dog in their first season, success isn't about a flawless performance; it's about exposure and foundational behavior.
  • Did they cope with the atmosphere? The noise of the beaters, the gunfire, the scent of game, other dogs—it’s sensory overload. If your young dog remained relatively calm and didn't shut down or become frantic, that is a massive win.
  • Did the basics hold up? Did they sit when told, even if they were trembling with excitement? Did they recall past distractions?
  • The "Invisible Wins": Did they travel well in the truck? Did they settle quietly during elevenses? These mundane behaviors make for a stress-free day out.
2. The Intermediate Dog
This is the dog that knows the job but is polishing their skills.
  • Improved Steadiness: Think back to the busiest drive of the season. Did your dog show better impulse control than last year? Maybe they only needed one quiet reminder instead of a firm command.
  • Clean Deliveries: Were the majority of birds delivered tenderly to hand without mouthing or dropping?
  • Handling a Challenge: Did they successfully navigate a difficult obstacle (a fence, a river, thick brambles) to get to a fall that they might have refused last year?
3. The Seasoned Veteran
For the experienced dog, you are looking for nuance and partnership.
  • Game Sense: Did your dog demonstrate that uncanny ability to know where a wounded bird had run before you even sent them? That experience cannot be taught in a training paddock.
  • The Partnership: Were there moments of unspoken communication? Did you trust the dog to do their job while you focused on yours? The feeling of being a seamless team is the ultimate reward.
  • Efficiency: Did they work smartly, conserving energy and taking the best lines without needing constant direction?
The Handler’s Reflection MirrorA partnership involves two beings. A post-season review isn't just about the dog; it's about you, too. What did you do well this season?
  • Did you stay calm under pressure? When things went wrong (and they always do), did you manage your frustration and avoid taking it out on the dog?
  • Did you protect your dog? Did you recognize when they were tired or overwhelmed and call it a day, rather than pushing them into failure?
  • Did you trust them? Did you let them work a scent line without nagging them with the whistle every two seconds?
Turning Positives into PlansWriting down "what went well" isn't just a pat on the back; it’s data.

By identifying your dog’s strengths under real-world pressure, you know what you have in the bank. Now, when you look at the areas that need improvement, you can approach them not with frustration, but with a strategy.

If your dog’s marking was superb but their heelwork between drives was chaotic, you know exactly what your spring training syllabus should look like.Take some time this week to reflect on the season. Find the gold among the mud. Your dog worked hard for you this winter; acknowledge their effort, rest up, and get ready for a productive off-season.