How Great Handlers Win Before the Dog Ever Leaves Their Side

Many handlers don’t fail a test in the field.

It goes off the rails before the dog ever leaves their side.

Let me give you a real example. This past spring at the HRC Grand in Burlington, WI, I watched a dog—sharp, experienced, well-prepared—line up for a challenging water blind after doing a great job on the marks. It was one of those demanding blinds that had all the factors making it more challenging. It demanded clarity. It demanded commitment.

But the handler? He rushed it.

He had the dog’s body lined up, but his mindset was all wrong. The dog’s attitude was still in marking mode. He got a great start, however it went downhill from there. His eyes hadn’t even settled when the command “Back” came.

What happened next wasn’t a surprise to anyone watching closely. The dog left hot, when he encountered the scent of the return trail it was all over.

No amount of handling could clean that up. Because it wasn’t a casting issue—it was a sending issue. The problem started in the five-foot circle.

Now contrast that with another dog I saw later that day. Not as flashy. A little softer in disposition. The handler stepped to the mat and adjusted slowly. Not hesitating—just present. She paused. Watched the dog’s posture. Said heel again. Calmly cued his head. Waited for the eyes to settle.

Then—and only then—she sent.

This dog sat sharply and took a few beautiful casts. No drama. It drew a loud round of applause.

Why the Five-Foot Circle Matters

The five-foot circle isn’t about mechanics alone. It’s about influence.

It’s where attitude, awareness, and alignment come together. It’s where you either establish connection—or you don’t.

When I say most mistakes happen before the send, I mean it. Here’s what that space is telling you, if you learn how to listen:

• Is your dog relaxed or bracing?

• Are they visually locked or scattered?

• Is their posture compliant or anticipatory?

• Are they in “go” mode or mentally already gone?

If you’re ignoring those signals, you’re flying blind.

The A.S.H.E.A. Framework in Action

This is exactly where A.S.H.E.A. lives. It’s not a theory—it’s a field-proven sequence for shaping the send:

• Attitude: What emotional state is your dog in right now?

• Spine: Is their body lined up toward the destination, or is it crooked?

• Head: Are they physically aimed at the right spot?

• Eyes: Are they actually seeing what you want them to?

• Attitude (again): Are they in the right frame of mind to launch—driven, aware, and under control?

One of the biggest mistakes handlers make is assuming their dog is ready just because they’re properly lined up.

Stillness isn’t the goal. Readiness is.

Field-Backed Training Tips to Sharpen Your Five-Foot Circle

1. Start Every Drill with a Pause

Before you send, wait two full seconds after your dog appears “ready.” Use that time to assess attitude and eye contact. You’ll be shocked at how often they weren’t really locked in.

2. Practice "Send Readiness" as Its Own Drill

Don’t always send your dog right away. Occasionally heel, align, check A.S.H.E.A., and then stand down. This builds patience, engagement, and mental control. Develop a smooth sending cadence.

3. Vary the State of Mind Needed for the Task

Not all retrieves require the same tone. A water blind after a diversion mark needs a different mindset than a wide-open memory bird. Teach your dog to shift gears by shaping attitude cues at the line.

4. Self-Audit with Video

Film your own line work—even in simple yard setups. Are you cueing sloppiness? Are you rushing the process? What does your dog’s body language say before you give the command?

If you want to clean up what happens out there, you need to take responsibility for what happens right here. The five-foot circle is where communication begins—or breaks down.

It’s where mindset is either shaped—or squandered.

It’s not a space to rush through. It’s the most powerful five feet in your entire program.

Start treating it that way—and everything outside of it will start to change.

Now it’s your turn.

Next time you walk to the line, slow down and watch what your dog is telling you. Then write it down. What posture, what glance, what shift told you they were (or weren’t) ready?

If something clicks—I want to hear about it.

Cheers,

Pat Burns