No point to the following other than you think its trained but its always lurking.
Despite high winds and heavy rain we had a walk in the woods, the stream was in full flow and the footpath was very muddy. I hunted her for the duration to avoid self employment and occasionally dropped a ball for her to find so that she trusted my hunt there and or turn commands. Popped in a few stops and recalls and walked her at heel on a few occasions, she was absolutely reliable throughout the expedition. Then as we passed our own field she clocks a couple of pheasant about fifty yards away in the middle of an adjoining field. Before I could get on the whistle she was off full tilt, ignored stop and a subsequent recall but she did return as soon as the birds flushed.
Now I know that having words about a bog off episode after the event is frowned on because pooch will associate the bollocking with the last thing it did, in this case returning but I don't buy that and have had this discussion with folk before. I have had words with her before for a misdemeanour upon the return and I know for sure that she knows exactly what were having words about. (I will brace myself for the incoming comments that I am wrong) So she returns I pop lead on and explain the error of her ways. We walk the fifty yards home on a slack slip lead.
Don't know what signal I missed and its not usual for her so just goes to show one can never get complacent or take your eye off the ball.