I know several lab guys that regularly test their dogs with birds like that to be sure they are steady and don't "go" till told. I also know at least 3 hog hunters who keep a pig or two (usually a baby wild hog they caught and raised) around just so that they can maintain a handle on their dogs around the hogs. Haven't heard of any of them saying that it takes the prey drive out of the dogs though. I'm sure a bunch of us have pigeons in the back yard that we use for training, and the dogs see them all the time. Have to agree though, that is one laid back bird dog. lol