We had a white-knuckle dive up to group training this past Saturday due to the snow that fell overnight. The main reason we went was to check in on Freighter, (more on that tomorrow). It was a windy, cold, and snowy day so we figured that no one else would be so stupid to show up for training, but we were wrong and there was a nice crowd. The first hunt test is in about a month, so I guess people are anxious to get out and work their dogs despite the freezing cold weather.
The older dogs ran some handling drills in the snow-covered field and the younger dogs got some single marks. We decided not to run Storm for several reasons. No need to put pressure on her right now and running blinds in a cold snowy field is not her favorite thing to do. Thunder, on the other hand, needs to tune up his handling. These drills are a great way to do it and well-timed for him.
We ran a series of three drills which used four piles of bumpers set out in the field. For the first drill, the dogs had to pick up a bumper from the close pile and then one from the far pile on the same side. Then the dog had to do the same thing on the other side. It did not matter which side the dog worked first, I numbered the piles the order that Thunder picked them up. One little catch with this drill, there was a black tube out in the field to the right and the dogs had to go over it, being handled if necessary. This is one way we work on dogs taking on obstacles and keeping a straight line.
Thunder did fine on this drill even crossing over the tubing.
The second drill that we ran built on the first. The handler sent the dog to the closer pile, but stopped the dog and handled them to the farther pile.
I have said before that so much of handling is about changing the dog’s mind from where it wants to go, to where the handler wants it to go. This type of drill is a good way to work on that. Most dogs will want to go back to that closer pile, but the handler has to change the dog’s mind to go to a different place.
I took a series of pictures of Thunder working the right side which shows what I am talking about. I apologize for the picture quality. I was trying to lighten up the pictures and must have changed a setting. It was too cold to fiddle with buttons so I just went with what I had. 🙂
Now this is interesting. Even though the black tubing is not really in play for this blind, many of the dogs went over it thinking that was what their handler wanted since they had just been handled over it the previous drill. Thunder was no exception.
The last drill we did was to send the dogs to the far pile and then handle them all the way across the field to the other pile.
This can be very difficult, because the farther the dog is from you, the more difficult it is to cast the dog. Thunder had a bit of trouble with this one, but he eventually got there. All and all, his handling improved over the week before. At least this week he wasn’t running his own program so much.
By the third drill we were all frozen. Did I say that it was cold? Many thanks to Darrin for working with us in the freezing cold weather.
Very impressed!! Not only with the dogs but with you for freezing the day away!!!
The wind added to the wonderful cold day…lol.
I am now inspired to try and teach my husband the whistle sit. “No, boy! Not my box of MoonPies. Sit! Over!”
Once you master that, you could use it in many situations. 🙂
My that looked cold. LOL did Thunder think the tube was a big stick? Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
Haha I don’t think so. Well, at least he didn’t try to pick it up. 🙂
I give you credit for training in that weather. Drills look hard but good to do. Thunder looked great! Hope you had a good time with Freighter.
I think last Saturday was the coldest I have been at training this season. We train with a good group of people so that helps a bit.
Isn’t that the way? You think you’re the only person heading somewhere in the snow and it turns out to be packed? The pictures are great!
There were a lot of idiots on the road too (not just us…lol). Some cars in the ditch too.
I’m always so impressed at the sharp whistle-sit response of your dogs. Daisy would just keep on running.
Brown dawgs keep running sometimes too. That is why we train…lol. I am going to talk a bit about this on Friday’s post. 🙂
The pictures look great, especially since Thunder is the focus. 🙂 I am always so impressed by the level of training!
Thank you very much. 🙂
Looking at those drill plans I am wondering if you stole a playbook from an NFL team and if the dogs are really just playing football??? Quite complicated stuff!
LOL It helps me to diagram too because if we want to work on them ourselves, at least I have pictures to spark the memory. 🙂
Your pictures are fine! I don’t know that I’d be able to stand out there taking pictures, it’s too darn cold! I bet he’s going to do great in this year’s tests. 🙂
I took a set with my old camera. A set with my new camera (because it stopped snowing). The third set nothing…lol.
Would be nice if human bodies were as well equipped for cold as the dogs. Some dogs (not mine) look so happy in the snow..
I think even the dogs were a bit cold when not running.
Gosh, you all are such smart dogs. I just know i would be all over the place…being a terrier, I am quite stubborn…besides, we prefer to hunt alone. I love all the photos. Fantastic!
Would you hunt plastic bumpers? lol The brown dawgs are not that thrilled with frozen plastic bumpers. 🙂
You and the dogs are such hard workers. 🙂 I always love seeing your training photos.
Thank you!
Glad you got to training okay. Never fun to drive in that stuff! How interesting that all the dogs thought the rubber tubing was part of the drill. Bet the dogs didn’t mind working in the cold as much as the humans did!
One thing very interesting about this kind of training is seeing how the dogs will react to any given set-up. Our trainer has a lot of experience and can read dogs so he can usually predict what they will do and why. The technical reason many went over the tubing is because in the first round they had to go over it and were probably given a “back” command. In the second round when they were called off the close pile and given a “back” command they thought they were supposed to go over the tube like the first round. Have to think like a dog. 🙂
Those are complex drills, is there anything specific you’re looking to accomplish with your guys when you set them up, or they just variations on handling drills?
We were working on control. I will explain a bit more on Friday’s post. 🙂
Hi Y’all!
I must say, I admire Thunder’s perseverance! I don’t like to pick up cold icy bumpers…or anything cold and icy! I’ll do it a couple of times and then make my complaint known!
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Thunder is not thrilled about it either and sometimes he holds the bumpers funny…lol.