Saturday we had a great session with our trainer Darrin to work on the various issues involving our dogs’ line manners and steadiness. Darrin explained that in order to control the dog, you must start by controlling the dog well before you get to the line. He gave us some great ways to train this as part of our regular training program.
First up was Storm who needs to work on her steadiness. Storm practiced moving out of the holding blind and up to the line. She had to sit for a time before her handler called for the mark. Her handler then backed her off line and brought her back to the line. The marks were thrown up close. After what probably seemed like an eternity to Storm, she was allowed to get each bumper.
Some pictures:
Thunder’s issue has always been beating his handler out of the holding blind so his handler worked on backing him out of the blind and keeping him at heel to the left side. Moving backward out of a blind is new to both the dogs and their handler so a heeling stick was used as an extension of the handler’s arm to try to keep the dog from moving around to the right. It took a couple of times, but Thunder seemed to understand where he was supposed to be.
Freighter is just learning to be steady. He also needs work on his line manners. His handler worked on keeping him at heel moving out of the holding blind and he practiced moving up to and away from the line.
Here are some pictures of Freighter watching a mark:
Thanks so much to Darrin for showing us some concrete ways that we can work on these issues with our dogs.
It’s great that you have such a talented trainer. Hopefully all your hard work will pay off.
Great exercises and pictures! I had the don’t beat me to the line lesson with gambler this past week also!
What did you do with Gambler to work on this?
We agree we know the extra training will pay off. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
Trainers always make it seem so simple…Mom always feels stupid that she did not come up with the solution on her own, but then again we dogs love to keep her on her toes!
In the picture “Trying To Back Out Of The Holding Blind” (and others) what is the trainer holding in each hand…I figured one mus be a transmitter for the collar, but what would the other one be? when you have dogs so eager to work the waiting really is the hardest part isn’t it?
Great job all! Being steady is hard when there is so much fun stuff going on. Pierson is pretty good but Maya needs a little reminder training. 🙂
I like what your trainer said about controlling the dog well before you get to the line. My mommy finds that when she gets me in the right mindset before we go to obedience class and as we are going in, we tend to have a much more positive outcome. She just has to remember that from week to week. 🙂
Good job guys. I’d like to “rent” Darin for a few sessions!!
Hi Y’all,
My Human knows only too well how much lessons with the trainer helps iron out problems that arise. We dogs are so good at reading body language and know what comes next. I get especially excited when I know something is going to happen I like, ’cause I read it in my Human’s body. We get help with her body language from the trainer. Of course it’s nothing I do…I’m readin’ what she’s tellin’ me. BOL!
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Darrin seems like he is one First Class trainer and your dogs are doing a great job!
They are all doing so well, and it’s good that you have Darrin to show you the correct way to work. My thoughts would be that no matter how hard you train you cannot duplicate the air of excitement at a hunt test. How do you compensate for that?
You are doing a pawesome job! Wooooowoooooo, Ku
Stopping by to say hellooooo! Hope you’re all doing well! 🙂
Woofs & huggies, <3
~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)
Storm is just so excited to get going! 🙂 Great to be able to work with someone to help with the issues you come across.
Great post…and I bet the same holds true for dogs that compete in agility. It’s hard to keep a dog steady when they are chomping at the bit knowing they are about to do something they love! 🙂