I have not posted about the dogs’ training for a bit. We train all year long, daylight and weather permitting. With hunting season winding down, look for more training posts. This is some training we did with Freighter back in September.
Freighter failed his first Senior test because he broke on the water marks. He was steady (barely) through the land series but as the test went on, he got more and more excited and more inclined to forget his training. When he got to water, he just could not contain his excitement and broke when the first water mark was thrown. We will be working on his steadiness in the hope that he will be ready to try again in the Spring.
To work on his steadiness, we have been using an exercise that our trainer showed us. A mark is thrown close to the dog and should be completely visible. The dog is taken off line and back to the holding blind without picking up the mark. The dog returns to the line and is either taken off line again, or sent for the mark.
For this exercise emphasis is on the dog staying in the heel position when approaching or leaving the line and sitting (or being steady) until released. Line manners was another area where Freighter was weak because he wanted to hurry toward the line so we will be working on both things and this is a good exercise for that.
It is easier to explain in pictures.
We repeated this exercise several times. As you can see, Freighter loves water marks.
One other thing we practiced was Freighter bringing the mark back to his handler in the holding blind. Quite often when they need to plant a blind out of view of the dog they require the dog to return with the mark to the handler who is standing in a holding blind. This was done at Freighter’s first Senior test and kind of threw him for a loop because we had not really trained that type of return.
This is an exercise that we will repeat periodically. It is also something that would benefit Storm. We used water for this training session, but it can be done on land and with winter approaching, we will not be able to use the water again until Spring so land it will be.
You can tell how much he LOVES this work with how hard he is to make steady. But in many ways that makes working easier as they have the drive at least. I spy a heeling stick too, I have tried to find videos on how to use those but they are few and far between. Had a lab who took 3 weeks to learn come to “heel” position. But he finally got it one day thank God. Keep up the good work. Wyatt is sad the water days are coming to an end too.
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
Anna we used the heeling stick mostly as an extension of the handler’s arm to help keep the dog in the correct position. Also, when the dog is coming into heel, ours like to circle around the back of the handler, so the heeling stick is used to block the dog’s way from circling around.
I have always loved working dogs. I use to have some beagles and some bird dogs growing up and loved having some much fun with them.
I love working dogs. I grew up with beagles and bird dogs and loved all the fun we had together.
Great training Freighter! It must take a lot of self control to wait like that. And it shows in his face that he’s happy to finally jump into that water!
Some people like Math and some people like Science. Some dogs like water and some like land. 🙂 Freighter is still on the young side and I think with the way you are training him, you will have a well-rounded, good test dog.
We agree you can see the excitement building up. They must love it. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
I bet that’s so hard for him to leave that mark and go back to the holding area while the mark is still out there. Sounds like great practice though.
No matter what you post, the water shots are just the best!
I just love the photos of him diving in too. Staying patient and containing his excitement must be one of the most difficult things for some dogs!
I totally agree wiih Emmadog and Jan K. Your photos of Freighter in the water are some of the most beautiful photos I’ve seen, and Freighter is such a happy dog!
sitting and staying when you’re excited is a tough one. I am always working on that with Maya. Hers is for manners when people come over or when we are out in public and people want to pet her. Even though Maya is a retriever, she is not very good at fetch.
I could see how that is so difficult for a dog that is all excited and raring to go. I know people who do agility often have the same issue. Great tips on how to train a dog to remain calm and wait until being released before racing out to do what they want.
Hi Y’all!
Playin’ catch up with my readin’. It’s really, really hard to hold down excitement when you really, really want to do something!
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Steadiness is tough for sure, especially when it comes to enthusiasm. It’s a big step from Jr. to Sr. hunter, which I think is one reason they put in the advanced levels.