These types of water blinds have given the brown dawgs trouble ever since we started training them for higher level tests.  They have caused them to fail more than one test.

A shore line blind is exactly what the name implies: a blind where the most direct line is parallel to the shore.  These are difficult blinds because most dogs would prefer to get up on land and run down the “shore”.  However, since that is not the most direct line to a blind, that would normally not be acceptable at a Master Test.

This is a diagram of one of the set-ups that Storm and Freighter ran last Saturday.  It is an in-line water double with a shore line water blind.

In Line Water Double With A Shore Line Blind
In Line Water Double With A Shore Line Blind

These blinds are tough for us to train because the water in the local parks don’t really allow for setting up this type of blind.  We were happy to get a chance to train these last Saturday.  Also, this type of water training is a great work out for the dogs, especially the water blind which requires a long swim out and back.

Storm did not do great on the double.  I am not sure why.  Maybe an off day.  But she did an excellent job on this blind.  She carried a nice long initial line and stayed in the water the entire way.

This blind had one other pitfall right at the start.  To enter the water, the dogs needed to follow a path that was between some trees and a bit of brush on the shore.  Storm did OK on this.  She could have done a bit better on that line, but since it was training, her handler just put her back on line.

Storm Heading For The Blind Which Is Marked With An Arrow
Storm Heading For The Blind Which Is Marked With An Arrow
Storm Passing Over A Small Strip Of Land In The Water
Storm Up On The Far Side Of The Pond
The Blind Is Right Behind Her
The Blind Is Right Behind Her
She Has It
She Has It
Good Girl!
Good Girl!

Freighter did fine on the marks, but had more trouble with the blind.  First, his handler had a difficult time pulling him off the marks to get him focused on the blind.  That was an issue for him at the Senior test and something we are working on.  The solution was to move him closer to the edge of the pond so he could focus on just the blind.  He got all the way to the other side of the pond, but then lost it when he got up on land.  Still, it was a difficult blind and he is 2/3 of the way there.  Hopefully with more training he will learn this concept.

Freighter
Freighter

No group training this week so hopefully I will have a block of time to catch up on the blog.  Have a nice weekend!

We are joining the Fit Dog Friday blog hop hosted by Slimdoggy, Peggy’s Pet Place, To Dog with Love.

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18 thoughts on “Shore Line Blinds

  1. Think I would be lost there, I had no clue how versatile and sometimes difficult it is to train dogs. Have a super weekend :o)

  2. I can see how that would be a difficult challenge for them. I would prefer to stay on the land too even if it did mean a bit longer walk. Practice makes perfect. Thanks for joining the Hop.

  3. I can totally see why this one would give the dawgs troubles! I’d take the shore, too. Who wants to get their feet wet if they don’t have to?! Besides Thunder. He seems to really like getting wet!

  4. Hi Y’all!

    Practice makes perfect? Maybe, maybe not…depends on whether there are some interesting scents in between…

    Y’all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

  5. That does not look easy at all but hope you manage to get some more practice in some time soon. Everything looks so lush and green. Have a fabulous Friday.
    Best wishes Molly

  6. Practice makes perfect. I’m sure with all the work you do, the dogs will all do just fine in time. Humans need patience and you have to try to understand why us dogs aren’t doing what is asked. Have a great weekend.

  7. So many times I wish I could speak their language. I’m sure it’s the same for you. Have a great weekend!

  8. We think they all do great and we really enjoy seeing the pictures. Lots of practice and hard work to get all the training down. Your dogs are smart and wonderful. Hugs and nose kisses

  9. There really is so much to it, it kind of amazes me that they ever get it right! It must be so satisfying when they do get a difficult one like this right….great job, Storm!
    Have a super weekend!

  10. Hey Guys

    Your skill level always amazes me! I can herd things (not tried sheep) great, but I can’t imagine being able to find that bumper!

    Great job,

    Have fun,

    Your pal Snoopy 🙂

  11. They’re difficult for sure, and it’s impressive how well they handle them. There’s a lot for a dog to process mentally while overcoming their natural tendency to stay on shore.

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