A storm knocked the power out at our office last week so the work day was cut short. For us that meant getting out to the park to train earlier than normal. The park was pretty much empty which was nice. It was a cool day so we set up a land series which was a double and a double blind.
The marks we set to be almost in-line. Our dogs always seem to have trouble with this type of throw.
Thunder was up first. He nailed the “Go” mark (Mark #2) but needed a handle on the “Memory” mark (Mark #1).
I started to take some pictures with my phone camera, but switched to video because I was too far away to really get decent pictures. I was throwing Mark #2 so that is my perspective.
A few pictures of Thunder running Mark #2.
I started the video with Thunder running the blinds. Hubby and Thunder have been running blinds together a long time now. They make a great team. You may hear the wind on the video. The winds were pretty gusty.
If the video doesn’t play try here.
Next up was Storm who totally muffed the marks and had to be handled on them. (Maybe her mind was full because she had to stop and take a dump toward the end of the second mark.)
Many times people ask me how long it takes to run a set-up. These videos are a pretty good example. When a dog needs a lot of handles and handles on marks, it takes longer than if the dog runs clean. You can imagine that if the dogs were swimming this set-up that it would take much longer.
If the video doesn’t play try here.
I think Storm was having an off day because here second try at the second set-up was not much better. Or she was just being Storm.
As you can see the field we use is a soccer field. It has no cover. There are some obstacles and sometimes trash that is left behind by the soccer players. In the videos you might notice something white that catches the dogs’ attention. That is a water bottle. Our dogs fall for trash in the field just about every time. We leave it there while we are running them and then usually pick it up at some point. At least we try to keep the place clean.
Freighter did a very nice job on these marks and a credible job on the blinds. We were working on his line manners and obedience and also turning him at the line. You may notice that after the last mark is picked up, hubby turns to the far left blind and the dog comes into heel there. This is what you want at tests so the dog is ready to go to the next thing. By moving, hubby is already working to change the dog’s mind off the marks and to another area of the field. You may also notice on the first blind that Freighter starts to get a bit nerved up toward the end and starts to come back in. We have been working on this with him while stretching him out longer and longer. He has been much better about holding his sits and that is the command when he moves “SIT”. For some reason he was on one side or the other of the first blind without smelling it. Could have been the wind swirling. He also has some cast refusals which is also something we are working to improve.
If the video doesn’t play try here.
After we ran the first set-up I moved across the field to throw a mark from the other direction and to fall in line with the first mark (Mark #1). We left the blinds where they were. This is video of Freighter. He did a nice job on these marks as well. The break in the video is because I had to move to the side of the field because I was standing in front of the blind.
Freighter knew where the blinds were the second time around so hubby stopped him and made him sit in a couple of spots just to reinforce the sit.
If the video doesn’t play try here.
Hope you enjoy the videos. As you can see, all of the running helps to keep the dogs fit and in condition.
Have a nice weekend!
Thanks so much to SlimDoggy, MyGBGV Life, and To Dog with Love for K-9 Kamp and for the FitDog Friday Blog Hop!
It’s really great that you have such a nice, big open place for the dogs to exercise and practice in. I’m sure it helps tire them out too, even though they have such high energy levels….unlike one small dog I know, who prefers to be a floor potato….
There’s nothing like running in a wide, open field. Love it!
Hi Y’all!
What a beautiful open field for early morning training. Now Freighter, you have to remember all this manners stuff when the “real thing” happens.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Just watching Storm run reminds me so much of Delilah. She is SO fast, at least she appears that way in the video.
Great job! I expect you are planning more training this weekend?
We have a club training day planned. 🙂 Storm is very fast. But of course she is too fast and ran over the marks.
Oh man! We thought you started running with the dogs like we do with mom. Oh well, the dogs sure do get lots of exercise, both physical and mental with their training. It is awesome! Thanks for joining the FitDog Friday blog hop!
LOL I have been doing a little bit with Freighter, but my knee is a big problem and after a few times out it is now killing me so no walk for Freighter this morning. Got to rest it.
I love how eagerly Storm sits, waiting for direction. What a team effort! And Freighter’s happy tail-twirl as he’s picking up his first mark is adorable!
That is because I threw him a dokken (shaped like a duck) to try to get him to jump on line. He did not fall for it and I think he was surprised to find it wasn’t a regular bumper.
Fun watching the vids and seeing them work. Interesting the different speeds. Thunder, the master just kind of lopes out there, knowing where he’s going, enjoying the scenery. Storm and Freighter bolt after that mark…at least that’s how it looks on vid. There’s no time element to these is there?
No time limit involved. Thunder has always been slower running blinds. On marks he is quite fast for his size. I think with blinds he figures his handler will stop him at some point and he wants to be ready.
Yea for no power in the office and instead you got to go out in that lovely field. Wow talking about Storm that looks fast. Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
While watching the video I asked myself what will happen when they find “other” things on the field too, but while reading more, you wrote the answer :o) Hope the power problem can be fixed soon. Have a super fit friday.
Love the videos! Storm and Freighter you must have been pooped after all this running.
Very interesting to see them in action for their training. Looks like they are having a blast!
Great videos! It looks like so much fun 🙂
Looks like they had a good workout! It’s nice that the dogs can practice there. I have trouble finding places for Mr. N to run off-leash sometimes.
I totally love your park! And I loved seeing Thunder and Storm and Freighter in action. They are beautiful, even if Storm was a bit distracted. 😉
Love seeing them in training. That park looks amazing, looks like a great place to practice. Looks like everyone had a great time.
Sorry about the out power but you made great day of training out of it. I rather b out train
Training then working any day. That was a tough set up. Great pictures and videos.
I love watching the dogs run and really enjoyed the videos. You have a really nice large place for them to run. You all have a super weekend. Hugs and nose kisses
It’s not a bad day when you get out of work early, and get to go train with the dogs, right? I imagine this cooler summer has worked out well for you since you can do more in the middle of the day too when it’s not swelteringly hot out.
That definitely looks like a great workout for them, and a good place for you to be able to go and train with no one around.
Thanks for the videos, they really give you an idea of the distance of their retrieves.