One of the requirements in a Senior and Master Retriever Hunt Test the Walk-Up.

According to the rule book:

Walk Ups.

In Senior and Master hunting tests, a walk up is used to test a dog’s steadiness. The birds represent a surprise situation therefore gunning stations must be well concealed, utilizing natural cover when possible so that only the bird may be seen when launched. Birds shall be presented at a distance ranging from 35 to 45 yards of the dog with no attention getting devices utilized.

As the first bird is thrown in a walk up situation, the handler may give either a verbal or whistle command to steady the dog once the bird is in the air. Judges shall tell handlers in advance of the start of judging when it is appropriate to give the steadying commend or whistle.

The ideal is for the dog to walk at heel next to his handler while looking out over the field for birds.  It is not as easy as it sounds.  The excitement of the test can get the best of the dog.  They can get anxious and get ahead of their handler.  You can talk to them and call them back to heel but then they might miss the bird.  Remember there is no warning that a bird is coming so if the dog is going to mark the double (in Senior Tests) or the triple (in Master Tests) then the dog must be looking at the field and not their handler.

Once the bird is in the air the handler can say “sit” or blow a whistle to make the dog sit.  One or the other, not both and only once.  Again it sounds easy, but excitement can get the best of a dog and something that sounds easy can go out the window.

Freighter has struggled a bit with walk-ups.  He gets so excited he tends to move quickly ahead of his handler who can move pretty fast himself.  We have been practicing walk-ups when we get the chance.  Mostly we have been working with double marks (the dog watches two birds thrown before it is sent to retrieve).  Eventually we will work on triples, but for now and until he finishes his Senior title we have been sticking to doubles for the walk-up since that is what he will see at a test.

We have been working on walk-ups on land and on water since it can be either place at a test.  If the walk-up is during the land portion, the second bird will most likely be a live shot flyer.  That brings Freighter’s excitement level up even more.  We hope that by reinforcing the “sit” on a walk-up in training, it will carry through for his upcoming tests.

These are pictures of a walk-up double that we did on the water a couple of weeks ago.  Hubby signaled me to launch the bumpers but at a test the judges would signal for the birds.

Ready Freighter?
Ready Freighter?
Freighter Is Walking At Heel Looking For The Birds
Freighter Is Walking At Heel Looking For The Birds
Still At Heel
Still At Heel
The Birds (Bumpers) Are Launched And He Is Told "Sit"
The Birds (Bumpers) Are Launched And He Is Told “Sit”
Off To Retrieve
Off To Retrieve
Swimming To The Bumper
Swimming To The Bumper
Freighter Has It
Freighter Has It
Headed Back
Headed Back
Back On Land
Back On Land
Back At Heel--Nice Job
Back At Heel–Nice Job

12 thoughts on “The Walk-Up

  1. Good job Freighter, it can’t be easy with the enticement of the hunt!

  2. Great sequence, and Freighter will be a master, no doubt!

  3. Freighter is super cute. I bet he’ll get the hang of walk-ups after some more practice. Thanks for sharing!

  4. I love these photos and seeing Freighter at work. With the new puppy, we are definitely remembering the importance–and the rewards–of daily training.

  5. Interesting. We’ve learnt so much from your hunting posts!

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  6. That’s like saying to Bailie and I relax, it’s only a wabbit. Not easy at all and we would fail. Your pups are much better at self control.

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