When we are out training the dogs, sometimes we like to find an area with hills. Not only do hills add a challenge when it comes to the dogs being able to accurately mark the fall of a bird either up or down the hill, but hills add a physical challenge too.
On this particular day we set up a triple so that the dogs had to mark birds falling toward the bottom of a hill. We also set up a blind retrieve in between the marks. The marks were 75 to 100 yards long and the blind was around 125 yards.
The dogs started at the top of a hill and ran down through some higher cover to retrieve the three marks and the blind. This was an excellent work-out for our senior dogs Thunder and Storm.
Have a nice weekend!
Thanks to SlimDoggy, MyGBGV Life, and To Dog with Love for the FitDog Friday Blog Hop!
I agree that’s a super idea and it’s never boring for the dogs :o) and it’s a good training for humans too :o)
Hi Y’all!
My Human uses the hills too! She thinks it’s a great way to keep my hindquarters strong. ‘Cause for retrieves we have to go down what we go up, and visa versa, it works lots of muscles front rear and back. Yeh, it helps keep me “tucked up” too.
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Looks like a great challenge! We use the hills on our walks… actually we don’t have much of a choice, but they sure are good exercise.
You are so right about hills. We regularly incorporate them into our workouts – so good for the back legs.
Need a good workout, find a hill. They are good for just about anything your are doing when it comes to getting a workout.
Hills are a great workout. Nice picture
Mum and I luv reading about your training.. If we ever manage to get our vehicle and our trip we hope we can make it to your neck of the woods and maybe meet your furkids.
Challenges are good!
Hills definitely make for a extra bit of work and challenge.
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Great idea! We have hills no matter what direction we go from our house to walk or jog. It definitely adds something to the workouts!
Hills are an excellent workout! Especially on sand. And Mr. N wouldn’t even pull me up!
My guys get into kind of a rut when training under the same conditions. I think that the more variety you give them in training, the better they are able to adapt to the various hunting terrain.
We like finding hills with our pups as well, although these days it’s more like piles of dirt because of all the construction in our neighborhood…but they work nicely for an extra little workout (& fun!) as well!