Freighter was so happy to get out on Saturday to do some hunt test training.  Or maybe I should say getting out to run made Freighter happy!

Perhaps he had Spring fever.

The temperatures were supposed to be pushing 60 degrees, but I can tell you it did not feel like high 50’s.  One thing I have learned through the years of cold weather training is that wind blowing over a cold field makes for cold.  It is true for people but not so much for dogs.  I am sure Freighter would say the temperature was perfect.  I guess for February in Michigan, he is correct.  It could have been a lot worse.

The trainer set up a double with a diversion mark.  A double is where the dog watches two bumpers thrown in the field and then must retrieve them.  The bumper thrown first in the field is called the “Memory” and the last bumper thrown is called the “Go”.  Normally the dog would pick up the Go bumper before the memory, but it is not required.

This is a diagram of the first setup on Saturday.  Bumper #1 was thrown at the back of the field with no sound.  Bumper #2 was thrown closer with a shot (which helps pull the dog away from looking at bumper #1.)  The diversion bumper was thrown when the dog was on his way back from picking up bumper #1.

The dogs had to pass fairly close to the kid throwing bumper #2 in order to retrieve it.  This can be a problem for some dogs who might be tempted to “visit” the person throwing the bumper, but we teach them not to do that.

Freighter had more trouble with the second bumper he retrieved (#1).  He needed to push back to the tree line and did not push that far back.  For whatever reason, he did not mark that bumper as well as he could have.  He needs to get back into the habit of marking and remembering.  After a quick handle he had the bumper.

He did not fall for the diversion bumper.  He watched it fall, but did not spit the one he was carrying out or head over to it.

After he brought bumper #1 back and delivered it to hand, he retrieved the diversion bumper.

I will have more of Freighter’s training later this week.

A lot of people showed up to train and as we have not been able to attend this training for a long time, we were thankful to be welcomed back.  It was nice to be able to chat with old friends and to get Freighter back into hunt test training mode with other dogs and marks thrown out in the field.  Thank you Darrin and Farpoint Retrievers for having us.