When a dog is running a blind retrieve, the desired path is a straight line.  However a young dog or an inexperienced dog may end up ping-ponging its way to the blind.

A blind retrieve is where a bumper or bird is placed out in the field, but the dog does not know where.  The dog’s handler directs the dog to the bumper or bird using whistles and arm signals.

At last Saturday’s group training the dogs ran a series of three blinds. The first blind was on land, and the other two required the dog to cross through some water to get to them.

Series Of Three Blinds
Series Of Three Blinds

Each dog ran Blind 1 and was put up while the other dogs ran it.  Once all dogs had run Blind 1, then each ran Blind 2 and each was put up while the other dogs ran it.  This repeated for Blind 3.  You will notice that the dogs ran the outside blinds first before running the middle blind.

Blind 1 and Blind 2 did not give the dogs many problems.  Then came Blind 3.  Blind 3 was difficult because they had run a blind on either side and now were being asked to go in between them.  They were being pulled in the direction of both of the blinds they had previously picked up.  This set-up was designed to pull the dogs off line and to allow the handler a chance to practice handling the dog.  To add a bit more difficulty, the dogs had to swim across a cold pond to get to Blind 3.

Freighter ended up ping-ponging his way to this blind.  Here is a diagram of his path.

Freighter's Path To The Blind
Freighter’s Path To The Blind

When a dog is ping-ponging, the handler’s job is to stop the dog with a whistle blast every time they start to go off line and use an arm signal to redirect the dog back onto the desired path.  Sometimes the handler has to stop the dog a lot.  This is training so the number of whistles is not as important as the dog taking direction back to the desired path.

Many times people do not want to stop their dogs but that is not always helpful because the dog does not learn unless you teach them what you want.  The hope is that the more the dog practices this, the better the dog will do at staying on a direct path.

Here are some photos of Freighter:

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Lined Up To The Blind-It Was Tough To Get Him To Look Off The Blinds He Has Already Run
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Is Released
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Is Veering Off His Path
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
So He Is Stopped And Redirected
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Stays On Path For A Bit But The Starts To Go Off Path Again
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Stopped And Redirected To The Right
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Overcompensates To The Right And Is Stopped Again
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Is Cast Into The Water
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Squares Up To The Pond To Jump In
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Is Stopped Again In The Water And Redirected Back To The Left
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Heading Across The Pond
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Freighter Ends Up A Bit Off Line On The Other Side Of The Pond But Is Directed To The Blind
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
And Back With The Bumper

We are still pretty early into this season’s training so we will be doing more of these sorts of challenging blinds with Freighter.  Even though he did a lot of ping-ponging, Freighter stopped with each whistle blast and took every cast.  Hopefully with practice he will carry a longer line.

What are you training this week?

17 thoughts on “Ping-ponging To The Blind

  1. would it count in a test if a dog ping-pongs his way to a blind instead to go straight in the right direction? or would the judge stop the test in such a case?

    1. It depends. If the dog is making forward progress and taking casts, depending on the judge they may be OK with it. Other judges might think too many handles and the dog is out. The important thing is that the dog stop when asked and follow direction, but the best is for the dog to carry a nice straight line for as long as possible. Not a clear cut answer I know, but whether it is acceptable really depends on a lot of different factors and overall performance.

      1. thanks :o) so in fact in worst case it can end disappointing for pup&handler, so better to avoid this ping-pong-thing in advance ?

        1. Definitely and it is why we are always training. As a the dog and handler work more together and gain more experience and confidence, the zig-zagging should decrease. I am working on a post with video for today that may help explain our training a little better.

  2. Photos of Freighter looking back for directions indicates he is really trying to watch for directions? I am afraid ours would be real ping-pongees in formal trials! He is becoming such a handsome field/water gent!

  3. That can be a problem in tracking too. A dog is supposed to follow the track, but some dogs like to zig zag back and forth over the track which is what you don’t want them to do.

    1. I imagine it is like our training and as the dog practices more, the zing-zagging decreases.

  4. You know that your dogs abilities just amaze me. I would be their loudest cheerleader at the trials. (Probably not a good thing! LOL!) That is so exciting to watch.

  5. Wow, that is just fascinating! The communication between you and your dogs is remarkable. We always enjoy learning about how you train them.

  6. That’s really interesting how a dog learns to know which way to go. Love the pics of him looking back at you for info. Looks like a great day of training. As for us, we’ve just been working on refreshing Rita’s training on “stay” while we are out on walks. Not her fave command! 🙂

  7. I imagine it’s tempting to try and follow previous paths. And some people say dogs have no memory. TOSH!

  8. Freighter did great on the first two blinds. His third was a bit crooked but he followed all the whistle commands and came out preaty close to the bumper. A bit more practices and he will hopefully have it.

  9. I think that would be how Sheba would be if she were a hunting dog. I often say walking her is like flying a kite….she ping pongs all over the place, with no desire to walk in a straight line. Maybe I need to work with her with a whistle? 🙂

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