Anyone who has ever trained a dog knows that training challenges are bound to pop up during the course of training.  There may be a skill or concept that the dog just cannot seem to master.  In Freighter’s case, his training challenge is in line marks.  However, just because a dog has trouble with a concept is no reason to give up.  You just need to work on it and hopefully one day the dog will master the concept.

With that in mind, we headed out to a field near our cabin to do some training on in line marks.  In line marks are marks where the dog watches as the bumpers are thrown so that they fall in a line with one another.  When bumpers fall in a line like that, one bumper may wipe out the dog’s memory of the other.

Freighter has struggled with in line marks.  He has no trouble getting the close one, but then does not push past it to retrieve the farther mark.  We mix up our training scenarios, but we have been training this frequently hoping that one day it will click with Freighter.

This was our first set-up this past Saturday.  It was a triple with 2 of the marks in line, then we set up a double blind which required the dog to run under the arc of the marks.  In line marks and blinds run under the arc of marks are advanced concepts.

First Training Set-up: Triple With 2 Marks In Line And Double Blind
First Training Set-Up: Triple With 2 Marks In Line And Double Blind

Hubby wanted to see how Freighter would do with this kind of advanced set-up.  If he smoked it, then it was too easy.  If he struggled, then we have an idea of what we need to work on.  We would decide on the next training set-up based on how Freighter handled this one.

The marks were thrown as numbered in the diagram…#1-#2-#3.  Freighter was sent to retrieve them in reverse order…#3-#2-#1.

Freighter retrieved mark #3 with no problem, then he was lined up to mark #2 which is the farthest bumper.

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Freighter Being Lined To Mark #2

He headed out.

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Freighter Headed To Mark #2

He was moving fast when he either saw or smelled mark #1.

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Oops Freighter Saw Or Smelled Mark #1

In his head, Freighter must have thought he was wrong and the bumper fell closer than where he marked it.  He ended up retrieving mark #1 first, but in his head, he thought that was mark #2.

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Freighter With The Mark (#1)

This is what makes in line marks difficult.  The dog can be fooled as to which bumper he actually picked up.  He must learn to push past the closer mark to get the farther one because it is still out there.

Once Freighter retrieved mark #1, hubby lined him back up to mark #2.  Freighter headed out, but broke down in the area he retrieved mark #1.  He did not push past it.  Hubby handled him to mark #2 which he retrieved.  Freighter had no issue with the blinds.  He did a nice job on those.

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Freighter Retrieving A Blind

So this scenario showed us that Freighter’s struggle with in line marks continues.  However, hubby had an easy time handling him back to mark #2.  Freighter did not resist being pushed farther back even though he though he still needed to pick up that closer bumper.  Freighter did so well on the blinds, that we decided that our next set-up would concentrate on in line marks.

Whenever you encounter training challenges, it is important to deal with them.  Often this means going back a bit and simplifying.  Come back next time to see what we did for the next set-up.

6 thoughts on “Training Challenges: In Line Marks

  1. We totally agree patience and consistency will get you through the struggles. We don’t worry about how long it takes to learn something here. We just keep at it.

    We loved the pictures beautiful pup, and your dogs always look like they’re enjoying themselves.

  2. Oh yes, we totally get that issue. I’m working through similar stuff in nose work.

  3. That is A hard set up if that brown is a road. Glad hubby had a easier time handling him, progress.

    1. Yes the brown was a road. We often cross roads at tests so we train for that too.

  4. It sounds like you made a little progress though! Can’t wait to hear how the next try goes!

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