Last weekend we headed out to train.  The weather was sunny but chilly.  We hoped to get in a bit of water work, but since it was still cold when we got to the training grounds, and the ponds are still cold, we decided to run a bit on land first before getting into the water.  That was the plan at least.  However, Freighter ended up having an unplanned swim.

Here is how it went down.  We set up a triple with a blind using dokkens (which resemble ducks).  The triple and blind were downhill but in front of the pond.  All the marks were enough in front of the pond that there should be no need for swimming.

Triple With A Blind
Triple With A Blind

The dokkens (marks) were thrown as numbered 1-2-3 and Freighter picked them up outside, outside, middle (3-1-2).  You can see from the drawing that the first mark was thrown so it landed on some dirt and by a tree.  The other two were in uncut grass.

I do not know if it was the perspective of the downhill or the cover, but Freighter had a bit of trouble digging out the go bird (#3 or the last one thrown).  He put on a hunt before coming up with the dokken.

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Freighter Heading Down The Hill For Mark #3
chesapeake bay retriever
Freighter Bouncing Through The Cover
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Freighter Has The Dokken
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Freighter Heading Back Up The Hill

Next Freighter was sent to retriever mark #1 which is on the right.  This mark gave him a lot of trouble and is where the unplanned swim came in.  Maybe it was the change in terrain.  Maybe it was because it fell at the base of the tree.  Whatever it was, Freighter blew right over the top of it.

chesapeake bay retriever
Freighter Blew Right Over The Mark

Then Freighter kept right on going into the pond.  So much for waiting for things to warm up a bit.

chesapeake bay retriever
Hubby Called Freighter Out Of The Pond

Hubby ended up handling Freighter to the dokken.

chesapeake bay retriever
After A Hunt And An Unplanned Swim, Freighter Finally Has The Dokken

Next Freighter retrieved the middle mark.  You would think that after the hunt on the left hand bird, the hunt and swim and having to be handled to the right hand bird that he might forget where the middle bird was…..nope.  He went right to the bird.

chesapeake bay retriever
Freighter Heading To The Middle Bird
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Freighter Has The Bird

So maybe Freighter’s swim was not unplanned after all.  Maybe that was his plan.

We did eventually move to the water.  I will have some water pictures in another post.

8 thoughts on “Down The Hill To An Unplanned Swim

  1. I bet it was his plan :o) and I hope it wasn’t too cold that day :O) Do you think to buy a dokken for phenny makes sense? He loves it to retrieve (mostly the things I never threw).

    1. Yes you could try it. Either that or a regular training bumper (which might be cheaper). I find the bumpers easier to throw than the dokkens which are a bit heavier.

  2. Sweet Freighter saw that pond and just couldn’t pass up a good chance to take a swim. It made me shiver to think of diving into that cold water. 🙂 Hugs and nose kisses

  3. I think he planned it that way, what’s retrieving without water? Great job on that last mark.

  4. They do love their water! My gang will do stuff like that too. Mine have been swimming on our pond for 3-4 weeks already.

  5. Yup, it sounds like Freighter had his own plans for a cool down! What a great job he did!

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