Storm also ran the land series at our Club’s training day last Sunday.  She did a decent job.  I guess ducks made a difference for her because she was actually watching as all of the marks fell and not glancing up at her handler.

Again, this was the set-up.

Land Series

Storm ran after Thunder so her handler had her pick up the marks the way he should have had Thunder pick them up…3-1-2.  She picked up #3 and absolutely pinned the shot flyer (#1) with no hunt.  She ended up on the wrong side of the gunner for the middle mark and needed help on that.  She did fine on both blinds taking casts quite nicely.  She had her fanny off the ground between marks, but her handler didn’t bust her on it because it was more important that she look out to the marks.  She left with her trainer before the water series.  That is OK she gets a lot of water.  🙂  All and all, a good day for Storm!

Practicing Heeling To The Line
Watching The Shot Flyer #1
Fanny To The Ground Storm--Watching #2
Mark #3
Getting Ready For Mark #1
She's Off
Pinned It
Storm With Right Side Blind
Left Side Blind--Good Girl!

Tomorrow some pictures from Saturday’s training session.

24 thoughts on “Storm’s Training Day”

  2. Interesting…. do you feel that box/platform for heel tightens their position up? Or is this just something used for tests so you practice with it too? I think it might help. When you line them up to send them (I see number 1 is to left of you) do you not face them at heel so they are straight away to it? Or is that part of them marking it despite their body position? Not sure if I am getting that question across right.

    And here is a dumb question, how to you get these objects/birds out to the right location for training? I assume you throw some, launch others? or have people place them? Just curious.

    1. Good questions. The use of the box was optional, but it is a training tool used to help steady the dogs. It is used like a “place” marker. It also gets the dog used to sitting on something should you find yourself at a test where they are using a dog stand (HRC loves these).

      As far as lining, others may have done it differently, but Thunder and Storm’s handler lined them center to the field because these marks went off left, middle and then right in succession, (with maybe 4-5 seconds in between). The throwers sounded a duck call and then they shot the flyer or shot a popper and launched the dead bird. The dogs needed to see all of marks fall and you are not allowed to talk to your dog to realign them until the judge releases you. Our dogs have a lot of hunting experience so they are used to swinging with their handler’s body movement as he swings the gun to “shoot” the marks. Also, the handler’s leg position can help an advanced dog swing to watch. We usually do not have issues with our dogs seeing the marks provided they are looking out. Believe me they know where the birds are normally. 😉

      And for your not dumb question. 🙂 Sometimes the bumpers or birds are hand thrown and sometimes they use a launcher (I call it a winger). It depends on who is setting the training/test. Saturday we trained with dead birds and they were hand thrown. Sunday the dead bird stations had wingers. I am not sure if the live birds were hand thrown or if they had a winger. I have seen it done both ways. Blinds are usually placed by a person out in the field. If they are put out before marks are run they are called “hot” blinds. HRC loves hot blinds. If they are placed in the field just before the dog is to run them, they are called “cold” blinds. On Sunday, one blind was hot and one was cold. Hope I answered your questions. 🙂

    1. No. 🙂 I kid. But I know she is in good hands and I really didn’t get to see her Sunday although I saw her a bit on Saturday.

  5. I really like the handler’s decision to pick the battles, to concentrate on the most important skill instead of nagging for perfection from the get-go.

  7. It looks like Storm did a terrific job! Does Storm get excited when she sees you and Thunder? is it hard for her to leave with her handler? I would find it hard to see her go.

    1. Storm is excited to see my husband. From him all things hunting happen. 🙂 We see her every weekend so it isn’t too bad. I know she loves to train so that makes it better.

  9. Hi Y’all,

    Had a chance to see all the training runs from Thunder and Storm. Great runs. My Human used to love gettin’ up before dawn and going out on the Chesapeake Bay to train with live birds. She says she like that better than hunting. More action. Less waiting and hoping.

    Stoppin’ by to say “hello” and see how y’all are doing.

    Hope you’re havin’ a fantastic week!

    Y’all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

    1. Yeah, Thunder had one good hunting day last season, but the rest were a lot of waiting and hoping for birds. 🙂

  13. Those are pretty complex marks you’re running and it takes smart dogs to do it.

  14. I really love the photos– Storm is such a beauty!!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend 🙂

Comments are closed.