Time for a little follow-up.

This video sparked a lot of great comments and a question.

Video link if it doesn’t play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u47KtVfkxdU

Bert commented:

You know, when I watch you guys, I wonder if I could do that too. I mean, I know I could swim like you guys, I could run and jump into the water in the cool way you do, but I wonder if I could get my head out of the clouds enough to let My Vickie direct me like your human directs you. She doesn’t think I have the concentration level or the ability to even hear her while I am in my “State” while in the water.
So I guess, we will just enjoy your photos and videos. No sense worrying about it. I is, who I is.

Bert you make me smile.  I realize that you have a lot of fun in the water, but you are a trained search and rescue doggie, I am sure Your Vickie would have no trouble teaching you hand signals!

Jodi Stone asked:

When he toots his whistle and she turns to look at him, is he giving her hand signal to direct her to the area he wants her to go? I couldn’t hear him giving her a verbal, so I wondered.

Yes, Storm’s handler is giving her a hand signal to direct her.  It was an “over” I think.  He was a little quick on that one, but that was her first day back and they were not quite in sync.  When she decides to blow him off, he gives a verbal command along with the hand signal.

On this post Jet asked:

Hey Freighter, Jet here.

Dude, you gotta talk to my Mom, that looks like a blast! Do you need a bath after that?

 

The brown dawgs rarely get baths.  A nice dip in a clean pond or being rinsed with a hose usually does the trick.

Murphy Dogs asked:

Do you use a dummy launcher for your long retrieves?

Actually if we are training with the pro, he usually has a person throw.

If we are training ourselves we use our winger or a person in the field to throw.

Anna asked:

Hey side note, you will have to keep us posted on what it is like to have 3 dogs Vs. 2 when it comes to pack dynamics, training, energy etc.

Having three dogs is definitely different from having two.  It takes more time to train and you need more space to lug them and their stuff around.  🙂  As far as pack dynamics, so far I haven’t noticed too much difference.  Thunder tries to steer clear of puppy shenanigans and Storm puts Freighter in his place when he is acting up.  So far they all seem to get along fine, (but we still do not leave them unattended together).  Of course Storm was at the trainer’s for the last six weeks, and Freighter will be going to train toward the end of the month, so we really haven’t had three together that much.

Thanks again for all of the great questions and comments.  Have a good Thursday.  I will try to update on Storm tomorrow.