Today’s This ‘N That Thursday is a little bit of three different training days.
One of the things that we constantly work on during training is control, or trying to change the dog’s mind. Running blinds is all about the handler and the dog working together, but more important, the handler has to be able to control the route the dog takes to the blind.
We run blinds in a park near our house periodically because the tree line can cause problems for the dogs. The break in the tree line can be very attractive. There is a small run-off creek that runs behind the trees that is also attractive and can pull a dog over. It is a good place to train control.
This is Storm having a hard day. She is bound and determined to go everywhere except where the duck is even though she almost stepped on it. She went left, she went right, she was in the woods, she tried to go to a dead duck (not one we put there), that was around the corner. She looks like she never ran a blind before. Eventually she got the bird, but this is hardly what you want. There was a second blind to the left and she did better on that one. Here is video of the first blind:
If the video doesn’t play, try here.
This is Thunder running the same blind along with the second blind. The handler has to work to change his mind from going to the opening in the trees. This is a more acceptable run:
If the video doesn’t play, try here.
After Storm’s wonderful performance on that blind her handler has been working on blinds with her. During training on Saturday and Sunday we worked two nice set-ups to train changing the dog’s mind.
The first one was a poison bird mark and a long (about 110 yards) water blind.
The dog watched the mark fall, but was not to pick it up before the blind. The mark was a poison mark. The dog could not see the blind and had to rely on its handler to get the dog there. This is where the handler must work to change the dog’s mind from heading to that poison mark. Both Storm and Thunder did well on this. Storm did a bit better than Thunder who got up on the far side of the island and had to be directed back into the water. Storm took a very nice line to the blind.
At our Club training day on Sunday the dogs ran the following water blinds.
These blinds were run in number order 1-2-3. They were difficult because there was an angled water entry and the blinds were all in close proximity to one another. Also, when you run the closer blind first it adds difficulty because you have to push the dog past a blind they have already run. Thunder and Storm only ran the first two blinds because it was a long hot day and it was getting late. They both did a nice job on this. Storm even took the angled water entry and didn’t square to the water as she does sometimes. One thing we have learned is that stopping when you get what you want in training can be more beneficial than pushing too hard and undoing the benefit of the exercise.
Some pictures:
Tomorrow pictures of a nice land triple they ran at the Club training day. Since there were two group training days last weekend, I took a load of pictures. 🙂
How long have you been training? How did you get started in it? Just curious!
We have been training for about 5 years. I have been thinking about doing a post on how our journey and I think I will do it one day next week. It is a bit long for the comment box. Thanks for asking. 🙂
Well that sure was cool! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Gloria.
The dogs look like they are so far away in the videos….I think I would freak out if my dog got that far away from me. Do you worry about either one of them doing a bunk and taking off?
And what is a poison bird? Not one that is actually poison I hope!
Our dogs have been running marks and blinds for a long time now. They have good recall so we don’t really worry about them bolting. Plus during training we do have the ecollar just in case.
You know hunt tests, they have their own lingo. 😆 Poison bird just means a bird or bumper the dog is not to pick up until it completes another task. In this case run the blind before picking up the mark. It is used to test control.
Now I see what you mean. Thanks for posting these. I think it’s amazing that they work from such a distance. Glad your trainer just takes off days in stride and uses that so he can set up the next exercise. I totally agree while quitting training on a good note too, particularly on a long hot day. It’s great that you share all your training experiences with all of us, especially people like me who are clueless about hunting.
Thanks Donna. Field trials work dogs at distances of 300-400 yards. Hunt tests 100 yards. The blinds in the video weren’t even that far. Hunt tests are not exactly like hunting though because the hunter would never shoot a bird at a distance of 100 yards. Given a choice, Thunder would much prefer hunting, but the season is short and this keeps him out of trouble. 🙂
I hope I can get you to follow my lead and post more on Nose Work. 🙂
Well sometimes a girl just has to do her own thing 😉
I love how Thunder carries his bumper 🙂
You got some really great footage and photos.
Isn’t Thunder a goof? He is an example of what you get when you wait too long for force fetch.
Storm just seems like your typical girl sometimes with a mind of her own or maybe just moody. lol! Good jobs by both Storm and Thunder. Great post! I do like the new look of your blog. 🙂
Storm is Storm. She thinks she has a better way at times and she is fast. Thunder trusts his handler to get him to the bird quickly so he is more apt to stay on course. Not Storm, she can decide she knows better at any given moment.
I really think you should consider producing a training guide – you have a great style, excellent presentation and so much wonderful material.
We continued to be amazed at the athleticism and focus of these wonderful dogs. Well done Storm and Thunder!
Bella and DiDi
All I can say is wow! Everytime I think I am starting to understand how it ll works I realize The dogs are so much better than I could ever do. Sounds like you both did a great job Storm and Thunder 🙂