The dogs are not thrilled by 4th of July fireworks, but making sure they get a big workout helps them to be calm and relaxed. So on Saturday we went to some new grounds to train.  Next year these grounds are going to replace the farm grounds we have been using.  In addition to checking out the new digs, it is always good to train on different grounds when you can.  It is a good way to boost a dog’s confidence and proof their training,

The training for the day was water blinds and some marks.  One water blind was 130 yards and one was 230 yards.  That is a swim of 130 yards out and back and 230 yards out and back.  I would say that is a big workout.

Remember that when a dog is doing a blind retrieve, they have no idea where the bumpers or birds are in the field.  The dog’s handler knows and must direct the dog to the blind using arm signals.  The dog must trust their handler to get them to the blind and ignore things along the way that may draw them off course.  Sometimes scent draws them off.  Sometimes it is the desire to get on land.  Sometimes it is just a dead branch in the water.

Water blinds are difficult, long distance water blinds are really difficult.  When a dog gets a couple of hundred yards out in the field, the dog can forget that they have a handler directing them.  Or the dog may get a bit panicky being so far out there and their handler being so far away.

That is why we start with short blinds on land and work on lengthening them as the dog’s skill, confidence and training progresses.  With a long land blind, if the handler sees a dog struggling with the distance, the handler can move up on the dog and cut the distance.  However, with a water blind, many times there is no opportunity to walk up on the dog unless the handler wants to swim.  But by gradually increasing distance the dog must swim to retrieve a water blind, you can stretch the dog out.

Freighter did a very nice job on both water blinds.  The 230 yard blind was the more challenging of the two.

It was challenging because it required the dog to start some distance from the edge of the water.

This blind required the dog to swim down a narrowish strip of water.  The dog’s inclination is to try to get on land all along the way.  The handler’s challenge is to stop the dog and cast them away from the edge each time they turn toward it.  Freighter did a nice job of maintaining a straight line right down the middle.  He needed a couple of casts away from the edge, but each time he took his handler’s direction which is exactly what you want in training.

Then after swimming the length of the water, the dog had to get out and up on land to get to the blind.  Once a dog gets on land and you are handling them from a distance, things can go wrong.  Some dogs will start hunting or go into what we call auto-cast where they move in the direction they think is right, and not the direction their handler sends them.  Again, it is the handler’s job to stop the dog each time, make the dog sit and wait for direction.

In the picture, you can see how far away Freighter is from his handler.  At that distance it is difficult to get photos.  It can also be difficult for the dog’s handler to see if the dog is looking at him when he stops the dog to give direction.  Freighter did a nice job of looking to his handler for direction, got to the stake, and got the bumper.

A year ago Freighter could not have done this blind.  It would have been too far for him, but as his training has progressed, he is now capable of these kinds of blinds.  Hubby was very happy with him and he was all tired out from his big workout.