Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Snapshot: TO DO List/Guidelines for Training Day

TO DO List

  • Daily
    • – Wagon wheels with birds to shape the retrieve using silent handling
    • – Build motivation with dummies and tug
  • Dinner
    • – Multiples: abort retrieve if dog looks away
    • – Backing up at heel
  • Hikes
    • – WS shaping
  • Solo/Land
    • – Salience drill
    • – Holding blind and SL approach
  • Solo/Water
    • – Shore-handling toolkit (no shaking off after picking up dummy)
    • – Swim-by (including left and right back from WS both at shoreline and in water)
    • – Not squaring ditches
  • Study
    • – Obtain, then study “Four Looks at Two Down the Shore” from HTKH
    • – Review Lardy's de-cheating fundamentals
  • Thrower:
    • – DD combination picture (one more session)
    • – Marks and blinds, including returning thru cover and dealing with other factors
    • – Occasional hip-pocket and other picture drills
    • – Looking to long gun
    • – Drills to prepare for triples in group work
    • – Practice walk-ups
    • – Practice with line gun

Guidelines for Training Day

BEFORE OTHER TRAINERS ARRIVE

  • Bring:
    • – Birds for solo training
    • – High-value treats
    • – Clippies
  • White jacket
  • Put collars on dogs if needed
  • Load pockets: pistol, ammo, slip cord if needed
  • Daily TO DO items for each dog

RUNNING THE DOG

  • Key question: What is the best way to run each series in terms of benefit to the dog's training?
  • Do not run the dog unless confident that he will not rehearse any incorrect responses
  • If running:
    • – No multiples until dog completes JH
    • – Cue "sit, mark" before first throw of each series
    • – Occasional bird-in-mouth marking
    • First train that high sit triggers send, then build duration for long count before sending
    • – Require retrieve of dummy(ies) as -P for creeping
    • – In FT series, run long gun last
    • – Auto-whistle early
    • – Run only blinds within dog's capability, and only if dog remains responsive; don't challenge early blinds

RECORD KEEPING PER MARK

  • Creeping?
  • Attempted break?
  • Head swinging, before or after throws? Which throws?
  • Could the dog find the long gun?
  • Did dog return uncued? Auto-whistle? Contingent whistle? Voice? Walk out?
  • On blinds: Slipped whistles? Refused casts? Hunting by scent or sight?

AFTER GROUP TRAINING

  • Pay for flyer if used
  • Purchase birds if available

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