ARCHIVE: Marginal Notes from November 2007

The Test Series

Lindsay's Field Training Test Series was designed as a series of tests intended to incrementally strengthen Lumi and Laddie's retrieving skills.

The tests are numbered with two digits. The first identifies the broad phase of testing, and indicates what retrieval articles are used in the test. The second digit indicates the difficultly level for each test within that phase.

Because of the cold weather, no swimming is included in this test series. A future series may be built upon land/water marks.

Lumi and Laddie are proceeding in tandem through the tests. Both dogs stay at the same test level until both have passed that test.

Each test consists of a series of three marks, run either as singles or as a triple. To pass each test, the dog must:

• Remain steady while the marks are thrown
• Run straight to the fall
• Pick up the article unhesitatingly without being cued
• Return to the start line at a canter or gallop
• Swing to heel, sit, and deliver the article to hand

The Test Phases

The first digit of each test number identifies the phase of testing, and specifies what articles are used for that phase. The phases are:

"1." Dummies are used for all three marks. We use black and white canvas dummies with a streamer, designed to improve marking ability.

"2." The first mark is a dead bird, the other two are dummies.

"3." The first mark is a live duck in a mesh duck sock, the second mark is a dead bird, and the third mark is a dummy.

"4." The first mark is a live shackled duck, the second mark is a live duck in a duck sock, and the third mark is a dead bird.

The Test Levels

Within each phase, the second digit of the test number indicates the level of difficulty. For this test series, these are the guidelines, subject to variation in the actual tests:

".1" Three single marks at 40, 120, and 80 yards in low cover

".2" Three single marks at 40, 120, and 80 yards in low cover plus a crossing through high cover or shallow water for the long mark

".3" Three single marks at 60, 180, and 120 yards in low cover

".4" Three single marks at 60, 180, and 120 yards in low cover plus multiple crossings through high cover or shallow water for the long mark

".5" Three single marks at 80, 240, and 160 yards in low cover

".6" Three single marks at 80, 240, and 160 yards in low cover plus multiple crossings through high cover or shallow water for the long mark

".7" A triple mark at 160, 240, and 80 yards in low cover plus multiple crossings through high cover or shallow water for the long mark

A Note on Blinds during the Test Series

I believe that it's good preparation for future competition that the dogs become accustomed to running blinds at the same time that they are running the marks in these tests. Performance on the blinds is not considered in whether the dog passes the test.

At this time in both dogs' field work, in most cases we're training handling with target blinds, that is, with no retrieval object, in order to prevent the whistle sit from declining.

Typically, we run the blinds as what I call a "pinball drill", a zigzag pattern of four poles totaling the distance noted for the blind. For example, a 90 yard blind would mean we were training with four poles separated by 30 yards. The dog is whistled to a sit at each pole, and then, after a pause of several seconds, is randomly either recalled, or cast on an angle back to the next pole.

A Note on Training Alone during the Test Series

Because we usually have no one to throw for us, these tests are being run as "poor man marks", meaning that, while the dog waits at the start line, I walk out to throw the marks and then walk back to send the dog.

One training benefit of poor man marks is that the dog works on steadiness.

Another training benefit is that, in effect, every gunner is retired. In the case of triples, the dog sits at the start line as I throw #1, then #2, then #3, and finally walk back to send the dog to #3, then #1, then #2. That's a long time to remember #1 and #2.

The major disadvantage I see is that the dog is rehearsing a different picture, and substantially less exciting picture, than what the dog will experience at training groups and competition.