Land Blinds and Marks

Oaks Area 3

Each series was run from a different location in the large field.

SERIES A. Double land blind with poison birds (Laddie, then Lumi)

The first blind (OD) was to the right at 80 yards. Before sending the dog to the blind, I left the dog in a sit/stay and walked out to throw a PB (duck) further to the right at 50 yards. After the dog handled to the blind, I sent the dog to pick up the duck.

The second blind (OD) was to the left at 140 yards. As with the first blind, I threw a PB (duck) at 50 yards, this time further to the left. The dog then ran the blind, and was then sent to pick up the duck.

The line to the first blind on the right was thru a keyhole formed by two trees, with the blind planted at the foot of a third tree. The line to the second blind on the left was thru a keyhole formed by a gap in a line of closely-spaced trees and underbrush, then uphill. The blind was in an open area on the slope.

To increase the suction of the PBs, both were thrown with duck calls and a gunshot.

Laddie did well on all the retrieves.

Lumi did fine with the first blind and first PB, but went OOC when sent on the second blind, too confused by the PB I'd throw just before sending her on the blind. I walked out and brought her back to the SL, also picking up the duck. I again put her into a sit/stay at the SL and walked another 90° further to the left, then used a duck call and gunshot while throwing the duck again, this time much further than before from the line to the second blind. Lumi then had no difficulty running the second blind, and finally picking up the second PB.

SERIES B. Land double (Laddie, then Lumi)

As another pick-up speed test, I threw a flower-pot double, one throw to the left, one to the right. Both marks were ducks at 70 yards, with both falls in open meadow well away from any landscape features. Again I used duck calls and gunshots for each throw.

Despite the lack of landscape features and the thigh-high cover, both dogs nailed both marks.

SERIES C. Land double (Laddie, then Lumi)

The first mark was on the right, thrown from behind a tree left to right at 160 yards into a cluster of widely spaced trees. The second mark was on a line 90° to the left, thrown right to left from the point of a hedgerow on a back angle to 80 yards. Both marks were ducks thrown with duck calls and gunshots.

Both dogs nailed the go-bird on the left. Both dogs required hunts (unassisted) to find the memory-bird on the right, first hunting a second cluster of trees adjoining the cluster of trees where the bird had been thrown, but with the second cluster of trees on the left. For some reason, that picture confused the dogs and they both hunted the cluster of trees that was closer to the go-bird before giving up and moving further right to find the bird.

SERIES D. Land double (Laddie, then Lumi)

For Series D, I decided to focus on reinforcing pick-up speed with a double consisting of 20-yard marks (ducks), with no duck call or pistol. Besides cheering and praise, I rewarded the dogs' excellent work with pieces of chicken.

Both dogs had great pick-ups and returns all day.