Cheltenham
Today's session was almost identical to last weekend's, four AWO's combined with bulldogs, with Austin assisting.
The only difference was that today, for the first three series, I gave Austin the instruction that on both the first retrieve well onto shore, and the second retrieve at water's edge, for each series, Austin was to wait three seconds and then begin toward the dog, without waiting for me to say anything and without giving the dog a chance to reposition the bird or any other seemingly reasonable delay.
For the forth series, I asked Austin to wait until I told him to walk toward the dog on each of the retrieves, and it was not necessary for any of them.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Assisted Walk Outs and Bulldogs
Cheltenham
Because I was working in New York all of last week, and will be there again next week, and because I wasn't able to get out with the dogs yesterday, today was our only training session over a period of nearly two weeks.
To make the most of it, I brought along Austin, a neighborhood kid who's helped with training earlier this year as well.
Both of my dogs have done well with most requirements of the Senior Hunt Test for some time, with one exception: both are unreliable on their returns for water retrieves. This single fault prevented both of them from qualifying in their last test a week ago.
Two address this, Gaby and I began working with the dogs on what I call an Assisted Walk Out (AWO) last Sunday. Today's session was again devoted to the AWO.
Over a period of just under two hours, I set up four series, all the same except that they were in four different locations. Each series was as follows:
The bad news is that in the fourth series, Lumi again required an AWO. This could mean that the AWO is only a short-term solution. Or it may simply mean that my dogs have a well-ingrained habit of dawdling on pick-ups and returns and it's going to take a lot of practice with the AWO to replace that habit with the one I want.
Because I was working in New York all of last week, and will be there again next week, and because I wasn't able to get out with the dogs yesterday, today was our only training session over a period of nearly two weeks.
To make the most of it, I brought along Austin, a neighborhood kid who's helped with training earlier this year as well.
Both of my dogs have done well with most requirements of the Senior Hunt Test for some time, with one exception: both are unreliable on their returns for water retrieves. This single fault prevented both of them from qualifying in their last test a week ago.
Two address this, Gaby and I began working with the dogs on what I call an Assisted Walk Out (AWO) last Sunday. Today's session was again devoted to the AWO.
Over a period of just under two hours, I set up four series, all the same except that they were in four different locations. Each series was as follows:
- On my signal, Austin held a duck up for the dog to see, then dropped the duck at the base of a lining pole set back from the bank varying distances (closer at first, further back for the later series), on the opposite side of an inlet. He then walked to a point 10 yards to the left or right and closer to water's edge, remaining as inconspicuous as possible as he walked and took up his new position, holding a second bird.
- As soon as Austin had taken a few steps, I sent the dog. Each dog became confused in one of the series and swam toward Austin, in which cases I handled the dog to the lining pole. Aside from those incidents, the dog swam straight toward the pole, climbed out of the water, and raced to the pole and the bird.
- If the dog picked the bird up immediately (I allowed the dog to shake if desired, which happened almost every time) and got back in the water, I cheered and applauded. Then, when the dog was well into her swim back, I called for Austin to throw a "bulldog", that is, another mark while the dog is retrieving the previous one. The bulldog included a gunshot, and was thrown either on shore near the water or in water near the shore. If the dog showed any inclination to turn toward the bulldog, I called her to me. In general, Lumi ignored the bulldogs while Laddie looked at them, but neither dog tried to change direction in most cases. As soon as the dog got to me with the first bird, I took the bird without even bringing the dog heel, gestured in the direction of the bulldog to get the dog turned around, and sent her as soon as she was looking the right way.
- If the dog cheated around the water on the return (Lumi did this several times, Laddie did not), I did nothing to discourage it while it was happening. If Lumi had done that in our last test, she'd have her Senior Hunter title now, so I don't want to outright ban it. But I then took the bird, brought it back to Austin, and ran the retrieve again. The goal wasn't to use attrition to change her cheating return (which is legal in a Senior test, I believe), but to give her a chance to earn the bulldog by coming back over water.
- If the dog came straight back with the bulldog, I cheered again, and this time I threw my own bulldog with the first duck, this time into open water to one side or the other. Again, as soon as the dog arrived with the bulldog, I sent her to the open-water retrieve.
- If the dog dawdled on either the original retrieve or the bulldog, I used an AWO. That is, I called to Austin to pick up the bird, called out "Sit" to the dog, and walked around to pick the dog up. I then slipped on her lead, walked her back to the SL, and ran the identical retrieve again.
The bad news is that in the fourth series, Lumi again required an AWO. This could mean that the AWO is only a short-term solution. Or it may simply mean that my dogs have a well-ingrained habit of dawdling on pick-ups and returns and it's going to take a lot of practice with the AWO to replace that habit with the one I want.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Hunt Test Preparation
Cheltenham
Time is so short these days, trying to combine training with my new consulting position, taking me to New York the last three weeks. I've found it especially difficult to get around to typing up my training notes in this blog.
Anyway, today Lumi, Laddie and I again trained with Gaby at Cheltenham. This time she brought both of her Senior dogs (that is, dogs training for Senior Hunt Test competition): Buster (yellow Lab) and Gus (Chessie).
SERIES A. Land double with blind
The first throw (memory-bird) was to the left, a duck thrown right to left on an angle-in into high cover at 60 yards. The second throw (go-bird) was to the right, a Bumper Boy throwing right to left at 50 yards. The blind (OD marked with orange ribbon) was to the left of the left mark, at 70 yards in high cover.
Lumi and Laddie both did well on this series. The only problem was that Lumi decided to run to the duck first, then pick up the Bumper Boy's bumper. Since she nailed both of them, I guess it was all right.
SERIES B. Water double with blind
The first throw (memory-bird) was to the right, a duck thrown left to right onto a strip of land making a 60-yard LWL mark. The second throw (go-bird) was to the left, a duck thrown right to left into open water 20 feet down a channel, with the intent that the dog would run 20 yards on land, launch from the end of the channel, and swim out to the bird and back within the channel. The 50-yard blind was to the right of the right mark, an OD on the far edge of a 30-yard swim diagonally across a channel, with an angle entry on the way out and of an angle exit coming back.
The throw for Laddie was too close to the thrower (Gaby), and instead of swimming the channel, he ran the bank and leapt into the water, actually landing on the duck. He came out the same way. Since he's a good channel swimmer, I wasn't worried about it. On the other hand, his returns on the memory-bird and blind were mediocre.
Because Lumi's been having difficulty remembering doubles, I had Gaby throw her memory-bird onto the far embankment, so that it was out of sight until Lumi swam across the channel and then ran across the strip of land. She did need a small hunt, but she didn't seem to forget the bird and didn't need help. However, she took a long time picking it up. It was frozen solid and Gaby said Lumi seemed to have difficulty finding a good grip. While I think that's true, I also think that she could have managed if she'd wanted to.
Lumi also behaved somewhat oddly on her send-out to the blind, as though she were resisting getting into the water. It was cold, but I didn't think it was that cold. On the other hand, she is now on thyroid meds, yeast meds, allergy injections, many joint supplements, and she has a bare spot on her chest from the skin allergy test, so it's possible she has some water-temp sensitivity right now that she doesn't usually have.
Both dogs are showing outstanding technical skills these days but are still having trouble with the most fundamental basic, the pick-up and return. I can only hope that it won't be a problem this Saturday, when they're both entered in their next Senior Hunt Test.
Time is so short these days, trying to combine training with my new consulting position, taking me to New York the last three weeks. I've found it especially difficult to get around to typing up my training notes in this blog.
Anyway, today Lumi, Laddie and I again trained with Gaby at Cheltenham. This time she brought both of her Senior dogs (that is, dogs training for Senior Hunt Test competition): Buster (yellow Lab) and Gus (Chessie).
SERIES A. Land double with blind
The first throw (memory-bird) was to the left, a duck thrown right to left on an angle-in into high cover at 60 yards. The second throw (go-bird) was to the right, a Bumper Boy throwing right to left at 50 yards. The blind (OD marked with orange ribbon) was to the left of the left mark, at 70 yards in high cover.
Lumi and Laddie both did well on this series. The only problem was that Lumi decided to run to the duck first, then pick up the Bumper Boy's bumper. Since she nailed both of them, I guess it was all right.
SERIES B. Water double with blind
The first throw (memory-bird) was to the right, a duck thrown left to right onto a strip of land making a 60-yard LWL mark. The second throw (go-bird) was to the left, a duck thrown right to left into open water 20 feet down a channel, with the intent that the dog would run 20 yards on land, launch from the end of the channel, and swim out to the bird and back within the channel. The 50-yard blind was to the right of the right mark, an OD on the far edge of a 30-yard swim diagonally across a channel, with an angle entry on the way out and of an angle exit coming back.
The throw for Laddie was too close to the thrower (Gaby), and instead of swimming the channel, he ran the bank and leapt into the water, actually landing on the duck. He came out the same way. Since he's a good channel swimmer, I wasn't worried about it. On the other hand, his returns on the memory-bird and blind were mediocre.
Because Lumi's been having difficulty remembering doubles, I had Gaby throw her memory-bird onto the far embankment, so that it was out of sight until Lumi swam across the channel and then ran across the strip of land. She did need a small hunt, but she didn't seem to forget the bird and didn't need help. However, she took a long time picking it up. It was frozen solid and Gaby said Lumi seemed to have difficulty finding a good grip. While I think that's true, I also think that she could have managed if she'd wanted to.
Lumi also behaved somewhat oddly on her send-out to the blind, as though she were resisting getting into the water. It was cold, but I didn't think it was that cold. On the other hand, she is now on thyroid meds, yeast meds, allergy injections, many joint supplements, and she has a bare spot on her chest from the skin allergy test, so it's possible she has some water-temp sensitivity right now that she doesn't usually have.
Both dogs are showing outstanding technical skills these days but are still having trouble with the most fundamental basic, the pick-up and return. I can only hope that it won't be a problem this Saturday, when they're both entered in their next Senior Hunt Test.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Full House, Adventure Drill
Oaks Area 2
SERIES A. Double land retrieve with triple blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This is one of my favorite kinds of set-ups, and Lumi and Laddie also seem to like it. A nickname for it could be a Full House, since it combines two of a kind (the double marks) with three of a kind (the triple blind).
For the marks, I used RLs, weighted streamers, and ducks. For the blinds, I used ODs. I fired a pistol before each "throw" from the RLs.
The first mark (memory-bird) was on the left, thrown right to left at 60 yards. The second mark (go-bird) was on the right, thrown right to left at 30 yards.
After the dog picked up both marks, the dog ran the three blinds. The first blind was a little to the right of the right RL at 60 yards, past a tree on the right with the blind at the foot of a tree. The second blind was in the center, a little to the left of the right mark, to the left of a gap in a line of trees at 90 yards. The third blind was to the left of the left mark at 130 yards, 20 yards past the end of a line of trees on the right.
Both dogs pinned each mark, then responded reasonably well for handling on each blind. Laddie's handling, in fact, was excellent.
Lumi's handling was more than acceptable by Senior standards (from my experience), but not as good as Laddie's, in that Lumi didn't carry her casts well but instead to scallop back in the direction I had cast her away from. She also slipped a whistle at 110 yards on the third blind and I responded with a WO, but she her other WSs both before and after that lapse were excellent.
Laddie was his usual exuberant self. Lumi, who is now on both thyroid medication and allergy injections, in addition to her long running course of joint supplements, showed lovely energy and motivation, racing out as usual, but also running back in on all her retrieves.
PHOTOS OF SERIES A
Series A 60-yard mark (memory-bird)
Series A 30-yard mark (go-bird)
Series A 60-yard blind
Series A 90-yard blind
Series A 130-yard blind
Sundown Road Park
After we completed Series A, we drove to nearby Sundown for a little Adventure Drill: five short retrieves thru extremely difficult footing, each time over a creek and into tangled undergrowth. With no appreciable rain in weeks, the creek was low, and only a couple of the crossings required any swimming.
SERIES A. Double land retrieve with triple blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This is one of my favorite kinds of set-ups, and Lumi and Laddie also seem to like it. A nickname for it could be a Full House, since it combines two of a kind (the double marks) with three of a kind (the triple blind).
For the marks, I used RLs, weighted streamers, and ducks. For the blinds, I used ODs. I fired a pistol before each "throw" from the RLs.
The first mark (memory-bird) was on the left, thrown right to left at 60 yards. The second mark (go-bird) was on the right, thrown right to left at 30 yards.
After the dog picked up both marks, the dog ran the three blinds. The first blind was a little to the right of the right RL at 60 yards, past a tree on the right with the blind at the foot of a tree. The second blind was in the center, a little to the left of the right mark, to the left of a gap in a line of trees at 90 yards. The third blind was to the left of the left mark at 130 yards, 20 yards past the end of a line of trees on the right.
Both dogs pinned each mark, then responded reasonably well for handling on each blind. Laddie's handling, in fact, was excellent.
Lumi's handling was more than acceptable by Senior standards (from my experience), but not as good as Laddie's, in that Lumi didn't carry her casts well but instead to scallop back in the direction I had cast her away from. She also slipped a whistle at 110 yards on the third blind and I responded with a WO, but she her other WSs both before and after that lapse were excellent.
Laddie was his usual exuberant self. Lumi, who is now on both thyroid medication and allergy injections, in addition to her long running course of joint supplements, showed lovely energy and motivation, racing out as usual, but also running back in on all her retrieves.
PHOTOS OF SERIES A
Series A 60-yard mark (memory-bird)
Series A 30-yard mark (go-bird)
Series A 60-yard blind
Series A 90-yard blind
Series A 130-yard blind
Sundown Road Park
After we completed Series A, we drove to nearby Sundown for a little Adventure Drill: five short retrieves thru extremely difficult footing, each time over a creek and into tangled undergrowth. With no appreciable rain in weeks, the creek was low, and only a couple of the crossings required any swimming.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Hunt Test Preparation
Cheltenham
Today we trained with Gaby and Gus, one of Gaby's Chessies.
SERIES A. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series A was a channel blind, requiring the dog to swim along the length of a long, narrow, somewhat winding channel without veering offline to touch shore on either side until the dog reached the location where an OD was planted.
SERIES B. Water double (Laddie, then Lumi)
We ran Series B in the property's stick pond.
SERIES C. Double land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind was thru a narrow keyhole. The second blind was along a hillside.
SERIES D. Water double and water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
We returned to the stick pond for Series D.
Today we trained with Gaby and Gus, one of Gaby's Chessies.
SERIES A. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series A was a channel blind, requiring the dog to swim along the length of a long, narrow, somewhat winding channel without veering offline to touch shore on either side until the dog reached the location where an OD was planted.
SERIES B. Water double (Laddie, then Lumi)
We ran Series B in the property's stick pond.
SERIES C. Double land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind was thru a narrow keyhole. The second blind was along a hillside.
SERIES D. Water double and water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
We returned to the stick pond for Series D.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Blinds, Adventure Drill
Milestone
SERIES A. 160-yard land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series A 160-yard blind
SERIES B. 130-yard land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series B 130-yard blind
Black Hill Regional Park
SERIES C. Adventure Drill
Based on correspondence with Alice Woodyard, I'm increasingly convinced that the Adventure Drill (AD) has played an important role in improving Laddie's returns during events, especially on LWL retrieves. In fact, while practicing blinds seems vital in order to assure that the dogs will be responsive to handling when we run competition blinds, Alice pointed out that handling may well be somewhat aversive to one or both of my dogs. That could condition the dogs to some extent to resist returning, as a way of avoiding the subsequent retrieve, which might be a handling retrieve. It makes sense that the AD would provide the opposite conditioning, a non-handling and exciting retrieve to look forward to. And the evidence seems to support the hypothesis: Laddie's returns in events improved dramatically after I first introduced the AD last spring; his returns in events declined in the quality after I stopped using the AD during the summer (thinking it was no longer necessary); and his returns improved again when I brought the AD back during the week between his first and second events of the fall. He then qualified in both events that second weekend.
SERIES D. 130-yard land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Sorry, no photos for Series C and D.
Seneca Creek off Frederick Avenue
SERIES E. Adventure Drill
Today we discovered a new place to run our Adventure Drill, a creek with swim-depth water, at least at this time. The volume of water was so high, in fact, that as the dogs crossed the creek out and back for each retrieve, the current tugged at them, trying to carry them downstream, and they had to fight it to complete their crossings. Neither dog showed any reluctance to re-enter the water, so I believe the current just added to the adventure.
Since we'd already worked quite a bit today before we discovered this new location, I limited our work at this location to two retrieves.
Photos of Series E
Series E retrieve #1
Series E retrieve #2
SERIES A. 160-yard land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series A 160-yard blind
SERIES B. 130-yard land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series B 130-yard blind
Black Hill Regional Park
SERIES C. Adventure Drill
Based on correspondence with Alice Woodyard, I'm increasingly convinced that the Adventure Drill (AD) has played an important role in improving Laddie's returns during events, especially on LWL retrieves. In fact, while practicing blinds seems vital in order to assure that the dogs will be responsive to handling when we run competition blinds, Alice pointed out that handling may well be somewhat aversive to one or both of my dogs. That could condition the dogs to some extent to resist returning, as a way of avoiding the subsequent retrieve, which might be a handling retrieve. It makes sense that the AD would provide the opposite conditioning, a non-handling and exciting retrieve to look forward to. And the evidence seems to support the hypothesis: Laddie's returns in events improved dramatically after I first introduced the AD last spring; his returns in events declined in the quality after I stopped using the AD during the summer (thinking it was no longer necessary); and his returns improved again when I brought the AD back during the week between his first and second events of the fall. He then qualified in both events that second weekend.
SERIES D. 130-yard land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Sorry, no photos for Series C and D.
Seneca Creek off Frederick Avenue
SERIES E. Adventure Drill
Today we discovered a new place to run our Adventure Drill, a creek with swim-depth water, at least at this time. The volume of water was so high, in fact, that as the dogs crossed the creek out and back for each retrieve, the current tugged at them, trying to carry them downstream, and they had to fight it to complete their crossings. Neither dog showed any reluctance to re-enter the water, so I believe the current just added to the adventure.
Since we'd already worked quite a bit today before we discovered this new location, I limited our work at this location to two retrieves.
Photos of Series E
Series E retrieve #1
Series E retrieve #2
Missing Posts
[I'm pleased to announce that after two months of being out of work, I started with a new consulting position last Monday, September 21. Though I'm happy to be earning income again, unfortunately, the work requires that initially, I spend a good bit of time in New York's financial district. There's no practical way for me to have my dogs with me in New York, much less train, so we did not train Monday thru Friday of last week, and the same will be true for the next two weeks. Luckily I'm able to come home on weekends.
[Meanwhile, I was so busy before the trip that I fell behind in keeping up this journal. Some important recent posts are missing, including three Senior Hunt Tests. Each of my dogs qualified in two of the three, including both dogs in the last one. I've kept notes on the various sessions, and in some cases I also have some photos. I'll do my best to transcribe them to this blog as soon as possible.]
[Meanwhile, I was so busy before the trip that I fell behind in keeping up this journal. Some important recent posts are missing, including three Senior Hunt Tests. Each of my dogs qualified in two of the three, including both dogs in the last one. I've kept notes on the various sessions, and in some cases I also have some photos. I'll do my best to transcribe them to this blog as soon as possible.]
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Land Blinds
Rolling Ridge
All work today was with ODs.
SERIES A. Double land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind was 70 yards, the second 80 yards.
SERIES B. Triple land blind (Laddie only)
These blinds were 60, 110, and 120 yards.
All work today was with ODs.
SERIES A. Double land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind was 70 yards, the second 80 yards.
SERIES B. Triple land blind (Laddie only)
These blinds were 60, 110, and 120 yards.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Hunt Test Preparation
Brandywine Industrial Park
Today, Lumi, Laddie and I trained with a friend on the grounds of an industrial park in Brandywine. We ran a number of retrieves, including both land and water, and marks and blinds. I did not keep detailed records.
After our friend left with her dogs, I had Laddie run one additional double blind (photos below) for a little more practice with his WSs.
90-yard blind with angled terrain changes
100-yard blind across bowl-shaped terrain
Today, Lumi, Laddie and I trained with a friend on the grounds of an industrial park in Brandywine. We ran a number of retrieves, including both land and water, and marks and blinds. I did not keep detailed records.
After our friend left with her dogs, I had Laddie run one additional double blind (photos below) for a little more practice with his WSs.
90-yard blind with angled terrain changes
100-yard blind across bowl-shaped terrain
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hunt Test Preparation
Mt. Ararat Farm
Today we trained with Gaby and her Lab, Buster, at Gaby's farm. Gaby was kind enough to provide live ducks for Series B and C. In every series, Laddie ran before Lumi. For most series, Buster ran after Laddie and Lumi; for Series B, Buster ran after Laddie, then again after Lumi, so that each dog had an opportunity to honor another dog's series with a live bird.
SERIES A. Triple blind
Series A was what I'll call a Fork Drill, along the lines of handling drills I've used in the past, possibly with a different name. Today's version was a Water Fork Drill and consisted of two 80-yard blinds flanking a 50-yard sight blind. The 80-yard blinds were ODs marked with orange tape tied to a few blades of grass, while the 50-yard blind was a WD marked with an orange LP. The line to all three blinds crossed a pond. The dog was handled to each of the 80-yard blinds first, then sent to the 50-yard blind.
Photo of Series A
Series A, with 80-yard blinds on left and right, and 50-yard blind and diversion in center
SERIES B. Land single and blind, then honor
The single (clipwing duck) was on the right, thrown right to left from behind a holding blind after a shotgun blast toward the woods with live ammo. The 90-yard blind (OD) was 30° to the left of the line to the mark. After running both retrieves, the dog honored the next dog from a position a few yards to the right of the SL.
SERIES C. Remote single and honor
Series C was the identical mark as Series B, with the exception that the dog was on the outside of a holding blind at the SL, while the handler was on the inside of the holding blind, while the shotgun was fired and the live duck was thrown right to left at 30 yards from behind a second holding blind at the throwing station. Once the bird was thrown, the handler came around the SL holding blind to send the dog. After retrieving the bird, the dog honored the next dog running the same retrieve.
Photo of Series B and C
Series B and C, with 30-yard mark (red) and 90-yard blind (blue)
SERIES D. Convergent land double
The memory-bird (duck) was on the left at 120 yards, thrown left to right from the corner of a section of woods to a low area behind a crest, so that the dog could see the trajectory of the throw but could not see the fall under running the retrieve and cresting the hill. After throwing the memory-bird, the thrower retired (that is, hid from sight).
The go-bird (WD) was on the right at 40 yards, thrown right to left in open meadow.
All the dogs did well with the memory-bird, and Laddie and Buster had no difficulty with the go-bird. However, Lumi chose to run the memory-bird first and then seemed to have difficulty remembering the go-bird.
Photos of Series D
Series D go-bird
Series D memory-bird, with fall on far side of crest
SERIES E, F, and G Land doubles (Lumi only)
Series E and F were similar to Series D but in different locations, convergent land doubles with a long throw of a duck and a short throw of a WD. In each case, Lumi again decided to run the long memory-bird first.
Series G was a similar set-up in yet another location, but ducks were used for both throws. This time, Lumi ran the go-bird first, then the memory-bird.
SERIES H. Water double and blind
The memory-bird was on the left, thrown left to right at 70 yards. The line to the memory-bird was across a pond with an angle entry, thru high cover at both the entry to and exit from the water.
The go-bird was 45° to the right of the memory-bird, thrown left to right at 30 yards. The line to the go-bird was across the pond with an angle exit, thru high cover at both the entry to and exit from the water.
The 50-yard blind was 30° to the right of the line to the go-bird, across the pond, past a point on the left, and to the edge of the far shore. The dogs have run at least one blind on this line before, though not as part of a series with the same double and not with the placement of the blind at water's edge.
Photos of Series H
Series H go-bird
Series H memory-bird
Series H water blind
Today we trained with Gaby and her Lab, Buster, at Gaby's farm. Gaby was kind enough to provide live ducks for Series B and C. In every series, Laddie ran before Lumi. For most series, Buster ran after Laddie and Lumi; for Series B, Buster ran after Laddie, then again after Lumi, so that each dog had an opportunity to honor another dog's series with a live bird.
SERIES A. Triple blind
Series A was what I'll call a Fork Drill, along the lines of handling drills I've used in the past, possibly with a different name. Today's version was a Water Fork Drill and consisted of two 80-yard blinds flanking a 50-yard sight blind. The 80-yard blinds were ODs marked with orange tape tied to a few blades of grass, while the 50-yard blind was a WD marked with an orange LP. The line to all three blinds crossed a pond. The dog was handled to each of the 80-yard blinds first, then sent to the 50-yard blind.
Photo of Series A
Series A, with 80-yard blinds on left and right, and 50-yard blind and diversion in center
SERIES B. Land single and blind, then honor
The single (clipwing duck) was on the right, thrown right to left from behind a holding blind after a shotgun blast toward the woods with live ammo. The 90-yard blind (OD) was 30° to the left of the line to the mark. After running both retrieves, the dog honored the next dog from a position a few yards to the right of the SL.
SERIES C. Remote single and honor
Series C was the identical mark as Series B, with the exception that the dog was on the outside of a holding blind at the SL, while the handler was on the inside of the holding blind, while the shotgun was fired and the live duck was thrown right to left at 30 yards from behind a second holding blind at the throwing station. Once the bird was thrown, the handler came around the SL holding blind to send the dog. After retrieving the bird, the dog honored the next dog running the same retrieve.
Photo of Series B and C
Series B and C, with 30-yard mark (red) and 90-yard blind (blue)
SERIES D. Convergent land double
The memory-bird (duck) was on the left at 120 yards, thrown left to right from the corner of a section of woods to a low area behind a crest, so that the dog could see the trajectory of the throw but could not see the fall under running the retrieve and cresting the hill. After throwing the memory-bird, the thrower retired (that is, hid from sight).
The go-bird (WD) was on the right at 40 yards, thrown right to left in open meadow.
All the dogs did well with the memory-bird, and Laddie and Buster had no difficulty with the go-bird. However, Lumi chose to run the memory-bird first and then seemed to have difficulty remembering the go-bird.
Photos of Series D
Series D go-bird
Series D memory-bird, with fall on far side of crest
SERIES E, F, and G Land doubles (Lumi only)
Series E and F were similar to Series D but in different locations, convergent land doubles with a long throw of a duck and a short throw of a WD. In each case, Lumi again decided to run the long memory-bird first.
Series G was a similar set-up in yet another location, but ducks were used for both throws. This time, Lumi ran the go-bird first, then the memory-bird.
SERIES H. Water double and blind
The memory-bird was on the left, thrown left to right at 70 yards. The line to the memory-bird was across a pond with an angle entry, thru high cover at both the entry to and exit from the water.
The go-bird was 45° to the right of the memory-bird, thrown left to right at 30 yards. The line to the go-bird was across the pond with an angle exit, thru high cover at both the entry to and exit from the water.
The 50-yard blind was 30° to the right of the line to the go-bird, across the pond, past a point on the left, and to the edge of the far shore. The dogs have run at least one blind on this line before, though not as part of a series with the same double and not with the placement of the blind at water's edge.
Photos of Series H
Series H go-bird
Series H memory-bird
Series H water blind
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Land Blinds
Rolling Ridge
Today, I had the dogs run just a single series at a nearby field. All of the retrieves were slanted across hills, giving the dogs practice with such terrain and also increasing the opportunities for practicing WSs.
SERIES A. Triple land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind was to the left at 90-yards. The line to the blind crossed a wide ditch on a slant and went thru a wide keyhole formed by trees.
The 130-yard second blind was 90° to the right of the first blind. The line to the second blind slanted downhill, crossed a ditch, and slanted uphill.
The 170-yard third blind was 45° to the right of the second blind. The line to the third blind traversed rolling terrain at various angles.
All marks were ODs, and no markers were used for the first and third blinds. An old, gray wooden stake marked the second blind.
Both dogs performed well on all WSs and casts. Laddie, running first, lined the 170-yard third blind.
Photos of Series A
Series A 90-yard blind
Series A 130-yard blind
Series A 170-yard blind
Today, I had the dogs run just a single series at a nearby field. All of the retrieves were slanted across hills, giving the dogs practice with such terrain and also increasing the opportunities for practicing WSs.
SERIES A. Triple land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind was to the left at 90-yards. The line to the blind crossed a wide ditch on a slant and went thru a wide keyhole formed by trees.
The 130-yard second blind was 90° to the right of the first blind. The line to the second blind slanted downhill, crossed a ditch, and slanted uphill.
The 170-yard third blind was 45° to the right of the second blind. The line to the third blind traversed rolling terrain at various angles.
All marks were ODs, and no markers were used for the first and third blinds. An old, gray wooden stake marked the second blind.
Both dogs performed well on all WSs and casts. Laddie, running first, lined the 170-yard third blind.
Photos of Series A
Series A 90-yard blind
Series A 130-yard blind
Series A 170-yard blind
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Hunt Test Preparation
Mt. Ararat Farms
Training with Gaby and her Lab, Buster, we ran four series to help our dogs prepare for a Senior Hunt Test this Sunday.
SERIES A. Double blind, one land, one water
The first blind was to the right at 60 yards. The blind slanted across a downhill slope and ran past a tree on the downhill side, offering the risk that the dog would cross in front of the tree, or wrap around behind the tree after passing it.
The 130-yard second blind was 90° to the left. The second blind crossed a pond, included a swim past a point on the left, and went thru high cover at the water entry and exit.
Photos of Series A
Series A 60-yard land blind
Series A 130-yard water blind
SERIES B. Land double and blind
Before the marks were thrown, the dog was positioned near a section of high cover, and the handler moved ten yards behind the dog and even with the Bumper Boy that would be used for the second mark.
After the dog and handler were positioned, the memory-bird (duck) on the left was thrown from a holding blind, left to right at 120 yards. Then the second mark (go-bird) was "thrown" by the Bumper Boy, coming from behind the dog and landing in the high cover 20 yards in front of the dog, 90° to the right of the memory-bird.
After both marks were down, the handler either walked up to the dog and sent the dog to each of the marks (that's what I did) or sent the dog while still ten yards away (that's what Gaby did).
After the dog had retrieved both marks, the dog was run on a 130-yard blind (OD) on a tight angle just to the left of the holding blind that had been used for the memory-bird.
A possible diversion, especially for Laddie, was the pond, which was just to the right of the lines to the memory-bird and the blind, but none of the dogs attempted to divert to the pond at any time.
Photos of Series B
Series B 20-yard go-bird
Series B 120-yard memory-bird (red line) and 130-yard blind (blue line)
SERIES C. Converging water double
The memory-bird for this series was on the right, thrown by a Bumper Boy right to left. The trajectory was difficult to see from the SL because of high cover at both edges of the pond, and the fall was in high cover on an embankment that sloped down and away from water's edge.
The go-bird for this series was 90° to the left of the line to the memory-bird, hand-thrown left to right into the water just a few yards in front of the dog.
While the marks were being thrown, the dog was positioned in a sit in front of a holding blind at the SL, while the handler stood behind the holding blind. After the marks were down, one of the handlers (myself) walked around the holding blind to release the dog to the go-bird, while the other handler (Gaby) sent the dog while remaining behind the holding blind.
Photos of Series C
Series C 10-yard go-bird
Series C 50-yard memory-bird
SERIES D. Offline drill across water
Series D was a handling drill similar to one I've used for my dogs in the past, but with the additional factor of a pond crossing. The drill consisted of three blind retrieves, as follows:
Series D 50-yard offline blind
Series D 100-yard offline blind
Series D 150-yard blind
Training with Gaby and her Lab, Buster, we ran four series to help our dogs prepare for a Senior Hunt Test this Sunday.
SERIES A. Double blind, one land, one water
The first blind was to the right at 60 yards. The blind slanted across a downhill slope and ran past a tree on the downhill side, offering the risk that the dog would cross in front of the tree, or wrap around behind the tree after passing it.
The 130-yard second blind was 90° to the left. The second blind crossed a pond, included a swim past a point on the left, and went thru high cover at the water entry and exit.
Photos of Series A
Series A 60-yard land blind
Series A 130-yard water blind
SERIES B. Land double and blind
Before the marks were thrown, the dog was positioned near a section of high cover, and the handler moved ten yards behind the dog and even with the Bumper Boy that would be used for the second mark.
After the dog and handler were positioned, the memory-bird (duck) on the left was thrown from a holding blind, left to right at 120 yards. Then the second mark (go-bird) was "thrown" by the Bumper Boy, coming from behind the dog and landing in the high cover 20 yards in front of the dog, 90° to the right of the memory-bird.
After both marks were down, the handler either walked up to the dog and sent the dog to each of the marks (that's what I did) or sent the dog while still ten yards away (that's what Gaby did).
After the dog had retrieved both marks, the dog was run on a 130-yard blind (OD) on a tight angle just to the left of the holding blind that had been used for the memory-bird.
A possible diversion, especially for Laddie, was the pond, which was just to the right of the lines to the memory-bird and the blind, but none of the dogs attempted to divert to the pond at any time.
Photos of Series B
Series B 20-yard go-bird
Series B 120-yard memory-bird (red line) and 130-yard blind (blue line)
SERIES C. Converging water double
The memory-bird for this series was on the right, thrown by a Bumper Boy right to left. The trajectory was difficult to see from the SL because of high cover at both edges of the pond, and the fall was in high cover on an embankment that sloped down and away from water's edge.
The go-bird for this series was 90° to the left of the line to the memory-bird, hand-thrown left to right into the water just a few yards in front of the dog.
While the marks were being thrown, the dog was positioned in a sit in front of a holding blind at the SL, while the handler stood behind the holding blind. After the marks were down, one of the handlers (myself) walked around the holding blind to release the dog to the go-bird, while the other handler (Gaby) sent the dog while remaining behind the holding blind.
Photos of Series C
Series C 10-yard go-bird
Series C 50-yard memory-bird
SERIES D. Offline drill across water
Series D was a handling drill similar to one I've used for my dogs in the past, but with the additional factor of a pond crossing. The drill consisted of three blind retrieves, as follows:
- The dog was sent across the pond, then whistled to a sit at 50 yards. The dog was then cast on a right Over to an OD marked by orange tape 30 yards to the dog's right.
- The dog was sent across the pond and the field beyond, then whistled to a sit at 100 yards. The dog was then cast on a left Over to an OD marked by an orange tape 30 yards to the dog's left.
- The dog was sent across the pond and the field beyond to a duck planted in front of a tree at 150 yards.
Series D 50-yard offline blind
Series D 100-yard offline blind
Series D 150-yard blind
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Blinds and Group Training
Lucky Hill Road (Remington, VA)
On the way to the group training site, I spotted an area where the dogs could air and run a couple of warm-up blinds.
SERIES A. Double land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind (OD) was on the right at 60 yards. The line to the blind slanted across a dirt road and ended a few yards past a large tree at the edge of a section of woods.
The second blind (OD) was 45° to the left at 120 yards. The line to the second blind crossed the same dirt road, then went diagonally across a parking lot and across an area of mowed grass, and ended at the edge of a section of woods. Two outcroppings of the wooded area provided suction to the right, and an opening in the woods to the left of the blind provided suction in that direction when the dog got close to the blind.
Both dogs aired during this stop. My intent was that as a result, the dogs would not stop on their retrieves during group training. That worked for the first group series (Series B below), but both dogs did end up stopping during their second group series (Series C below) even though I attempted to air them before running them in that series.
Both dogs were responsive on all WSs and casts during Series A and did a nice job on their retrieves.
Photos of Series A
Series A's 60-yard blind
Series A's 120-yard blind
Shady Grove Kennels (Remington, VA)
This was a monthly group training day. In this post, I describe the first group series "Series B", and the second group series "Series C".
SERIES B. Double consisting of a water mark and a land mark, plus a water blind and a land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The memory-bird (duck) of the converging double was on the left, thrown left to right with a winger at 30 yards into high cover on the far side of a narrow inlet of water. The go-bird (duck flier) was 60° to the right, thrown right to left with a winger and shot at 80-yards. The line to the go-bird was on land, mostly thru medium-high cover.
The first blind (duck) was across water, then under the arc of the memory-bird and to a point 60 yards from our SL, marked with a lining pole. The second blind (B&W dummy) was from a different SL. The line to the 50-yard second blind was thru a wooded area and a keyhole formed by two trees, ending at an LP at the edge of a section of woods.
The line to the memory-bird required a sharp angle entry, causing the majority of dogs, including Laddie, to cheat around the water on the right. I moved our SL closer to the water to run Laddie hoping to avoid the cheat, but it didn't work. I then moved our SL even closer to the water when it was Lumi's turn.
Laddie's performance on this series had several behavioral problems. First, as we approached my intended SL, he ran ahead and jumped in the water, apparently to cool off in the hot weather. When I got him back to the SL, he did fine on the go-bird flier, but he cheated around the water on the short memory-bird. Worst of all, I think, was that on his return from the memory-bird, he stopped to roll in some high grass. Laddie had no problem with either blind.
With Lumi, I brought her right to the edge of the water. Unfortunately, Lumi forgot the memory-bird by the time she ran it as part of the double and ended up swimming across the channel well to the left of the correct line, and I was unable to handle her to the mark with a reasonable number of WSCs. At the suggestion of the "judge", I called her back to me across the channel and we ran the mark again as a single. Lumi did fine, taking the angle entry and making no effort to cheat to the right. Lumi needed more handling on both blinds than Laddie, and was especially affected by the suction from the area of falls for the memory-bird of the double, which was only a few yards to the right of the line to the first blind.
The photos are in the sequence the retrieves were run.
Photos of Series B
Series B's 80-yard go-bird
Series B's 30-yard memory-bird (red line) and 60-yard first blind (blue line) under the arc of the memory-bird's throw
Series B's 50-yard second blind
SERIES C. Water double, water single, and water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
While some trainers ran this series as a triple and a blind from a separate SL, and some ran it as three or fewer singles with or without the blind, I decided to follow the lead of one of the other trainers: Lumi and Laddie ran this series as a double and then a single, before running the blind from a separate SL.
The memory-bird (duck) of the double was on the right, thrown right to left with a winger from behind a stand of cattails at 70 yards. The line to the memory bird slanted down an embankment, took an angle entry into a corner of the pond, and an angle-entry out of the water to the bird a few feet inland from water's edge.
The go-bird (duck) of the double was 90° to the left, thrown right t0 left with a winger at 60 yards. The intent was that the go-bird would land in open water, and that's where it landed for Lumi's series, but for Laddie, the go-bird fell short and landed in a section of cattails just past the shoreline. Even for Lumi's series, the go-bird was not visible once it had landed, but was hidden by a point of land.
The line to the single (duck) was 15° to the left of the line to the left mark of the double. The 50-yard single was thrown left to right with a winger not visible from the SL, and landed amongst a cluster of trees and in medium-high cover near water's edge. In some cases including Laddie's series, the bird hit branches of one of the trees when thrown and landed short, making it even more difficult to see the fall from the SL. Wherever the single fell, the line to the fall was on a slant down the embankment from the SL, an angle entry into the water, thru a narrowing of the water closely passing an area of high thick cover made up mostly of cattails on the left, across another short area of water, and a short ways inland into the cluster of trees after reaching the far shore.
The blind consisted of a 60-yard shoreline swim, with old, gray trees on the left creating a channel with the shoreline for the dog's line to the blind. The blind itself was a dummy placed a few yards inland from the far shore. Because of the high cover and terrain at water's edge, the dummy was not visible until the dog had climbed out of the water and thru the cover at water's edge.
Laddie did a nice job on the double. Laddie's go-bird seemed especially difficult, because for some reason it had fallen into a thick section of reeds at water's edge rather than over those reeds and into the open water, as it was thrown for the other dogs. Nonetheless, Laddie ran straight to the fall and boldly plunged down into the water for the pick-up, then clambered back up and raced home, making it look easy.
However, after completing the double and watching the single thrown (it hit a tree branch and like the go-bird of the double, fell short), Laddie did a terrible job retrieving the single. He swam straight to it, but when he got to the area of the fall, instead of picking up the duck, he ate grass, peed a couple of times on nearby trees, and dawdled in other ways before finally picking up the bird and completing the return. As I understand it, while judges are not thrilled with dogs who dawdle, pee, etc. after picking up the bird, they are especially hard in their scoring of dogs who do those things before they've picked up the bird, as was the case with Laddie on this retrieve.
Lumi did a nice job on all her retrieves in this series. She swam around the point on the memory-bird instead of climbing over the point, but I felt it was still a good Senior-level retrieve.
Photos of Series C
Series C's 60-yard go-bird, showing Laddie's line in blue and Lumi's line in red
Series C's 70-yard memory-bird
Series C's 50-yard single, showing Laddie's line in blue and Lumi's line in red
Series C's 60-yard blind
On the way to the group training site, I spotted an area where the dogs could air and run a couple of warm-up blinds.
SERIES A. Double land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The first blind (OD) was on the right at 60 yards. The line to the blind slanted across a dirt road and ended a few yards past a large tree at the edge of a section of woods.
The second blind (OD) was 45° to the left at 120 yards. The line to the second blind crossed the same dirt road, then went diagonally across a parking lot and across an area of mowed grass, and ended at the edge of a section of woods. Two outcroppings of the wooded area provided suction to the right, and an opening in the woods to the left of the blind provided suction in that direction when the dog got close to the blind.
Both dogs aired during this stop. My intent was that as a result, the dogs would not stop on their retrieves during group training. That worked for the first group series (Series B below), but both dogs did end up stopping during their second group series (Series C below) even though I attempted to air them before running them in that series.
Both dogs were responsive on all WSs and casts during Series A and did a nice job on their retrieves.
Photos of Series A
Series A's 60-yard blind
Series A's 120-yard blind
Shady Grove Kennels (Remington, VA)
This was a monthly group training day. In this post, I describe the first group series "Series B", and the second group series "Series C".
SERIES B. Double consisting of a water mark and a land mark, plus a water blind and a land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The memory-bird (duck) of the converging double was on the left, thrown left to right with a winger at 30 yards into high cover on the far side of a narrow inlet of water. The go-bird (duck flier) was 60° to the right, thrown right to left with a winger and shot at 80-yards. The line to the go-bird was on land, mostly thru medium-high cover.
The first blind (duck) was across water, then under the arc of the memory-bird and to a point 60 yards from our SL, marked with a lining pole. The second blind (B&W dummy) was from a different SL. The line to the 50-yard second blind was thru a wooded area and a keyhole formed by two trees, ending at an LP at the edge of a section of woods.
The line to the memory-bird required a sharp angle entry, causing the majority of dogs, including Laddie, to cheat around the water on the right. I moved our SL closer to the water to run Laddie hoping to avoid the cheat, but it didn't work. I then moved our SL even closer to the water when it was Lumi's turn.
Laddie's performance on this series had several behavioral problems. First, as we approached my intended SL, he ran ahead and jumped in the water, apparently to cool off in the hot weather. When I got him back to the SL, he did fine on the go-bird flier, but he cheated around the water on the short memory-bird. Worst of all, I think, was that on his return from the memory-bird, he stopped to roll in some high grass. Laddie had no problem with either blind.
With Lumi, I brought her right to the edge of the water. Unfortunately, Lumi forgot the memory-bird by the time she ran it as part of the double and ended up swimming across the channel well to the left of the correct line, and I was unable to handle her to the mark with a reasonable number of WSCs. At the suggestion of the "judge", I called her back to me across the channel and we ran the mark again as a single. Lumi did fine, taking the angle entry and making no effort to cheat to the right. Lumi needed more handling on both blinds than Laddie, and was especially affected by the suction from the area of falls for the memory-bird of the double, which was only a few yards to the right of the line to the first blind.
The photos are in the sequence the retrieves were run.
Photos of Series B
Series B's 80-yard go-bird
Series B's 30-yard memory-bird (red line) and 60-yard first blind (blue line) under the arc of the memory-bird's throw
Series B's 50-yard second blind
SERIES C. Water double, water single, and water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
While some trainers ran this series as a triple and a blind from a separate SL, and some ran it as three or fewer singles with or without the blind, I decided to follow the lead of one of the other trainers: Lumi and Laddie ran this series as a double and then a single, before running the blind from a separate SL.
The memory-bird (duck) of the double was on the right, thrown right to left with a winger from behind a stand of cattails at 70 yards. The line to the memory bird slanted down an embankment, took an angle entry into a corner of the pond, and an angle-entry out of the water to the bird a few feet inland from water's edge.
The go-bird (duck) of the double was 90° to the left, thrown right t0 left with a winger at 60 yards. The intent was that the go-bird would land in open water, and that's where it landed for Lumi's series, but for Laddie, the go-bird fell short and landed in a section of cattails just past the shoreline. Even for Lumi's series, the go-bird was not visible once it had landed, but was hidden by a point of land.
The line to the single (duck) was 15° to the left of the line to the left mark of the double. The 50-yard single was thrown left to right with a winger not visible from the SL, and landed amongst a cluster of trees and in medium-high cover near water's edge. In some cases including Laddie's series, the bird hit branches of one of the trees when thrown and landed short, making it even more difficult to see the fall from the SL. Wherever the single fell, the line to the fall was on a slant down the embankment from the SL, an angle entry into the water, thru a narrowing of the water closely passing an area of high thick cover made up mostly of cattails on the left, across another short area of water, and a short ways inland into the cluster of trees after reaching the far shore.
The blind consisted of a 60-yard shoreline swim, with old, gray trees on the left creating a channel with the shoreline for the dog's line to the blind. The blind itself was a dummy placed a few yards inland from the far shore. Because of the high cover and terrain at water's edge, the dummy was not visible until the dog had climbed out of the water and thru the cover at water's edge.
Laddie did a nice job on the double. Laddie's go-bird seemed especially difficult, because for some reason it had fallen into a thick section of reeds at water's edge rather than over those reeds and into the open water, as it was thrown for the other dogs. Nonetheless, Laddie ran straight to the fall and boldly plunged down into the water for the pick-up, then clambered back up and raced home, making it look easy.
However, after completing the double and watching the single thrown (it hit a tree branch and like the go-bird of the double, fell short), Laddie did a terrible job retrieving the single. He swam straight to it, but when he got to the area of the fall, instead of picking up the duck, he ate grass, peed a couple of times on nearby trees, and dawdled in other ways before finally picking up the bird and completing the return. As I understand it, while judges are not thrilled with dogs who dawdle, pee, etc. after picking up the bird, they are especially hard in their scoring of dogs who do those things before they've picked up the bird, as was the case with Laddie on this retrieve.
Lumi did a nice job on all her retrieves in this series. She swam around the point on the memory-bird instead of climbing over the point, but I felt it was still a good Senior-level retrieve.
Photos of Series C
Series C's 60-yard go-bird, showing Laddie's line in blue and Lumi's line in red
Series C's 70-yard memory-bird
Series C's 50-yard single, showing Laddie's line in blue and Lumi's line in red
Series C's 60-yard blind
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Training with a Friend, a Group, and Alone
Summary
Today was a group training day at Cheltenham. Lumi, Laddie and I arrived early and ran Series A ourselves, and Gaby joined us and also had Buster run Series A. Then we all ran Series B and C with the group. When group training was over, Gaby and I took our dogs over to the big pond and ran some more retrieves designed for specific dogs. For Lumi and Laddie, that was Series D and E. On our way home, I stopped at the Oaks fields near home and ran Laddie on Series F in Oaks Area 2.
Cheltenham
SERIES A. Land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This was a 150-yard blind, on a line similar to one Lumi and Laddie have run at least once before. The line to the blind was across a marshy area, then uphill and thru a keyhole formed by a tree and a mound. The blind was planted near the top of a rise.
Photo from Series A
Series A 150-yard blind
SERIES B. Land double and blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The memory-bird (duck) of the converging double was on the left, thrown with a winger left to right at 90 yards. The go-bird (duck) was 90° to the right, thrown with a winger right to left at 50 yards. Duck calls and gunshots were used for both marks.
The blind (OD) was at 40 yards, on a line 15° to the right of the right throwing station and placed just inside the edge of a wooded area.
The following photos are in the order the retrieves were run.
Photos from Series B
Series B 50-yard go-bird
Series B 90-yard memory-bird
Series B 40-yard blind
SERIES C. Water double and blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The memory-bird (duck) of the converging double was on the left, thrown with a winger left to right at 70 yards. The go-bird (duck) was 135° to the right, thrown with a winger from behind the SL, right to left across a narrow channel at 20 yards. Duck calls and gunshots were used for both marks. The go-bird was intended as a "breaking bird", meaning that the dog would have a strong tendency to break rather than waiting until sent. As a precaution, I held my dogs' tabs when the marks were being thrown, but neither attempted to break.
For Laddie, the go-bird duck splashed into the channel. For Lumi, it landed in the marsh on the far shore and immediately sank out of sight. Lumi swam across, climbed on shore, and stuck her face down into the water and grass to get the bird. She then dropped it on solid ground, shook off, picked it back up, and completed the retrieve. It didn't look easy finding and retrieving that bird, so I was pleased with her work on that mark.
The surprisingly difficult blind (OD) was at 40 yards, placed just inside an area of high cover a few feet to the left of the left throwing station. Intending to avoid unnecessary difficulty this close to a test (Lumi and Laddie are entered in a Senior text next Sunday), I ran them from a point along the shore closer to the blind, rather than from the original SL.
It turned out, however, that the primary difficulty for the blind seemed to be the placement of the dummy so close to the throwing station and just inside the area of high cover. Laddie ran right over the dummy and sat when I whistled, but since he was by then well into the high grass, he would not take a come-in cast, either because of poor visibility or because he did not believe that my cast would bring him closer to the blind. As he continued to refuse casts and got further and further from the blind, he was out of sight most of the time, and slipped whistles or refused casts repeatedly when he did become visible. He eventually swam across an inlet on the far side of the peninsula and began to hunt in the large area of high cover on the other side.
Interestingly, one of the other trainers had her Master dog, who is trained by a local pro, run almost the identical behavior sequence a short time later. It was helpful for me to see that even a dog known to be accomplished and well-trained could behave exactly as Laddie had in that situation.
One difference was that during her turn, the other trainer walked out, eventually getting right in front of the blind, and painstakingly handled her dog until he finally picked up the dummy. I was getting flack from one of the other trainers when Laddie went OOC, and the guy actually called another dog to the line while I was still walking out toward Laddie, so I didn't have the opportunity to have Laddie complete the retrieve.
When Lumi's turn came up, the guy told me I couldn't have Lumi run the blind until the other dogs had finished their turns. I insisted that we were preparing for a test and that she was going to run the blind after the double, and with the staunch support of one of the other trainers, I prevailed. When it was time for Lumi to run the blind, I was extra cautious. After she crossed the water, I stopped her at water's edge, cast her back, and then used the whistle again to stop her as soon as she got near the blind. Though she was even closer to the blind when she stopped than Laddie or the other dog had been when they stopped, Lumi, too, had difficulty spotting the dummy nestled in high cover only a yard or two in front of her.
The following photos are in the order the retrieves were run.
Photos from Series C
Series C 20-yard go-bird
Series C 70-yard memory-bird
Series C 40-yard blind
SERIES D. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This was a 130-yard LWL blind (OD). After Laddie and Lumi ran it, Gaby also ran Buster on this one. The line to the blind was from a few yards back from an angle entry, across a 30-yard channel, up an embankment, diagonally across a dirt road, diagonally thru several strips of high cover and past a large tree on the left, to the blind planted just inside a wedge of high cover. We did not use an LP but we did have a length of orange ribbon tied to grass at the location of the blind.
My intent was that the dogs would require handling on the far shore after they crossed the water, since that's something I want to work on with them, but none of the dogs required much handling.
SERIES E. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This was a 70-yard blind (OD), with a 50-yard shoreline swim and the blind placed on the hillside on the far side, requiring a diagonal uphill climb. Again, I wanted to focus on far-shore handling, but little handling was required.
Oaks Area 2
SERIES F. Double land blind (Laddie only)
To give Laddie a little more practice handling, I had him run two more blinds at a field near home. Although the blinds required running thru high cover and among trees, they did not present the factors of water and having other trainers around, which I think may be more important challenges for Laddie at this time.
In any case, the first blind (OD) was to the right at 80 yards. The second blind (OD) was 90° to the left at 120 yards.
Photos from Series F
Series F 80-yard blind
Series F 120-yard blind
Today was a group training day at Cheltenham. Lumi, Laddie and I arrived early and ran Series A ourselves, and Gaby joined us and also had Buster run Series A. Then we all ran Series B and C with the group. When group training was over, Gaby and I took our dogs over to the big pond and ran some more retrieves designed for specific dogs. For Lumi and Laddie, that was Series D and E. On our way home, I stopped at the Oaks fields near home and ran Laddie on Series F in Oaks Area 2.
Cheltenham
SERIES A. Land blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This was a 150-yard blind, on a line similar to one Lumi and Laddie have run at least once before. The line to the blind was across a marshy area, then uphill and thru a keyhole formed by a tree and a mound. The blind was planted near the top of a rise.
Photo from Series A
Series A 150-yard blind
SERIES B. Land double and blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The memory-bird (duck) of the converging double was on the left, thrown with a winger left to right at 90 yards. The go-bird (duck) was 90° to the right, thrown with a winger right to left at 50 yards. Duck calls and gunshots were used for both marks.
The blind (OD) was at 40 yards, on a line 15° to the right of the right throwing station and placed just inside the edge of a wooded area.
The following photos are in the order the retrieves were run.
Photos from Series B
Series B 50-yard go-bird
Series B 90-yard memory-bird
Series B 40-yard blind
SERIES C. Water double and blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
The memory-bird (duck) of the converging double was on the left, thrown with a winger left to right at 70 yards. The go-bird (duck) was 135° to the right, thrown with a winger from behind the SL, right to left across a narrow channel at 20 yards. Duck calls and gunshots were used for both marks. The go-bird was intended as a "breaking bird", meaning that the dog would have a strong tendency to break rather than waiting until sent. As a precaution, I held my dogs' tabs when the marks were being thrown, but neither attempted to break.
For Laddie, the go-bird duck splashed into the channel. For Lumi, it landed in the marsh on the far shore and immediately sank out of sight. Lumi swam across, climbed on shore, and stuck her face down into the water and grass to get the bird. She then dropped it on solid ground, shook off, picked it back up, and completed the retrieve. It didn't look easy finding and retrieving that bird, so I was pleased with her work on that mark.
The surprisingly difficult blind (OD) was at 40 yards, placed just inside an area of high cover a few feet to the left of the left throwing station. Intending to avoid unnecessary difficulty this close to a test (Lumi and Laddie are entered in a Senior text next Sunday), I ran them from a point along the shore closer to the blind, rather than from the original SL.
It turned out, however, that the primary difficulty for the blind seemed to be the placement of the dummy so close to the throwing station and just inside the area of high cover. Laddie ran right over the dummy and sat when I whistled, but since he was by then well into the high grass, he would not take a come-in cast, either because of poor visibility or because he did not believe that my cast would bring him closer to the blind. As he continued to refuse casts and got further and further from the blind, he was out of sight most of the time, and slipped whistles or refused casts repeatedly when he did become visible. He eventually swam across an inlet on the far side of the peninsula and began to hunt in the large area of high cover on the other side.
Interestingly, one of the other trainers had her Master dog, who is trained by a local pro, run almost the identical behavior sequence a short time later. It was helpful for me to see that even a dog known to be accomplished and well-trained could behave exactly as Laddie had in that situation.
One difference was that during her turn, the other trainer walked out, eventually getting right in front of the blind, and painstakingly handled her dog until he finally picked up the dummy. I was getting flack from one of the other trainers when Laddie went OOC, and the guy actually called another dog to the line while I was still walking out toward Laddie, so I didn't have the opportunity to have Laddie complete the retrieve.
When Lumi's turn came up, the guy told me I couldn't have Lumi run the blind until the other dogs had finished their turns. I insisted that we were preparing for a test and that she was going to run the blind after the double, and with the staunch support of one of the other trainers, I prevailed. When it was time for Lumi to run the blind, I was extra cautious. After she crossed the water, I stopped her at water's edge, cast her back, and then used the whistle again to stop her as soon as she got near the blind. Though she was even closer to the blind when she stopped than Laddie or the other dog had been when they stopped, Lumi, too, had difficulty spotting the dummy nestled in high cover only a yard or two in front of her.
The following photos are in the order the retrieves were run.
Photos from Series C
Series C 20-yard go-bird
Series C 70-yard memory-bird
Series C 40-yard blind
SERIES D. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This was a 130-yard LWL blind (OD). After Laddie and Lumi ran it, Gaby also ran Buster on this one. The line to the blind was from a few yards back from an angle entry, across a 30-yard channel, up an embankment, diagonally across a dirt road, diagonally thru several strips of high cover and past a large tree on the left, to the blind planted just inside a wedge of high cover. We did not use an LP but we did have a length of orange ribbon tied to grass at the location of the blind.
My intent was that the dogs would require handling on the far shore after they crossed the water, since that's something I want to work on with them, but none of the dogs required much handling.
SERIES E. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
This was a 70-yard blind (OD), with a 50-yard shoreline swim and the blind placed on the hillside on the far side, requiring a diagonal uphill climb. Again, I wanted to focus on far-shore handling, but little handling was required.
Oaks Area 2
SERIES F. Double land blind (Laddie only)
To give Laddie a little more practice handling, I had him run two more blinds at a field near home. Although the blinds required running thru high cover and among trees, they did not present the factors of water and having other trainers around, which I think may be more important challenges for Laddie at this time.
In any case, the first blind (OD) was to the right at 80 yards. The second blind (OD) was 90° to the left at 120 yards.
Photos from Series F
Series F 80-yard blind
Series F 120-yard blind
Friday, September 4, 2009
Water Retrieves at Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Today, Lumi, Laddie and I ran one series at Cheltenham by ourselves, then trained with a friend named Jean for the rest of the session.
SERIES A. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series A was a 100-yard blind run from a mound. The line to the blind crossed a road, then a ditch, then a 30-yard swim, then 10 yards to an LP. We ran this retrieve some months ago as a mark, and neither dog had difficulty with it today.
SERIES B. Single mark (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series B was a 150-yard mark, thrown right to left by Jean. The line to the fall crossed a channel and then a water-filled ditch.
Though not as long as many marks the dogs have run in the past, it was a fairly difficult line. Laddie did an excellent job. Lumi veered far left at about mid-point, then darted back to the right after she swam the ditch. She was unable to find the bird, however, and when her hunt seemed to be getting too far afield, I called for Jean to help. For some reason, when Lumi picked up the bird, she returned by the same out-of-the-way route that she had taken to the fall instead of coming straight back to me.
SERIES C. Water double (Laddie, then Lumi)
For Series C, Jean threw the 60-yard memory-bird on the right, then fired the 50-yard go-bird on the left,, left-to-right from a Bumper Boy. My intent for Jean's throw was for it to go across the channel and deep onto the far shore, but her first throw (for Laddie) landed in the channel, while her second throw (for Lumi) landed on the far shore near water's edge. The line to the 50-yard go-bird on the left included a 20-yard swim.
Both dogs took an excellent line to the go-bird on the left, and Lumi had a good return, while Laddie decided to roll in the high grass after he had come halfway back from the fall to the water.
My intent was that both dogs would run the memory-bird on the right as a channel swim, but Jean's throw for Laddie created a land-route most of the way to the bird. Lumi did run her memory-bird as a channel swim.
SERIES D. Channel mark (Laddie only)
Since Laddie had not had a channel swim today, I asked Jean to throw one last 80-yard mark for him in the property's stick pond. The retrieve also included a sharp angle entry. Laddie performed well on this mark.
SATELLITE VIEW OF TODAY'S SESSION
In this satellite view:
View 20090904 Four water series in a larger map
SOME PHOTOS FROM TODAY'S SESSION
Series A, the 100-yard water blind
Series B, the 150-yard mark with two channel crossings
Today, Lumi, Laddie and I ran one series at Cheltenham by ourselves, then trained with a friend named Jean for the rest of the session.
SERIES A. Water blind (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series A was a 100-yard blind run from a mound. The line to the blind crossed a road, then a ditch, then a 30-yard swim, then 10 yards to an LP. We ran this retrieve some months ago as a mark, and neither dog had difficulty with it today.
SERIES B. Single mark (Laddie, then Lumi)
Series B was a 150-yard mark, thrown right to left by Jean. The line to the fall crossed a channel and then a water-filled ditch.
Though not as long as many marks the dogs have run in the past, it was a fairly difficult line. Laddie did an excellent job. Lumi veered far left at about mid-point, then darted back to the right after she swam the ditch. She was unable to find the bird, however, and when her hunt seemed to be getting too far afield, I called for Jean to help. For some reason, when Lumi picked up the bird, she returned by the same out-of-the-way route that she had taken to the fall instead of coming straight back to me.
SERIES C. Water double (Laddie, then Lumi)
For Series C, Jean threw the 60-yard memory-bird on the right, then fired the 50-yard go-bird on the left,, left-to-right from a Bumper Boy. My intent for Jean's throw was for it to go across the channel and deep onto the far shore, but her first throw (for Laddie) landed in the channel, while her second throw (for Lumi) landed on the far shore near water's edge. The line to the 50-yard go-bird on the left included a 20-yard swim.
Both dogs took an excellent line to the go-bird on the left, and Lumi had a good return, while Laddie decided to roll in the high grass after he had come halfway back from the fall to the water.
My intent was that both dogs would run the memory-bird on the right as a channel swim, but Jean's throw for Laddie created a land-route most of the way to the bird. Lumi did run her memory-bird as a channel swim.
SERIES D. Channel mark (Laddie only)
Since Laddie had not had a channel swim today, I asked Jean to throw one last 80-yard mark for him in the property's stick pond. The retrieve also included a sharp angle entry. Laddie performed well on this mark.
SATELLITE VIEW OF TODAY'S SESSION
In this satellite view:
- Series A, the 100-yard water blind, is at the bottom left
- Series B, the 150-yard single mark with two channel crossings, is at the top
- Series C, the double, is in the center
- Series D, Laddie's 80-yard channel mark, is at the bottom right
View 20090904 Four water series in a larger map
SOME PHOTOS FROM TODAY'S SESSION
Series A, the 100-yard water blind
Series B, the 150-yard mark with two channel crossings
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