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Thread: Baby steps...

  1. #11
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I think you have more control on the line at this point than I do. And yes, you just reinforced what I have been thinking about a notebook. I had one last year but sort of didn't resume it after the winter hiatus. I must do that.

    Today I'm training alone and will go set up a quasi marking station and run blinds past it. I'll be out in the sage and scrub, so cover is always a factor. We also, yesterday, were in a 20 mph wind that was beating up dogs and handlers alike.

    You don't lack for "factors" in training in Northern Nevada. Now if we just had more water!

  2. #12
    House Broken EvanG's Avatar
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    What training did you do to give her the skills to run blinds in association with marks?

    EvanG

  3. #13
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    We have done the blind drill ( four phase )you suggested on here. The one where you establish the line to the blind and then add the poison bird throwing away from the line ( behind the gun), then towards the line (past old fall) and then over the line (under the arc) and then through the old fall. Starting each phase close to the line and moving out towards the blind. We have also done the blind drill where you establish the line to the blind, then run past a gunner, then a mark and pick up blind, then poison bird and pick up blind, and then handle off mark, pick up blind and then pick up the mark. Before the snow got here we did the three leg drill with diversions and marks and also a drill my pro uses with a four corner pattern that once the basic are established we add marks, diversions, poison birds and the no no obstacles.
    Her yard work is very sound but will need some tuning up once we get into our regular routine. The one thing that has been missing over the winter has been the shot. We didn't think it was fair to the horses.
    It will be awhile before we get into water. I can just see the outline of the front pond right now but can't get to the back of the property to see what the swim-by pond and the large concept pond are doing. I am hoping to enlarge the front pond this spring as well. Work on a property never seems to end.

  4. #14
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    She went through a program with a pro that seems pretty standard. Ob with associated collar conditioning, FF, then simple casting and finally single and double T. There was limited field work, though. She may have seen very simple 30 yard blinds in the field, a few single marks. Then we were limited by the Master National (training group falls off) and winter.

  5. #15
    House Broken EvanG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TuMicks View Post
    She went through a program with a pro that seems pretty standard. Ob with associated collar conditioning, FF, then simple casting and finally single and double T. There was limited field work, though. She may have seen very simple 30 yard blinds in the field, a few single marks. Then we were limited by the Master National (training group falls off) and winter.
    Pour on the marks. Let up on the drill work a bit. Run lots of easy single marks, and work very gradually toward more challenging ones in slightly more cover and with a few factors like roads, ditches, or trails. As soon as the water temp is 50 or higher get water force & swim-by done, and then start into Transition.

    EvanG

  6. #16
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I would love to do that. What shall I do, however, when she is a raving maniac on line? OMG... the sight of a duck in the air makes her lose her mind. Is she steady? Yes. That is to say, she doesn't break. But very, very vocal... not still, dancing, creeping-but-jumping-back-because-she-knows-better... etc. The kind of thing that can only get worse if allowed to continue.

    When this happens we have used the heeling stick with "QUIET" and back in her box. Now not so much... Last few days we have just said "QUIET, QUIET, QUIET" and heeled her off line and put her back in the truck.

    Would more honoring work? Or would that just make her have a schizophrenic break?

  7. #17
    House Broken EvanG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TuMicks View Post
    I would love to do that. What shall I do, however, when she is a raving maniac on line?

    When this happens we have used the heeling stick with "QUIET" and back in her box. Now not so much... Last few days we have just said "QUIET, QUIET, QUIET" and heeled her off line and put her back in the truck.

    Would more honoring work? Or would that just make her have a schizophrenic break?
    This is a common treatment "back in her box". Dogs don't learn anything in the box. Keep her on line. Stick to sit w/"quiet" command, have your gunner pick up the bird and re-throw. Repeat until she's quiet, and send her as a reward for being quiet. Can you see how a dog will connect the dots between misbehavior and compliance this way?

    EvanG

  8. #18
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I like that approach. Makes good sense. Thanks much.

  9. #19
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    Put a duck in her mouth in the holding blind. Heel to line and set up with her holding the duck. Let her watch birds go down with a bird in her mouth, and take the bird from her when she is still and quiet, then send her.

    This gives her something else to think about, and something else for you to correct (the hold). It's also hard (but not impossible :/ ) to scream with a big duck in their mouth.

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