Originally Posted by
TuMicks
I have to keep reminding myself that Ram-Jet-Rocket-dog has only been training in the field for a month. A MONTH! Heretofore, she was either being a puppy, or going to the pro for basics (obedience, force fetch and steadiness for single retrieves) and somewhat more advanced work (stopping on a whistle and handling.) Almost all of this (90% anyway) was done "in the yard". Then came winter.
In the last month, she has gradually learned that she must:
1) be quiet in her crate until it's her turn
2) walk to the holding blind at heel... lay down quietly until it's her turn
3) Sit quietly on the line until she's sent
4) Go on a blind, stop on a whistle, and take hand signals.
And most of this, she's getting better about. UNLESS, that is, there are ducks being thrown out there. (Ducks = Lab-crack.) Then she comes comPLETELY unglued. Today, she did it again. She got corrected and put back in her crate.
Big sigh...
But, then I must remind myself that she is the highest high roller I've ever had. Orders of magnitude more horse power than I've ever experienced. I may be looking at another 6 months to a year to get her quiet and self-contained on the line. Who knows?
But, even so, I saw a glimmer of progress. As the bird was being thrown today, she did not hunker down into "launch position". She actually sat tall and watched the birds go down. And then she fell apart.
We'll get there. We both are learning a lot about patience.