Rev - one month into training

[IRISHWISTLER]

Aye Mates,
T'was on the first day o' April that CHURN CREEK'S EL DIABLO NUTMEG REVOLUTION (call name REV) was entrusted to me by his owners for training as a gundog. REV is a black male Labrador Retriever from very accomplished field bloodlines and is now about 10 months old. The fact that we started training together on April Fools Day may have been a worry to some, yet REV'S first flush of a wild gamebird ( a woodcock ) just 3 days into training seemed like a better indicator of success to come.

Now a wee bit over a month into training, REV is coming along nicely. REV has learned the verbal commands for "SIT", "RECALL / HERE", "PLACE", "STAY", "KENNEL", "UP", "OFF", and "HIGH ON" (used as a release command). REV has also learned the gestural cues I use for several of these verbal commands and the whistle signals I use for "RECALL / HERE" (three short peeps on the whistle), remote "STOP and SIT" (on single whistle blast), and "DIRECTIONAL CHANGE WHILE QUARTERING" (two medium length peeps o' the whistle). REV has also been e-collar conditioned and has well learned how to avoid stimulation / correction by complying to first taught and learned commands. Most importantly, REV has learned to love his work / training as a result of the success based training methods I employ which teach him through success, not failure, the result being a more self confident K9 trainee that loves to learn.

Now mind ye, REV had basically zero previous training when I took him on. In addition to the previously mentioned skills, REV has been introduced to gamebirds (wing clipped Chukar Partridge) and has incredible natural bird / prey
drive. REV has been conditioned to gunfire and will "SIT" steady on me left side (tight to me left leg in classic "HEEL" position) as I discharge a 209 primer revolver held in me right hand. He has learned to tolerate multiple shots fired at random and to associate gunfire with reward and the opportunity to work. REV has also been introduced to water by none other than me own personal gundog TRAD. It was clear that TRAD was responsible for REV taking the initial plunge. REV had no previous exposure to water and will now willingly dock dive for the opportunity to fetch a pheasant scented tennis ball. REV is also walking at "HEEL" nicely on lead, a skill we will work on continually until he can do so reliably "off lead".

Initially I spend the far majority of training time laying down a solid foundation of obedience and will build gundog related skills on top of that foundation. REV will be hunted on both waterfowl and upland birds and his owner has expressed interest in running him in hunt tests, so we have much more work to do. REV will initially be in my care for training until September 30th when he will return to his owner just in time for his first hunting season. The owner will meet with me monthly for instruction on how to handle REV, and how to maintain the many skills he is learning. The client and his family are meeting with me this Sunday for a first look at REv since he left their home on April 1st, they are going to see a radically changed dog and will be highly pleased with his progress. I have kept them in the loop with daily progress reports and photo's via email in the interim.


REV on a "PLACE" platform has learned to take position on the platform and remain there remotely until released by my command. The "PLACE" platform is useful for establishing a mentally concrete (less abstract) designation of a location / positions that I want him to assume. The "PLACE" command has numerous useful applications for dogs and for hunting retrievers in particular. REV will enter into / onto hunting vehicles, boats, hunting stands / platforms, etc., and know he is to remain there until released by command to do otherwise.


As is discussed in the previous post, REV has been given the command "REV - PLACE" to get him up and onto this woodland stump and is expected to remain seated there until released by command "REV - OFF". A stump such as this in flooded timber could well serve as a hunting stand to keep a dog out of the water until being sent on retrieve. REV concurrently learns the patience required of a steady (non-slip retriever).


REV and TRAD seemingly play a game of aquatic "follow the leader".


REV and TRAD have become fast friends and the lads love spending time in the training ponds together.


REV demonstrates a confident water entry in his return from a nearby island in one of the training ponds. REV'S development of swimming skills will delight his owners.


REV has many more skils to learn before becoming a competent and reliable gundog and he is ejoying every step of the journey. Though there is an incredble number of new skills he needs to learn, his exhibited intelligence and work ethic, along with me own skills at keeping him highly motivated under the eyes of a competent and watchful trainer leave little doubt of his future success.

As continuing training on solid obediece moves forward, we will soon be focusing on "HOLD and FORCE FETCH" conditioning. I will continue to report on REV'S progress as we move forward in the training of this pup that holds so much potential.

Enjoy ye retrievers and grand training to ye all!

Faugh a Ballagh,
Irishwhistler

[POPTOP]

How could Rev not do well with Team TRAD doing the training!

Handsome pup learning what he can do and certainly enjoying it.

[IRISHWISTLER]

How could Rev not do well with Team TRAD doing the training!

Handsome pup learning what he can do and certainly enjoying it.

Poptop,
A happy retriever is a motivated retriever.

Cheers,
Irishwhistler

[4Thelove]

love it!

[Dallas dawg]

Sweet