GUNDOG TRAINING
(the dummy) is crucial. At this early stage, ensure
you are precise, accurate and consistent.
This early conditioning will be key to successful
blind retrieving.
So our new objective is to be able to stand
in the centre of the clock face with dummies on
the ground at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock and to be
able to reliably retrieve any of them. The addition
of these extra dummies is usually straightforward
if all has been done properly with the 12 and six
o’clock exercise.
While schooling a youngster to be able
to complete this exercise, continue to
be aware of the alignment of the dog
and, most importantly, its mindset. It is
not uncommon to see a handler align
themselves to a dummy but fail to be
aware that their dog is focusing on
something completely different. When told
to fetch, the inevitable happens.
Progressing
Once the ‘send away’ clock face can be
completed with regular accuracy, it’s time to
move on. The exercise gets more complicated by
throwing dummies into cover, as this means that
the dog can no longer rely on being able to see
the dummy, which, until now, has been laid a
short distance in front of it.
Your dog will now be required to mark the
dummies, remember where each dummy is
thrown, and take the line that you send him out
on. The training that you have undertaken in this
clock face mini series should have developed
these abilities and understandings in your dog.
If you are able to, set up a clock face that is
located on a lawn or short-grass paddock. Then
you can cut some brashings and position them at
12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Once familiar, these will
become ‘birdy’ places, or target areas. Increasing
the distance from the centre of the clock will
enable you to achieve our aims.
For the landed gentry among us, one might be
able to have the gardener mow a set of retrieving
corridors in a paddock, darling! These retrieving
lanes are the choice of champions and can be
really helpful. This training area will also be
extremely helpful during the next stage of training.
We will be able to use this familiar clock face to
school the dog to take direction from a distance.
With all dogs, this will require that you have the
time and patience to develop the dog’sconfidence. Each and every time you look to
change an exercise, I’d advise you to assess each
situation thoroughly. Distractions (sound, sight
and scent) will make things more difficult.
In regards to distance, it’s easy to inadvertently
programme the dog to travel a certain distance
before it expects to find a dummy. As mentioned
before, the degree of difficulty changes
significantly when the dummy cannot be seen.
In summary, there is quite a lot to think
about. The early stages of establishing
directional send aways will probably be achieved
in a matter of weeks. The subsequent and
ongoing development of a dog’s ability to travel
straight and true will take years. So take your
time and ensure you develop each and every
stage thoroughly.
As always, enjoy your dogs and, of course,
keeeeeeep training! DOUBLE DVD
COMBO!
Buy both the Mullenscote dog training DVDs –
Establishing the Basics and
Get On – for the special
combo price of
£18 + £2 P&P
Buy them on
the website:
http://www.mullenscote.co.uk
or telephone:
01264 889467TOP TIP
Distractions such as
sight, sound and scent
will make things
harder.Remember to ensure a clean delivery each timeWhen increasing the distance, do so in
small increments to avoiding confusing the dog