Indoor Training Retrievers

[AK_Skeeter]

It is too icy at our place to train outdoors. So I train 1-year old pup inside in our carpeted living room.
We run hunt tests and field trials in the summer, so train for these events:

1) Multiple marking mechanics where I teach pup to return with perfect spinal alignment in relation to my foot position.
I do this using 6 bumpers as half wagon wheel and I determine which bumper pup will pick up.
Pup gets good at returning, sitting by my foot, and focusing ahead at the next bumper target with perfect spinal alignment.
I don't do the conventional wagon wheel pivot because I want pup to learn not to move at the line.

2) Push/pull cues and mechanics also using 6 bumpers as half wagon wheel, moving only pup's head.

3) Lining over barriers using the no-no procedure in a carpeted room.

4) Cues for poison bird blinds which I think helps teach pup the difference between "marking mode" and "blind mode".
My training routine is to always allow pup to pick up the mark after the blind as I think in pup's mind it is similar to picking up a memory mark. I use a canvas bumper for the mark, plastic bumper for the blind as pup likes the canvas bumper more than plastic.

5) Introduction to duck hunting calls and dog blind.

6) Backwards heeling and 2-sided heeling and 2-sided sends.
Backwards heeling because if pup sits or surges too far ahead I want to be able to command pup to the correct heel position instead of me moving.
If I have to move, pup is training me, instead of me training pup.

 

[KurtR]

I’m up in the air on two sided heeling for my next dog. Pat burns was on a pod cast and he was discussing if it’s worth it for the couple times you might need it in a trial.

Been working push pull in the garage to icy here to I think at 4 he is to far along I want him to keep his but planted and move just his head but due to me not knowing what I was doing during basics he has a habit of hovering to move. Don’t know if it’s a fight worth having.

We have gotten a lot better at the little fine tuning on lining up for a blind though.

One thing I did right was bird delivery. He is back and sits spine aligned how I’m facing for the next mark.

I do a lot of holding blind work and walking to the bucket. Backward heeling is very important to break that forward momentum if they get to far in front of you. I want to run the hrc grand this year and line manners matter a lot. No beating the handler to the line if you want to pass.

Are you going to run any derby’s with your young do this year? If I have time we might also try to run a q.

 

[AK_Skeeter]

I find 2 sided heeling useful. I always send for the go bird on my left side. As the dog is returning if I silently signal right side the dog understands to come in and line up for the right mark, left side to line up for the left mark. Since I always send for the go bird on my left side, I always honor with the dog sitting on my right side. Honoring becomes a no-problem routine.

I will switch sides running poison bird blinds as another routine.

Looking forward to derbies starting in May.