I’m curious what kind of off-season work you guys do with your dogs. I’ve just recently joined NAVHDA, and last night was our first night working with a training group. I’m looking forward to learning a bunch from these guys, and it’s great to get Ripley on birds.
The areas near our house that I usually run him are super sloppy right now. We do have a nearby beach that works well for swimming when the lifeguards aren’t on duty. 
Other than that, obedience work never ends. 
Which group are you training with? At Kelley Farms?
Which group are you training with? At Kelley Farms?
Thursday nights at Four Brooks WMA.
Thursday nights at Four Brooks WMA.
Ah, ok, wasn’t sure where you’d go from Maple Grove. Certainly cheaper than Kelley Farms, the $300/yr pass there kills me, but it’s a little too far for me.
The first year I had my dog I went to every training night and learned a lot. The second year I didn’t do anything for no particular reason, just didn’t want to spend the money or time. Only big problem from that was all progress on staying steady-to-shot was lost. This summer I haven’t started yet but am considering going back to the training nights.
I’m not sure how consistent the different groups are but Mark Jacobs who runs the Kelley Farms group and is the MNNAVHDA Director of Training always recommends the book Training With Mo and uses some of the methods described there.
During the summer between training nights probably the most useful thing I did was just work on ‘whoa’ command endlessly. That can be done anywhere, even in your backyard. Having a long lead and then getting a tree or post of some kind between you and your dog helps to be able to stop them in their tracks from different positions/angles when you give the command.
If you get to the point of working on steady-to-flush, steady-to-shot, or steady-to-fall you can do that with dummies and a blank pistol. Blanks are allowed in Crow-Hassan park in Hanover for somewhere pretty close to Maple Grove. https://www.threeriversparks.org/activity/dog-leash#rules
In the winter working on force fetch indoors is a good practice. Marc Jacobs has recommended to not do it at the same time as working with live birds. Each January (I think it is) they run an indoor obedience class that goes over obedience drills and eventually force fetch for those interested. I’ve been to the Lake Elmo one only but I believe they try to run a west side one somewhere too.
Overall probably the most valuable thing I learned was just to not coddle my dog. He is really stubborn and my “corrections” weren’t accomplishing anything. I was worried that I was going to do something wrong and “ruin” him somehow but following their lead they showed what had to be done to get results and exactly what I should be doing on off days.
Ah, ok, wasn’t sure where you’d go from Maple Grove. Certainly cheaper than Kelley Farms, the $300/yr pass there kills me, but it’s a little too far for me.
Yeah, $300/year is a little steep, and honestly, the drive is probably about the same to Kelley Farms or Four Brooks for me.
Loner here. Currently I’m force fetch training my younger Draht.
Loner here. Currently I’m force fetch training my younger Draht.
Good for you! Any book/video recommendations?
During the summer between training nights probably the most useful thing I did was just work on ‘whoa’ command endlessly. That can be done anywhere, even in your backyard. Having a long lead and then getting a tree or post of some kind between you and your dog helps to be able to stop them in their tracks from different positions/angles when you give the command.
This is interesting because prior to last week, I’d never used the whoa command and a check cord. I’m sure I looked like a deer in the headlights out there. So, I called the pro trainer who we used with Ripley, and it turns out that I wasn’t crazy. He has other ideas, and since I have given him a good sum of money, I plan on following his techniques. I’m hoping not to ruffle any old-school feathers. 
This is interesting because prior to last week, I’d never used the whoa command and a check cord. I’m sure I looked like a deer in the headlights out there. So, I called the pro trainer who we used with Ripley, and it turns out that I wasn’t crazy. He has other ideas, and since I have given him a good sum of money, I plan on following his techniques. I’m hoping not to ruffle any old-school feathers.
What is the equivalent (if there is one) that you use? There are lots of different methods, you don’t have to follow what they do at the training nights, just tell them what you are there to do.
My dog was my first dog and the first pointer in the family so I just showed up and did what they told me. It’s worked out pretty well but there are a few things I think I’ll do differently next time so I’m curious what other methods are.
He uses remote launchers and an e-collar. Dog stops and points, you flush and shoot bird, and the dog gets his reward (the bird). The dog rushes in or points and creeps, launch the bird and sting him with the collar (no bird for the dog). He recommended carrying a clipped bird for when you might miss the bird.
I don’t know much, but Ed’s been doing this a long time with great success, and he’s always there to answer my questions.
He uses remote launchers and an e-collar. Dog stops and points, you flush and shoot bird, and the dog gets his reward (the bird). The dog rushes in or points and creeps, launch the bird and sting him with the collar (no bird for the dog). He recommended carrying a clipped bird for when you might miss the bird.
I don’t know much, but Ed’s been doing this a long time with great success, and he’s always there to answer my questions.
Oh OK, it’s basically the same thing then. We just started with a check-cord and pinch collar and then transitioned to e-collar once the dog was getting the hang of it. We do basically the same thing with birds, homing pigeons for practice and then kill pigeons or quail to shoot if the dog does everything right.
I think the purpose of the cord is just so you can positively stop the dog without letting them creep or chase more than a foot in the first place. My stupid dog, the first year, would get so worked up knowing there were birds out there that even though he knew exactly why he was getting shocked he’d run wild, shaking his head sideways, and yelping the whole time while I held down the continuous shock button on the highest setting 
Giving the pinch collar a solid rip with a check-cord would keep him in place though 
The biggest thing after you get him home from the trainer is “Birds, Birds, Birds”! Even though its too hot to put the pup in the field, launch pigeons in the water and keep the dog cool and driven from the scent.
Not sure what kind of obedience training has been instilled so far but can’t stress enough about letting them play with birds.
They will get bored sooner or later with the same old game of playing with the “Dummie”
Keep it fun, short and disciplined. Especially in the heat of the summer.
Keep them wanting more creates a huge drive especially when Fall comes and the tempos drop. Trust me on this.!If you want more info,feel free to pm me
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>KwickStick wrote:</div>
Loner here. Currently I’m force fetch training my younger Draht.Good for you! Any book/video recommendations?
I use the “Smart Fetch” program by Evan Graham. I force-fetch trained my 10 year old Draht with Smart Fetch and it went very well.
Here’s my 10 year old learning to “hold” (the first step) when he was 9 months old.
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