Off season for the dogs

[rbljack]

Been working our Chocolate Lab Gunner all winter long. After hunting season ended, I went right back to bumpers. We are working hard on heel, and for the last few weeks we were prepping for our first HRC Hunt Test. Over the weekend we got two passes in the "Started Level" for HRC. In a few weeks, we will be making another trip to HOPEFULLY get two more passes and get his Started Title "in the books". Our weak area is heeling to the line, so working on that a lot over the next few weeks.

He had no problems with drive, marking, fetch, and "return to hand" on land or water. We do need to work on "hold" on water exits. He didn't drop them (ducks) on the test over the weekend, but after hunting season, he developed a "SHAKE" on water exits and was dropping the birds and bumpers. It was most likely because we had our blind back off the water a ways, and he started developing the bad habit.

So...for us, its Hunt tests to get the Started Title, and then probably some shed training and hunting. We are also going to work on cast drills, Mini-T, T pattern, Wagon wheel drills, and Swim by over the next 6 months.

 

[Fireman03]

Scooping brownies

 

[KurtR]

Been working our Chocolate Lab Gunner all winter long. After hunting season ended, I went right back to bumpers. We are working hard on heel, and for the last few weeks we were prepping for our first HRC Hunt Test. Over the weekend we got two passes in the "Started Level" for HRC. In a few weeks, we will be making another trip to HOPEFULLY get two more passes and get his Started Title "in the books". Our weak area is heeling to the line, so working on that a lot over the next few weeks.

He had no problems with drive, marking, fetch, and "return to hand" on land or water. We do need to work on "hold" on water exits. He didn't drop them (ducks) on the test over the weekend, but after hunting season, he developed a "SHAKE" on water exits and was dropping the birds and bumpers. It was most likely because we had our blind back off the water a ways, and he started developing the bad habit.

So...for us, its Hunt tests to get the Started Title, and then probably some shed training and hunting. We are also going to work on cast drills, Mini-T, T pattern, Wagon wheel drills, and Swim by over the next 6 months.

If you dont have it get Freddy Kings the retriever trainer. Its the best resource for 60 dollars you can get. You are going to run into problems once you start forcing to pile and swim by. Having that resource to help with those are great. You will be running and seasoned then finished. Started gets the hooks in and the addiction starts haha. Hrc tests are great fun with good people. Good luck and post up pics with those ribbons.

Freddy King Training | The Retriever Trainer

www.theretrievertrainer.com

 

[Wheels]

Been working our Chocolate Lab Gunner all winter long. After hunting season ended, I went right back to bumpers. We are working hard on heel, and for the last few weeks we were prepping for our first HRC Hunt Test. Over the weekend we got two passes in the "Started Level" for HRC. In a few weeks, we will be making another trip to HOPEFULLY get two more passes and get his Started Title "in the books". Our weak area is heeling to the line, so working on that a lot over the next few weeks.

He had no problems with drive, marking, fetch, and "return to hand" on land or water. We do need to work on "hold" on water exits. He didn't drop them (ducks) on the test over the weekend, but after hunting season, he developed a "SHAKE" on water exits and was dropping the birds and bumpers. It was most likely because we had our blind back off the water a ways, and he started developing the bad habit.

So...for us, its Hunt tests to get the Started Title, and then probably some shed training and hunting. We are also going to work on cast drills, Mini-T, T pattern, Wagon wheel drills, and Swim by over the next 6 months.

Has he been force fetched?

 

[loganwayne]

Always more work to do with young dogs.
Orange one will start force fetch soon. And the puppy well I'm just gonna let me get bird crazy before we pull in back in, in early fall.

 

[rbljack]

Has he been force fetched?

yes he was.

 

[rbljack]

If you dont have it get Freddy Kings the retriever trainer. Its the best resource for 60 dollars you can get. You are going to run into problems once you start forcing to pile and swim by. Having that resource to help with those are great. You will be running and seasoned then finished. Started gets the hooks in and the addiction starts haha. Hrc tests are great fun with good people. Good luck and post up pics with those ribbons.

Freddy King Training | The Retriever Trainer

www.theretrievertrainer.com

Thanks for the info. We are scheduled to go to another 2 day event and HOPEFULLY get 2 more passes. If he does, that will get his started title.

 

[rbljack]

Oh...and FYI for folks in West Texas.....I saw a big buck last night with horns still on. So they haven't all dropped yet, for those curious about shed hunting their dogs this season.

 

[johnnycake]

We're still killing schtuff.

 

[AK_Skeeter]

I'm mostly working solo on cold blinds with both labs.
The older lab, more complex concepts like holding a line diagonal to the topography.
The youngster, basic concepts like change direction with each cast, long rewarding cast to end each blind.

 

[TSAMP]

Taking it slow but new pup is a quick study. It's been fun to have two dogs when training.

 

[rbljack]

We got gunner his 3rd and 4th passes in the hrc hunt test over the weekend. With those 2 passes he received his HRC “ Started Title”

 

[Jason Snyder]

Ran my pup through her natural ability test last weekend. She really had an off day tracking but all in all had a very good showing. Time to really get into the force fetch and train for her fall testing.

 

[GreenNDark Timber]

Ran my pup through her natural ability test last weekend. She really had an off day tracking but all in all had a very good showing. Time to really get into the force fetch and train for her fall testing.

View attachment 692731

Congrats! That's a nice score. Do you plan to run her all the way through VGP?

 

[Jason Snyder]

Congrats! That's a nice score. Do you plan to run her all the way through VGP?

Absolutely!

 

[cuttiebrownbow]

Already started back into retrieve work. He is progressing well (knock on wood) so just refreshing on different objects to proof the training before moving it into the field with fresh shot birds.

Once I am satisfied with the retrieve work then we will go right into steadiness and focus on it and keeping retrieves clean.

Need to work on blinds for duck season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Buzby]

What are some good resource for new handlers like myself?

Was gifted a five year old English Setter and would love to know what all I can do with him this offseason. He’s a hunting machine but doesn’t seem to fit the NAVHDA qualifications.

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pretty much any breed that’s a pointer should be welcome to NAVHDA. In my local chapter, 90% of the people showing up, have little interest in training a versatile dog. They want to come out and shoot pen raised birds over their loosely trained dog, and worry about a stylish point. The remaining 10% have phenomenal dogs, and will help you train what ever you are willing to put the time in for. It’s worth a try. You might my even get your dog tracking well, a grossly underrated skill.

 

[Jason Snyder]

You might my even get your dog tracking well, a grossly underrated skill.

Agreed. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve watched my dog track a crippled chukar to make the retrieve.

 

[Buzby]

Agreed. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve watched my dog track a crippled chukar to make the retrieve.

That’s great. Tracking doesn’t always come natural to some setters. That point though…

 

[KurtR]

watching my dog sniffing the air standing chest deep the diving to pick up a duck under water shows their nose is way more capable than we give them credit for