Notes on the new era

Tim and I talked about the need for building on a succession of small successes.  We walked Larsen in the field.  Tim said he did not get wound up when Larsen dawdled a bit, and that the dog would soon enough return to the front, which he did.  We toured the yard and periodically Tim threw out a pigeon.

Larsen sat at the fluttering bird, which on some tosses was beating its wings directly into the dog's face.  I did not whistle to sit.  Larsen knew that he was to sit, and he did.  I reinforced with a pip.

Understand, please, that pigeon are not gamebirds and that the dog's reaction to pigeon is not as amped.  However, successful sits to the flush build that sight picture in Larsen, and help him see that I am pleased and happy at his sit.

We later switched to chukar and had a good success with a sucker bird.  Larsen sat at my command, even though the bird was really his.

Some of our work was a bit ragged, with me early or late with the whistle.  But we kept the work very low key, and very simple and earned our successes.

Larsen had a nice hunt-dead on a long-flying shot bird.  The bird got up on its own accord.  I hupped Larsen and Tim shot the bird, which continued to the tree line.  Larsen marked it and hunted it down.

The day was hot, so there was a lot of time in between as we cooled Larsen down.  Lots of ice and misty spray, and, finally, some water work to get him cool down to his skin.

Learning, but slowly

Learning slowly: I'm talking about myself here.  My newly evolving personal mantra is to make sure that Larsen is 100% successful on every contact with a bird, no matter how contrived the exercise has to be.

Here is Springerdude (a/k/a Tim B.) making that point (bolding is mine):

In reference to Josh's comment about bringing dog back and then sending for the retrieve after a break, I guess the process works by teaching the dog that you will send for the retrieve and that it is OK to wait for the command.

I like the suggestion to only set the dog up to be successful.  If you think or know that a problem could occur with particular situation, then don't do the drill in that manner.  

What I have learned in the last two years is to keep things easy and fun with lots of repetition doing things the right way.  Make it easy for the dog to react the correct way.  If the dog does not react the way you would like, then make the drill easier.    Lots of repetitions doesn't mean "many times each day".  It means a few times many days.

Most of my training is in Urban America.  Bumpers mostly, dead birds some, clip wings minimal, flyer's sporatically.   With the right dog, this has worked.   I had one dog that it didn't work with. 

Some comments of my own:

• Let Larsen know that he will get the bird.  Be fair.  If he sits, he gets the bird.  Don't walk up and pat his head or call him to you.  That's more advanced work.  Right now, hup = bird.
• Be successful.  Larsen loves showing off.  He wants to do the right thing.  If he does, he gets the reward.  There is no sense in setting him up with 50:50 chance of getting it right.  Get it right every time and them move to a new challenge.
• Practice doesn't make perfect: Perfect practice makes perfect.  Lots of repetition doing things the right way.  Make it easy for the dog to react the correct way.  If he doesn't react the correct way, make it easier.   

Something for everyone

The rain held off long enough for our practice on Sunday.  The temperature was an atypical mid-50s at the warmest.  The field was fresh and the dogs were friendly.  Ready for their turns.

• Aubrey began to learn how to hunt.  She moved downwind and then worked her way up.  The beautiful golden may think she is a spaniel!
• Sunny tracked down a nicked chukar, reflushed the bird, kept on it, and brought it back to hand.  A perfect next-hemisphere retrieve.
• Zelda worked for Frank.  Checking for instruction, coming in when called, and then casting in an intelligent direction.  
• Humphrey set aside his own thoughts and ideas long enough to obey Cathy.  Or maybe Humphrey decided that Cathy finally was on the right wavelength.  Either way, the outing was a delight to watch.
• Larsen brought one bird in Humphrey-style: A wing positioned over nose and one eye.  Larsen showed what he could do when he understood the game.  A hunt dead, water blind, and water retrieve ended our fine day.   

Larsen earned his roll in the grass on a rare day when all of the dogs did well.

Training notes

It's been a long while since Larsen and I have had any successes.  Today we had three.  Sunny, Zelda, Aubrey, and even the thinker himself, Humphrey, showed snap, crackle, and pop in the field.  We looked at each other to wonder what had gotten into the dogs, as each seemed to outdo the other.

I told Cathy and Shoni that I needed a success with Larsen.  We set up the simple drill where the bird is practically at your feet and you call your dog toward you for a flush and a sit.  In this case, the bird on its own accord elected to make a break, flying perpendicular to the line.  I asked Shoni to shoot, and she did.  Larsen had not moved an inch, so I told him to get the bird, which he did.  Cathy later confessed that the whole episode happened so quickly she barely understood what had just happened.  The keys in  my mind were:

• I hit a timely stay whistle;
• Shoni was ready and shot as soon as she had a safe shot picture;
• I sent Larsen with all dispatch and did not fool with him.  Fair, firm, fun.  He sat, and he was awarded.  This is fair in his mind.

We had two more turns - - contrived to be sure, but what counts right now is (1) success; and (2) fairness.  Larsen sat and he was sent.  If A then B.  

How grows your field?

Danny bush-hogged his fields in mid-April.  The hog cuts anything smaller than a sapling.  This includes thorns and briers.  Now, a month later, the tender grasses are growing.  The grasses will mature this fall into amber broom straw.

Zelda poses in a spray of daisies that show off the tender fields.

Summertime

At the Publix.  Get on your mark, get set, ahhh!

He's still got it

Larsen took off after a cat at Keswick Park and paid the price.

Off went that dog despite my whistle.  Up into the dense forest.  I tracked him up the vine- and deadfall-covered bank trying to hunt him down.  Larsen doubled back to pick up the cat's trail.  About 10 or 15 yards out, on a crossing pattern, I threw one of the two fetch-dummies I had and popped him in his rear end.  He yelped, I whistled, he sat.

I walked to him, clipped him up and we continued our walk as though nothing at all had happened.  Good dog!

On the way back, I unclipped Larsen and told him to "fetch".  Off he went, into the dark leafy hillside.  Back he came with my missing fetch dummy.

Making lemonade out of lemon, I would say, and our friend Marilyn, with her water bottle, might agree.

Larsen returns with the fetch dummy.