Gundog people

[Thistle]

I've been doing the clock exercise with my two the last few days, today I planted 3 blinds, gave a mark into a spinney as a warm up then moved to the area of the blinds.

Each blind retrieve was preceded by a thrown dummy that was to be ignored. Needed a little handling but not much, all blinds picked and thrown dummies left in place for the next dog.

Them move to a new area, track alongside a spinney. blind dropped at base on tree on way to sit the dog up half way down the track. Mark into edge of spinney, so dummies are at 180 degrees along the edge of the spinney. Turn dog so sitting facing me with mark to my left, blind to my right. Send dog right to blind, then reset dog and send left to mark.

Both Toast and Freya nailed it, a little handling but all pretty good. We're regaining our confidence so I've been busy, entered 2 working tests (Novice level) and signed up for club summer training. I just need to remember to slow down and allow the dogs to work it out during the tests, only interfere if really necessary.

Training (121) booked during the week before the tests

 

[druid]

I've been doing the clock exercise with my two the last few days, today I planted 3 blinds, gave a mark into a spinney as a warm up then moved to the area of the blinds.

Each blind retrieve was preceded by a thrown dummy that was to be ignored. Needed a little handling but not much, all blinds picked and thrown dummies left in place for the next dog.

Them move to a new area, track alongside a spinney. blind dropped at base on tree on way to sit the dog up half way down the track. Mark into edge of spinney, so dummies are at 180 degrees along the edge of the spinney. Turn dog so sitting facing me with mark to my left, blind to my right. Send dog right to blind, then reset dog and send left to mark.

Both Toast and Freya nailed it, a little handling but all pretty good. We're regaining our confidence so I've been busy, entered 2 working tests (Novice level) and signed up for club summer training. I just need to remember to slow down and allow the dogs to work it out during the tests, only interfere if really necessary.

Training (121) booked during the week before the tests

It's a balance...remember it's a -1 for a stop whistle and a -5 for leaving the area. So let them work it out if they are holding the area, help if they aren't!

 

[Clodagh]

It's a balance...remember it's a -1 for a stop whistle and a -5 for leaving the area. So let them work it out if they are holding the area, help if they aren't!

That’s good and clear. Steve always says… leave him to it… ok now he’s leaving the area, send him back to where he should be’. I never thought of it as scoring. Makes sense.

 

[Thistle]

It's a balance...remember it's a -1 for a stop whistle and a -5 for leaving the area. So let them work it out if they are holding the area, help if they aren't!

I need to watch carefully and not accept sloppy stops. Freya is a fantastic marker, it's taken a while to convince her that it's worth listening to me. She is starting to realise that she picks if she listens.

 

[druid]

I need to watch carefully and not accept sloppy stops. Freya is a fantastic marker, it's taken a while to convince her that it's worth listening to me. She is starting to realise that she picks if she listens.

Ah the stop whistle....we did group training with some new people at the weekend and it just highlighted to me how much of an OCD perfectionist I am about the stop whsitle!

 

[EllieBeast]

Root Canal surgery booked for Wednesday. Poor Mimi!

Oh bless her, good luck! Will they do a composite build up too so she can continue to show or do they not do that for dogs? (Human dental person here )

 

[druid]

Oh bless her, good luck! Will they do a composite build up too so she can continue to show or do they not do that for dogs? (Human dental person here )

No idea! I assume not, She can continue to show with a permission to show letter form the KC either way, thankfully.

 

[EllieBeast]

No idea! I assume not, She can continue to show with a permission to show letter form the KC either way, thankfully.

That’s fair, it’s not like it was a hereditary issue, purely a working incident

 

[CorvusCorax]

Our working dogs have a performance record book and the German imports have a pedigree which doubles as the same, both with a diagram of dentition. The first time the dog is shown, the judge can annotate this and sign it to confirm they were all there/correct at that time so if they lose or break them later, there's a record. There was one working dog who's owner used to carry around an x-ray to prove that the broken tooth had a root/it had been there previously. I know some of our judges can say that broken teeth means weak dental genetics (eyeroll), but I know for a fact it was because my old boy rammed his face through a gate trying to get to a cat

 

[druid]

I have a copy of Bear's dams dentition from his breeder! Mimi's is a mid tooth fracture so it will be clear the tooth is still present with a RC. I asked and there will be some composite build up or possibly a metal crown

 

[CorvusCorax]

I have a copy of Bear's dams dentition from his breeder! Mimi's is a mid tooth fracture so it will be clear the tooth is still present with a RC. I asked and there will be some composite build up or possibly a metal crown

I've seen some dogs with titanium caps!!!

 

[druid]

I've seen some dogs with titanium caps!!!

Be an interesting look for a spaniel!

 

[stangs]

Be an interesting look for a spaniel!

Titanium caps, a spiked collar, and a chain leash that weighs more than she does, and Mimi could be a real trend-setter. You might just convince all the owners of out-of-control molossers to switch to spaniels instead.

 

[druid]

So bad Owner and vet here didn't do a full oral exam and didn't spot until last night that she had also fractured 207 and 208 premolars. So 1 root canal and 2 extractions today. Just dropped her off with the lovely surgeon.

The answer to @EllieBeast question is that she will.have a full composite build up of the Canine which should be good enough for shows.

 

[EllieBeast]

So bad Owner and vet here didn't do a full oral exam and didn't spot until last night that she had also fractured 207 and 208 premolars. So 1 root canal and 2 extractions today. Just dropped her off with the lovely surgeon.

The answer to @EllieBeast question is that she will.have a full composite build up of the Canine which should be good enough for shows.

Oh no, poor girl! They’re so resilient aren’t they?!

That’s cool, it’s amazing what they can do with a bit of composite these days I know she’ll be missing the premolars but that will be far less obvious than having half a canine!

 

[druid]

She's home, rather groggy but eaten a pack of roast chicken and had a bowl of venison bone broth

 

[skinnydipper]

How did she break her teeth @druid, do you know?

 

[druid]

How did she break her teeth @druid, do you know?

Crashed into a dry stone wall when she miscalculated a jump

 

[EllieBeast]

She's home, rather groggy but eaten a pack of roast chicken and had a bowl of venison bone broth

What a champ! Speedy recovery Mimi

 

[skinnydipper]

Crashed into a dry stone wall when she miscalculated a jump

Poor Mimi. I hope she soon recovers from her dental surgery.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Working test day today with Rafi at the golden retriever club. We got one big fat 0 on the first test for him running in when the judge said my number and he picked the retrieve really nicely too!!

Made a nice job of two mark and replace tests, one over a fence. Split retrieve test was a bit (very) messy. Picked first retrieve lovely, sent for second and took a nice line, just didn't go far back enough. Handled and faffed then picked. Judge said afterwards he couldn't see my directions as I was wearing black gloves against a dark background, so total handler error! Still managed to come away with a COM

But it has got me motivated, booked in lots of training on way home

 

[druid]

Well done! The good bits must have been very good to get a COM with a duck egg!

I say a lot of "Send your dog" before saying their name because I accidentally named several dogs things starting with the letter S and fell foul of the judge talking and dog going as well!

 

[Clodagh]

Working test day today with Rafi at the golden retriever club. We got one big fat 0 on the first test for him running in when the judge said my number and he picked the retrieve really nicely too!!

Made a nice job of two mark and replace tests, one over a fence. Split retrieve test was a bit (very) messy. Picked first retrieve lovely, sent for second and took a nice line, just didn't go far back enough. Handled and faffed then picked. Judge said afterwards he couldn't see my directions as I was wearing black gloves against a dark background, so total handler error! Still managed to come away with a COM

But it has got me motivated, booked in lots of training on way home

That is so brilliant, well done!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I need to practice the saying something (or getting someone else to say something) before sending!

Novice walk up next weekend

 

[Clodagh]

I need to practice the saying something (or getting someone else to say something) before sending!

Novice walk up next weekend

I do that… get all lined up to send then say random words. Dribble on a bit. Torment them

 

[druid]

I need to practice the saying something (or getting someone else to say something) before sending!

Novice walk up next weekend

Send your dog, blah blah and purple monkey dishwasher are used daily here....and 2 of the muppets still tried run in today!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

One thing about Rafi is I cannot fault his enthusiasm! He was absolutely buzzing from the moment he came out of the truck until he got back in again

 

[Thistle]

I did a training day on Thursday with someone who won an award at IGL champs 2 years ago.

It was a well thought out day on some challenging ground, lots of launchers hidden in hedges, undulating ground with hidden dips, sending back to long memories alongside the lake, lots of walked up with retrieves behind and infront. Blinds down the line from grassland into a wood to pick, retrieves across a large lake, picking from the far bank. Bang boxes hidden in the undergrowth with planted blind tennis balls.

Just 5 handlers so plenty to do, we all had second or third dogs. One handler had to leave early so down to 4 for most of the afternoon.

My dogs are pretty steady so lots of whizzy launches are good for them as they need revving up sometimes. Both did well, although Toast started to show his age, both by trying to be too 'wise' at times, thinking that he knows best and seeming tired on some of the very long retrieves. He could be fitter. Both my dogs mark well so it was great fun. Lots to think about but generally not too shabby.

 

[druid]

So, "fun" retrieve if you have a group to train with.

1 thrower
Dogs A, B and C

Thrower walks a hedge line (easy version) or an arc in a field (harder version).
Each dog gets a mark in turn with the thrower moving about 20y with each retrieve.
Each dog then gets a blind placed in a spot the mark was BUT each dog picks from a different dog's mark area. So A picks from B's spot. B picks from C's spot. C picks from A's spot. Very good to make sure they are really taking a cast/line as the temptation is huge to pull back to the area their mark was in.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Thanks Druid, I will remember that when I'm training with friends and we don't know what to do

So, "fun" retrieve if you have a group to train with.

1 thrower
Dogs A, B and C

Thrower walks a hedge line (easy version) or an arc in a field (harder version).
Each dog gets a mark in turn with the thrower moving about 20y with each retrieve.
Each dog then gets a blind placed in a spot the mark was BUT each dog picks from a different dog's mark area. So A picks from B's spot. B picks from C's spot. C picks from A's spot. Very good to make sure they are really taking a cast/line as the temptation is huge to pull back to the area their mark was in.