fetchindawgs

Ah yes, I know who you mean. Pity she isn't over here to judge a bit through the early part of our season. Have had some problems with D/falls in my time, but these dogs at present seem to know what is required. Actually tried one today at training. W.A. are supposed to be starting our season on April 6th with a N & R trial, but having all sorts of trouble getting someone to commit to being Chief Steward for it. Decision will be made this weekend as to whether we cancel the trial completely, but it might shake up a few people who sit about and expect everyone else to drop everything to work at trials.

How come the small fields in AA ? Is it too hot yet ? Didn't think you were having too hot a time, unlike us. Just reading about your last trial. The d/rise, d/fall, was that judge Jim ? If so, he had that run over here once. Trouble was that sometimes the mark wasn't that easy to see. Still a long way off from our first trials here, and very difficult to get enthused about training with the heat still pressing on. Also, water in dams and rivers is low, so we are having to find alternatives. Roll on winter !!!

The darker goldens are a little harder to find Paulos. I have two very dark goldens, a female and a male, and siblings of both of these dogs are mostly, lovely and dark as well. Our dogs are all working dogs which as you have noticed, are often darker in colour. There are very few litters around from the working lines. My male Golden hasn't been used at stud for 2 years now as show people don't want any working lines in their goldens, it appears, and there are very few field bitches out there. Even with my male having 0:0 hips and 0:0 elbows, clear eyes and heart and a great temperament and conformation, he has not been used by show people at all. If you pm me I can give you a contact who is hoping for a litter in 2 months time and they should be darker puppies. There are 3 male pups just whelped in W.A. last week who should be mid gold in colour, also from working lines.

Have never used placeboards in training Luke. I wonder how many in Australia do ? I used to do walking baseball drill quite a lot, but haven't for a while now. It was good for casting. So many good drills to choose from you really need to pick what suits you, your dogs stage of training, and even how much area you have to use in training. Plenty can be done on a sports oval.

Ah, the joys of having a springer ?! We have one down the road from us and he is a fetching freak; will not stop. Bet you are taking a break during this hot spell in Vic, TSD. We have had the hot weather here, but today is beautiful and in the mid 20's. Took the 3 dogs out for their first real training session at the gully dam this morning. Di and Tick very good, Whiz just good, with her usual testing to see if she can get away with little disobediences. We go through the same thing every year !! 3 months till our first trials so I have plenty of time to get them back into shape.

I would recommend getting rid of the ball completely, and any squeaky play toys that encourage the pup to squeeze with his mouth. Either make yourself a couple of dummies, or buy some if you can source them. Just the 2 inch dummy at this stage. Do not give your pup a bird !!! You would be asking for trouble, and as you say in your post, he would eat one. You can keep up the little bits of obedience, interspersed with some happy retrieves. Remember it must be fun all of the time for your pup, as you want him to rush out to get the dummy, and also be just as eager to return to you with it and give it up to you calmly. As TSD says, introduce your pup to little retrieves in different terrain (as safely as you can). For example, over a small log; into tall grass ; amongst bushes ; into a puddle of water ; then into a pond a few feet and gradually increase the distance into the water. Just as important as having your pup retrieve with enthusiasm, is having him come back to you. There have been some articles written on these training subjects which you could see on Retrievers Australia or even google for it. The main problem I have seen with dogs doing Novice RATG is lack of steadiness for the thrown dummy. It is only at around 50 metres, but young inexperienced dogs often break and this is instant fail. So, later on in the piece you can work on the steadiness and also focusing out in the field to watch for a mark. Don't rush it and be prepared to take steps backward. As your pup progresses you can put some pigeon wings on the dummy to get the pup used to the feel of feathers. Asking him to hold, then give several times should ensure that he understands it is a retrieve article and does not belong to him. Hope this helps in some way.

Congratulations TSD and Em. You have had a great year of growth and learnt a lot I should think. Look forward to seeing that wildchild of yours in All Age next year, or at least hear about how you go. Yes, Rubystar, the Vics start their trials earlier than us (January) and finish later. But, they don't have too many trials mid year. I still think they have the best of everything in regards trials, as Vics can travel to NSW, S.A., ACT and Tassie, all very easily, whereas we have 3 days of driving just to get to the WA/SA border, or fly and boy is that expensive when taking dogs.

Hi TSD, yep I am headed over to you next week. Entered in the State champs and the National. Only bringing one dog this time. Hope to see you and have a chat this time (Always seems to be go go go at trials). Sounds like Em is coming along beautifully, and enjoying the training too.

Hi, been off playing with the dogs so often I haven't been on here. TSD the state champs went off without a hitch. Great weather for trialing over both days. The site is a pretty tough one, both to compete on and for the judge to set runs, plus, the river had come up after plenty of rain and the judge was cautious in putting dogs into the current. After having a very successful season with my dogs, I was let down during these champs. Two Labs out on day one and my last survivor, my Goldy, was out on day two. Personally, I would have liked to swap a couple of runs around and try them again with my dogs. On the whole, good sightings on the marks during the trial. We had plenty of blinds (4 in all), a doublefall, twobird, diversionary birds, a walkup on a triple mark, two marks which were done as a doublerise, and plenty of cover, gullies etc to fool you or the dog and make it a challenge. In all 17 pieces of game to retrieve. Some close lines between marks seemed to be the killer. Only 4 dogs finished, one Victoria and three West Australians. I was a lucky one, not going home emptyhanded after our team won the highest point score. We have only two Novice & Restricted trials left for the season, and one AA trial before the long break. It goes so quickly.

It is usually held at Brookleigh, and I would imagine that is still the go even with only Nov & Rest being run. I will check with Catherine.

Ah yes TSD, didn't anyone tell you that when you start your blind work and putting more control on your dog, that it is usually a given that the marking ability drops off. I have had it with all my dogs, and as you say it is creating a balance between how often you do both concepts. As the trialer at Easter said to you, go home and just do lots of single marks. This is something to remember the whole life of trialing Em. I do it with my AA dogs. To Rubyroo, that must be so frustrating for you, but I assure you there are many people who have been through the same scenario with their dog. As you suspect, it has to come back to training, and building the fetch, hold, give sequence. TSD has given you some good tasks to follow, so give that a go. All dogs are different and you may have to alter something to suit your dog, but you know him better than anyone. Personally, I start from puppyhood with the fetch, and huge praise and lots of fun on the return. No pressure to deliver. It just has to be as much fun getting the item as bringing it back is. Later on, if there is a problem (and I have had them), I will do a stationary fetch, hold and give with the dog right in front of me. I can go into more detail when I have more time...............off training now....

I can see where RS is going about the length of training, and number of concepts, TSD. You describe a total of 12 pickups for Em, and even though you said it is over a whole day, that is far more than you would get in a trial, and for me, certainly far more than I would ever do with any of my dogs, but, having at least three dogs with me at each training session, plus my training partner's dogs, there just isn't the time to put on that number of retrieves. I have no doubt that my dogs would be keen enough to do as many retrieves as I ask as they all have tremendous drive, but usually our absolute limit is around 6 retrieves in a session, dependant on the weather conditions. RS, it doesn't matter if you only do one retrieve, or concept. Work on Ruby doing it well, and finish. Be careful not to overdo the doublerise practise though, as this can be detrimental to your double mark work. Also, break up the actual work with heaps of fun throws of either a dummy or a toy, to keep her fresh and raring to go.

Makes you feel sort of tingly doesn't it ? Now you know how some of us who have been around for awhile feel sometimes. I'm sure some people think that it takes only a couple of days to teach the concepts to our gundogs, and not the hours, weeks, months, years, that actually go into it, but still I know what you mean RS. After a really hot summer, and no training for months, my training partner/s and I got our butts into gear and actually did some regular sessions. Still difficult to get motivated, but we began achieving some results (bad and good), from our dogs. With the first All Age trials this weekend, I am hoping it has been enough, and that my three put in a good solid performance. Fingers xx. Not much water around again, and cover is even less so. Ho hum.

Sounds like this may have been a bit much for her TSD. Always remember (and this isn't just for you but for all of us), that you are training, and you can simplify, walk in to help your dog making the distance between you and her/him, shorter, or abandon completely if it doesn't work. You are making very good progress with her though, and if you look back to a year ago you will agree with that. It is great that she has so much enthusiasm, but I know from experience that this can be regretted sometimes. But, I'd rather have enthusiasm than the other way, wouldn't you ? I am planning on coming to Vic for the Nationals in September, so hope that we are able to meet up again, and this time, I can see the legendary "EM".

I hear that Livertreats has turned "RED" and is having a go at the retrieving training sessions with this much smaller dog. She will have a very jealous Rebel at home me thinks. Good to hear you are having a go with both the girls RS. Nothing like getting out there amongst a lot of dogs to see what the reaction is. In respect to where Millie went for the mark, a dog will always try and take the fastest route to the game (every time). Lots and lots of training and being consistent is the only way to convince them that the straight route is best, regardless of what looks like an easy pickup to them. Have that problem with Whiz sometimes and it is very frustrating. Hey TSD have you entered Em in the Easter trials ? And if so, are you doing restricted as well as Novice ? Sounds like she might be up for it.