In the Field….
GUN SAFETY
Treat- Treat your firearm as if it is loaded
Never- Never point your firearm in a direction you are not intending to shoot
Keep- Keep your firearm on safety and keep your finger off the trigger until intended to shoot
REWARDS
- Praise - understand your dog’s temperament and choose a good tone and energy level
- Petting
- Retrieving (fun bumpers)
DISRESPECTS
- Jumping
- Mouthing the Birds
- Barking - nothing will ruin a hunt quicker than a vocal dog
- Steadiness- a dog that breaks for a bird before being released can present an unsafe scenario
TERMS TO APPLY
- Quiet - use when barking/whining during hunting scenarios or in the kennel.
- Good - keep doing what you are doing
- No - change your behavior
- Leave it - Don’t mess with or touch something
FIELD COMMANDS
Basic
- Here - recall all the way into heel swing/sit
- Heel - walk next to handler’s side and sit when stop
- Sit
- Down
- Place - get on an object (dog stand, etc)
- Kennel - get in an object (Kennel, dog hut, etc.)
Retrieving
- Mark - cue to watch for the birds
- Send on Name - release word to retrieve the bird
- Fetch - pick up a bumper or bird
- Hold - no chomping/dropping/mouthing
- Drop - release bumper or bird to hand
TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- E-collar - the only way to consistently reinforce commands at a distance
- Whistle (for advanced dogs)
- Tab Leash and Pinch Collar (to help with a clean heel/delivery or creeping)
- Avery EZ birds
- Avery Hexabumpers (Black/White for Marks, Orange for Blinds)
- Avery Dog Hut
- Avery Dog Stand
- Swivel Bucket
- Duck Call
- Dog Vest
AVOIDANCES (watch for patterns)
- Ignoring - looking away or not recalling
- Peeing - hiking on the way to and from retrieving
- Partying -taking sweet time to and from the bird
- Wandering - no intent to retrieve the bird
- Blinking - looking at the bird or bumper but not picking it up
KEYS TO KEEPING THE FIELD TRAINING IN PLACE
STEADINESS
THE most important part of a trained retriever. An unsteady retriever can ruin a hunt by presenting an unsafe scenario for both dog and hunter. They can also spoil opportunities for birds by scaring off decoying birds- Sit means Sit!!! If your dog breaks, DO NOT allow them to pick up the bird. Correct them for breaking (“NO, Here!”) and get them back. If you let them break and get the bird, then they get rewarded for their disobedient behavior and will continue to do so. Either go pick up the bird yourself or allow another dog to pick up the bird. You may find that you have to increase the level of correction on the e-collar to get the dog stopped- they are in high drive!
HONORING
Honoring is when your dog is steady and waits patiently while another dog makes a retrieve. A dog that honors successfully will allow for multiple dogs to hunt together. However, honoring can be challenging for a lot of dogs so be ready if your dog breaks. Take turns letting each dog make a retrieve. If your dog misbehaves, then let the other dog make the retrieve and vice versa.
FIRST HUNT
- The first hunt will be a new learning experience. You can help make it a positive experience by taking the opportunity in the first few hunts to work with your dog and let someone else do the shooting.
- Be patient and understand that despite the training your dog has already received, there’s no substitute for the real thing.
- Keep your dog in a sit and don’t allow them to wander around or disturb other hunters. Reinforce the basic commands, maintain steadiness, and make them deliver every bird to hand.
- Don’t get frustrated if your dog doesn’t see every bird that gets shot. They’ll get better with every hunt and learn how to swing off the barrel of your gun. Before you know it, they’ll be spotting birds before you.
- If the hunting is slow, take the opportunity to create a learning opportunity by pretending to stand up and shoot a bird and make sure your dog is steady.
- Bring a bumper in your hunting bag- if it’s a slow hunt, you can throw a bumper or two at the end of the hunt and give your dog a reward for sitting through the hunt.
HOMEWORK DRILLS
STEADINESS DRILL
You will need a bumper and an e-collar.
- Put your dog in the heel position and in a Sit beside you. Tell your dog “Sit”, then throw the bumper.
- Watch your dog closely!!! If you see that they may try to take off or they are creeping forward, use the command “No, Sit” and give a correction on the e-collar.
- If they do leave your side before being sent, quickly give a correction while using the command “No, Here!”. (Hint- Make sure you throw the bumper far enough to give enough time to stop the dog if they do break.) Use whatever stimulation level necessary to get your dog to stop and return- it’s vital that you do not let them get the bumper or they’re rewarded for their disobedient behavior.
- Once your dog has demonstrated steadiness, send them.
- Once your dog becomes skilled at this drill, you can start to increase the challenge by saying things like “Great shot!”, or “I got one!”. Teach your dog that despite the excitement and temptations of the hunt, they must remain steady.