First post brand new to the forum I have a 4 year BLF master hunter and recently she is developing a nasty habit and I cant seem to correct it
She takes a great line on the way out and no issues entering the water on water marks and takes an initially great line on the return. The problem comes when she is about 2/3 to 3/4's of the way back she turns to shore and puts it in high gear. I try and whistle stop her and she blows it off and if possible puts it in an even higher gear towards shore. I have also tried waiting until she gets to the edge of the shore and whistle stop her (which she will do) and cast her back into the water to try and get her back on the correct line. She fights the cast but will hesitantly go on the back cast and then when given the over cast will take it but only for a yards before she points again to shore and puts it in high gear. Ideas please
The return is a window to their soul or so a mentor has told me. If my dog decides to short cut, I stop him , assuming the concept is clear and the area of the fall hasn't gone too far off. I stop him, send him all the way back with verbals (always using verbals when something is in his mouth) to where he decided to make the cheat, sit him for 10 seconds or so as I return to my line then use a strong verbal here command. if he cheats again I try again and send him back to his spot, if I get a third time I will move up closer to him so the line to me is straight then use a verbal HERE firmly....and I run backwards to the line.
my problem is...though she has her master title and would always whistle stop on the return, will whistle stop on the return on land once she makes the turn , .....agin at the last 15 to 2o% percent of the return for sohre she willnot whilstle stop untils she hits terra firma
Getting the handle over on the return is tougher to a dog in a marking situation than it is in a blind retrieve. (Handling mode to the dog)
Getting the handle over on the return is tougher to a dog that has a bird in his mouth, as opposed to a bumper. (I've got the meat, boss)
So start with blind, and bumpers. Work towards co-operation with a mark and ducks.
Good thread.
Hmmm a smart person with double header win and SRS wins once told me, I don't care how they come back, just how they get there. If she starts cheating out to the mark I might adjust, but on the way back, as long as she's coming back quickly, who cares. Judges don't. A puppy their learning the proper way, sure enforce the line but a MH knows her job. So many other things to focus on, if she brings a bird back quicker, and nails her other marks. I don't see an issue.
I sort've classify this under people messing with a dogs food, if the they've worked hard and done a good job why nick pick them? Nit-pick a dog enough and other issues could very well appear, issues that judges do care about, sour attitude etc.
Hmmm a smart person with double header win and SRS wins once told me, I don't care how they come back, just how they get there. If she starts cheating out to the mark I might adjust, but on the way back, as long as she's coming back quickly, who cares. Judges don't. A puppy their learning the proper way, sure enforce the line but a MH knows her job. So many other things to focus on, if she brings a bird back quicker, and nails her other marks. I don't see an issue.
I sort've classify this under people messing with a dogs food, if the they've worked hard and done a good job why nick pick them?
With young dogs learning about cheating, I was shown to do a swim-by on the last bird of a marking set up, and the last blind when working drills on the water..
As the dog gets older and more experienced, you can get the cast to stay honest at a much farther distance..
And what's wrong with messin' with a dog's food? I do that on occasion when I feel I have to make a point. ;-)
JS
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