Driving through scent

[Hambone]

I need ideas on training my dog to drive through lots of scent on the way to a mark or blind and not break down and hunt the scented area or get hung up in dragback. Last weekend WildThang broke down on the long retired gun and started hunting in the dragback. She has done this other times too, even though I set this up in training and she kept on going through my scented area. The few times she did break down I sat her and cast her back to the bird. This dog is almost 6 and has retreived hundreds of ducks while hunting so when she hits scent she figures it's time to hunt. Suggestions on how to train her to keep going would be appreciated.

[Angie B]

This takes a lot of practice.... Just keep casting her with a nic on sit when you blow your whistle. Once you cast have the bird boy step out and then retire again. Let her see that there is another bird out there.

Angie

[BlaineT]

i would think some ABC drills would be helpful. if set up right and your bb throws em in the right spot you'll be sending her through old fall areas to get to the back stations.

[Hambone]

Ah, for the luxury of having a bird boy or girl! But there is hope! After watching WildThang break down at the AM last weekend my wife said, as I was lamenting my failures on the long drive home, "maybe I need to come help you train her" WHAT?? This hasn't gone well in the past. She ( wife not the dog) does not take hand signals and absolutely refuses to sit on the whistle. Sounds like a failure to communicate but hope springs eternal.

[Angie B]

i would think some ABC drills would be helpful. if set up right and your bb throws em in the right spot you'll be sending her through old fall areas to get to the back stations.

I agree but he's working on retiring the memory bird.

Angie

[Angie B]

Ah, for the luxury of having a bird boy or girl! But there is hope! After watching WildThang break down at the AM last weekend my wife said, as I was lamenting my failures on the long drive home, "maybe I need to come help you train her" WHAT?? This hasn't gone well in the past. She ( wife not the dog) does not take hand signals and absolutely refuses to sit on the whistle. Sounds like a failure to communicate but hope springs eternal.

Be patient with her and explain to her exactly what you want her to do. Walkie talkies do help and buy her dinner after training or a really nice dinner some other day that week. Make her feel appreciated and she will be one fine bird girl!!!!

Angie

[Howard N]

Be patient with her and explain to her exactly what you want her to do. Walkie talkies do help and buy her dinner after training or a really nice dinner some other day that week. Make her feel appreciated and she will be one fine bird girl!!!!

Angie

Listen to Angie. She knows of what she speaks.

[Angie B]

Ohhh,,,, I almost forgot. No Yelling!!!!!

Angie

[g_fiebelkorn]

Ohhh,,,, I almost forgot. No Yelling!!!!!

Angie

Really good advice. My wife tells me -- "raise your voice one more time to me or the dogs and I am through for today."

[rbr]

Placement and slow down.

Pick a spot that the dog can clearly see a large white bumper from the line(long mark).
Either have a short mark into cover between you and the long mark and run singles in shot long order, or just scent an area 1/2 to the the long mark.

When you call for the long mark let the dog watch the mark then give him a count of 5 onethousand before sending him. The object is to get him to concentrate on a mark he can clearly see.

When he is confident running that , move to a spot that offers some more cover.

Bert