Trying to train female in heat - crazy?

[Jennifer Henion]

She is in standing heat now and it's her first heat at 12 months. She has been a stellar dog to train - except for today!

We did a "multiple guns in the field" marking drill, not anything more difficult than she is used to. Did great on first two marks. On third and last mark, she swooped up the bumper and then decided to take a scenic tour of the far side of the field before returning to me at the line. It was as if she went a little crazy.

She has always been 100% fast going to mark and returning to line. My jaw dropped when she did this. Needless to say, we packed up our gear.

Is this a common thing with girls in heat? Seems understandable to me, but wondered about other's experiences.

Thanks,

[huntinman]

Sometimes like you saw today... Sometime they are actually sharper... It's like a box of chocolates...

[Matthew J. Ries]

My uncle told me to just take a few days off when they come into heat, but my 10 month just cycled and we kept training. Similar situation as you, some days she had me wowwed in the best ways, but then others days it was like she had never heard the command or run the drill before. In those cases, like you, i just realized it and tried to find a glimmmer of positive before ending the session quickly. Enjoy a few light days, maybe just some basics?

[Shawn White]

I read the title and thought it was about marriage.

[walt8@cox.net]

Sometimes like you saw today... Sometime they are actually sharper... It's like a box of chocolates...

Up until her last heat I thought she was way off when she came in season. Her last heat, like a laser to every mark, never better on blinds.
My training partners generally feel like their bitches are sharper when in heat.
Walt

[Illini Coot Killr]

My first female was an absolute knuckle head when she came into heat. Like a laser beam any other time.

[Duckquilizer]

I had to pack my girl away for the duration...it wasn't worth the insanity. Some it doesn't seem to phase and some turn into something like a my ex-wife... COLD....

[Brian Welch]

My female does crazy things about 1 or 2 weeks before cycle. Once the cycle hits she's back to "normal". I use it as a cue as to when she's about to go in heat.

[mitty]

She is in standing heat now and it's her first heat at 12 months. She has been a stellar dog to train - except for today!

We did a "multiple guns in the field" marking drill, not anything more difficult than she is used to. Did great on first two marks. On third and last mark, she swooped up the bumper and then decided to take a scenic tour of the far side of the field before returning to me at the line. It was as if she went a little crazy.

She has always been 100% fast going to mark and returning to line. My jaw dropped when she did this. Needless to say, we packed up our gear.

Is this a common thing with girls in heat? Seems understandable to me, but wondered about other's experiences.

Thanks,

If she is not returning when commanded to do so, I suspect you have an obedience issue. It seems to me that right now is the perfect time to work on it.

It may be caused by her being in season, it may be coincidence. No matter the cause, dog is supposed to come when called.

I'm not casting stones...just saying that the goal is to have dog return when commanded, no matter what.

[Mary Lynn Metras]

That is why I have males. Easier!