[freefall319]

My pup and I have been working on Pattern Blinds and she is smoking them. We are running 100 yard leg's and she is eating it up. My question is, am I making it too easy?

To answer all the usual questions. She is 7 1/2month old BLF, CC, FF & we are using the SmartWorks series.

I have been walking her with me as I set the piles up. This has all taken place at a dog park with mowed cover. However, there is enough terrain that the piles can either be made visable or not depending on how and where I set up the bumpers. I have ran them both ways, visable and hidden, with her walking with me as I set them and she is nailing them.

My question's are:

Should I switch to orange bumpers and use the terrain to hide them?

Should I plant them without her seeing them and run her on the same lane's?

Is there something else I can or should do with this drill?

I want to make sure it is done correctly before I move on to 3 handed casting.

Thanks in advance.

 

[slayin67]

-Should I switch to orange bumpers and use the terrain to hide them?

I would use orange bumpers and use the terrain. The pattern blind sets the dog up for success and learning the concept of "go." There is something at the other end of the field and you are directing him to it. This begins to teach the concept of going straight but you hack your way to the blinds. Through repetition they build momentum. I would also stretch out the legs. 125 on the sides and 175yds on the long blind in the middle.

-Should I plant them without her seeing them and run her on the same lane's?
You should identify the piles each day and back up as fast as possible to get more training in before the dog gets tired and hot.

-Is there something else I can or should do with this drill?
You can use guns in the field. Blind under the arc of a fall. Poison birds. Dry shots.

-I want to make sure it is done correctly before I move on to 3 handed casting.
W
hat do you mean? You need fundamental handling skills to get the dog to the blinds. You will have to decide when you are done. You don't want to be on pattern blinds for a month. It is a building block towards cold blinds. When the dog is moving with reasonable momentum and consistently picking up the blinds without much or any handling move on. "If your standard is the dog has to line every blind you could be on pattern blinds for a month."-Lardy

 

[freefall319]

Thanks.

I can stretch them out a little more, but then I run out of land. But I will do that.

On the handling Issue, with the SmartWorks series you do Pattern Blinds BEFORE 3 Handed Casting. So she is not reliable to cast yet & I dont want there to be a fight over it. So for now, she need's to either line it and nail it or line to the area and hunt.

I was also going to switch to another area/dog park and run this drill there and see how she does. There are'nt any fields around now that I can use to train due to foxtails. So I can't train these in cover for some time. I wish I could, because that is where it counts.

 

[Furball]

My pup and I have been working on Pattern Blinds and she is smoking them. We are running 100 yard leg's and she is eating it up. My question is, am I making it too easy?

To answer all the usual questions. She is 7 1/2month old BLF, CC, FF & we are using the SmartWorks series.

I have been walking her with me as I set the piles up. This has all taken place at a dog park with mowed cover. However, there is enough terrain that the piles can either be made visable or not depending on how and where I set up the bumpers. I have ran them both ways, visable and hidden, with her walking with me as I set them and she is nailing them.

My question's are:

Should I switch to orange bumpers and use the terrain to hide them?

Should I plant them without her seeing them and run her on the same lane's?

Is there something else I can or should do with this drill?

I want to make sure it is done correctly before I move on to 3 handed casting.

Thanks in advance.

Hi!
I do believe Evan advocates teaching a 3-legged pattern blind before starting casting, more as an extension of FTP.
However, "real" pattern blinds if you follow Lardy's flow chart do not occur until after you have taught casting, and gone through T and TT. This is because without the ability and experience of these steps, you have no recourse if the dog does not line the pattern blind. What would you do now if she didn't line it? She can't handle so you can't help. You're stuck.
I would call it a success that she now knows to run to a remote location where she has not seen a bird fall. This sets up nicely for the pile work of T and TT in the future. Time to move on to casting.
Just my little opinion

 

[KwickLabs]

Are you running pattern blinds or Evan's 3-legged pattern? One is done before T work (handling)...the other after.

 

[Furball]

So for now, she need's to either line it and nail it or <b>line to the area and hunt.</b>

Bad. Do not let her get in the habit of doing this. Putting up a hunt means the dog is in control and working independently which is exactly the opposite of what a blind is. If you are using white bumpers on mowed grass there is no reason for the dog to hunt to find the bumpers.

 

[slayin67]

Evan will have to explain the concept of pattern blinds before handling. Its been too long since I've reviewed smartworks and I followed Lardy's program for basics which I recall varies from Evans.

 

[freefall319]

Are you running pattern blinds or Evan's 3-legged pattern? One is done before T work (handling)...the other after.

I am running Evan's 3 legged pattern.

 

[mjh345]

My pup and I have been working on Pattern Blinds and she is smoking them. We are running 100 yard leg's and she is eating it up. My question is, am I making it too easy?

To answer all the usual questions. She is 7 1/2month old BLF, CC, FF & we are using the SmartWorks series.

I have been walking her with me as I set the piles up. This has all taken place at a dog park with mowed cover. However, there is enough terrain that the piles can either be made visable or not depending on how and where I set up the bumpers. I have ran them both ways, visable and hidden, with her walking with me as I set them and she is nailing them.

My question's are:

Should I switch to orange bumpers and use the terrain to hide them?

Should I plant them without her seeing them and run her on the same lane's?

Is there something else I can or should do with this drill?

I want to make sure it is done correctly before I move on to 3 handed casting.

Thanks in advance.

She should be smoking them..... they aren't real blinds, she knows where they are. Move on & Don't overdo these

As to your 3 ?'s

1) Yes as to orange, and they usually aren't visible from the line due to distance
2)Yes, she will still "smoke" them
3) Yes introduce diversions and blind drills

Additionally, I do 3 handed casting before PB's

 

[freefall319]

What would you do now if she didn't line it? She can't handle so you can't help. You're stuck.


Time to move on to casting.


Just my little opinion

If she did'nt line it I would re-call her and move closer to the pile and re-send her. Then back up and send her again to the same spot. But, I have not had to do that yet.

I agree with the casting. I just wanted to make sure this was done right before I move on.

 

[Zman1001]

On the handling Issue, with the SmartWorks series you do Pattern Blinds BEFORE 3 Handed Casting.

That is funny. When I look at Evan's flowchart (of which I am also following), it clearly has Simple Casting, then Force to Pile, then T work ALL BEFORE you ever get to Transition (which is where Pattern Blinds are located).

You may want to check this link out and re-evaluate!!

http://www.rushcreekpress.com/flowchart.html

 

[captainjack]

What does Evan's program say that you are supposed to do?

Just looking at the flow chart on his web site, pattern blinds aren't run until after T, TT, swim-by, etc...

Are you really using Evan's program?

 

[Evan]

Are you running pattern blinds or Evan's 3-legged pattern? One is done before T work (handling)...the other after.

And that's the real point. If you look at the material you'll find that I don't "do patterns" before 3-handed casting, so much as I "start patterns" before 3HC, as Jim pointed out - as an extension of FTP work. The first PB's are very short. By the time most dogs are running 100 yarder's, like your dog, basic handlilng work is well underway.

Now to your questions:

Should I switch to orange bumpers and use the terrain to hide them?
Why? What are you trying to get out of them that you aren't already getting?
Should I plant them without her seeing them and run her on the same lane's?
Same question. Are you somehow disappointed at how well she's doing?
Is there something else I can or should do with this drill?
If your dog is "smoking them", and is moving with you on line, you've gotten all you need to out of them. They're not cold blinds. They're only a teaching tool for some very basic blind running skills.
I want to make sure it is done correctly before I move on to 3 handed casting.
Pattern Blinds and 3-handed casting can easily be done during the same period. I take it you don't have Smartwork volume one?

Evan

 

[Byron Musick]

You may have done this, but one thing I see missing is mentioning Force To Pile, maybe something worth investing time in if you have not already!

 

[freefall319]

And that's the real point. If you look at the material you'll find that I don't "do patterns" before 3-handed casting, so much as I "start patterns" before 3HC, as Jim pointed out - as an extension of FTP work. The first PB's are very short. By the time most dogs are running 100 yarder's, like your dog, basic handlilng work is well underway.

Now to your questions:

Should I switch to orange bumpers and use the terrain to hide them?
Why? What are you trying to get out of them that you aren't already getting?
Should I plant them without her seeing them and run her on the same lane's?
Same question. Are you somehow disappointed at how well she's doing?
Is there something else I can or should do with this drill?
If your dog is "smoking them", and is moving with you on line, you've gotten all you need to out of them. They're not cold blinds. They're only a teaching tool for some very basic blind running skills.
I want to make sure it is done correctly before I move on to 3 handed casting.
Pattern Blinds and 3-handed casting can easily be done during the same period. I take it you don't have Smartwork volume one?

Evan

No, I am not disapointed at all. She is flying to & from the the pile's and no other issues at all. I am very proud of how well she has done with this.

I do have Volume 1 but I am going step by step and wanted to make sure I got the most out of this drill before moving onto double's and 3 handed. Everyone is always saying not to go too fast, so I want to be sure I am taking my time and getting it done correctly.

Yes, we've done FTP.