[1st retriever]

Hey Steph,

If she's doing the setups at training days and not at test then I wouldn't wash her out. It seems to me it has to do with performing in the arena of test not on ability.

Next training day set ups I would make sure and run her last that way the AOF will have plenty of scent and see if she reacts like in a test. If she does then force her on the spot.

Something isn't quite clicking and advice is hard to give without a visual. I hope you have very good training partners for advice. Good Luck

Thanks, we need it! lol We always run last for this very reason. Awesome training partners. A couple are judges and some others who have been in the game for years and done well.

 

[1st retriever]

And how many fresh shot? Has the dog had any clipped wing pigeons.

T. Mac

Yes birds, fresh and frozen. Loves pigeons!

 

[1st retriever]

Try letting someone else run her. Some dogs end up with what I call "baggage" with their trainer but do fine with someone else.

I know of a trial dog that never placed [after several entries] with its trainer after QAA. The first time it ran with someone else it got a [ 3rd believe] in an AM.

Have done this as well. Don't mean to shoot everyone down, we've just tried all of this.

 

[1st retriever]

Did you tell her to fetch during the test?

Yes. When she came back in the judges had them throw the bird and she went out and got it just fine.

 

[Furball]

How many tests have you actually run? If it's just been a few then maybe you are just getting unlucky. It happens.

 

[1st retriever]

How many tests have you actually run? If it's just been a few then maybe you are just getting unlucky. It happens.

We have only run two, our third will be tomorrow. I know that isn't a bunch but they were exactly a year apart and she has done well in training.

I was marshalling senior today and one of the guys I train with looked at me and said remember running this setup? Granted they were singles when we did it but it was downhill, through the water, and uphill to get the bird. She can do this stuff she is just...I don't know. lol

 

[whitefoot]

Where is this dog in training? through basics yet? would you say you're only doing junior level stuff in training? What are your ultimate goals with the dog?

I'm just a rookie, but if my dog was doing well on junior level stuff in training (singles, deliver to hand), and was not doing junior level stuff at actual events, then I would consider getting the dog trained to a higher level (through basics-swimby) before running any more events. But then, my ultimate goal is not a junior title.

 

[hfsDogs]

I don't know much, but it only happening on 2 test is kinda giving up to early IMHO. I would see how she handles the next one, and maybe make a decsion then. Have patients in the dog espiecally if you feel like she has the abilty.

 

[Labs R Us]

I know the frustration, Steph, as I experienced that with my first hunt test lab. I won't tell you how much his JH title cost me to earn. We did it, though. Good luck tomorrow. Hopefully 3's the charm. Keep us posted.

 

[Dave Plesko]

No, sometimes on her way back in with the bird.

Does she have a strong personality?

Do you think she is demonstrating some indepenence by doing this?

Doing it "her" way as opposed to "your" way?

 

[RetrieverLuvr]

I was in your same boat. I have a 4 year old curly coat. She likes this game....but has many other things she would rather do. She likes to putz and can blink birds, roll on birds, or pee coming in to dawdle, or just putz around and not hunt. I am on top of her with all this stuff and i do NOT let it happen in training. It has gotten better but I keep extremly high standards ALL the time.

It took 9 tries to finish her JH. I had a feeling she needed more of a challenge cause singles are just soo easy....shes a smart pup! SO off we went to handling and multiples. She really came around because we had more tools to work with her garbage she would throw at me. The multiples sped her up because she had another bird to think about. Back nick Back if she putzed around and didnt hunt, Fetch nick Fetch if she blinked. HERE nick HERE if she stoped to pee. I could also handle her to the bird if she missed it or chose not to get it. so I was telling her what to do. I do not let myself get distracted when I run her or she knows it and I get garbage.

She got her SH in 4 strait passes. Earned her SHR in 5 or 6 tests and earned her HR today 3 outta 4. Onto finished tomorrow!

Sometimes they are bored with singles. Get more tools in your toolbox! Dont let running in junior hold you back! Get on with it!

 

[windycanyon]

Stephanie, don't give up. If you have the opportunity to run her as a test dog in the future, try that. Maybe your nerves are getting to her.

 

[Malcolm]

Stop running the dog immediately and finish the basic's!
You don't have the tools to deal with this issue yet.

If the dog was collar conditioned and handling you would be able to the do the dirt clod drill.
It wouldn't be fair to the dog to try and correct for this without a soild foundation and teaching of how to properly react to pressure.

If your using a program finish it. If you don't follow a particular program look into Lardy or Evan Graham for help.
Good luck

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

.....I'm just a rookie, but if my dog was doing well on junior level stuff in training (singles, deliver to hand), and was not doing junior level stuff at actual events, then I would consider getting the dog trained to a higher level (through basics-swimby) before running any more events. But then, my ultimate goal is not a junior title.

yup, yup

Stop running the dog immediately and finish the basic's!
You don't have the tools to deal with this issue yet........

yup, yup, yup

doing senior stuff 'fore a runnin' junior. underwelmed you want that dog at a test;-)


.

 

[bjoiner]

FF is solid. We have done the tennis shoe training before.

FF may be solid, but I think the previous posters are saying your dogs issues appear to have symptoms of holes in her FF. If it were me, I would go all the way back through FF, force to pile, casting drills, T, TT, etc. I would have the dog running simple cold blinds before I run another test.

 

[1st retriever]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I don't know who did the praying but thanks, we got our first pass!!!

 

[whitefoot]

Cool! Congratulations!

 

[1st retriever]

Cool! Congratulations!

Thanks! We will be doing a lot more to make sure we pass the next one!

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

How many tests do you give a dog before you wash them? !

We have a testing site in Panton, VT. that the landowners very much like us but the farmer who works the property, not so much. One Friday evening after the judges had set the tests for the next day and went to the judges dinner. The farmer went out with the honey wagon and covered the fields with a fresh coat of liquid cow poop. The testing of dogs went on the next morning as scheduled. I did wash my dogs after that test.
.

 

[TN_LAB]

We have a testing site in Panton, VT. that the landowners very much like us but the farmer who works the property, not so much. One Friday evening after the judges had set the tests for the next day and went to the judges dinner. The farmer went out with the honey wagon and covered the fields with a fresh coat of liquid cow poop. The testing of dogs went on the next morning as scheduled. I did wash my dogs after that test.
.

It takes all kinds of people!