Given the following:

Memory is:

• The mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experience based on the mental processes of learning, retention.
• The persistent modification of behavior resulting from experience.

Given the above, it would seem rather obvious that well organized, sequential presentations laced with consistent, precise
practice and regular distraction proofing might be areas to focus on. Because balanced training is significantly important,
it is best to have a way to measure "balance". Pro trainer Julie Knutson defined balance in terms of five factors - retrieving,
"birdiness", focus, control and responsiveness. When things are not going well, it is efficient to determine which factor
(or factors) must be modified.

Therefore, memory is best advanced by keeping a retriever in a balanced training mode. What is your retriever's weakest
factor? Pick the worst and design training sessions that focus on improving it. Maintaining balance is a never ending process.

 

Another way to look at it (no pun intended) is to observe many different retrievers as each one runs the same mark
in a testing situation. Having been a gunner/thrower in several field trials, marking skills and memory tend to become
a bit blurry. Keep in mind that in field trials, one is able to watch the best trained dogs compete. The following are a few
observations.

1) The best markers remember which blade of grass the duck fell beside.
2) Others continually glance at the gunning station and plan their line to intersect at about the distance most ducks are thrown.
3) Some will tend to run at the gunner and then curve out to where most ducks are thrown (inside out markers).
4) Some will run wide of the fall and curve back in toward the gunner to the fall (outside in markers).
5) Some are very good at scenting the line most ducks are brought back on.

Is it memory or a skill?

Retired gunnners are usually very revealing.

Therefore, when training what should the trainer focus on to create the best possible marking retriever?

When hunting.......most everything is different.

 

Memory is one of the skills involved in marking that can be developed with successful practice. The major factor that erodes memory is time. The more time that lapses between throw and retrieve the less memory. So I practice using TIME
For younger less experienced dogs I like a wide spread, both guns out, land/water double: #1 100 - 150yd land mark and #2 250+ water mark in big open water that will take at least 6-7 minutes round trip. Dogs may initially need help setting up for the land mark upon their return possibly a re-throw but as you more of these time consuming marks they will start to look over at the memory bird as they swim back from #2. As their memory improves retire the #1 mark and/or increase the time of the go bird swim.
I usually do not use triples or quads to help with memory because too many factors, besides memory, can enter into the evaluation of our progress.

tim

 

In this downloadable podcast, we discuss several different approaches to improving memory in multiple marks:
Improving Your Retriever's Memory Marking

 

I remember one day I had to take the youngest of the pack only 6 month old along with the team on a shoot day because no one was at home that day for care. Obviously she was too young to participate in the action, so she would be kept in the truck and let out for airing during breaks in the shooting day. When we arrived in the morning at the meeting place , which was the gamekeepers yard, I opened the back of the truck and four trained retrievers remained in place whilst the Youngster flew out ,and at that very second, the gamekeepers wife to the left of us threw some scraps for the hens, and off went that little bitch and scoffed the lot (the hens, meanwhile made a sharp exit with much noise and confusion)..I apologised profusely for the unruly behaviour to the keepers' wife.
18 months later, when that Retriever was fully trained and been through many drills and exercises ,we went back to that same shoot and parked at the same spot, I opened the back of the truck and out flew that same dog and immediately turned left and hunted the very spot where the keepers wife threw the scraps 18 months ago . The dog was disappointed after a few sniffs , there was no scraps and no hens and no keepers wife .At least I had no apologies to make.
I don't have any specific drills to 'Build memory' ,but I am absolutely sure the dogs remember things that works for them.
ps. The following week the same dog stayed in the truck like the rest of the dogs until released by name, like we done in training . ....Happy new Year.

 

Thanks for the suggestions please keep them coming

 

build memory by using memory.

 

for example??

 

I just went through this a couple years ago with a young dog the same age that has hypothyroidism that makes a dog mentally dull until you get them properly mediated by the vet. My memory has also gone down hill due to heart surgery. What a combination. I had to go back through my Lardy, Spencer and other training information that I couldn't remember. I followed their instruction and the dog responded the very first day. I went back to the beginning and taught a single with two or three repetitions. I then taught the first leg of the double and then incorporated the second leg of the double. I repeat this a second time. If the dog does it perfectly I move on to the next drill. I did this on blinds, handling, water marks and blinds, etc. Since the dogs thyroid was at the right level he picked up on his previously training immediately. The only problem left is my memory. I had to go back to the beginning but the dog picked up the memory drills very fast. He is running SHT now and his memory is fine.

 

Thanks "M Skeeter". I listened to the memory "pod cast" and those are very doable. The idea of precise
practice and many repetitions only works if what needs to happen is well described......and it was!

I saved the link and intend to work on that approach......with both of my retrievers.

 

Do you think delayed marks help develop memory?

 

Yes they do.

 

please describe a delayed mark thanks

 

"Delayed Mark - A bird shot after one or more birds of a multiple mark have been retrieved by the dog. The first the mark is thrown, then the dog is run on one or more other retrieves, and finally the dog is sent to the mark"

 

Or , you could get the gamekeepers wife to throw some scraps and return later. You could also poison it with nothing being there for Fido , but all said and done ,Ya best not 'Test' fido before ya trained it ...maybe .

 

What the hell are you talking about. You need help.

 

A delayed triple: launch most difficult retrieve, then launch second bird and send to retrieve. When dog returns take bird and launch third bird. Send and retrieve. Then line dog up and send for first bird launched.
You have the advantage of singles and memory. If having trouble understanding go to my YouTube subscription and there are quite a few videos of delayed triples with Rowdy, Shiner and Shadow.