[Tim West]

Sure has been a lot of non-training talk on the forum...so, what are your favorite drills to get the dogs back to running good again after a winter lay off?

I'll start it off by saying I like to do singles where I set the dog and drive out on the four wheeler and throw, then send. I used smaller bumpers and throw the marks a long way. I think it gets them to marking the mark and not the gunner.

I refresh cross wind blinds and marks when the wind kicks up, and that's a lot in Feb and March in Oklahoma.

I like to do cheating singles on water but can't since the water now is too cold. But I will try to find some cover and get them to cheat and get some corrections.

I also like to revisit the no-no drill and poison bird drill for blinds.

I run them on four wheelers morning and night to get them in shape.

 

[ducksoup]

Winter layoff??? -- not for my dog who is down south with pro -- but I like your list -- "road work" is good for dogs and handlers -- I like "walking singles"

 

[Jerry]

After virtually any sort of layoff, I like to re-visit the very BASIC obedience skills. I want to make sure that they still understand that sit means sit and all the other hand signals that have been taught.

Nothing elaborate, just a few reminders before the birds or bumpers are brought out.

Jerry

 

[NateB]

For dogs that have pretty much completely laid off, like mine over the past several weeks, and even during hunting season the level of exercise is pretty minimal complare to field trial training.
ducksoup mentioned road work, but I think that needs to be emphasized.
THese dogs need a lot of conditioning prior to hte hard charging of mark and blind training. Even short marks the dogs fly out to and the sudden hard running can lead to all kinds of injuries in thise unprepared. Imagine us doing hard sprints after not doing much for a few months. So be sure to start the raod work and build gradually just as you would when starting a running program. Biceps tendon issues I think are a big reason to get in shape prior to heavy field training. Especially for dogs over 4-5 years old, but all of them will beneift form conditioning.
now that the bitter cold of SW ohio "appears" to be waning maybe the dogs and I can get back into shape together. Once way to be sure I do not over work the dogs is for me to run too. They can definately outlast me!!!!! So good insurance for not over training. :lol:

 

[WingshooterMN]

Walking singles, Walking baseball, KRD are some good ones.

 

[MR HAYS]

In the past I did not do a lot of warm up drills when I arrived down south...my dog was an AA dog in the fall right??

Now I am a firm believer in revisiting basics & starting slow. They do forget the fine points & need to ease into condition and training.

I do singles especially off multiple guns, no-no drills, wagon wheels and simple blinds.

 

[goosecaller]

In the past I did not do a lot of warm up drills when I arrived down south...my dog was an AA dog in the fall right??

Now I am a firm believer in revisiting basics & starting slow. They do forget the fine points & need to ease into condition and training.

I do singles especially off multiple guns, no-no drills, wagon wheels and simple blinds.

Best advice right here.... KISS method.... Keep it simple stupid....

Goose

 

[goosecaller]

Sure has been a lot of non-training talk on the forum...so, what are your favorite drills to get the dogs back to running good again after a winter lay off?

I'll start it off by saying I like to do singles where I set the dog and drive out on the four wheeler and throw, then send. I used smaller bumpers and throw the marks a long way. I think it gets them to marking the mark and not the gunner.

I refresh cross wind blinds and marks when the wind kicks up, and that's a lot in Feb and March in Oklahoma.

I like to do cheating singles on water but can't since the water now is too cold. But I will try to find some cover and get them to cheat and get some corrections.

I also like to revisit the no-no drill and poison bird drill for blinds.

I run them on four wheelers morning and night to get them in shape.

Great ideas then call Dan Denicus :wink:

Goose