[Devlin]

How often, and for how long each training session, do you train? I'm not talking about a HT or FT dog, but a good, solid waterfowl and upland hunter.

We trained every day before and during the hunting season for about an hour or hour-and-a-half each day. Now that it's "off-season," I've cut back to about 3 or 4 days a week for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes of actual training each day, plus a few fun bumpers and just letting her "nose around."

Thoughts?

 

[Paul Stuart]

I usually train as many consecutive days I can, but making sure to give the dog a day or two off. I like to take these days during the week as we usually get together on the weekend with others and do marks. When I`m alone I do blind drills or poor man marks. Training sessions should be kept mediocrely short but often. If they are long and tedious, it turns into a job and not all jobs are enjoyable.

 

[Margo Ellis]

We try to get out just about every day and do something. Right now we have Troy's young dog in Swim-by so we are out there everyday, then off to the fields for a few marks of some sort.
With as wet as it has been in the Northeast the fields have not been mowed so we are doing a lot of water work now.

For a meat dog once the dog is at the level you want then some tune up stuff 2-3 times a week should be good enough, but getting there would require daily teaching.
So in the words of LVL it depends! :lol:

Margo

 

[badbullgator]

You left off 4-5 days a week. That is what we try for, but during the summer it is hard because of the heat and thunderstorms. You have to start at 6:30 in the morning and wrap up by no later than 10 because of the heat. In the evenings we have thunderstorms between 2-5 most days so we can usually get out for a few hours after they end, but sometimes they last into the night.
Spring/winter/fall it is pretty much 5 days a week, however summer for us is about May through Sept.

 

[larrynogaj]

training

Monday thru Friday we typically start the day out with a walk around the block, takes about 15 -20 minutes. We do a couple of "backs" and blind, but it's mostly just for the fresh air. Through the week we usually get out at least 5 times down to the local park for an hour or so. Good place to do some pattern work, blinds in short grass and the water is right there. We get together once a week with a small group on a nice piece of property and set up the wingers for 4 or 5 dogs. This is where I get my education. One of the best things about year-round training is that when hunting season comes around, dawg is in shape and on her game.

 

[Granddaddy]

I selected daily but actually wind up training about 5 days a wk on avg. Two marking set-ups with blinds per day, 3-4x/wk; then yard work, drills & blinds 2-3x/wk. During warm mos more water work than land & opposite during cool mos. Maybe group training 3-4x per mos.

 

[Jeff Kolanski]

I used to train every day, sometimes several times a day, that was a few years ago. Then, three years ago, my daughter was born, and five weeks ago, my son was born. If I can get any free time away from my wonderful family, I can now get about two maybe three training sessions in a week. The awesome sacrifices we take for our human children!!

 

[Paul Rainbolt]

My hunting dog is my field trial dog. I train 5-7 days a week year round if im not hunting or at a trial.

 

[Guest]

Question for those that train 7 days a week...

Do you feel that dog doesn't need downtime to physically and mentally recover from working?

-Kristie

 

[Rick Hall]

How often, and for how long each training session, do you train? I'm not talking about a HT or FT dog, but a good, solid waterfowl and upland hunter.

Thoughts?

My guys, Chessie and Brittany, are every-day working dogs in season, and much of their "training" is simply physical conditioning. With the object at this time of year being to go into their mid-Summer virtual layoff in top condition, so it's not a struggle to get them up to speed come September. Right now, we're still managing to get in at least three two-hour runs a week by taking advantage of morning dew, breezes and courses parralleling canal systems they regularly cross. Later on, when all the standing water is steaming, we'll be praying for Summer storms to get out and run or road in.

This Chessie pup has been permitted to try to hang with his big-wheeled (FT bred) bird dog "brother," which he can't beyond sprints, but he has learned to get out and keep busy enough on his own to get plenty of aerobic exercise, as well as anerobic sprints to see what the Britt's up to. Which I encourage by not giving him much work that would have him looking to me, rather than for game or independent interests.

Actual training, per se, sessions are relatively rare for the older Britt at this time of year, other than for some honoring stuff for the young Chessie's sake. But the pup gets small doses of some sort of training virtually daily, both during their almost daily morning pond visit and his late evening field sessions (which the Britt sits out), plus a few "real world" hours each week with tough stuff in tough conditions. At a-year-and-change, he's coming into his own afield, and that's my favorite: lots of canal/ditch/high-levee combos, plus all the distracting floating turf and hyacinth rafts he can handle.

Know we're spoiled and am most grateful for the blessings of a flexible schedule and more than ample grounds.

 

[ColoAngler]

Question for those that train 7 days a week...

Do you feel that dog doesn't need downtime to physically and mentally recover from working?

-Kristie

I thought I remember reading somewhere that when you finish a training session to let your dog go rest in a quiet place without a lot of distractions. When he rests/goes to sleep, the training session sets into his memory better than if you were to keep him active and distract him with fun and games or another physical distraction. Can't remember where I read that.

As far as physical, everyone says to leave 'em wantin' more. I don't physically tire my pup out per the advice of the RTF.

For what it's worth.

 

[Guest]

Question for those that train 7 days a week...

Do you feel that dog doesn't need downtime to physically and mentally recover from working?

-Kristie

I thought I remember reading somewhere that when you finish a training session to let your dog go rest in a quiet place without a lot of distractions. When he rests/goes to sleep, the training session sets into his memory better than if you were to keep him active and distract him with fun and games or another physical distraction. Can't remember where I read that.

As far as physical, everyone says to leave 'em wantin' more. I don't physically tire my pup out per the advice of the RTF.

For what it's worth.

I'm talking about days per week, not individual days... I wouldn't train seven days a week because I don't think it's healthy mentally or physically for the dog.

-K

 

[Miriam Wade]

Kristie wrote:

I wouldn't train seven days a week because I don't think it's healthy mentally or physically for the dog.

Kristie-

Good to see you feel this way. I've felt somewhat guilty for not training every day, but I am definitely the one that needs the break. I find that I'm more focused too if I give myself a day off-especially if I've been working the pup on something that is an incremental process to build to a solid "Aye Aye Cap'n, I know what you want now" end result. It's really gratifying to take a day off & just go for long walks & swims & then the next day proof what you've been working on & see that there has been a real lightbulb moment.

The dog loves training. I love training, but hang time is a good thing too!

M

 

[Steve Hamel]

How often do I train ?

1. When ever the wife will let me
2. Not nearly as often as I'd like
3. Some weeks every day, some weeks, now and then
4. Some weeks enough to see a difference, some weeks like you're beating your head against a brick wall.
5. Some times it seems like never enough and
6. Some times it seems like it's all I do.

Just kidding/ just kidding

Steve

 

[Guest]

Kristie wrote:

I wouldn't train seven days a week because I don't think it's healthy mentally or physically for the dog.

(snip)It's really gratifying to take a day off & just go for long walks & swims & then the next day proof what you've been working on & see that there has been a real lightbulb moment.

The dog loves training. I love training, but hang time is a good thing too!

M

I think the downtime is just as important as the working time. I was talking to a client about this today. I think they need to relax and play with you in order to be a balanced, relaxed, confident team player.

I came to this conclusion about five years ago when Joie's sister was doing all of our airings and kennel cleanings. I didn't have to lift a finger out there and I noticed a HUGE difference in the dogs' response to me. Since then, I make sure I spend time with all of them outside of training. We play and swim, etc.

-K

 

[achiro]

What is this "train" thing that you speak of?

 

[Guest]

What is this "train" thing that you speak of?

It's a big long thing on tracks that goes chooooo chooooo!!!! Not everyone has access to it, as you can see some people can do it more than others...