I'm having a little issue with my 16 month old CLF... She is doing really well retreiving single retreives and has went through forcefetch and has good manners. I am having a little issue on the memory bird. For some reason she takes a lot of coaxing to get her to go after it. The initial mark she does fine. It's as is she doesn't know she is being released. I am just wondering if this is something that just takes more practice with marks or is there a trick out there to encourage her to go after the memory bird without hesitation. Seems most of the folks I have spoke to have the exact opposite problem in that they have trouble keeping the dog from immediately going after the memory bird. She actually did it the boat the other day, but since it was only her second hunt and I am not quite sure see saw the second bird fall. She doesn't do it every time, but it's enough for me to be a little concerned.
Memory Bird Help
arklahunter
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I am confused. In the first op you stated "memory bird" meaning a double mark. In the second op you mentioned "blind".
To teach doubles is one thing. To teach blinds is another.
If it is doubles the first introduction should be on land not from a boat in water. On land you need two launchers or two bird boys. First run the memory bird as a single, then do a double. Make sure the memory bird is really short at first. So that the dog can practically see the memory bird from the line. Use large white bumpers or ducks with a really light colored breast. Do this in really short cover. Make sure the bird boy has on something white if possible. If the dog is confused, have the bird boy help the dog by saying hey, hey or blowing a duck call to remind him that there is a dummy/bird out there.
Then you can start extending the distance. It is pretty common for dogs to be confused and need some help for the first time on a double.
Are expecting the dog to learn this on his own in a hunting situation?
To teach doubles is one thing. To teach blinds is another.
If it is doubles the first introduction should be on land not from a boat in water. On land you need two launchers or two bird boys. First run the memory bird as a single, then do a double. Make sure the memory bird is really short at first. So that the dog can practically see the memory bird from the line. Use large white bumpers or ducks with a really light colored breast. Do this in really short cover. Make sure the bird boy has on something white if possible. If the dog is confused, have the bird boy help the dog by saying hey, hey or blowing a duck call to remind him that there is a dummy/bird out there.
Then you can start extending the distance. It is pretty common for dogs to be confused and need some help for the first time on a double.
Are expecting the dog to learn this on his own in a hunting situation?
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Pls describe your setup for doing doubles.
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Do I understand correctly that you are throwing the bumpers?
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Hand throwing bumpers at 16 months, other than a happy bumper, is not good. I agree with Breck. When I get a client dog, I can tell if they have had nothing but hand thrown bumpers. The problem is that they will often learn to look up at you to see the bumper rather than look out in the field (sky).
See my previous post on the technique to use. Evans post was also good. Combine the thoughts in our two posts.
I don't think you have ruined your dog or anything like that but you need to improve your training techiques.
Are you following a training program?
See my previous post on the technique to use. Evans post was also good. Combine the thoughts in our two posts.
I don't think you have ruined your dog or anything like that but you need to improve your training techiques.
Are you following a training program?
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John, Surely you don't throw your bumpers from the line as the op is doing. I assume you are following the stand alones like demo'd in Dennis Voigt dvd.
This is quite different than what the op is doing. Congrats on your JAMs.
This is quite different than what the op is doing. Congrats on your JAMs.
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Apparently what he has been doing hasn't been working.
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