Dissect the way you train. We all have certain ways we do things. Change during the week before the test. Example, I almost always run blinds after marks or as complete separate set ups. Leading up to a test in seasoned I will do a walk up, run a blind do some marks then do a walk out. I do one set up for all my dogs from pups to finished and will just change up order, combo, interuptions depending on dog. Here is an example of today's afternoon training session on land. Hay bale field next to garden: Walkup, three marks set up right hand mark is 130 yds middle mark is at 80 yds and left hand mark is at 58 yds. (total swing b/w 1-3 is 165 degrees.) Middle blind is off ackside of middle gun at 105 yds. Right hand blind is out of the test to the right with only side hill factor.
Here is how I ran it with the different levels:
dogs 1-4 are running started this weekend for the first time they did the walk up, mark 3, mark 1, then mark 2. Did a diversion on the way back from last mark.
dogs 5-7 are running their first seasoned test this weekend. Walk up, run middle blind, marks 1 and 3 as a double, mark 2 as a single w diversion on the way back in. Right hand blind and a walk out on the way back to the trailor.
Dogs 8-10 should be running finished this weekend but only one gets to due to heat cycles. Walk up, throw the triple short to long, pickup go bird, run middle blind, pick up other 2 marks diversion after last no off diversion run right blind pick up blind.
I do this type of set up a couple days a week. Tomorrow morning I will run a set of water blinds then do water marks as singles.
