[drunkenpoacher]

How important are these tools in regards to retriever training and what is the underlying purpose they serve?

Stick men serve a purpose in training concepts. It does not matter if you are training for hunting, hunt tests or field trials.

You don't need to buy stick men. Cheap plastic fence posts with white bags or Tyvek on them work fine. Lawn chairs in the field with a white shirt are also a good training aid .

 

[drunkenpoacher]

Is the purpose served by the stick men just another type of distraction?

Basically yes, one of the building blocks toward the goals of a program

 

[drunkenpoacher]

Actually, "stickmen" are not a distraction.

Not always, sometimes an attraction, a push, a pull...........
Goal is to make them a non-factor other than sometimes a thing to mark from.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

not absolutely necessary and possibly counterproductive for a hunting dog, if they learn to depend on them

Opinions on what is "absolutely necessary" for a hunting dog vary a great deal.
Stick men used in training retrievers for field trials, hunt tests or hunting are not counterproductive but training methods frequently are.
A dog becoming dependent on stick men would be one possible result of poor training.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

DP....I think we could name you the spindoctor of rtf. 😂 you are really great at taking someone's words and reorganizing them for a different meaning....

Spinning your words or offending you was not my intent.
IMO stickmen are simply a training tool. Training tools cannot be counterproductive unless combined with poor training.
I also have no problem with the gunner's drinking beer.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

it is possible to be helpful to one and piss another off at the same time.

That's a sign of a really great post IMO.