Spoon River NAVHDA Chapter

I have decided to "blog" and share some of my training experiences with some of you as I journey down this road of the unknown.

May

 Many of you know I qualified my dog last Fall for the 2011 INV. test. I also went to Iowa to watch & support friend and chapter member Shae Birky run Brahms in the '10 Inv. While there I payed close attention to the blind retrieve and double marked retieve. I talked to some of the handlers while there and came to the conclusion that If I did not pass the Inv. I did not want to have to revisit the duck search portion of the Utility test again.You see it is two completely different tasks you are asking of your dog. In the search you are asking your dog to stay in the water. In the blind retrieve you ask the dog to line straight across the water and search the opposite bank for downed game.

I decided to pre-requalify Sophie in case we do not Pass so as to just continue our training twords a V.C. Early this Spring she received a perfect 204 prize 1 in U.T. again. I was nervous about the test because we had been participating in quite a few shoot to retreive- timed field trials. I had been allowing her to break as soon as the bird was shot all the way up to the week before the test. Why you ask would I do that?? Because she had proved herself to be a true competitor. She had 3 first, 2 seconds and a third during our Spring trials. It was hard to stop with that kind of success. I was nervous about steadying her back up within the last 7 days before the test. But 3 days of drills, about 20 shot birds and only a couple of corrections......She was steady as could be again. Good thing to because test day was a downpour and the birds would not fly. They all ran, fluttered and teased the dogs. Not fun.

The down side of reqaulifying is that I cut myself short on Invitational training as I was walking the swords edge of trialing and trying to salvage some steadyness for Utility.

In June I asked a few people how to start the lining drills to start straight lines for the blind retrieve. We started short with a flag on a pole and a pile of bumpers. Of course she was confused, so was I. This is all new to Sophie and myself. We kept at short 25 yard drills every night and finally she caught on. before long we moved back further and further. She was doing fairly well and I thought we would give it a small break and visit backing and honoring the retreive.

Our fist few backing situations took place as drills in the back yard. Id set my older Callie dog on point, let Sophie out, and she would back point immediately. I would throw a wing clipped pigeon and fire a blank. Then she would stand and watch Callie retreive. Things were looking good. I was felling pretty good about our timeline.

In July I attended a training day with a Northern Illinois chapter. We ran with another dog training foe the Inv. Sophie was honoring points every time, but was wanting to make the retreive on the bird insted of honoring te retreive. Found out I need a little work there. Then at the water we found out that she wants to revert to a duck search when she hits the water for doubles or blind. Now I was getting scared and nervous. I hadnt really converted all the land lining drills to the water but still didnt think she would be that lost in the water. Time for a better plan.        MORE LATER>>>>>>>>>>>>

MORE JULY TRAINING.

I met with Terry Postin on a weeknight after work to work on my dog honoring another dogs retreive of shot bird. It was HOT outside and we had to keep the sessions short. I put 2 birds out at a time, Terry would work his dog. When the dog was on point I would release Sophie. She saw the other dog and honored point.  The first time I put a "buddy bar" on her to remind her to stat put. That worked great. The next time I was able to just keep an eye on her with shock collar ready and she stayed put with no corrections. I might add that Terrys dog worked really nice, was very steady on birds and is a reliable fancy retreiver. I dont know why he hasnt tested this dog??? He would Prize 1!!!

I met with Terry a few times running this scenerio ( My running day has more than a few Griffons testing and I want to make sure she is used to them. I also met Don Duell and we would pick different breeds. One time she might see a Pointer, next a Setter, and a Wirehair. Some dogs are broke, and some break on the flush. Weve missed some birds, shot multiple shots on birds, let some go with no shots, and even chased some runners around for a long time, etc. I wanted her to see many  different scenerios just in case.  She has been steady and honred the point and retreive of everyone, under every situation. I think she understands now and she gets a bird everytime she does it 3 times perfect. Since the wheather has been so warm, we immediately go to the water and I make Sophie honor the other dog on the Duck retreive. Then try to do a little long distant marked retreives for her.

Feeling good about the feild work . But Need to really get going on the 100 yard blind!!!!!

Met with Terry again to try a new approach to the blind retreive. Thought I could just start programming my dog to go across water, search the bank and find a bird!

I sent Terry to opposite bank with our marking /lining flag and some tethered birds. When I set her up and she marked the flag I would have him show her the bird before he dropped it. Did 3 in a row at 40 yrds succesful. Went to lunch and came back. On the next one- same thing-perfect. So I wanted to see what would happen without seeing the bird thrown. She lined all the way until just before the bank and then went into duck search mode.

She is such a strong duck searcher that it is going to take alot of repitition to get the point across. Weve also been going to Banner launching a row af dummies in a row and sending her on a back command. Im going to keep up the lining drills in the yard.

Thanks Terry for the help.

Tried a new suggestion on marking/lining with Sophie last week. Didnt go well. She was confused and showed it. I was aggitated and showed it. Igave one too many verbal corrections (harsh) and she shut down. She wanted to run away from me and would not come back out to train. You wouldnt think she was this soft if you have ever seen her in the bird field. But she is very sensitive. This was a major setback because for the next few days she would barely accomplish a 40 yard blind lining drill.

I was hooked up with a pro lab trainer (from Northern IL.) who comes down on weekends. He agreed to watch and work with me to see if I can fix this. He did manage to tell me that I amm giving the wrong commands, wrong body languages, and pretty much just setting it all up wrong. He is trying to get me to start back at sqaure 1. GREAT. 2 months till test and at sqaure 1. Have I mentioned I wish I would have started training in the Spring?

Its been SOOOOOO HOT (over 100 degrees) that it is almost impossible to do much without being in the water. But I did manage to get her back on birds to get her out of her funky low training spirit. She Honored my callie dogs point and retrieves so she got her own bird as a reward.

Started over on the back yard lining at 30 yards. Now we keep it short, fun with rewards and high spirits. She has made it back out to 80 yards, 3 in a row. Then she gets something fun and/or some bacon, hotdog treat!!!! Just glad to see her working at it again.

Also made it back over to Banner by myself. I set her marking flag out on opposite side of bank, put a duck by it, a pigeon by it, and set a bird launcher with a pigeon (taped wings) to launch if needed for a visual. I had her tied to post at opposite bank watching me throw birds down. When I sent her she went straight across, picked up duck and came back. No immediate visual needed- better. Sent her again. She headed straight and looked like a nice line. Untill she reached the bank and veered left on a search. I had to hit the beeper on the launcher to get her attention and launch the pigeon. On the third send she went straight across. So we ended on a good note.

I plan on keeping up the straight lining drills on the yard work and keep doing the cross the water drill. Eventually she has to get the point. Right?

Met Shae Birky at Dons this morning for a short training session. That crazy fool wanted to start at 5:00 a.m.  Wish I had because it was HOT!!!!!!

We put 3 birds out. Brahms pointed all 3. Sophie honored his point at a good distance, and she stood through the retreives.

Then we tried a blind (well not quite blind yet) retreive all the way across Dons pond. Shae went across, showed her the bird, dropped it and walked away. I sent her right away. She took straight line both times until just before the shore then goes into search mode again!!! Shae had to call her and show her the bird again to get her up on shore. Wondering if she will get this or not.

She did accomplish her first double marked retreive. Shes been struggling with the memory bird for a couple times. So we ended on that good note.

Was good to see Shae and Brahms. I watched Brahms preparing for some German test. He did a 400 yard blood track, a 300 yard rabbit track, and a duck search. He looked good. Tjanks for the help Shae.

Also got a call from Adam offering to drive down and assist. That meant alot to get the call. Thanks

Started today with a short 30 yard blind reteieve but this time with no flag ar bucket to mark. She was a little confused and ran back to me. I calmed her , reset her and resent. She found it on this send. I eventually need to ween her off of the flag and bucket so thought Ill start sending her every now and then on an aesy straight run.

Later we did four 80 yard lines. She did good and was as happy as Ive seen her in a long time doing it. I think she is just starting to get comfortable. We stopped there on a good note and I gave her a bird for reward.

Next we did a little work on the double marked. She is starting to remember the first memeory bird now. When she piks up the last bird she will turn her head and look at the first thrown bird before retreiving to me. Then I send her and she goes straight at it. Did this twice.

AFTERNOON- went for a long heeling session over to the soccer fields. I had sent my wife ahead of us on bike and she set out 2 bumpers.......at 100 yards. This is the furthest weve tried yet. I gave her a visual for the first one and she lined well. Did it again and she wanted to come back at 80 yards (no visual) I reset her and sent her again. She lined all the way through to the bumper and retreived. Ended it with a couple free for all retreives.

Things are definitely better than a week ago!!

Did just a few 70 yard lines last night and called it quits.

Today went to Banner and sent her across water twords her bucket. about 50 yards. I had 2 launchers set up with pigeons ready to launch. I went ahead and launched the first one as she started to veer off course on the first cast. Second line was right on course.

We moved across to another spot about a 60 yard cast. again had launchers set up ready. Had to use them 2 times and she did 2 without a visual. Why does this seem to be taking so damn long for her to comprehend??!!

We did a couple of doubles and drove home. Hope things start to excel here within the next few weeks.

Sophie seems to be getting the idea on lining= I want her to run a straight line. I have her doing 100+ yards on land. She has struggled in water wanting to revert to a duck search but is finally getting the idea that I need her to cross the water and go on land.

Trained at Dons last weekendwith Shae,Terry and Sheryl. I did all waterwork with Sophie.

Ive been to Banner 3 times during the week and am starting to wean her offall of her visuals. She becomes confused every now and then. She will turn and look at me now and I give a back comand. She will then turn and swim up to the bank and jump out. Im glad to see it. Our longest water has been 80 yards. I plan to start 100 yards this week.

She is also improving on her memory bird in the double and is still steady at the honor at blind. We have not done field work in a while. We will revisit that soon.

Monday. Went to Terrys and he let me borrow his conoe (Thanks Terry). I through my 14 year old son in it and sent him across a 100 yard body of clear water. I was ready to see just what she was going to do on this her longest of our sends yet. We gave her a visual on the first one. She sailed straight across, got the bird and came back with it. Resent her with no visual and she did GREAT!! Im starting to feel much better everytime we go out.

We finished with 2 double marks and she did great. Just a word of caution to any readers. On her last retrieve she got tangled in some fishing line. It was wrapped all around her feet. I caght her just in the nick of time because on the end of the line was a "rattle trap" lure with two barbed trebble hooks just inches away from puncturing her. Close call and makes me nervous to send her back in. But I guess it goes with the training at a lake arena????

We plan to go back tommorow and do the drill again with NO visuals and start spreading the birds further up the shore.

I have been training with John  SAT. - TUE. & Bob and his wife SUN..

It been  HARD & HOT , but this will make test day better. Keep up the good work John and you will do well .Keep writing in this journal I like to follow your progress it's cool.

I have to backoff feild & water work for a short time Leion hurt a rear paw .     We will try some yard work for a few days.

Yes Terry,  Its been a while. I took time off from blogging- but not training. In fact we do something every night after work.

Most afternoons we travel over to Banner to do blinds and doubles because that is what she needed the most help in. Every now and then we do a little field work and steadiness to keep her honest. Mostly at Banner my wife or son row across, drop a few birds on shore and will give her one flag for the first one, then I resend her with no visuals. Friday was herlast visual she recieved because she was going across well every time on BACK and searching the bank. At one spot she had done up to 6 blinds at 200 yards (i didnt know it was 200  till we brought the ranfe finder)

I met Bob, his wife and Terry for some training Sat. We attempted her first blind at 90 yards with NO visual at all. She was acting a little confused and only went 3/4 of the way before turning around and coming back for directions. I firmly set her up and resent her and she went all the way and retreived. If I have to resend her once at test day Im not too worried about that, as it will still be a passing score.

Then the double retrieve was next and of course we are still struggling with the memory bird. We did a couple till she was successful. Bob reccomends I shorten it up a bit for now and start using real ducks to build her enthusiasm.

The field work went well. She honored Bobs pointer 3 times and honored his retreives.

On Sunday I met Shae and D.J. to train at Des Plaines. All of the dogs did a nice job. You guys should ask Shae to walk his dog around a pole for you- very impressive. Sophie honored point and retrieves just fine. She was searching good and ignoring all of the old bird scent in the field.

While they did duck searches, I rowed across a awesome looking pond and put 5 birds out around the shoreline. I varried them from 10 yards up to 20, and as far apart also. The distance across was 120 yards to shore.. It looked like the perfect test scenerio. Just me, the dog and deadbirds 125 yards across the water. No person, flag, canoe on the other side. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!! I sat her up and sent her. She went 70 yards and decided she was confused. She came back ignoring my BACK commands. I tooka deeeeeeeep breath, told her "there was a dead bird over there and that she needed to fetch it for me" HA HA. No seiously, we had a little talk. And on my next cast she went across. In fact four times ina row she did it. So Im pleased! She totally understands BACK now. What I really liked is that there was a strong wind blowing her off her mark about 40 yards like a current was takig her away. When she got to the other side she searched the bank hard and good for the bird. THAT is the sign ive wanted. She knows the command, knows there is a birdon shore. If she doesnt take a true line in the test she will run and search the shore for it. PASS is all Im looking for.

Ive met Terry a few times during the week. His dog is coming along with the duck search faster than I realized she would. Looking good!! He has helped me with some blinds. She is still casting straight, all the way across and retrieving to hand. I think we are there!!!!!!!!!!!! Now we need to conquer the dreaded double.

Terry helped me set up the double scenerio this time taking Bobs advice and using real Ducks instead of bumpers. WOW. The difference was night and day. She wouldnt have forgot that memory duck if I walked her away for 10 minutes. This may be the key to polishing up the training.

I then took her and hunted her on 3 Chuckar. She was steady on all. I didnt let her retrieve the first, purposely shot twice on second one then let her retrieve, then purposely missed one and made her heel away with  me. I then put one runner out and let her track it till it flushed wild, She stopped to flush, and I heeled her away with praise.

Folks, I know Im far from having the perfect dog, whatever that means??? Or from getting the perfect score, Its not all about the score this time!! But I think we are well on our way to Passing the BIG BIRTHA of all tests. And I once again would like to thank anyone who has shared thier time and knowledge with me to bring us along. You know who you are.

We will continue to train, drill and condition all the way up to the test. Ive realized that Im going to be nervous all the way through no matter what. And shes loving all the training. She actually is at the door jumping to go before I can get home from work. Shes goes NUTS when we take a day off. I cant wait for hunting season to come. Real live hunting, no tests, no corrections. Just fun and relaxing.

We took a couple days off this week and just roaded Sophie on the bike. It was nice to take the break.

We did go to Banner and do a little bit of water work. I lost Terry my assistant because the steel mill thinks thet need him at work more than I need an assistant. What a crock, huh?????!!!! His dog Leonne hurt its paw during our last duck search outing, had to have an abcess drained from the foot and will be out of training for 10 days. Hope she can finish up the search training before the scheduled test.

Met with Adam today and helped each other train. We both ran through a whole testing sequence. Omar looked good in the field. We let Sophie run with him and I think at first sight she wasnt sure what to make of this big creature that was pointing birds:lol: She did honor the point, shot and retrieve but it was the first time today Ive ever seen her take a few steps to come in closer after establishing a back. I gave a loud verbal correction.

Did well on blind, and a short double, and honored Omars retrieves of a duck. Thanks for the help Adam, and Don Duelle for letting me come out and act like I own the property so much over the last few weeks.

Been steadily going at it. Im actually about burnt out from this hectic training schedule. I no sooner get home from work and Im loading the truck for an hour drive to Dons or Banner. Funnt thing is....She didnt really need it. It was comforting to me to see her doing it eveyday, every chance we got. If we took a break I felt like I was letting my gaurds down.

Sophie has been out SEVERAL times by ourselves, with Shae, D.J., and Terry for the last 2 weeks. Shes doing everything she needs to do. Blind is good. Double marked has been going great. Steadyness and honoring has been good. I can honestly say I feel confident with everything she has been doing. If we mess up on test day I can say it will be handler error. Honestly.

Im going to sign out from the journal now as most of our training is completed. I will meet with a couple of people just before the test as a refresher (1 week to go). One last word of thanks to everyone who has endured this sequence with me, shared thier time and kind words. Of all of the trial clubs, and organizations I have been to, I have enjoyed my time with you folks at SPOONRIVER NAVHDA the most. I have met a lot of interesting people, learned a great deal on training, made great friendships, shared in some very memorable hunts. I look forward to much more of this.                       

                                                           2011 INVITATIPONAL>>>HERE WE COME

Good luck John and Sophie. 

Dearest friends,

I am pleased......No actually Im histatic to announce the newest Versatile Champion dog to our chapter.  V.C. Dutch Hollows Aint She A Dream Passed the Thursday Invitational testing despite having a very nervous, anxious, unskilled handler. There were some minor bumps in the road. The wheels never fully fell off but at times I felt like we were running on a flat tire. I was suprised at how sloppy some of her work was in certian areas. She had been performing flawlessly in training for 2 weeks!  I really was expecting a score of almost 200 before the test. We recieved a 184. But she passed. 

Found out in morning I would start in field A braced with the one breed we did NOT train with, a Brittany!! And the smallest French version that I have ever seen. Weather was very cool with steady rain. As assumed Chukar were not flying and handlers had to catch them and throw them. Not what I had planned, and my nerves were coming unglued as even I was having problems seeing the small Brit working in the cover. My judge did a fantastic job of calming me, keeping me informed and guiding me through the proceedures.

Sophie made first point and held steady as they worked the Brittany into the area for our first backing. She was pointing all her birds from 15-25 yard away and it took lots of help to locate the birds so far away (they were running big time). She held steady through fall and fetched on command. Great start. Our honoring situation was next when the Brittany made game and we worked twords her. Sophie saw her, locked up in honor mode, and then.............a few seconds later............slowly turned to her left??? Judge asked me what was going on and I assumed she had smelled a second bird. After investigating and seeing the second bird, we worked the Brits bird, honored the retrieve and then worked the second bird. So I got my honor and a second steady sequence. Sophie then located a random running quail that was not cooperating. She took a few steps and I gave a loud verbal command. Bird flushed and gunner missed. I heeled her off and we hunted back twords the Brit who had made game. One thing I did not mention is that this Brit , who is small and hard to see in cover, also tends to crouch, or almost lie down on game. Made me nervous about my dog seeing the point, honoring and not being confused.. She did make it to the Brit, saw it just before it crouched down and honored. She was steady throughout the entire sequence. Next bird was a runner Sophie tracked to a  bush and pointed. Brit was worked in and both dogs were nose to nose on point. I had to go in, wrestle the bush for the bird, throw it for gunners. When I turned to release her she was already coming around the bush!! Not knowing what to do I just yelled FETCH!  She worked another bird from far away flawlessly (even though it took me and the gunners and judge forever to locate it). Then the Brit had a find. It was lying down, hard to see in the cover. We worked Sophie twords her and she ended up being just 6 yards, nose to nose before recognizing the point.  She did lock up in honor but then saw the bird. She took a step when the bird was shot and I gave another verbal. So I really wasnt sure how my steadiness score was sitting now. I was happy with her search, nose and cooperation. Everytime they asked me to call her in she abided. If I sent her in a certian direction she went and searched. A couple times she was tracking bird scent in some really tall, brushy, mean looking terrain. The judge asked If I thought I could call her off it to avoid a bad situation. She came right off when called. I was happy with everything except steadiness, which she had been so good at.

The blind retrieve was a perfect sequence. We had been to so many training areas that it resembled one we had trained at. She lined good, went across and retrieved at heeling position. When this was done we went straight to the honor of the duck retieve. I wantedthis to go well as I knew all of the steadiness points I could get throughout the day might help with the shortcomings in the field. (steadiness is judged all day in every event). She did great. Barely a flinch, and only a whimperish whine when the other dog was sent. When asked to heel her away she started to drift away halfway through. I gave a loud verbal and tooka points hit on cooperation. Not the end of the world, but I would want to go run her through a quick heeling session to remind her that she needed to walk at heel when asked for the next event. Oh wait,...... The next event is the double marked. And they are all done and waiting on me, the last handler. GREAT!!!! No heeling lesson.

At the doule we were given our directions. I gave a sharp snap of the leash with heel command befor removing it. I walked her in a heeling circle and felt comfy befor starting into the starting post. Then going down the hill I made a mistake of looking for the position of the duck launchers and not paying attention to the dog. As we got close to the blind she decided to keep veering left to check out the decoys. CRAP! I had to give another command and it cost me. I should have been more attentive to her as a handler, but as a first time runner I had a lot going through my mind.

She marked the first duck with shot, then the second. She raised her hind end on my shot which she never had done before?? I figured the duck was in the water, shes ready to go (possibly without command) so I just gave the command. She retrieved both in sequence to a heeling position and we heeled back off the course to finish the sequence. I thought the Doubles was without any flaws, but my judge must have wanted to see her stay sitting a few seconds longer before release because we received a 3 in steadiness here.

I was really mixed on what the final Steadiness score would be. I knew we were fine on everything else, but riding a fine edge on getting a 3 for a minimal passing score. We had alot of bird encounters and I just wasnt sure if they had seen enough great ones to overcome our couple sloppy ones. I almost jusy headed home, thinking we might not have made it, to save the 2 hours waitng time for scores. Glad I didnt because I was in shock when I heard we had a 3 in steadiness and knew we had PASSED. Not perfect, As I predicted it might be. But we had issues with stuff I thought we wouldnt. And the stuff I was worried about went smooth??? Go figure. I dont know why Im so focused on the score, because as I said before that at the Invitational its not about the score, its about PASS/FAIL. But If they would let me run again next year...... I know I could gain a much higher score:lol:.

We had a great time and learned a good deal about testing at this high level. Getting qaulified is a third the battle. Training for it is another third. Knowing how to be a proficient handler is the final third. A handlers clinic is definitely in order for me.

I have no plans set in stone yet, but we will not be resting for long. While we are at this level of testing I see it fit to run Sophie in the AKC Master hunters tests. If she passes 5 legs (braces that are identical to the Invitational field work) we earn a Haster Hunter (M.H.) title. And we start her field trialing back up and hope to attain a title in that this year. Then its time to devote some of my time back to my other dog, Molly, who has been patiently waiting her turn to run in and pass a Utility test. Sophie has raised the barr for my hunting dogs ans I expect great things from Molly.

Thanks to everyone that shared in my "blog", trained with me, and called me for advice and wished me well.I encourage everyone to set training goals to pass the U.T and attend the Invitational. Its an experience you will never forget. I cannot express the feelings you will have building the bond with your dog, confidence in yourself and great friendships along the way. But most of all I want to thank my dog, my friend. She is the one who qaulified us. She is the one who never gave up on me, even at those hard times when I was ready to give up on her. She endured all the confusion, corrections, and my ideas of what I thought would be best for her to do. She has built patience, trust and a new bond between us. She has taught me so much. She deserves the recognition for her title and so much more. It was her that made this happen. Thank you Sophie. You are a dream.