Picking up training advise

[Rory4 267]

I have a bitch i use for beating but would like to try picking up with her, she retrieves feather, think be fine when sees the bird fall but what i am after the advise on being able to send her to bird shes not seen fall. ie hand signals?/?

 

cheers hope someone can help

[blacky7 1]

What standad of training is she at?

[Mooch. 177]

You're asking a very broad question! Whole chapters are dedicated to "blind" retrieves in the training books. I'd recommend reading them.

 

Having said that my training club uses the following method. (This is best with two people, you with the dog and someone to place the dummies).

 

Find a straight path, either a footpath or an animal trail. Stand about 20 yards from the dummy thrower. The dummy thrower then gets the dogs attention and throws the dummy onto the path and you send the dog back with your usual command and a hand signal in the direction of the dummy. The dog should retrieve this nice easy "seen". Do this a few times then start as normal but once the dogs on it's way back to you with the dummy your mate places another dummy in exactly the same place as the first without the dig seeing. Now use exactly the same commands to send the dog for the "blind". Repeat the exercise until the dog is picking consistently and reduce the number if seens until you can do away with them altogether. Then find a new training ground and start all over again!

 

Hope this helps you get started.

 

(I'm no expert but I'm happy to share what little I do know).

 

 

[Rory4 267]

cheers mooch that does help will give it ago. well blacky what do you mean by that? I think i can get her to do most things except comepletely direct her back to something hidden straight away, i can send her back fine, get her stop look at me. she usually finds just would like save time if was picking her up and direct her straight to it with hand signals. hopes this makes sense