Intermediate Gundog training with Jules Morgan Great day yesterday with a local trainer who had invited Jules to run the event As it was up the road, I took a day of work and brought Bramble along. There were only 7 dogs and handlers. I knew one of them a fab wcs called Charlie who shares our dog walking slot occasionally. Benson grew up with Charlie so they are besties! The only minor problem was that the field was smallish, so it was a bit difficult with Bramble who doesn't really like dogs training in her line of vision. OK if they are to her side, but not at angles running across her line, so she was a little nervy at times. I don't know if this is common or not, just an observation at this point. Skills we worked on: Remote stop: (at distance) We used a target post. I sent Bramble back with a "target" cue, when she got there I blew the stop. I set this up firstly by C&T at close hand for targeting the post. It's been a long time since I have used a target cue..and never on a post, only target sticks. I then brought her to my side, sitting neatly, then sent her out to the target post. When she touched the target stick, I blew the whistle, then clicked This did prevent the slight creep forward. The only problem was that the time between click and reward was a bit long. A remote trainer or helper at this point might help. Although she is a bit obsessive about the RT. Very pleased with her progress. Locking on in the line Up: Although my line up is fine, Bramble was having a little trouble locking on to the mark, when the dummies were fairly close (dummy discrimination) This was on part due to nervousness I think, as lots was going on around her, and she was a little distracted. This though is an important skill to get right. A great exercise for Bramble, was again using white target sticks. Jules would place a high value treat at the base (with Bramble watching...) then I would line her up..when she locked onto the treat, she got a click and my "take it" release cue. Simple but very effective! We progressed to the same exercise, but with 2 poles. Again, lined her up with the chosen pole, click when she had locked on. Bingo! Go Back! We had just started work on this cue, so Jules used Bramble in a demonstration to the rest of the group. I walked up Bramble off lead, dropped a dummy, walked back to the starting position. Turned so I was facing Bramble. I had to send her back off her left shoulder. No problem for Bramble. Executed perfectly. Then I demo'd a dummy thrown over Brambles head, and with Bramble facing me, send her back off her right shoulder. Then a double dummy, with Go Back ( left shoulder) combined with sending out to her left. I know sounds complicated! I was getting a bit confused with my arms at this point! Luckily Bramble is a thoughtful and kind dog, swear she was laughing at one point! Hunt whistle: A very important skill for a gundog. When they the get to the right place (the fall of the mark) The may have not seen exactly where the dummy/bird fell. The hunt whistle just says..".yep, you are close, just have a nose where you are and you will find it". So we worked on dummies being just out of sight, and sending them back. We used an old bonfire as a landmark for the long blinds, or 2 white posts for a combo of 2 dummies, a blind, and a "seen". This was good fun, although Bramble was much more interested in a hunting for a pheasant who popped out than a boring old dummy, combined with me inadvertently blowing the hunt whistle at the wrong time...yup..timing and knowing what scent your dog is on does help! In summary, a really good day! Really great bunch of people with just stunning dogs! One notable yellow boy, Oscar, was just amazing, I am sure I will be seeing him in competitions this year. Oscar and his owner live just down the road, so are coming up to our paddock to train, so will be sure to get photos! Some great tips and exercises to work on, so will get some white poles and start this weekend, will try and video some of the sessions. I think easier than trying to explain! Jules is just lovely, I have booked a week on Clicker gundog in August with SWMBO, and Jules I think will be there. Mostly working with the chocolate dynamo for that week, should be fun!
Sounds really good! I must do some work on the back with the correct turn. One for the summer. Would love to see some videos!
A quick video tonight with @Bensons-dad and Benson. OH walked Benson up off lead, then placed the dummy and walked back with him. Sent him back with his left hand to Bensons' right side. This is quite tough for Benson as steadiness is a challenge!
Gosh! I haven't updated this thread since March! Well I really need to review where we are with Bramble as we have some intense training to get in if we are to work her this autumn (gulp...) We have taken a step back with her training, instead working just on our relationship, engagement and games in order to build a bit more confidence and fun into our time together. Now though it's time to look at where we are with regard to gundog work: Last night we just worked on a couple of splits, focussing on how well Bramble "marked" each dummy - thrown left and right in the second half of the video. Then sent her out for the first thrown dummy, then set her up for the second. To make things easier for Bramble, the dummies are thrown wide. I adjust her heel position also to make things as clear as possible for her. She does well, although there is a tiny lip lick on the first send out, which maybe due to Bramble not 100% sure she is doing the right thing. She is happy though, and bouncy though on the second dummy. The first part of the video is a long memory for her, the dummy is thrown into the long grass, she marks well ,is keen, so I just let her go. She runs out in a nice straight line eagerly and with confidence, which is a real improvement, I really need to nurse this confidence, which is a far cry from a live rabbit or pheasant! I think we still need to work on confidence, engagement and above all relationship, as we go forward working in more distracting environments, this I think will become more important. Towards the end of our session we play find @Bensons-dad in the long grass! She LOVES this game. you see her running out to find him at the end of the video. We finish of with a bit of fun hunting her clam (filled with high value treats) before we head home Good girl Bramble!
That is what is key for me, that she is enjoying herself and that training is fun She isn't quite as expressive as Benson, his joie de vivre just bursts out of him when he thinks he is going to work!
Aw Bramble you are a really good and clever girl. I have field envy too, I could do a lot with Charlie in that kind of space xx
About time I updated this thread! Well such a lot has happened with Bramble over the last couple of months, her second season, her first shoot, and our first bash at the Working Gundog Cert on Dummies. She did really well, especially the sections we had worked on, so whilst lots of improvement, she really was a little way of being ready. Despite that though I am really enjoying her increased confidence and Joie de Vivre right now. Bramble is maturing into a lovely young lady, and not yet 2 years old. So the balancing act...steadiness vs drive. This is tough, too much training one way and this has an effect on t'other. Bramble has never been one to go out on a retrieve all guns blazing, this has had to be nurtured gently, and with a lot of encouragement. So, it was as a surprise when she failed the WGC on steadiness. Maybe an indication of her increased confidence and excitement on the day, which in the whole scheme of things I don't mind one bit. Today we were working on steadiness, and the exercise was based on the actual working test. With reduced criteria, I really wanted Bramble to understand what I wanted from this exercise. So with limited slip lead and steady fob we went to work. It wasn't long before I was confident that Bramble had "got" it, and was able to reduce reinforcement to a quiet word of praise. So, the exercise below planned to last one minute (the test is two..). OH is throwing dummies, and using shot. The behaviour I wanted was to quietly sit to heel, and not move off lead. The actual test was much harder, with other dogs, lots more shot and lots more dummies. The next part of the training session was to introduce fun and speed back. So an exciting, easy marked retrieve with a couple of recalls. Bramble LOVES the recall game between us, I also wanted to make sure the steadiness exercise hadn't introduced any hesitation. Now, you can see, right at the end of the video...Bramble was a little bit toooo excited!!!
I'm asuming there was a lot of face licking at the end Bramble is truly a beautiful, clever young lady. Loved watching the videos as it gives me ideas to help Charlie. Thanks xx
Loved watching this on FB and it's just as brilliant a second time around here. Bramble is a superstar and those giggles at the end are just priceless
