My Duck Dog Training A to ?

Last night rather than train I went to Tiny Marsh to help erect the poles that will be used to house the Pheasant Pen - giving back a little for the use of the property.About 8:20 the bugs, mosquitoes and black flys came out so we called it a night. Greg Larden asked if I intended to train at The Farm (10 minutes away) tonight on some Cheating Singles water work. We decided we had just enough time so off we went.

Artemis was schooled on taking a line over a point. I had Greg throw 5 bumpers, one at a time. First bumper thrown was to land just in the water with a splash and the send line was from on the point where subsequent marks would have her cross. She retrieved the bumper and I sat her on this point, walked around the bay and called her in to the new (actual) running line.

The second mark was thrown identical to the first. She marked it well and swam out and over the point on the correct line. On her return she caved in about 5yds to the left - to the bay side of the point. I allowed her to take this line and as soon as she landed she got back into the water to complete her return. She then began to scalp hard toward the land to my left. I handled her back on line without any collar pressure.

The third send was from the same running line but the throw was to land on the shore with no splash. On her return she again scalped left and had to make a decision as to which side of a canoe on the point she wanted to return on. She decided to run towards the shore and I handled her back to the correct line and sat her on the point. A come in whistle had her launch herself into the water but she again began to scalp left. I handled her to the correct line and brought her in.

The fourth mark was run from a line that made the cheat going out more enticing - I also ran her from the cheaty side (left side) and had the mark once again thrown up on shore. She again took a great line to the mark. On her return this time she did not scalp as hard to the left and beached on the point almost on the correct line (2yds to the left). She re-entered the water and swam a MUCH improved line across the bay on her return.

The fifth mark was thrown landed much further to the left than the previous 4. It landed on the shore of an island. Seeing that she did not attempt to cheat the return from the AOF, only marginally on the initial return to the point and she had learned an honest return from the point - I hoped to make the initial swim to the point more black and white as to the honest line. She gave me an honest effort, not needing to be handled on this mark at all.

I put her up - short but good work.

I then threw for Greg & Suzy. She has an issue on water where she is noisy as the birds come down and yelps on the release. Of these short marks with a BIG splash, if she made noise Greg would take her back to the holding blind and I would pick up the thrown bumper. Then we would re-run the mark again. It had a good effect on her and she was silent for the final two marks.

We ran out of daylight before Tucker could have his turn so we released all three dogs to romp and play as we recapped our training session and discussed short term future plans in our respective training.