Training tune up suggestions?

[Greenhead329]

Looking for ideas for tune ups as season approaches. We don't have an early teal season up here; and the hunt test games have passed for the season.
Been working my pups out of the layout blinds and mutt hutt. Practicing blinds, multiple marks...any other suggestions .

[BucksandDucks]

RUN...or bike if that is what you like to do. Get on a bike or go for an afternoon run to get the dog and yourself in shape. We know how hard it is to walk through the mud and muck but often don't think about the dog. The dog needs to be in shape to perform at his best also. If the dog gets fatigued after a few retrieves then his concentration and effort will lack also. Start now and get the dog in shape for the season to come.

[champcaller]

5 leg
obedience
marks

[get'n_green]

I wish my dog was as bad A as CASH-MONEY

The champ knows his stuff!

[champcaller]

I appreciate it but I can't take all or even most of the credit. I got blessed with the best dog I'll ever have and surrounded by good people who thankfully know a lot more about it than I do. I've just been able to pick up a few things along the way.

[ducktrooper]

what is 5 legs drill? I may or may not know it...haven't heard of that term.

[champcaller]

we use this strictly for teaching blind work and drills, but you can put an old dog on there for tune ups as well. after Cash got started on this his blind running went to a new level.

have a pile of bumpers and white buckets at each X and teach each leg as a separate blind. after they are familiar with it teach the over, then the angles. take your time and you will see the improvement in no time.

[jmh600]

TJ, If you dont mind could you explain the 5 man more im trying to wrap my head around this. Where is the dog positioned during all of these? Or what should the dogs routine be? Iv got a 8mo female and I think this would be the ticket for her if her owner can figure it out.

[champcaller]

the dog and handler are where the lines intersect at the bottom by the little black square, and there's a pile of bumpers at each X. it's best to mow strips but you don't have to.

let's number each of the legs' x, from left to right, 1,2,3,4, and 5.

first teach leg 1 as it's own blind, then 2, then 3, then 4, and then 5. once they have mastered that you can teach the overs. for example, send your dog to pile 3. whistle, sit at intersection. cast 'over' to pile 5. mix it up going the other way.

teaching the angles are where i saw the most improvement. after your dog is very familiar with each leg and the overs you can teach the angles. do this by sending the dog to pile 3, whistle at intersection and cast right angle to pile 4. or, send dog to pile 3, whistle at intersection and cast left angle back to pile 2.

the best part of it are you can mix it up as many ways as you want and keep the dog guessing and working for you.

i hope this isn't clear as mud and lemme know if you i can help you better understand it.

[jmh600]

Thanks I like that alot, that was perfect.
Iv got alot of work to do.

I guess it would depend on the dog but, What distance would you start at?

Jonathan Horton

[champcaller]

good to see you posting, Jonathan.


If you can find a good flat field, 50-75 yards is good but if you do 100 even better. It's just hard to find ground to it that big on sometimes.

good luck this year.

[Greenhead329]

Thanks for the suggestions. Sorry for the slow reply between work and trying to get out to hunt haven't been able to get on here much.
Tune ups have really helped, esp on my pup.
Me and both the dogs have been running more ("roading")
Pups marking has gotten better too