Basic Retriever Training

So you have that great puppy and want it to grow into a great hunt test and gun dog. Basics are the key to this end. Stellar Retrievers uses a focused training program from day one with your dog to ensure that goal. Read on to learn about my curriculum and I hope that you get excited over the possible outcomes for your pet. Please take time to call and talk with me about your retriever so we can start it on the right track!
-Jack-

Collar Conditioning

Once your dog has basic obedience commands mastered, the next step in "learning to learn" is collar conditioning. A dog must be taught how to respond to correction by an e-collar and collar conditioning is the building block to put this tool to work. It can only be taught after the dog has a firm grasp of all obedience commands. Basically, a dog is taught how to properly respond to the pressure of the e-collar. Through a series of steps, a dog learns how to "turn off" the pressure of the e-collar for each obedience command or concept reviewed. Since the dog has been taught a sit or heel command during its obedience training, it is able to easily learn that compliance to those commands turns off the pressure and avoidance or misbehavior will not help at solve the problem of the collar at all. This is a learned behavior as dogs, like most mammals are naturally programmed to fight, flee, or freeze under pressure. Once we have this concept programmed, we can than move on to force fetch and know that the dog will not be confused when confronted with hold and fetch training. Without proper collar conditioning, it will be impossible to add additional layers of training and mastery of concepts because we will not have a way for the dog to know how to deliver the desired response to the challenge at hand.

Collar conditioning is the cornerstone that all other retriever concepts are built on and should not be underestimated in value. Unfair or poorly performed conditioning and a soft dog can be set behind in its training tremendously. Too little or sloppy collar conditioning will leave the retriever unable to learn in the field. This is why having the attention of an experienced pro is important to producing a well balanced dog that is able to succeed in field training.

Force Fetch

Force Fetch is the process by which a dog is trained to pick up an object and hold it until commanded to deliver to hand. This seems simple enough since we have all seen retrievers carry all sorts of things around in their mouths, but force fetch is much more. Instead, this third tier of training the retriever is key in developing control over the actions of the dog. Through this process that starts with simply a hold command, we continue to develop the dogs response to pressure. After the dog understands hold, we then begin to ask it to "fetch" objects from the training table. Later, the training is moved to the yard where they learn to fetch bumpers and birds while walking on leash at heel. This "walking fetch" stage is just one of several generalization lessons used in the trained retrieve.

Again, this is a fundamental element that must be put in place with your retriever carefully and with a trained eye. Poor force fetch work can cause dogs to develop mouthing habits that are unacceptable at tests, trials, and in the hunting blind. In addition, overlooking the fine details of this stage of training will cause greater difficulty in mastering field concepts later. There are many methods and techniques for teaching force fetch. What is right for one dog may not be for another. It takes an experienced eye to know what techniques should be used with a particular dog to assure optimal results. Too much pressure or unfairly delivered corrections and once again, a retriever can be set back in its training and capability tremendously. Jack works carefully to avoid either outcome!

3-Handed Casting

In hunting retriever tests and field trials, handling skills enable retrievers to take direction when they did not see the bird fall. But handling skills are not just for competition dogs. They'll make your retriever a much more effective hunting dog as well.

Three handed casting is a system of hand signals that allow you to dictate the direction of turn and drive in a retriever's line to an unknown fall. This tool is very valuable in complex hunting scenarios where a dog likely is in a blind or out on retrieve and another bird or two is shot when the dog was unavailable to mark their location. Using your dog's three handed casting and handling, you will be able to quickly and precisely retrieve the otherwise lost game. In hunt tests and trials, this skill set is what makes or breaks the dog/handler team. Crisp, clean handling that challenges the line to a blind is what judges want to see. Jack uses his system developed over the last sixteen years to train a stylish dog that knows how to hold a line to a blind.

Three handed casting is taught right on the heels of force fetch since a great deal of care and time have been taken to ingrain the act of "fetch". It is a natural extension of the fetch concept and with good force fetch and collar conditioning, a dog learns to love drill work. Dogs are introduced to three handed casting with Force to Pile and then worked through the Single T drills. Marked Retrieves
So you would think this was easy. Right? Well, a good marking dog is developed through repetition and patience. Yes, genetics plays a role in the marking and memory capability of the dog, but good training cannot be left out of the mix. Once through the yard work, our dogs are moved from puppy marks in the yard to freshman field marks. These are single retrieves and live shot flyers that begin to refine the dog's natural ability to "go get game". Once on the truck, the dogs are presented with opportunities daily to retrieve game in a variety of cover and terrain. This is where it all begins to come together. Weeks have been spent in the training yard equipping the dog with the tools to "learn" in the field and single marked retrieves are where we develop the stylish field dog habits. Single marks are used in cover situations to teach dogs to drive cover, on water to learn water manners, and everywhere in between to drive home how to hold a straight line to the bird.

Single Marked Retrieves

Marking, marking, marking...I can't stress enough how important this basic skill is to the trained retrieve. Success in the field and tests is dependent on a dog's ability to mark an area of fall. Once dogs are on the truck for field work, marks are thrown to reinforce this ability each training day. As the individual dog's capability increases, distance and increasingly complex water and terrain are added in to challenge the retriever. To build drive and keep spirits high, live flyers are shot weekly for the dogs. In addition, the live shot birds help teach the dogs how to deal with wounded game.

Marking is enhanced by focused training on the component behaviors of marking: concentration, managing factors, steadiness, memory hunt pattern, and distance estimation. These elements are a part of each training day and specific drills are used to enhance each.