GENERAL OBEDIENCE IN RETRIEVING
Over the years it has been said obedience has no place
at Non Slip Retrieving Trials. Perhaps it is true of the confined
restricted obedience work seen at obedience trials but on viewing the All
Age Section at Retrieving Trials, no one could doubt obedience is the
foundation of the partnership between the handler and the dog. Obedience
clubs recommend that you allow your dog to 'run free' by removing the
correction chain but all gun dogs should be taught to stay in working mode
even without the chain. At the starting peg at Retrieving Trials you are
asked to remove the lead but as this means the lead, correction chain and
any leather collars your dog must be trained to work without them. It is
dangerous to run a dog in the bush or to swim while wearing anything that
could be snagged.
Your dog must be quiet in 'the hide'. Teach him at an
early age to be tethered up out of sight and build up the period of time
you leave him. You may watch other competitors complete their runs but
your dog must be completely out of sight. To see a marked bird from 'the
hide' rather than the firing peg will totally confuse your dog and you
could be accused of trying to cheat!
Plan your heeling pattern from the starting peg to the
firing pegs. Allow your dog to walk on the flat straight area while you
walk through the tussocks and over the rocks because your dog won't walk
through; he will walk around and you will lose points for him wandering
all over the place. On steep slopes or through fences etc, leave the dog
on a sit stay. Navigate the awkward area and then call him to heel.
A dog taught to walk neatly beside the left leg will
have the benefit of being in the correct position to be nicely set up at
the firing pegs. Any dog lunging lead Will be well past the firing pegs
before the handler even gets there. During training try to overcome this
by walking up on lead or doing a quick right about turn and walking away.
The dog is left out there all by himself with nothing happening. A dog
walking wide could end up outside the firing peg, so try stepping to the
right and calling him to heel during training.
If a dog is not in the correct position at the pegs,
bring him to heel without touching the dog and remember, the judge
will not wait forever. It is not mandatory for the dog to be in the sit
position but it is recommended. In the drop position the dog won't see
much and it is easier for the dog to break from the standing position.
Should he break before your command of 'fetch', stop him by whistle or a
very loud voice and then send him only when you are sure you have gained
control. Points are lost for a dog breaking but less are deducted if you
can stop him. Sit the dog's whole body in the direction of the
mark; not just his nose. Use the word 'wait' or 'stay' and teach him that
'watch' means look out ahead in the direction the gun is pointing. When
the dog returns with the bird encourage him to sit (or stand) close in
front of you. Never lean out over him or he will stay further away. Any
bird dropped should be picked up by him. Do a right about turn while the
dog is still in front of you and the call him to follow you at heel. Again
he sits (or stands) at your left side when you halt at the starting peg to
hand over the gun and birds. You are still in competition until you have
placed the lead on the dog. A loop type slip lead is the easiest to use in
Retrieving Trials.
Any obedience is taught to the dog at close range and
when you attempt to put some distance between you and the dog, maintain
control of every command , even if it means running across a field to do a
correction. Retrieving Trials have been won or lost on one point and that
one point could have been gained or lost in obedience. Remember, in all
stages of Retrieving Trialing from Beginners to All Age - maintain
control!
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