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BEGINNING HANDLING Once your dog is retrieving reliably and you have his obedience skills up to par and your dog has a dependable fetch; it’s time to begin his handling skills. The first step is the mini T or three handed casting. Begin by placing a blind pole in a flat mowed area with a white bucket on top so it’s easily marked for visibility and begin about 20 paces from the post. You will do this drill in the same place every day. Place three bumpers just in front of the post and toss a bumper from the starting line (20 paces back) and send your dog on his name. When he returns to heel position, send him again on “back”. Do this three times and quit. You are showing him where to go and then sending him on the cue used for a blind retrieve, “back”. Once he has confidence in going, I introduce the phrase, “dead bird” and then give the “back” cue so it let’s the dog know he is going to do a blind retrieve which is a retrieve the dog has not seen thrown. If at any time during this teaching phase your dog hesitates, have a bumper in your back pocket to toss to the post to give him help. After the third day, you should be able to come to the
starting point and send your dog to the marker without hesitation.
Once your dog is confident doing this, place your dog in front
position (facing you) in the center of a clock and you stand at the Toss a bumper to the back
pile off his left shoulder and raise your right arm straight up and say “back”.
If the dog hesitates, take a step toward the post to encourage him.
It is helpful to have your dog on a buckle collar and long line so that
if he turns in the incorrect direction you can take up the slack in the rope and
cast him again. The purpose of this
is to get your dog to turn to his left (remember he is facing you) as you raise
your right arm giving him a directional cue.
Do this three times at the When you have done this for three to five days and your dog can take your left hand back or right hand back cast from the front position always end the session with one or two sends from your side to the back pile. You have now established the back pile position from your side and from the center point (front position) where you will eventually stop the dog on the whistle. The next step is to place a pole on the right and left side
of center position about 20 to 30 paces on either side.
With your dog at front position at center point (think of it as the center of a
clock) and on a long line and a bumper at each pole, toss a bumper to the right
post at Your goal is to be able to come out to the mini T drill set up and be able to cast your dog from the center point (center of the clock) to RH “back”; LH “over”. LH “back” to RH “over”. And always end the session sending the dog from heel position to the back pile two or three times. The next session we will talk about teaching the sit on the whistle. Keep it fun; keep it simple; and be prepared to help when needed. End each session with something motivational so your dog will look forward to the next session. Enjoy the journey! Lorie C. Jolly Rosehill Retrievers Back Pile X X X
L Over R Over D
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