Hunt Test Tip: Teach Confidence When Teaching Blinds
Building confidence is critical when you begin blinds. Pile work teaches the basic concept of a blind retrieve and lays the foundation for a dog who is confident that when you send him 'back', there is always a retrieve to be found.
A 'sight' blind is a blind your dog watches you or someone else place. It's not a mark because it is not thrown - it is simply placed on the ground while the dog watches. After teaching sight blinds as part of your yard work, it's time to transition to test training.
Select a natural visual point of reference that is identifiable to both you and your dog, such as a tree or bush or particular spot in a tree line. Use your blind pole or flag. Remember, dogs are visual and your dog will actually take a photo of the setting. Have your dog sit and watch as you or your training buddy place several bumpers on the ground. If your training buddy is helping, have him or her walk away and out of the picture. If you place them, simply return to your dog. Regardless of who places the bumpers on the ground, turn your dog away and count to five. Turn back and line your dog with 'dead bird'. When your dog is locked on, send on 'back'. Keep your initial distance short and gradually build distance by backing up when you receive your dog so that the next send is slightly longer than the previous.
The next step is to run a mark after you run your sight blind. Make sure you have left a bumper at your sight blind pile. After your dog returns from the mark, heel your dog into the holding blind and wait a moment. Then heel your dog out to where you will send him for the sight blind, tell your dog 'dead bird', line your dog up for the blind and send. Watch your dog carefully; if your dog looks intently out, ears perked, ready to go then send. However, if your dog looks confused, looks around, looks back to where he picked up the mark then your dog has not remembered the sight blind. In this case, move closer and identify the blind before sending. You are teaching, not testing so always set your dog up for success.
"Sight" blinds allow you to take the concept taught in pile work and drills and transition it to the field in situations your dog will encounter in a test. Teaching beginning blinds this way will result in a dog that lines up confidently and expectantly on 'dead bird' and flies out in a straight line on 'back'.
Obedience Tip: "Smart" Finishes
In the Novice obedience class there is one finish, in Open there are four and in Utility there are seven. In rally there are 16 exercises that involve a finish; most of them in APDT Rally.
At the AKC Obedience Judge's Seminar recently, much discussion was given to the addition of 'smart' to judging criteria for finishes.
What exactly is a 'smart' finish? It is one where the dog moves quickly and directly to heel position; whether it be to the right or left. It's easy to teach and maintain a 'smart' finish with attention games for both the right and left finish.
Finish games don't require a lot of space nor a lot of time. They're often forgotten or overlooked but shouldn't be. If your dog likes the clicker, finish practice is a great place to use it.
While not a principal feature, finishes DO count!
