HAPPILY ENJOYING SIGNALLING SUCCESS WITH THE NEW PUP ON THE BLOCK
My new young labrador, Duke is entering the advanced training stage. He has mastered single retrieves, multiple retrieves at distances up to 150m, marking multiple birds down and retrieved from my side.
Now I am teaching him to take voice and hand signals at a distance. This will help me direct Duke in the field to birds he hasn’t marked the fall of, or wounded ducks trying to evade him. The retrieves will be 90 degrees right or left of the dog, a 45-degree angle back to the right and left, and 180 degrees behind the dog. The retrieves to 90 degrees right and left of Duke have the command Fetch OVER, with the emphasis on over with a horizontal arm signal to the left or right of me.
I started doing this with a fence right behind Duke, so he had no reason to turn back and I couldn’t throw the bird behind the 90-degree line. I would throw one to the left of me and send him with voice Fetch OVER and my left arm thrusting out horizontally to my left. Then again to my right and so on.
When he understood the Fetch OVER command with hand signals I threw one dummy to the left and one to the right. I then commanded him to fetch the left dummy first.
He wanted to get the second dummy thrown to the right, but I yelled loudly NO and again gave the left hand signal and Fetch OVER. Off he went and did the combination retrieves correctly.
This was a very satisfying moment for both Duke and I. He enjoys the challenge of new tasks and can become bored with repetition. He quickly notes my routines and predicts my moves. I have to change things up or he is almost automatic.
So he was really into the angle back retrieves away from the fence. At first he didn’t understand the BACK command and I had to keep using Fetch — ie Fetch BACK with a 45degree high hand signal to the right or left.
With Duke facing me I threw the dummy to my right behind Duke. Then, with a pronounced high-angled right arm signal, sent him. In one session he had this all down pat, (pun intended) and the next day knew exactly what to do.
Next week I will begin to train the direct back 180-degree turn, then start to extend the distances of the retrieve and the distances between Duke and I. At this rate Duke should be ready for retrieving geese in September and hopefully retriever trials next dry season.
Meanwhile, the NT Field and Game range is open for practice from 9am till noon this morning, while weekly Friday night practice continues at Micket Creek Shooting Complex, Brandt Rd, Knuckey Lagoon.
There are now two grounds with the token system in operation. The ranges will be open from 3pm on Fridays for those who plan ahead and pre-purchase ammo and tokens. The sales desk normally opens at 5pm. The next competition is the three-day Festival of Clays from Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30.
Coolalinga Guns and Ammo has sponsored a Fausti Camo 12ga shotgun as a door prize for one lucky competitor. A ticket will be issued to each shooter for each event they enter over the Festival of Clays weekend. Join Field and Game, www.fga.net.au Join SSAA, www.ssaa.org.au Join Australian Deer Association www.austdeer.asn.au Like NT Field and Game on Facebook. Email: ntfieldandgame@gmail.com Or fnflodge1@bigpond.com