Gundog Training at Margaret Roding

I took Olive (above left) to a fairly local Gundog class today, with her sister Dali (above right).

I haven't trained with Olive for a while so we are a bit out of touch, but she still was very good. We did lots of steadiness work to begin with, and then went to a different location to do water work. I haven't practised water retrieves with her since last summer, and she wasn't that great at it then.

We did the water work on a big lake with reeds, Olive was confident at going into the water, swimming, and she retrieved the dummy well. As soon as she got to land I could see that she wanted to shake so I have to really tell her to hold. She dropped the dummy the first time and again after a couple of go's, but did manage a few holds and presents.

So lots of water work will be needed if we ever want to do a Working Test as it's really hit and miss at the moment whether she will bring the dummy to me when out of the water. And if she does its only because I have put in a VERY loud 'HOLD!' which I don't think any judge would take as quiet handling.

We then did retrieve's and Olive failed to watch where her's landed (must remember to get her to 'mark' the dummy better!) so her's became a blind retrieve. Luckily she scented where the dummy was, but the trainer was really encouraging me to start teaching her the 'Hi Lost' command for when she picks up the dummy. I can understand the benefits of it, but am somehow put off that it is two words, I feel like it will be too confusing for a dog to understand, and I don't want to be shouting too many commands at her. I usually tell her 'steady' when I want her to slow down and hunt the ground for the dummy, but perhaps I will start saying it every time she picks up the dummy on a basic retrieve to enforce it more.

Lots of practise needed. Going to make the effort to get up extra early this week and take her out training everyday.